The tension between Russia and Poland has once again escalated after protesters in Warsaw prevented the Russian ambassador from laying flowers at the monument of Soviet soldiers. The incident occurred on May 9, the day Russia commemorates Victory Day, marking the country’s victory over Nazi Germany.
In response to the incident, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement accusing Poland of hypocrisy in its assessment of the events of World War II.
“On May 9, the crowd in Poland did not allow Russian diplomats to enter the cemetery of Soviet liberators in Warsaw. What happened once again shows the duplicity of Poland’s policy in assessing the events of World War II,”
the statement reads.
While Russians traditionally present themselves as liberators, they often overlook the gruesome role they played in the history of Poland and other Eastern Bloc countries.
The tension between Moscow and Warsaw has been on the rise due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. As Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreyev attempted to lay flowers at the monument of Soviet liberators, he was stopped by protesters carrying banners that clearly stated his presence was a desecration of the memory of those who fought during World War II.
The demonstrators also set up a corridor of Ukrainian flags and crosses bearing the names of victims killed in the Russian invasion. Andreyev, unable to reach the monument, left the flowers by the Ukrainian flags. The activists trampled on the flowers and hung the Russian flag on a fake rocket.
The incident highlights the deep-seated tensions between Russia and Poland, which have historical roots. While Poland views the Soviet Union as an occupier, Russia sees itself as a liberator. Until both sides can reconcile their views on the past, tensions are likely to persist.