Poland disconnected electricity and heating to the former Russian consulate in Gdańsk on April 3 after Moscow refused to vacate the building despite orders to close the facility and accumulated significant unpaid utility bills.
The escalation marks a breakdown in diplomatic protocol unusual even by the deteriorating standards of Russia-NATO relations. Russia maintains a single staff member at the property, claiming legal ownership based on post-World War II agreements that Polish authorities reject as invalid.
Two utility companies—Energa and GPEC—cut services after Russia failed to pay bills over several months while continuing to occupy the building. The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed the action, framing it as a standard response to unpaid debts rather than a diplomatic measure.
The dispute began in November 2025 when Poland ordered closure of the consulate following sabotage of a rail line by Russian intelligence operatives. Russia evacuated its diplomatic staff in December but refused to surrender the building itself, creating a standoff that has persisted for months.
In Russia, as in much of the former Soviet space, understanding requires reading between the lines. The Kremlin's insistence on maintaining even a token presence in the shuttered consulate suggests symbolic importance beyond practical diplomatic function. For Moscow, yielding the property would represent another concession in its deteriorating position across Europe.
Gdańsk municipal authorities claim Russia owes approximately 5.5 million zloty (€1.3 million) for building use between 2013 and 2023, plus 3 million zloty in interest. Moscow contends it owes nothing, asserting free use rights under its claimed ownership dating to Soviet-era arrangements.
Polish officials called Russia's ownership claims "incomprehensible," noting land registers clearly show the Polish state treasury owns the property. The Foreign Ministry has requested prosecutors initiate proceedings for property surrender, but legal experts warn such cases could take several years to resolve through Polish courts.
