Russian Ambassador Gieorgij Michno and pro-Russian figures held Victory Day events in Warsaw, where Michno claimed Russia would achieve its goals in the invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Victory Day Commemorations in Warsaw
Russian and Belarusian embassy officials laid flowers at the Soviet Soldiers’ Mausoleum in Warsaw on May 7, followed by a diplomatic reception. According to OKO.press, some celebrations were moved to May 7 for security reasons, as pro-Russian events in Poland have faced counter-protests since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ambassador Michno’s Narrative and Claims
During the reception, Ambassador Gieorgij Michno spoke of his grandfather’s participation in the 1945 battles for Warsaw. He transitioned from historical memories to current events, lamenting the “destruction and desecration of war monuments in Poland.”
The diplomat echoed the Russian narrative regarding the war in Ukraine, stating that the goals of the “special military operation” will be achieved, adding, “We won then, in 1945, we will win now!”
Attendance of Pro-Russian Figures
The commemorations were attended by various figures described as pro-Russian, including Roland Dubowski, Sławomir Zakrzewski, Dariusz Cychol, Piotr Panasiuk, Jerzy Andrzejewski, Włodzimierz Rynkowski, and Wacław Klukowski. Also present were Mateusz Piskorski, who faces espionage charges for Russia, Tomasz Jankowski, Jarosław Augustyniak, and Leszek Sykulski.
Krzysztof Tołwiński’s Separate Event
On May 9, Krzysztof Tołwiński, a former PiS MP and current leader of the Front party, organized a separate gathering at the mausoleum. Tołwiński read a “roll call of memory” honoring Soviet marshals, officers, and soldiers, including Georgy Zhukov and Ivan Konev.
The Front party maintains contacts with Belarusian circles linked to Alexander Lukashenko and has a cooperation agreement with the Belarusian Liberal Democratic Party. Tołwiński has also admitted to indirect cooperation with the Putin-supporting Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.
Counter-Protests and Confrontations
The May 9 event was met by counter-protesters with Ukrainian flags and banners. Tołwiński reacted to the noise by claiming “Banderite culture” is ruling on Polish soil and described Poles as “savages.” OKO.press reported that individual scuffles occurred between the participants of the two groups.
Simultaneously, a delegation from the Russian embassy laid flowers at the graves of Soviet soldiers at the Bródnowski Cemetery in Warsaw without major incident.