ISTANBUL

Russia may close the Polish Consulate General’s offices in Kaliningrad and Irkutsk in retaliation for Poland’s recent decision to shut down the Russian Consulate General in Krakow, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Monday.

Speaking to TASS, Grushko confirmed the possibility of reciprocal steps, saying: “Maybe. (Moscow) will answer, of course.”

On Sunday, Polish authorities linked a major fire on May 12, 2024 at a shopping mall on Marywilska Street in the capital Warsaw to suspected sabotage by Russian operatives. The entire building burned down.

Responding to the move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “Warsaw continues to deliberately destroy relations, acting against the interests of citizens. An adequate response to these inadequate steps will follow soon