Russia closes Polish consulate in Irkutsk after Gdańsk shutdown

Russia is withdrawing its consent for the operation of Poland’s Consulate General in Irkutsk in response to Poland’s decision to shut down Russia’s consulate in Gdańsk.

Poland’s move followed two acts of sabotage on a railway line between Lublin and Warsaw, Caliber.Az reports per the Russian Foreign Ministry.

On November 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Polish ambassador and delivered a note informing him that permission for the Irkutsk consulate to operate would be revoked as of 30 December 2025.

The ministry called Poland’s “absurdly justified” decision to wind down Russia’s consular presence an openly hostile and unfounded step by the Polish leadership. It stated that Russia would close the last remaining Polish consular mission in the country in response.

“The Russian side once again reminds those who, for the sake of momentary political gain, resort to unfriendly actions against our country: the Russian Federation will not leave such actions without an adequate and painful response,” the statement said.

Poland earlier announced that the Russian consulate in Gdańsk would be closed by midnight on December 23 and that its staff must leave the country by that date.

The decision follows the November 17 incidents on the Warsaw–Lublin railway line, where explosive devices damaged tracks near the village of Mika and targeted power infrastructure; no casualties were reported.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the move is a response to what Warsaw considers a Russia-backed “unprecedented act of sabotage” aimed at endangering civilian lives.

Once the Gdańsk consulate is shut down, only the Russian embassy in Warsaw will continue to operate in Poland.

By Jeyhun Aghazada