Putin has made a decision. There will be a new ambassador to Poland.

He will replace Sergei Andreyev, who held this position for the past few years and was a symbol of the difficult relations between Warsaw and Moscow.

The decision to appoint Mikhno as ambassador to Warsaw was signed by Vladimir Putin and announced in the form of a presidential decree. Official documents confirming the appointment were published on the Russian government's website on Wednesday.

Who is the new ambassador?

Georgy Mikhno is reportedly an experienced diplomat. He has previously held positions at the Russian Embassy in South Africa and the Embassy in Zimbabwe, among others.

His career also includes a series of positions at the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in Moscow, where he focused on Africa and relations with developing countries. Most recently, Mikhno was appointed Director of the Department of New Challenges and Threats at the Russian Foreign Ministry .

Andreyev's departure. They poured paint on him.

The current ambassador, Sergei Andreyev, is remembered in Polish consciousness as a diplomat who did not shy away from harsh words and often represented the Kremlin's position in an open and controversial way.

The May 2022 incident, when a protester doused him with a red substance while laying flowers at the Soviet soldiers' cemetery in Warsaw, resonated particularly loudly. This event became a symbol of the social and political tensions in Polish-Russian relations.

Andreyev's departure thus ends a certain chapter – a period full of difficult diplomatic gestures, protest notes and mutual accusations of actions inconsistent with international conventions.

Georgy Mikhno – a mission in a country hostile to Russia

Taking on the position of ambassador to Poland in the current political climate is no easy task. Warsaw, as one of Ukraine's main allies, pursues a decisive policy towards Russia and supports EU sanctions targeting the Russian economy and political elite.

Although Michno has not officially taken office yet, it can be expected that his first steps in Warsaw will be closely watched by both the media and politicians from various parties.

While in the past ambassadors of the Russian Federation had the opportunity to build certain channels of communication, today it is difficult to imagine dialogue at a level that goes beyond technical and formal diplomatic relations.

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