Notes from Poland
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Independent and informed news and insight on Polish politics, culture, business and history.
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An 18-year-old will stand trial in Poland, accused of preparing to carry out an attack inspired Islamic State.
The suspect, who was found in possession of material promoting jihad, was allegedly targeting a school and had compiled a list of people to kill.
The suspect, who was found in possession of material promoting jihad, was allegedly targeting a school and had compiled a list of people to kill.
Teen to stand trial in Poland for planning Islamic State-inspired attack
notesfrompoland.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:31 PM
An 18-year-old will stand trial in Poland, accused of preparing to carry out an attack inspired Islamic State.
The suspect, who was found in possession of material promoting jihad, was allegedly targeting a school and had compiled a list of people to kill.
The suspect, who was found in possession of material promoting jihad, was allegedly targeting a school and had compiled a list of people to kill.
Poland will not join President Donald Trump's Board of Peace "under current circumstances", says Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The government has "doubts over the form of the board" but does not rule out joining in future "if there is a change in circumstances".
The government has "doubts over the form of the board" but does not rule out joining in future "if there is a change in circumstances".
Tusk: Poland will not join Trump's Board of Peace "under current circumstances"
notesfrompoland.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Poland will not join President Donald Trump's Board of Peace "under current circumstances", says Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The government has "doubts over the form of the board" but does not rule out joining in future "if there is a change in circumstances".
The government has "doubts over the form of the board" but does not rule out joining in future "if there is a change in circumstances".
President Nawrocki's deputy chief of staff has been charged with ordering the falsification of documents, a crime carrying a potential five-year jail term.
He denies the accusations, calling them "an act of political revenge" by the government against the opposition-aligned president.
He denies the accusations, calling them "an act of political revenge" by the government against the opposition-aligned president.
President's deputy chief of staff charged in signature forgery case
notesfrompoland.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:38 PM
President Nawrocki's deputy chief of staff has been charged with ordering the falsification of documents, a crime carrying a potential five-year jail term.
He denies the accusations, calling them "an act of political revenge" by the government against the opposition-aligned president.
He denies the accusations, calling them "an act of political revenge" by the government against the opposition-aligned president.
A record 50,709 gun licences were issued in Poland last year and the total number of registered firearms has now surpassed 1 million.
Gun ownership in Poland has risen particularly rapidly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Gun ownership in Poland has risen particularly rapidly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Record number of gun licences issued in Poland in 2025 as privately owned firearms pass 1 million
notesfrompoland.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:09 PM
A record 50,709 gun licences were issued in Poland last year and the total number of registered firearms has now surpassed 1 million.
Gun ownership in Poland has risen particularly rapidly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Gun ownership in Poland has risen particularly rapidly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Poland's state historical body has criticised remarks by the head of its Ukrainian counterpart about the massacres of Poles by Ukrainians in WWII.
He said they are part of a “Polish grand narrative” but are viewed in Ukraine as a “local episode”. He also suggested they did not constitute a genocide
He said they are part of a “Polish grand narrative” but are viewed in Ukraine as a “local episode”. He also suggested they did not constitute a genocide
Poland criticises head of Ukrainian state history institute for downplaying WWII massacres
notesfrompoland.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Poland's state historical body has criticised remarks by the head of its Ukrainian counterpart about the massacres of Poles by Ukrainians in WWII.
He said they are part of a “Polish grand narrative” but are viewed in Ukraine as a “local episode”. He also suggested they did not constitute a genocide
He said they are part of a “Polish grand narrative” but are viewed in Ukraine as a “local episode”. He also suggested they did not constitute a genocide
In his first interview since cutting ties with the speaker of Poland's parliament over his "outrageous insults" against President Donald Trump, the US ambassador has refused to specify what those insults were.
He also says the US remains "Poland’s best ally and greatest friend".
He also says the US remains "Poland’s best ally and greatest friend".
US ambassador refuses to say how Polish speaker insulted Trump
notesfrompoland.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:58 PM
In his first interview since cutting ties with the speaker of Poland's parliament over his "outrageous insults" against President Donald Trump, the US ambassador has refused to specify what those insults were.
He also says the US remains "Poland’s best ally and greatest friend".
He also says the US remains "Poland’s best ally and greatest friend".
An appeals court has upheld the five-and-a-half-year prison sentences given to two Russians convicted of recruiting for the mercenary Wagner Group in Poland.
The men were caught after placing hundreds of Wager recruitment stickers in Warsaw and Kraków.
The men were caught after placing hundreds of Wager recruitment stickers in Warsaw and Kraków.
Polish court upholds jail sentences for Russian Wagner Group recruiters
notesfrompoland.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:55 AM
An appeals court has upheld the five-and-a-half-year prison sentences given to two Russians convicted of recruiting for the mercenary Wagner Group in Poland.
The men were caught after placing hundreds of Wager recruitment stickers in Warsaw and Kraków.
The men were caught after placing hundreds of Wager recruitment stickers in Warsaw and Kraków.
Poland has won its first medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics after 19-year-old ski jumper Kacper Tomasiak took silver in the men's normal hill individual.
Niewiarygodne sceny w Predazzo. Tomasiak aż zaniemówił. Chwile wzruszenia
Kacper Tomasiak do Włoch na igrzyska olimpijskie jechał z nadzieją na sprawienie niespodzianki, taką byłby pewnie byłaby walka o podium. Już przy
sport.interia.pl
February 9, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Poland has won its first medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics after 19-year-old ski jumper Kacper Tomasiak took silver in the men's normal hill individual.
Robert Bąkiewicz, a nationalist leader with ties to the opposition PiS party, has been charged with inciting the murder of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Bąkiewicz says his words have been deliberately misinterpreted as part of a political prosecution.
Bąkiewicz says his words have been deliberately misinterpreted as part of a political prosecution.
Polish nationalist leader charged with inciting murder of Prime Minister Tusk
notesfrompoland.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Robert Bąkiewicz, a nationalist leader with ties to the opposition PiS party, has been charged with inciting the murder of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Bąkiewicz says his words have been deliberately misinterpreted as part of a political prosecution.
Bąkiewicz says his words have been deliberately misinterpreted as part of a political prosecution.
Russia has accused Polish intelligence of being involved in last week’s attempted assassination of a general in Moscow, which it says was carried out on Ukraine’s orders.
Poland has not yet commented on the claims, which were presented without evidence.
Poland has not yet commented on the claims, which were presented without evidence.
Russia accuses Poland of involvement in assassination attempt on general in Moscow
notesfrompoland.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Russia has accused Polish intelligence of being involved in last week’s attempted assassination of a general in Moscow, which it says was carried out on Ukraine’s orders.
Poland has not yet commented on the claims, which were presented without evidence.
Poland has not yet commented on the claims, which were presented without evidence.
A consortium including FedEx has agreed to buy Polish delivery firm InPost in a deal that values the company at €7.8 billion.
The move is intended to provide FedEx with access to InPost's delivery infrastructure in Europe while helping InPost expand.
The move is intended to provide FedEx with access to InPost's delivery infrastructure in Europe while helping InPost expand.
Consortium including FedEx to buy Poland's InPost in €7.8 billion deal
notesfrompoland.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM
A consortium including FedEx has agreed to buy Polish delivery firm InPost in a deal that values the company at €7.8 billion.
The move is intended to provide FedEx with access to InPost's delivery infrastructure in Europe while helping InPost expand.
The move is intended to provide FedEx with access to InPost's delivery infrastructure in Europe while helping InPost expand.
Warsaw Zoo has launched a new facility, open 24/7, at which people can drop off injured wild birds in need of treatment.
The project was funded as part of the city's "citizens' budget", in which residents can propose and vote for projects to be implemented with municipal funds.
The project was funded as part of the city's "citizens' budget", in which residents can propose and vote for projects to be implemented with municipal funds.
Warsaw Zoo opens 24-hour drop off point for injured birds
notesfrompoland.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Warsaw Zoo has launched a new facility, open 24/7, at which people can drop off injured wild birds in need of treatment.
The project was funded as part of the city's "citizens' budget", in which residents can propose and vote for projects to be implemented with municipal funds.
The project was funded as part of the city's "citizens' budget", in which residents can propose and vote for projects to be implemented with municipal funds.
The proportion of Poles who dislike Americans, Jews and Ukrainians has risen more over the last year than for any other ethnic and national group.
However, Russians, Roma and Belarusians remain the most disliked groups, according to the latest instalment of a long-running CBOS poll.
However, Russians, Roma and Belarusians remain the most disliked groups, according to the latest instalment of a long-running CBOS poll.
Poles’ dislike of Americans, Jews and Ukrainians on the rise, survey shows
notesfrompoland.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The proportion of Poles who dislike Americans, Jews and Ukrainians has risen more over the last year than for any other ethnic and national group.
However, Russians, Roma and Belarusians remain the most disliked groups, according to the latest instalment of a long-running CBOS poll.
However, Russians, Roma and Belarusians remain the most disliked groups, according to the latest instalment of a long-running CBOS poll.
Poland has charged five people for smuggling cigarettes from Belarus using weather balloons.
Prosecutors say that the gang’s actions, as well as costing Poland over 2 million zloty in lost taxes, also helped support Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing income to Belarus.
Prosecutors say that the gang’s actions, as well as costing Poland over 2 million zloty in lost taxes, also helped support Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing income to Belarus.
Poland charges five men for smuggling cigarettes from Belarus with balloons
notesfrompoland.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Poland has charged five people for smuggling cigarettes from Belarus using weather balloons.
Prosecutors say that the gang’s actions, as well as costing Poland over 2 million zloty in lost taxes, also helped support Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing income to Belarus.
Prosecutors say that the gang’s actions, as well as costing Poland over 2 million zloty in lost taxes, also helped support Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing income to Belarus.
Poland has won the 2026 Rail Champion Award in recognition of its efforts to "drive rail forward as a pillar of European competitiveness and resilience".
Poland wins European Rail Champion Award
notesfrompoland.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Poland has won the 2026 Rail Champion Award in recognition of its efforts to "drive rail forward as a pillar of European competitiveness and resilience".
A court has ordered that former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who is wanted in Poland on suspicion of 26 crimes, be placed in pretrial detention.
The decision opens the way for a European Arrest Warrant against Ziobro, who fled to Hungary and obtained asylum there.
The decision opens the way for a European Arrest Warrant against Ziobro, who fled to Hungary and obtained asylum there.
Court orders pretrial detention for former Polish justice minister Ziobro
notesfrompoland.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
A court has ordered that former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who is wanted in Poland on suspicion of 26 crimes, be placed in pretrial detention.
The decision opens the way for a European Arrest Warrant against Ziobro, who fled to Hungary and obtained asylum there.
The decision opens the way for a European Arrest Warrant against Ziobro, who fled to Hungary and obtained asylum there.
The US has cut all contact with the speaker of Poland's parliament because of his "outrageous insults" against President Trump.
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the US ambassador that "allies should respect, not lecture, each other".
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the US ambassador that "allies should respect, not lecture, each other".
US cuts all contact with Polish parliamentary speaker for "insulting Trump"
notesfrompoland.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The US has cut all contact with the speaker of Poland's parliament because of his "outrageous insults" against President Trump.
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the US ambassador that "allies should respect, not lecture, each other".
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the US ambassador that "allies should respect, not lecture, each other".
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Kyiv today for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky on the international Ukraine Recovery Conference, which Poland is hosting this year.
The pair also discussed deepening energy and defence cooperation between their countries.
The pair also discussed deepening energy and defence cooperation between their countries.
Tusk and Zelensky meet in Kyiv for talks on Poland hosting Ukraine Recovery Conference
notesfrompoland.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Kyiv today for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky on the international Ukraine Recovery Conference, which Poland is hosting this year.
The pair also discussed deepening energy and defence cooperation between their countries.
The pair also discussed deepening energy and defence cooperation between their countries.
Poland has recorded its highest-ever daily level of gas exports amid rising demand from Ukraine.
The record came days after Poland increased export capacity to Ukraine, which has been suffering a winter energy crisis amid Russian attacks.
The record came days after Poland increased export capacity to Ukraine, which has been suffering a winter energy crisis amid Russian attacks.
Poland's gas exports hit new high on strong demand from Ukraine
notesfrompoland.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Poland has recorded its highest-ever daily level of gas exports amid rising demand from Ukraine.
The record came days after Poland increased export capacity to Ukraine, which has been suffering a winter energy crisis amid Russian attacks.
The record came days after Poland increased export capacity to Ukraine, which has been suffering a winter energy crisis amid Russian attacks.
The defence ministry official arrested this week on suspicion of spying has now been charged with espionage and placed in pretrial detention.
A deputy minister says the suspect "appears not to have had access to top-secret information related to planning but may have had contact with it".
A deputy minister says the suspect "appears not to have had access to top-secret information related to planning but may have had contact with it".
Pracownik MON podejrzany o szpiegostwo.
Wiceminister obrony narodowej Stanisław Wziątek przekazał nowe informacje na temat pracownika resortu podejrzanego o szpiegostwo. — Pracownik MON podejrzany o szpiegostwo wykonywał proste czynności ad...
wiadomosci.onet.pl
February 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
The defence ministry official arrested this week on suspicion of spying has now been charged with espionage and placed in pretrial detention.
A deputy minister says the suspect "appears not to have had access to top-secret information related to planning but may have had contact with it".
A deputy minister says the suspect "appears not to have had access to top-secret information related to planning but may have had contact with it".
The Auschwitz Museum will stop selling entry tickets on site from next month, with visits instead having to be booked online in advance.
It says the decision is a response to the “unethical practices” of travel firms that bring large numbers of visitors without pre-booked reservations.
It says the decision is a response to the “unethical practices” of travel firms that bring large numbers of visitors without pre-booked reservations.
Auschwitz Museum to stop selling entry tickets on-site over "unethical practices" of travel firms
notesfrompoland.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:37 PM
The Auschwitz Museum will stop selling entry tickets on site from next month, with visits instead having to be booked online in advance.
It says the decision is a response to the “unethical practices” of travel firms that bring large numbers of visitors without pre-booked reservations.
It says the decision is a response to the “unethical practices” of travel firms that bring large numbers of visitors without pre-booked reservations.
From this month, shops in Poland will have to label loose fruit and vegetables with the flag of their country of origin.
The government says this will give consumers clearer information. But an industry group warns it will raise financial and environmental costs.
The government says this will give consumers clearer information. But an industry group warns it will raise financial and environmental costs.
Poland to require retailers to add flags of origin to loose fruit and vegetables
notesfrompoland.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:53 PM
From this month, shops in Poland will have to label loose fruit and vegetables with the flag of their country of origin.
The government says this will give consumers clearer information. But an industry group warns it will raise financial and environmental costs.
The government says this will give consumers clearer information. But an industry group warns it will raise financial and environmental costs.
President Nawrocki has called a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss Poland's proposed EU defence loans, its invitation to join Donald Trump's Board of Peace, and the alleged "eastern contacts" (meaning Russian) of the speaker of parliament.
Polish president calls security meeting to discuss EU defence loans and Trump's Board of Peace
notesfrompoland.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:55 PM
President Nawrocki has called a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss Poland's proposed EU defence loans, its invitation to join Donald Trump's Board of Peace, and the alleged "eastern contacts" (meaning Russian) of the speaker of parliament.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced the creation of a special group tasked with looking into the Epstein Files.
They will seek to determine whether any of Epstein's victims were Polish, as well as if he had links to Russian intelligence.
They will seek to determine whether any of Epstein's victims were Polish, as well as if he had links to Russian intelligence.
Poland to set up body to look into Epstein files
notesfrompoland.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced the creation of a special group tasked with looking into the Epstein Files.
They will seek to determine whether any of Epstein's victims were Polish, as well as if he had links to Russian intelligence.
They will seek to determine whether any of Epstein's victims were Polish, as well as if he had links to Russian intelligence.
Poland’s defence ministry has confirmed that a “long-serving employee” was today detained on suspicion of working with foreign intelligence.
Unofficial reports indicate that he collaborated with Russian and Belarusian intelligence.
Unofficial reports indicate that he collaborated with Russian and Belarusian intelligence.
Poland detains defence ministry official accused of working with foreign intelligence
notesfrompoland.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Poland’s defence ministry has confirmed that a “long-serving employee” was today detained on suspicion of working with foreign intelligence.
Unofficial reports indicate that he collaborated with Russian and Belarusian intelligence.
Unofficial reports indicate that he collaborated with Russian and Belarusian intelligence.