Russian president appoints new ambassador to Poland

President Vladimir Putin has appointed Georgiy Mikhno as Russia’s new ambassador to Poland, replacing longtime envoy Sergey Andreyev, as diplomatic relations between Moscow and Warsaw remain at historic lows.

Mikhno is a senior diplomat with the rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy 1st class, and is known for his previous roles within the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Deputy Director of the Department for New Challenges and Threats and Head of the Department of Pan-European Cooperation, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Ukrainian media reported that Mikhno has ties to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and is believed to have operated under diplomatic cover. The same report noted that the United States denied him a visa in 2020, prompting a formal protest from the Russian government at the time.

If confirmed by Poland, Mikhno would take over from Sergey Andreyev, who has served as Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw since August 2014. Andreyev, widely criticized in Poland for repeating Kremlin narratives, has been involved in several high-profile controversies throughout his tenure—particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

As of July 25, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not publicly commented on Mikhno’s appointment or whether Warsaw will accept his credentials.

The appointment comes amid severely deteriorated ties between Poland and Russia. Both countries have expelled diplomats and closed consular offices in recent years, while Polish officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of espionage, hybrid warfare, and attempts to destabilize the region.

Mikhno's diplomatic résumé includes postings at Russia’s permanent missions to the United Nations in New York and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, making him a seasoned figure in multilateral diplomacy. 

By Vafa Guliyeva