WARSAW – On the first anniversary of the devastating fire at Warsaw’s largest shopping centre, ‘Marywilska 44’, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has officially confirmed that the blaze was an act of arson orchestrated by Russian intelligence.

“In light of the evidence that Russian intelligence services were behind the reprehensible act of sabotage at the shopping centre on Marywilska Street, I have decided to revoke the operating permit of the Russian Federation’s Consulate in Krakow,” Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote on X.

The move follows the arrest of several suspects and an international investigation involving Lithuanian authorities, which uncovered similar sabotage efforts.

The closure of the consulate comes just a month after local media reported that authorities had quietly renewed the building’s lease, triggering protests in Kraków.

The fire, which broke out in May last year, destroyed 90% of the centre, but fortunately there were no casualties. It is now seen as part of a wider pattern of Russian-backed sabotage across central and eastern Europe.

In March, a Belarusian national was charged in a separate but similar case.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

Final debate sparks sharp exchanges ahead of Poland’s election

With Poland’s presidential election set for Sunday, all registered candidates clashed in a final TV debate on Monday, trading barbs over US trade ties, the war in Ukraine, and other key issues.

Opposition PiS (ECR) candidate Karol Nawrocki accused Poland’s EU presidency of neglecting trade talks with Washington. “The presidency should foster EU-US dialogue, and Poland should lead on military and economic ties,” he said. He also mocked Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski ± his main rival from PM Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform (PO, EPP) – for funding a large blue plaster egg in a city square, rather than focusing on residents’ needs. The egg happens to sit outside Euractiv Poland’s office.

Trzaskowski hit back, referencing Nawrocki’s recent US trip and photo op with Donald Trump. “One should be explaining the need for a just peace in Ukraine – not posing with Trump,” he said.  Nawrocki, currently polling second, drew gasps from progressive rivals by warning that unless Ukraine treats Poland as an equal partner and stops harming Polish farmers and hauliers with unfair competition, it should not expect his backing for EU or NATO membership.  He stressed he supports Ukraine’s fight against Russia, but added: “Poland is not Ukraine’s auxiliary farm – it’s a partner.”