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In Response to Russian Rail Line Sabotage, Poland Slashes Russian Consular Presence, FM Confirms
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated in the Sejm that the attack on Poland’s railway network compels the country to assess who its allies are and who its adversaries are.
He emphasized that the true enemies of Poland are not EU officials, Ukrainians, or the Polish government, but those who sent saboteurs into the country, according to Onet on November 19.
During the press conference, Sikorski confirmed that he had previously warned Russia that if it continued its hostile actions against Poland, the diplomatic and consular presence of Russia in Poland would be further reduced.
He remarked that Russia not only failed to halt its sabotage operations against Poland but has escalated them. He also pointed out that when espionage and sabotage efforts are aimed at causing human casualties, it constitutes not just sabotage but potentially state terrorism.
“In this regard, while this will not be our full response, I have decided to withdraw my consent for the operation of the last [Russian] consulate in Gdańsk,” Sikorski stated. He also noted that an official note would be sent to the Russian government within the next few hours.
The Foreign Minister added that Poland does not intend to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, unlike other countries that have experienced terrorist acts or sabotage.
Earlier, Polish authorities initiated a terrorism inquiry in response to two instances of railway infrastructure sabotage that occurred over the weekend. Official government statements suggest these incidents exhibit characteristics consistent with operations conducted by Russian intelligence services.
The track damage was identified on the critical Deblin-Warsaw line. This specific rail corridor is routinely utilized for the transfer of logistical support and aid materials destined for Ukraine.
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