Russia has decided to shut down Poland’s consulate in the western city of Kaliningrad as a response to what it deems the “unjust and hostile” closure of its own consulate in Krakow, Poland.

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry reported that it had summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires to inform him that Moscow would withdraw its authorization for the Polish Consulate General in Kaliningrad to function, effective August 29.

According to the ministry, the Russian consulate in Krakow ceased operations on June 30.

Polish officials stated in May that the choice to close the Russian consulate was made “based on evidence” indicating potential involvement of Russia’s security services in a May 2024 fire at a shopping mall.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized in a statement that “Russian diplomacy consistently operates on the principle that any unfriendly action against our country will not go unanswered or unpunished.”

In response, Poland’s Foreign Ministry later indicated it would “react appropriately” to the closure of its consulate in Kaliningrad, asserting that the decision by Moscow would primarily affect Russian citizens.

“From what I understand, there haven’t been many tourists visiting Kaliningrad, and we lack significant business interests there,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński told reporters. “So, if this decision impacts anyone, it will mainly be Russians who were hoping to obtain Polish visas more conveniently.”

Relations between Russia and Poland have deteriorated since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then, both nations have expelled numerous diplomats and closed consulates, including those in Poznań and St. Petersburg, in reciprocal actions.

Moreover, Poland has become a crucial transit point for Western military assistance to Ukraine. In 2023, Warsaw imposed restrictions on Russian diplomats, accusing Moscow of conducting a “hybrid war” against Poland.