Poland announced Wednesday it had shut its consulate in the Russian city of St. Petersburg after Russia ordered the closure in a tit-for-tat move. Russia ordered the closure in December after Poland said in October it was closing Russia's consulate in the Polish city of Poznan,

Warsaw officially closed the Consulate General of Poland in Russia's St Petersburg on Wednesday, 8 January, with the ceremony attended by Polish and foreign diplomats, along with members of the Polish diaspora.

Polish ambassador to Moscow expresses hope that Warsaw's consular mission would return to St. Petersburg in 'better times,' says Foreign Ministry statement - Anadolu Ajansı

Russia was once again in flames today as a suspected Ukrainian drone strike' devastated a chemical plant in Vladimir Putin ’s home city of St Petersburg, leaving a "pillar of fire". Huge repeated explosions were heard at the facility in Gatchina - which makes acetone that can be used for military explosives and rocket fuel.

Senior Russian security and military officials are pushing for an escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, opposing any prospects of negotiations. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: ISW analysts note that Russian security forces deem it crucial to escalate military operations in Ukraine,

Vladimir Putin is facing mounting anger from Russia's elite as the war in Ukraine drags on and the country's economy continues to suffer under the weight of Western sanctions