On May 9, Russia celebrates the day of victory over Nazi Germany. On that day, representatives of the Russian embassy led by Sergei Andreyev tried to lay wreaths at the Mausoleum of Soviet Soldiers Cemetery. This was made impossible for them by numerous demonstrators with Polish and Ukrainian flags, who greeted the Russians with shouts: "fascists", "killers", "Putin ch ..." (Putin is a di...). At one point, a group of people ran up to the ambassador and poured red paint on him.
On Saturday, the Russian embassy in Poland published a statement about "the impossibility of holding the Victory Day celebrations in the traditional mode on May 9, 2022, in Warsaw".
"The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Poland with deep regret informs that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland" did not recommend "the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers at the Cemetery-Mausoleum of Soviet Soldiers in Warsaw and the action "Immortal Regiment" on May 9, 2022, referring to the fact that the indicated events are allegedly related to the Russian special operation in Ukraine and contrary to the Polish Criminal Code."
"The Embassy considers such an interpretation of our traditional Victory Day celebration as absurd and unjustified, but in the current situation we cannot count on the Polish authorities to ensure proper public order during its conduct. Polish citizens and Russian compatriots facing the threat of their safety and the risk of persecution under false pretenses, the Russian diplomatic mission decided this time to abandon the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers and the "Immortal Regiment" campaign in the traditional mode "- reads the release.
Apparently, a need for an "incident" and provocation won and they decided to go ahead with their plans anyway.