Poland’s ambassador to Russia, Krzysztof Krajewski, was reportedly the target of an attempted physical attack on Sunday while on his way to attend a church service in St. Petersburg. According to video footage circulating online and multiple Polish media outlets, a group displaying anti-Polish and anti-Ukrainian symbols surrounded the diplomat, first verbally harassing him and then attempting to assault him. Krajewski’s long-standing security detail intervened quickly, preventing the situation from escalating.

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident sharply, describing it as “the most serious event of its kind in many years.” Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór told Polsat News that only the decisive response of the ambassador’s security team prevented a “beating attack.” Krajewski later told the PAP news agency that the confrontation appeared deliberate and well-organized, and confirmed that a formal protest note had been sent to the Russian authorities.

Despite the severity of the incident, Moscow has not issued a public response. Behind closed doors, however, the issue was addressed when the Russian chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry earlier this week. During the meeting, Warsaw delivered a formal note concerning both the attack and the planned closure of the last remaining Russian consulate in Poland. According to Wewiór, the Polish side stressed that such an incident must not be repeated.

The assault comes at a time of already heightened tensions between Poland and Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Polish officials say the attack underscores the broader climate of hostility and warn that the safety of diplomats must be guaranteed under international law. As of now, Russia has offered no official explanation or apology, and the situation adds yet another strain to the already fragile diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

Photo Credits: Photo by Sadık Arpacı on Unsplash