Notes from Poland

Memorial to victims of WWII massacres by Ukrainian nationalists vandalised in Poland

A monument to victims of the massacres of ethnic Poles by Ukrainian nationalists during WWII has been vandalised in Poland.

Unknown perpetrators painted the flag of the UPA, the organisation that led the massacres, and a slogan glorifying it.

Government unlawfully fired director of Polish History Museum, finds court

The culture minister acted unlawfully when firing the head of the Polish History Museum last year, a court has found.

The decision to remove Robert Kostro caused widespread criticism at the time, with some accusing the government of political interference.

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Poland to launch tax-free personal investment accounts up to 100,000 zloty

Poland's finance ministry wants to allow individuals to invest up to 100,000 zloty (€23,400) tax free.

It believes the new Personal Investment Accounts (OKI) will benefit both households and the economy more broadly. But analysts are more sceptical.

Polish PM seeks to prevent new president's security chief from having security clearance

The office of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has filed an appeal to Poland's highest administrative court in an effort to prevent Sławomir Cenckiewicz, the top security advisor to new opposition-aligned President Karol Nawrocki, from having his security clearance restored.

A large crowd has gathered outside Warsaw's Royal Castle to celebrate the inauguration of new Polish President Karol Nawrocki, which is being marked by a series of ceremonies in the capital today

German ministry mistakenly posts photo of Ghetto Uprising on Warsaw Uprising anniversary

Germany’s culture ministry mistakenly marked the recent anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising by posting a photo on social media that actually comes from the separate Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and which is considered an example of Nazi propaganda.

Belarus protests to Poland over planned anti-Lukashenko march in Warsaw

Belarus has protested to Poland over plans for a march in Warsaw this Saturday organised by opponents of the Belarusian government.

Minsk says it is a “destructive event” that will "harm Belarusian-Polish relations" and warns that it may "take countermeasures".

Poland swears in new president Karol Nawrocki

Poland’s new right-wing, opposition-aligned president, Karol Nawrocki, has been sworn in to office.

He pledged to be "the voice of those who want a sovereign Poland" and called for a "return to the rule of law".

Polish top court backs PM Tusk in "revoked signature" dispute

Poland’s top administrative court has ruled that Prime Minister Donald Tusk last year acted lawfully when withdrawing his signature approving a judicial appointment made by President Andrzej Duda after saying he had signed off on it “by mistake”dispute.

Polish president vetoes two government bills on final day in office

On his final day in office, President Duda has vetoed two government bills abolishing or overhauling institutions created under the former PiS administration.

He also blocked the passage of a bill that would allow children aged 13+ to see a psychologist without parental consent.

Polish parliament strips deputy opposition leader of legal immunity

The government’s majority in parliament has voted to strip deputy opposition leader Antoni Macierewicz of legal immunity so that he can be charged with alleged crimes committed while head of a state commission re-investigating the 2010 Smolensk plane crash that killed then President Lech Kaczyński.

Visitors are flocking to Warsaw's botanical gardens for a rare chance to see - and sniff - the world's smelliest flower, titan arum, which began to bloom today.

That happens briefly only once every few years and sees the plant emit an odour of rotting flesh designed to attract insects.

Ukraine seeks €120m loan from Poland to buy Polish-made weapons

Ukraine's foreign minister says he has asked his counterpart in Poland about the possibility of a €120 million loan to fund the purchase of Polish-made weapons, such as Piorun air-defence systems.

Warsaw has not yet publicly commented on his remarks.

Israel criticises Polish PM Tusk for "unacceptable" post on starving children in Gaza

Israel has criticised Polish PM Donald Tusk after he suggested Israeli politicians are causing children to starve in Gaza.

It called the remarks “unacceptable” and said Tusk should "remember the lessons” of the Holocaust because Hamas are “the new Nazis”.

Poland and Ukraine start exhumation of Polish WWII soldiers in Lviv

Poland and Ukraine have begun the exhumation of Polish soldiers who died in September 1939 while defending Lviv (now in Ukraine, then known as Lwów and part of Poland) during the invasions by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union at the start of WWII.

German environmental challenge to planned Polish deepwater port rejected

A Polish court has rejected a challenge by German environmental group Lebensraum Vorpommern against the construction of a deepwater shipping terminal in Poland.

The Polish government has welcomed ruling, saying that plans for the port will now go ahead as a "priority".

Call for museum to honour deaf platoon that fought in Warsaw Uprising

Among those who fought against Nazi Germany in the Warsaw Uprising was a platoon of deaf people

The daughter of one veteran has called for the unit to be better commemorated, including by finally being added to the exhibition at the Warsaw Rising Museum.

Poland to extend border controls with Germany and Lithuania for two more months

Poland has decided to extend the controls that it introduced one month ago on its borders with Germany and Lithuania for a further two months.

It says that the measures have “clearly been effective” in their aim of reducing illegal migration.

"No one has the right to make children starve," Poland tells Israel in Gaza warning

"No one has the right to cause children to starve," Poland's foreign minister @radek-sikorski.bsky.social has told Israel.

"Even when Israel acts in self defense, it is still not exempt from respecting international humanitarian law...[as] the state occupying Gaza and the West Bank."

African wild cat on loose after escaping Polish village

An African wildcat is on the run in Poland after escaping captivity in a village.

Sasza the serval's owner has appealed to local residents to report sightings but not approach the animal.

Poland to have more tanks than UK, Germany, France and Italy combined after signing new K2 deal

Poland has signed a $6.7bn deal to buy a further 180 South Korean K2 tanks, including 61 that will be made in Poland itself.

Once delivery is complete by 2030, Poland will have more tanks than Germany, France, the UK and Italy combined.

Wreszcie jest! Wydano zezwolenie na eksploatację reaktora Maria Prezes Państwowej Agencji Atomistyki wydał zezwolenie na eksploatację reaktora badawczego Maria. To jedyny reaktor jądrowy w Polsce.

Poland's only nuclear reactor, known as Maria, will go back online after a four-month shutdown due to a failure to renew its operating licence.

The country's National Atomic Energy Agency has now issued a new permit for the research reactor.

For more, read our previous report: bit.ly/3U8oJDW.

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Record passenger numbers on Polish trains in first half of 2025

A record 40.4 million passengers travelled with PKP Intercity, Poland’s main long-distance train operator, in the first half of 2025, up 9% on the same period last year.

Warsaw's "Robinson Crusoes" who survived in the rubble after the uprising

Poland today marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, the largest military operation by a European resistance movement during WWII.

Read our story from last year on the "Robinson Crusoes" who survived in the city after its destruction by the Germans.

Poland’s new justice minister to dismiss dozens court heads in move to "clean up" judiciary

The new justice minister has moved to dismiss 46 presidents and vice-presidents of courts as he aims to "clean up the mess" still remaining from the former PiS government's judicial reforms.

"The rule of law has not yet been restored," says Waldemar Żurek, himself a former judge.

InPost chief calls on government to address lower taxes paid by foreign rivals in Poland

The CEO of Polish delivery giant InPost has complained that foreign rivals operating in Poland, such as FedEx and DHL, pay much lower taxes.

"How long will the Polish tax system treat foreign competitors better than Polish companies?" asked Rafal Brzoska.

Polish ruling party senator given five-year jail sentence for corruption

A senator from Poland’s main ruling PO party has been given a five-year jail sentence for his involvement in a corruption scandal.

Stanisław Gawłowski claims the charges were engineered for political reasons by the former PiS government and intends to appeal against his conviction.

Karol Nawrocki rozmawiał z Wołodymyrem Zełenskim. "To powinno ulec zmianie" - PolsatNews.pl Prezydent elekt Karol Nawrocki odbył rozmowę telefoniczną z prezydentem Ukrainy Wołodymyrem Zełenskim. Jednym z poruszonych tematów była polityka historyczna. Karol Nawrocki podkreślił, że jest głosem...

In a call with Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect Karol Nawrocki, who takes office next week, emphasised his "continued support for Ukraine in connection with the ongoing war".

But he also called for a "change in Ukraine’s approach to important and unresolved historical issues".