Polish ambassador to Moscow Krzysztof Krajewski was physically assaulted by a group of protesters in St. Petersburg on 16 November while on his way to meet with the local Polish community for Poland's Independence Day celebrations, Gazeta Wyborcza reports.
The incident occurred around noon as Krajewski, accompanied by consul Jarosław Strycharsky, was walking to a service at the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria. An aggressive group of approximately 10 people surrounded the diplomat carrying banners with anti-Polish and anti-Ukrainian slogans.
"This was the most serious incident of this kind in many years. Only the intervention of security prevented the ambassador from being beaten," a source in the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the newspaper.
Several protesters attempted to strike the ambassador before the State Protection Service intervened to prevent the physical assault. The Polish security detail, which has accompanied Krajewski continuously since relations between Poland and Russia deteriorated following the invasion of Ukraine, had never before needed to take such decisive action.
Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór confirmed the attack and said Warsaw expressed its outrage during a meeting with Russia's chargé d'affaires on November 19.
"In response, we were told that such situations 'should not happen,'" Wewiór said.
He described the attackers as "an aggressive group of about 10 people with banners. They wanted to move from verbal assault to physical assault, but were stopped by the State Protection Service."
The demonstrators attacked Krajewski over Poland's support for Ukraine. Russian media coverage of the incident accused Polish security services of "aggressive behavior toward a peaceful group of demonstrators," omitting mention of the physical attack on the diplomat.
Footage broadcast by Russian channel "78" shows plainclothes Polish security officers pushing back two men and a woman attempting to shove the ambassador before escorting him into the basilica. Inside, with security surrounding him, Krajewski said he would call the police while demonstrators shouted "children are dying because of your money."
The Russian television report, titled "Warm Welcome," claimed the protesters were "social activists" and "concerned citizens" asking why "Polish authorities pursue a policy of double standards: on one hand declaring a desire for peace, while on the other financing and arming Ukraine."
A man identified as "Vadim, activist" — one of those who attacked the ambassador — appeared in the broadcast speaking about "Polish ingratitude" and claiming that "now Polish weapons and missiles are being used against children."
The Russian coverage also accused Poland of "disrespecting the memory of Soviet soldiers who fell liberating Poland from fascism" and noted that "hundreds of monuments to our soldiers have already been dismantled on the territory of this unfriendly state."
Krajewski, an experienced diplomat who assumed the post in 2021 and was retained by the current Polish government, had traveled to St. Petersburg specifically to mark Poland's Independence Day with the local Polish community. The protesters had waited for him at the consulate and attempted to reach him throughout his walk to the church.
Recently, Poland accused Russia of "an act of state terrorism" on 20 November and announced the deployment of 10,000 soldiers to protect critical infrastructure following a rail explosion that damaged a key supply route to Ukraine over the weekend.
