Poland Blames Russian Intelligence for Devastating Shopping Center Fire

In a strong assertion, Poland has accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a significant fire that destroyed the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw, resulting in the loss of numerous businesses. Prime Minister Tusk stated that an investigation linked the blaze to Russian operatives, prompting searches for those involved.

Poland has leveled serious accusations against Russian intelligence services concerning a massive fire that obliterated a shopping centre in Warsaw last year. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced via social media platform X that Polish authorities are confident that the fire at the Marywilska shopping centre was set deliberately as part of a conspiracy orchestrated by Russian special services. Tusk revealed that some individuals connected to the incident are already in custody, while the search continues for others implicated.

The Russian government has yet to respond to these claims, having previously denied involvement in any sabotage acts across Europe. The May 2024 inferno resulted in the destruction of approximately 1,400 small businesses, many of which were operated by members of the Vietnamese community in Warsaw. A year-long investigation by Polish authorities concluded that the arson was executed under the directive of an unnamed individual in Russia.

A joint statement from the justice and interior ministries underscored that those detained acted under the coordination of a specific person residing in Russia. Both ministries have collaborated with Lithuanian authorities, where some individuals linked to the acts of sabotage are also being investigated.

Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has detained individuals accused of acts of sabotage undertaken on behalf of Russian intelligence. Officials label these transgressions as part of a broader "hybrid war” strategy employed by Moscow—a form of warfare that involves covert and deniable attacks aimed at damaging an adversary's critical infrastructure.

NATO has concurred with this assessment, asserting that Russia's actions are intended to deter Western nations from supporting Ukraine militarily. Meanwhile, Russia has consistently rebutted allegations from NATO countries regarding its secret services' involvement in sabotage operations throughout Europe. In a similar vein, Lithuanian prosecutors previously accused Russia's military intelligence service of being responsible for a fire at an Ikea branch in Vilnius.

The Marywilska shopping centre, which opened its doors in 2010, served as a vital economic hub for many of its tenants. The fire resulted in significant financial losses, with numerous workers losing essential documents and cash kept at the site due to fears of theft at home. Following the disaster, the owners of Marywilska established a temporary shopping centre within three months for around 400 traders to resume their operations. A new shopping alternative, Modlinska 6D, opened in October 2024, accommodating traders that relocated after the devastating incident.