Poland Urges Citizens to Leave Russia Amidst Rising Tensions

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised its citizens to refrain from all travel to Russia and, for those currently in the country, to leave immediately via available commercial or private means, unless essential personal, family, or professional obligations necessitate their continued presence. The recommendation, issued on February 16, 2026, stems from the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s designation of Poland as an “unfriendly” state.

Consular Assistance Limited

The Ministry emphasized that providing consular assistance to Polish citizens in Russia is becoming increasingly challenging. This limitation is a direct result of Russian authorities’ decisions to close Polish consulates general in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, leading to a significant reduction in diplomatic and consular staff. The Ministry warned that evacuation could become “significantly difficult or even impossible” should the security situation deteriorate rapidly, borders close, or other unforeseen circumstances arise.

Consular Presence Reduced to Embassies

Currently, neither Poland nor Russia maintains consulates general within their respective territories. Only embassies remain operational in Warsaw and Moscow. The mutual closure of consular offices began in the fall of 2024, with the last closures – the Russian consulate in Gdansk and the Polish consulate in Irkutsk – occurring at the conclude of last year.

Recent Diplomatic Strain

A significant downturn in bilateral relations was triggered by the detention in Poland of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin at the request of Ukraine. The detention relates to Butyagin’s archaeological perform in Crimea following Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula. Moscow has attempted to exploit historical tensions between Poland and Ukraine as part of its broader information campaign.

Poland’s Support for Ukraine

Poland and Ukraine share a 529 km (329 mi) border and are respectively the second- and third-largest Slavic nations after Russia. Poland was the first country to recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991 and continues to be a strong supporter of Ukraine, including providing aid such as hundreds of generators to bolster Ukraine’s energy system amid Russian attacks. Poland as well initiated the Eastern Partnership, a European Union project aimed at fostering cooperation between the EU and its Eastern European neighbors.