• Poland closes its last Russian consulate in Gdansk after a railway explosion.
• Polish officials accuse Russia of orchestrating the railway sabotage.
• Moscow plans to respond by reducing Poland's diplomatic presence in Russia.
• Poland urges EU allies to limit Russian diplomats' movements in the Schengen area.
• Previous Russian consulates in Poland have already been shut down over similar reasons.

Poland has announced the closure of its last remaining Russian consulate in Gdansk following a recent explosion on a railway line, which Polish officials attribute to Moscow's meddling. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated, “I have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the Russian consulate in Gdansk,” highlighting the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two nations, especially after the allegations of state-sponsored sabotage, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The railway of concern links Warsaw to the Ukrainian border and was allegedly sabotaged by two Ukrainians acting on behalf of Russian interests. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterized the incident as an "unprecedented act of sabotage," further asserting that there would be a prompt non-diplomatic response from Poland. The suspects reportedly fled to Belarus, reinforcing fears of Russian influence in the region, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

In direct response, Russia has stated it will respond by diminishing Poland’s diplomatic presence within its borders, as stated by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. This escalation marks the latest in a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic actions, with Poland having previously shuttered Russian consulates in Poznan and Krakow due to allegations of sabotage, according to Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera.

Sikorski has called on EU allies to impose further restrictions on Russian diplomats within the Schengen area, emphasizing that Poland's actions signal a stern warning regarding Russia's aggression. "We encourage our allies in the European Union to prevent Russians from enjoying the benefits of the Schengen countries," he stated, showing a clear line of support for international solidarity against perceived threats from Moscow, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.