Russia to Close Poland’s Consulate General in St. Petersburg

Russia will shut down Poland's Consulate General in St. Petersburg in response to Poland's decision to suspend the operations of the Russian diplomatic mission in Poznań.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on December 5 that a formal diplomatic note had been delivered to Polish officials, stating that the closure of the Polish consulate is a direct reaction to Poland’s decision to shut down Russia’s Consulate General in Poznań on November 30.

“Effective January 10, 2025, Russia will withdraw its consent for the operation of the Polish consulate in St. Petersburg. Additionally, three diplomatic staff members from Poland’s consulate in St. Petersburg have been declared persona non grata and must leave Russia by the same date,” the statement reads.

Russian Foreign Ministry accused Poland of pursuing a “blatantly hostile policy” against Russia in recent years. The ministry claimed that Poland has “effectively dismantled the decades-old framework of Polish-Russian relations and openly advocates for Russia’s strategic defeat.”

The note emphasized that Russia will continue to respond decisively to any unfriendly actions by Poland, promising “harsh retaliatory measures against future provocations.”

Poland closed Russia’s diplomatic mission in Poznań on November 30, citing evidence of Russia’s involvement in sabotage operations within Poland and other European nations, as well as its ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

Previously, Poland has threatened to shut down all Russian consulates on its territory if Moscow continues engaging in sabotage operations across Europe, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski declared at a press conference on November 19.