Incident in Warsaw
In the early hours of June 15, 2026, two masked individuals set fire to the Mur Mur restaurant, a business owned by three Ukrainian citizens, in Warsaw. Thanks to the activation of an automatic fire suppression system, no customers or staff members were injured. The restaurant, located on Chmielna Street, was able to resume operations the very next day after the attack.
Actions of the Perpetrators
According to preliminary reports, the perpetrators broke into the establishment, poured a flammable liquid on the floor and furniture, and then ignited the premises. Surveillance cameras captured the moment they shattered the glass door and carried out the arson. One of the attackers even photographed the burning restaurant before fleeing. Warsaw police arrived at the scene within minutes and seized the camera footage, which is scheduled to be handed over to the Warsaw-Wola District Prosecutor's Office on June 16, 2026.
Co-owner Dmytro Rozlyakov expressed his outrage over the incident on social media. He stated:
'At night, someone came to our restaurant in Warsaw with fire. Not to rob. Not to steal. But to burn it to the ground—along with the work of dozens of people and a place where families with children come every day. No one was hurt—this time. But the essence is simple: in the center of a European capital, a foreign-owned business, the labor of dozens of people, and a place loved by the community became a target for someone whose courage only went as far as coming at night. Remember this: everything was recorded by cameras. Every frame is already with the police.' Dmytro Rozlyakov
The restaurant's owners consider this incident a deliberate act of arson, though police have not yet commented on possible motives. Notably, this is not the first incident involving Ukrainian citizens in Warsaw. In May 2025, Polish prosecutors charged two Ukrainians with involvement in the arson of the Marywilska shopping center, where investigators determined the criminal group was acting in the interests of Russian intelligence services. Additionally, in June 2026, Polish police detained suspects who abducted two Ukrainians in Wrocław, facing up to 25 years in prison.
This event highlights the tensions surrounding Ukrainian citizens in Poland, especially in light of previous high-profile crimes linked to broader geopolitical conflicts. Authorities and law enforcement agencies must respond proactively to such incidents to prevent further crimes and ensure the safety of foreign nationals living and working in Poland. Determining the motives behind this attack is also critical to understanding whether it is part of a wider trend or an isolated occurrence.
As tensions continue to rise in Poland regarding incidents involving Ukrainian citizens, it is crucial to understand the broader context of these events. Recently, four individuals were arrested for kidnapping and assaulting Ukrainians, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence against the community. This surge in hostility raises questions about safety and security for foreign-owned businesses and their patrons in the region.