Poland blames Russia for arson attack on Warsaw shopping centre
Russia was behind the fire that completely destroyed a shopping centre in Warsaw last May, Poland has suggested.
Moscow has in the past denied involvement in alleged arson and sabotage operations across Europe.
'We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed on X.
Tusk said some perpetrators have been detained, adding that others have been identified by the authorities. 'We will get you all!' he vowed.
The fire broke out at the shopping centre, located in an industrial area on Warsaw's northern edge, on 12 May, 2024. It burned down 1,400 shops, many of which were run by the city's Vietnamese community.
Poland's Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior Affairs said the attack was 'organised and directed by a specific person residing in the Russian Federation' in a joint statement released on Sunday.
The ministries added that Polish authorities have been working in cooperation with their Lithuanian counterparts, given that a number of people allegedly involved in the Warsaw shopping centre attack reportedly carried out 'acts of diversion' in Lithuania.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Monday that Poland would now close the Russian consulate in Krakow.
'In connection with evidence that it was Russian special services who committed the reprehensible act of sabotage against the shopping centre on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the consulate of the Russian Federation in Krakow,' said Sikorski.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by accusing Warsaw of 'deliberately' seeking to destroy relations between the two nations by 'acting against its citizens".
'An appropriate response to these inadequate steps will follow soon," Zakharova told Russia's state-owned news agency TASS.
An EU-Ukraine Task Force to boost defence industries' ties is meeting for the first time on Monday with Brussels keen to replicate Kyiv's innovation and production prowesses since the beginning of Russia's aggression.
"Today, we announce the creation of the inter-institutional EU-Ukraine Task Force. And today Ukrainian and European experts of that group will convene for the very first meeting to assist integration of our defence industries, to facilitate development of joint projects or joint procurement processes," Andrius Kubilius, the European commissioner for defence and space, told the second edition of the EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum.
Supply chain issues and capability areas identified as priorities including explosives and drones are of particular interest for the group.
"We need to learn from Ukraine how to create a drone production and operation infrastructure," Kubilius said, adding that when it comes to drones "who needs integration more: Ukraine or Europe? My answer - Europe".
According to the Ukrainian government, the country's annual defence production capacity is expected to reach €35 billion this year, a 35-fold increase from 2022 when Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale attack against its neighbour.
Europe's industry, meanwhile, initially struggled to ramp up, infamously missing a target to produce one million ammunition rounds within 12 months. It's now on course to produce two million rounds this year.
Ukraine's defence companies are not only battle-tested, but also "fast", " modern", and able to produce at "half the price" compared to their European counterparts, Kubilius said.
"There is a need for Europeans not only to buy weapons from Ukraine and for Ukraine. There is a clear need for Europeans to buy technologies, know-how of production and of management systems from Ukraine for our own European defence industries," he also said.
Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the same forum that the conflict will go down in history "as the first world drone war".
Ukraine, he added, has had "substantial success in manufacturing all types of unmanned systems" and now has "a solution for AI-driven auto-targeting for aerial strike drones".
"The next big thing is the swarms of drones, coordinated attack capability."
"We are ready to share what our industry learnt in this war with you, our strategic partners," he said, adding: "We're here to build the arsenal of the free world together."
The EU is planning to pour hundreds of billions of euros into the defence sector over the coming four years, including up to €650 billion through additional fiscal space and €150 billion via a new loan programme, called SAFE, aimed at boosting joint procurement of European-made capabilities, and from which Ukraine and its companies can benefit too.
Member states are currently negotiating the parameters of SAFE and are expected to conclude talks before the end of the month. It will then take over six months for the first disbursements to come through.
The Commission is meanwhile holding a Strategic Dialogue with the EU-based industry this week, followed by an Implementation Dialogue towards the end of May and a simplification omnibus for the sector in mid-June.
An Industry Outlook plan, based on national capability targets provided by member states, is meanwhile expected to be released in late June, when EU leaders are also set to approve common European flagship projects in defence.
"Peace through strength will come from production power and brain power. To stop Putin, we need to produce more, we need to innovate more, and we need to do that together: in the EU and with Ukraine," Kubilius said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Russia carries out 'massive' drone attacks on Kyiv, Odesa
Russia carried out "massive" drone attacks on Ukraine 's capital Kyiv and port city of Odesa early Tuesday, killing one person and hitting a maternity hospital, Ukrainian officials said, calling for further sanctions. Moscow has kept up its attacks on Ukraine, which has hit back with strikes deep inside Russian territory, while peace talks held over the weekend failed to yield a breakthrough towards ending the three-year war. Aside from an agreement to exchange prisoners, progress has stalled and Russia has repeatedly rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire. "Russia lies every day about its desire for peace and attacks people every day. Time to impose sanctions. Time to support Ukraine with weapons. Time to prove that democracy has power," Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on Telegram. A 59-year-old man was killed in the Russian strikes on residential buildings in Odesa on Tuesday, and at least four others were wounded, said Governor Oleg Kiper. "The enemy massively attacked Odesa with strike drones. There is damage to civilian infrastructure and fires," Kiper wrote on Telegram. "The Russians hit a maternity hospital, an emergency medical ward and residential buildings," he said, adding the maternity hospital had been evacuated in time. In central Kiev, an AFP journalist heard at least 12 explosions, anti-aircraft fire and the buzzing of drones. "Stay in shelters! The massive attack on the capital continues," Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, adding in a separate post around 3:00 am (0000 GMT) that "a new batch of UAVs (drones) is flying to the capital". Several people were reported wounded in the attacks that hit at least seven districts, with buildings and cars on fire. Prisoner swap Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered the biggest European conflict since World War II, forcing millions to flee their homes and decimating much of eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukrainian cities are targeted by Russian air strikes almost daily. On Sunday, Russia launched a record 479 explosive drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire agreement, a second round of peace talks in Turkey are at a standstill. The only concrete agreement reached at the talks over the weekend was for release all seriously wounded or sick prisoners of war and those under the age of 25 -- a deal that did not specify the number of soldiers involved. While welcoming POW exchanges, Zelensky said last week said it was "pointless" to hold further talks with the current Russian delegation -- who he previously dismissed as "empty heads" -- since they could not agree to a ceasefire. On Sunday, the Russian army also claimed to have attacked the Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, which borders the regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, already partially under Russian control, a first in more than three years of conflict. "Time for everyone to finally accept the fact that Russia understands only strikes, not rational words," Ukraine's Yermak said on Tuesday, in a thinly veiled criticism of the Trump administration. As a condition for halting its invasion, Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede the territories Moscow claims to have annexed and forswear joining NATO. It has also rejected a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire sought by Kyiv and the European Union, arguing that it would allow Ukrainian forces to rearm with Western deliveries. Ukraine is demanding a complete Russian withdrawal from its territory and security guarantees from the West, describing Moscow's demands as "ultimatums".
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Ukraine says 'massive' Russia drone attacks hit Kyiv, Odesa
Moscow has kept up its attacks on Ukraine, which has hit back with strikes deep inside Russian territory, while peace talks held over the weekend failed to yield a breakthrough towards ending the three-year war. Aside from an agreement to exchange prisoners, progress has stalled and Russia has repeatedly rejected calls for an unconditional ceasefire. "Russia lies every day about its desire for peace and attacks people every day. Time to impose sanctions. Time to support Ukraine with weapons. Time to prove that democracy has power," Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on Telegram. A 59-year-old man was killed in the Russian strikes on residential buildings in Odesa on Tuesday, and at least four others were wounded, said Governor Oleg Kiper. "The enemy massively attacked Odesa with strike drones. There is damage to civilian infrastructure and fires," Kiper wrote on Telegram. "The Russians hit a maternity hospital, an emergency medical ward and residential buildings," he said, adding the maternity hospital had been evacuated in time. In central Kiev, an AFP journalist heard at least 12 explosions, anti-aircraft fire and the buzzing of drones. "Stay in shelters! The massive attack on the capital continues," Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, adding in a separate post around 3:00 am (0000 GMT) that "a new batch of UAVs (drones) is flying to the capital". Several people were reported wounded in the attacks that hit at least seven districts, with buildings and cars on fire. Prisoner swap Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered the biggest European conflict since World War II, forcing millions to flee their homes and decimating much of eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukrainian cities are targeted by Russian air strikes almost daily. On Sunday, Russia launched a record 479 explosive drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire agreement, a second round of peace talks in Turkey are at a standstill. The only concrete agreement reached at the talks over the weekend was for release all seriously wounded or sick prisoners of war and those under the age of 25 -- a deal that did not specify the number of soldiers involved. While welcoming POW exchanges, Zelensky said last week said it was "pointless" to hold further talks with the current Russian delegation -- who he previously dismissed as "empty heads" -- since they could not agree to a ceasefire. On Sunday, the Russian army also claimed to have attacked the Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, which borders the regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, already partially under Russian control, a first in more than three years of conflict. "Time for everyone to finally accept the fact that Russia understands only strikes, not rational words," Ukraine's Yermak said on Tuesday, in a thinly veiled criticism of the Trump administration. As a condition for halting its invasion, Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede the territories Moscow claims to have annexed and forswear joining NATO. It has also rejected a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire sought by Kyiv and the European Union, arguing that it would allow Ukrainian forces to rearm with Western deliveries. Ukraine is demanding a complete Russian withdrawal of from its territory and security guarantees from the West, describing Moscow's demands as "ultimatums". © 2025 AFP
LeMonde
12 hours ago
- LeMonde
Kursk's 'victory parade' highlights the region caught between normalization and disillusion
In Kursk, the artists of the municipal circus staged a return to normal. And "victory," after nine months of fighting to retake this Russian region that was partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. On the very next day after the surprise attack, August 6, 2024, the imposing circular building was transformed into a relief center for families fleeing the border villages. The ring was closed, the troupe and animals evacuated and volunteers worked around the clock to distribute, by the cartload, bags of rice, bottles of water, toothbrushes and children's books. At the entrance, nearly 2,000 refugees came daily to collect supplies "in a temporary situation that looks to be very long," worried Aliona Agarkova, one of the center's coordinators, at the time. Since April, the Russian Army has driven out the Ukrainian troops and retaken the 1,400 square kilometers that had been occupied. Amid the circus's colorful banners and balloons, Aliona Agarkova, 34, welcomed the crowds of families eager to applaud the return of artists and animals. "With the children, we write letters to the soldiers. But life is starting again. There will soon be a peace agreement," hoped the woman who has since been promoted to circus manager. Normalization remained relative. To welcome the public again, several security measures had to be taken: bulletproof glass at the windows, evacuation plans and water reserves. As many as 20 times a day, sirens wailed over Kursk, warning of incoming drones or missiles. Yet no one sought shelter. On April 15, however, an explosion at a residential building killed a resident – the first casualty in the city.
