What Neighbours Are Writing About Poland – 9 November 2026

In brief

• German Deutschlandfunk and ZEIT ONLINE report that hundreds of people took part in a memorial Mass in Kraków for the victims of the attack; a national mourning period is in effect in Poland.
• Czech Novinky.cz, citing Polish police, reports that the perpetrator of the attack on the Main Market Square died in hospital on Monday morning; according to this report, six people were killed and at least fifteen were injured.
• Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the German agency DPA, reports on exercises involving about 2,800 soldiers from eleven countries in Poland, running until 22 November.
• Slovak HNonline.sk, citing GUS, reports that the average wage in Poland in the third quarter of 2026 was 9,317 zł, or 6.2 percent more year on year.
• Russian propaganda media (Wiesti.ru, RIA Nowosti) present the exercises and the investigation into Kraków in a way that cannot be independently verified; these reports are marked as propagandistic in nature.

German press

German Deutschlandfunk reports that hundreds of people took part in a Mass in Kraków for the victims of the attack that took place on 7 November 2026 in the Old Town, where a man opened fire on passersby and killed six people. According to this station, Kraków Archbishop Rys stressed that the last word cannot belong to hatred, and people once again lit candles on the Main Market Square. Deutschlandfunk also reports that a national mourning period is in effect in Poland, and that the perpetrator, a 24-year-old, seriously wounded, is being prosecuted for murder and attempted murder; according to Interior Minister Kierwiński, quoted by the station, he allegedly was fascinated by far-right ideologies, and the bodies of his parents and sister were found in his home town. (Polen - Hunderte bei Gedenkmesse für Opfer von Anschlag in Krakau – Deutschlandfunk)

According to German ZEIT ONLINE, one day after the firearms attack in which six people died, hundreds of people took part in a memorial service in Kraków. A two-day national mourning period was declared in Poland. (Kraków: Hunderte Menschen gedenken in Kraków der Opfer des Angriffs – ZEIT ONLINE)

According to German ZEIT ONLINE, the perpetrator of the killing in Kraków, who allegedly shot at people, cannot yet be questioned. The outlet reports this in a piece on violent crimes in Poland, without however providing further details of the investigation or the course of events (Gewaltverbrechen in Polen: Todesschütze von Krakau kann noch nicht vernommen werden – ZEIT ONLINE).

According to German ZEIT ONLINE, the man who killed six people in Kraków was shot by police and taken to hospital, where – as services cited by ZEIT ONLINE report – he died. (Polen: Schütze nach Krakówer Schusswaffenangriff gestorben – ZEIT ONLINE)

According to German Deutschlandfunk, Kraków police announced that the attacker is dead. In the perpetrator's home town, about 150 km northeast of Kraków, officers found the bodies of his parents and sister. Deutschlandfunk reports that on Thursday evening a memorial service attended by hundreds of people was held in Kraków, and Archbishop Rys said that violence takes away speech, but the last word cannot belong to hatred. A national mourning period remains in effect in Poland. (Polen - Polizei: Attentäter von Krakau ist tot – Deutschlandfunk)

Czech press

The Czech portal Novinky.cz reports that the perpetrator of the shooting on Kraków's Main Market Square died in hospital on Monday morning, as the Polish police announced on platform X. According to Novinky.cz, the attacker targeted passersby on Saturday afternoon, killing six people and wounding at least fifteen. The portal cites TVN24 quoting Lesser Poland Voivode Krzysztof Klęczar, who spoke of the man's many operations and the condition of the other injured, including a police officer whose condition is improving (Útočník z Krakova zemřel – Novinky.cz). iROZHLAS writes similarly, adding that the perpetrator also shot his parents and sister, whose bodies were found in his apartment, according to the prosecutor's office (Zemřel útočník z Krakova. V centru města zabil šest lidí – iROZHLAS).

Slovak press

The Slovak portal HNonline.sk reports that the average wage in Poland in the third quarter of 2026 was 9,317 zł (approx. 2,121 euros), an increase of 6.2 percent year on year. The data cited by HNonline.sk come from a statement by the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS) published on Monday, and were reported by the TASR Warsaw correspondent. According to the same source, the median wage in May was 7,550 zł, or 6.6 percent more than a year earlier (Poľský ekonomický zázrak: priemerná mzda u našich severných susedov prekonala 2100 eur – HNonline.sk).

Ukrainian press

Ukrainian Українська правда, citing Europejska Prawda and the Lesser Poland Voivodeship police, reports that 24-year-old Michał O. from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, who opened fire on the Kraków Market Square on 7 November and killed 6 people, died in hospital in the morning of 9 November. According to this source, the perpetrator died after an exchange of fire with police, and according to information provided in the material he also wounded 15 people, including two officers who are in serious condition. (Чоловік, який вчинив стрілянину у Кракові, помер у лікарні – Українська правда) Europejska Prawda, citing Polsat News, reports that Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek assessed that it is too early to speak about the perpetrator's motives, although investigators have "certain evidence" that may shed more light on the case; according to him, the perpetrator most likely acted alone, and investigators classified the incident as a terrorist act, though Żurek did not want to comment on the attacker's possible radical views; meanwhile, the bodies of three members of his family were found in the apartment (В уряді Польщі розповіли, чи відомі мотиви стрільця у Кракові – Європейська правда).

Ukrainian media, e.g. the Ukrainian Espreso, citing Rzeczpospolita, report that the perpetrator of Saturday's attack in Kraków, Michał O., died in hospital early on Monday morning, after three surgeries. According to the quoted statement of Lesser Poland Voivode Krzysztof Klęczar, 14 injured people are in stable condition, and one police officer is in serious condition. Espreso recalls that the attacker shot six people and wounded sixteen, and that according to Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński his views were said to be radical and far-right (Стрілянина у Кракові: у лікарні помер чоловік, який вбив 9 людей – Espreso). Europejska Prawda also reports that 15 injured people are currently being treated in six Kraków hospitals, and that the condition of one police officer who took part in detaining the attacker remains serious, but he has already been brought out of a coma (Стрілянина у центрі Кракова: влада розповіла про стан постраждалих – Європейська правда).

Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the German agency DPA, reports that the first military exercises of the "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine are starting in Poland, with about 2,800 soldiers from eleven countries taking part. According to this source, the manoeuvres, conducted by France and the United Kingdom until 22 November, aim to test how to ensure lasting peace after the war ends, and Poland is the main organiser of the exercises. Europejska Prawda also recalls that on 19 November German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited President Zelensky to a coalition meeting in Berlin. (У Польщі стартують перші військові навчання "коаліції охочих" – Європейська правда) Europejska Prawda, citing DPA, describes the "coalition of the willing" exercises in Poland involving approx. 2,800 soldiers from eleven countries, conducted by France and the United Kingdom until 22 November. Polish materials (Zełenski ostrzega przed "Jałtą 2.0". „Nie chcemy, żeby Rosja nas podzieliła” – RMF24) and (Sikorski o negocjacjach ws. Ukrainy. "Niezbędna kolejność" – Wirtualna Polska) concern other events, however: RMF24 reports Zelensky's interview for CNN warning against "Yalta 2.0", while Wirtualna Polska describes a meeting of foreign ministers in Warsaw (Sikorski, Sybiha, Kallas) on Ukraine's participation in negotiations. Neither of them provides information about military exercises or Zelensky's invitation by Merz to Berlin, so they neither confirm nor correct the facts in this paragraph.

Similarly, NV writes, adding that Bateman described the joint exercises as the most extensive attempts so far of MNF-U forces' actions and noted that their task is to test the readiness of the contingent to be transferred to Ukraine. He also indicated three main tasks after the end of fighting: rebuilding and strengthening Ukraine's army, supporting Ukraine's security on land, in the air and at sea, and deterring future Russian aggression (В Польше стартовали первые полномасштабные военные учения Коалиции желающих – NV).

Ukrainian Європейська правда, citing the PAP portal, reports that the Polish prosecution believes the death of Michał O., who opened fire on the Kraków Market Square on Saturday, 7 November, does not change the course of the investigation. According to prosecutor Eryk Staselak, the perpetrator's motives and possible links will be examined, and the prosecution will question all detained witnesses. The same Ukrainian newspaper reports that six people were killed and sixteen were injured in the attack (У прокуратурі Польщі розповіли, як смерть стрільця в Кракові вплине на хід слідства – Європейська правда).

Ukrainian Espreso, reporting on statements by Polish political scientist Daniel Bochkovski, describes the shooting in Kraków as a surprise for Polish society due to the scale of the attack and the location, the central Market Square. According to Espreso, the expert believes the incident can be treated as an attack on one of Poland's symbols, and that the perpetrator was supposedly prepared in handling weapons, because, as Bochkovski claims, there was a cult of weapons at home. Espreso also reports that the political scientist assesses the police reaction as quick, but points to insufficient equipment of patrols, especially given that the attacker wore a bulletproof vest. (У вбивці вдома панував культ зброї: польський політолог Бочковський про стрілянину у Кракові – Espreso)

Ukrainian TSN reports that the 80-year-old grandmother of the Kraków shooter spoke about her grandson and family in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza. According to TSN, the woman describes her grandson as a good child who went to church, and says she cannot understand what happened. TSN also reports that her son, the attacker's father, had a weapons permit and loved shooting very much, and that the attacker worked as a turner and did not want to go to university. (Бабуся терориста з Кракова вперше розповіла про онука та свою родину: вона зробила шокувальну заяву – TSN)

Ukrainian portal NV reports that Poland, in August, overtook Germany and became the largest buyer of one of Ukraine's agricultural products, namely frozen raspberries. According to NV, in the June–August period of the 2026/27 season, exports of this product rose by 58% year on year, to 17 thousand tonnes, and export revenues amounted to 71.7 million euros. (Опередила Германию. Польша стала крупнейшим покупателем одного из видов украинской агропродукции в августе – NV)

Lithuanian press

The Lithuanian daily vz.lt reports that the 24-year-old Pole suspected of opening fire in the centre of Kraków, in which six people died, died in hospital, as the police announced. According to vz.lt (agency BNS), the bodies of three members of the perpetrator's family were also found in his flat, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incident an act of terror. (Ligoninėje mirė šešis žmones Krokuvoje nušovęs įtariamasis – vz.lt)

According to the Lithuanian portal Diena.lt, Polish police announced that the 24-year-old suspect in the shooting in the centre of Kraków died in hospital. Diena.lt reports that six people died in Saturday's shootings and that, according to investigators, the man was reportedly fascinated by far-right ideologies. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, quoted by Diena.lt, called the incident an act of terrorism. (Lenkijos policija: įtariamasis dėl šaudynių Krokuvoje mirė – Diena.lt)

The Lithuanian daily Diena.lt reports that Kraków is mourning after an attack that took place on Saturday at the Main Market Square. As Diena.lt reports, a 24-year-old man with far-right views opened fire and killed six people, wounding another 15, before being shot by the police. According to the same source, Poland declared two days of mourning, and during the night the trumpet call (hejnał) from the tower of St. Mary's Basilica was interrupted for the first time since the Second World War. (Lenkijoje po teroristinio išpuolio tęsiasi gedulas – Diena.lt) Polish materials ([Polska w żałobie po zamachu w Krakowie. W poniedziałek sekcje zwłok ofiar i wiec solidarności [RELACJA NA ŻYWO] – Onet](https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/krakow/polska-w-zalobie-po-zamachu-w-krakowie-w-poniedzialek-sekcje-zwlok-ofiar-i-wiec/1b50s75)) (Strzelanina w Krakowie. Sześć osób nie żyje, napastnik to Polak – Business Insider Polska) and (Policja ujawnia szczegóły zamachu w Krakowie. Pościg trwał zaledwie 123 sekundy – Wirtualna Polska) describe the same attack in Kraków at the Main Market Square, but do not confirm all the details from the Lithuanian Diena.lt. Onet reports that the attacker was 24 years old and six people died, with over a dozen injured, including two police officers, which agrees with Diena.lt; Business Insider Polska and Onet also point to the perpetrator dying in hospital. Business Insider Polska reports that six people died and 15 were injured, consistent with Diena.lt, whereas PAP, quoted by Wirtualna Polska, speaks of 16 injured, which slightly differs from the figure of 15 given by the Lithuanian daily. Diena.lt writes about the perpetrator's 'far-right views', and I did not find this assessment in the Polish materials. There is also no confirmation in them of the information about two days of mourning or the interruption of the hejnał from St. Mary's Basilica for the first time since WWII, although Onet confirms the declaration of national mourning. Wirtualna Polska reports that the pursuit lasted 123 seconds, which Diena.lt does not describe.

The Lithuanian daily Bernardinai.lt reports that after the deadliest shootings in Kraków in years, Poland faces a politically tense week. According to this portal, six people died, including two foreigners, and about 15 were injured, and according to investigators the attacker also killed members of his own family. Bernardinai.lt also recalls that the dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal and the Independence March announced for Wednesday raise concerns about further tensions (Po šaudynių Krokuvoje Lenkijos laukia politiškai įtempta savaitė – Bernardinai.lt).

According to Bernardinai.lt, a Lithuanian daily, a shooting took place in Kraków on Saturday in which nine people died and about twelve were injured; the 24-year-old perpetrator, who drove a black Subaru to the Main Market Square and fired at random passers-by, died on Monday after being shot by the police. Lithuanian political scientist Dovilė Jakniūnaitė, commenting for Bernardinai.lt, considered it understandable that the reports mentioned the suspect's political views, although full findings are still lacking, so any assessments are preliminary speculation (Politologė D. Jakniūnaitė apie šaudynes Lenkijoje: suprantama, kodėl buvo paminėtos įtariamojo politinės pažiūros – Bernardinai.lt).

Belarusian press

According to the Belarusian Reform.news, which is blocked in Belarus and operates from abroad, the COALITION 26.2 exercises of the Coalition of the Willing, that is the Multinational Force – Ukraine, are taking place in Poland from 9 to 22 November. The portal reports that the Polish Ministry of National Defence explains their purpose as demonstrating the ability of European states to form forces supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe's security in the event of a ceasefire or peace agreement. According to this information, around 2,800 soldiers from 11 countries are to take part in the manoeuvres, and Poland acts as host and logistics coordinator (В Польше начинаются учения «Коалиции желающих» – Reform.news). This topic is also covered by the Russian portal Wiesti.ru, which is considered a propaganda outlet, and it links the exercises to the question of a possible contingent in Ukraine (В Польше стартуют учения стран коалиции желающих – Wiesti.ru (media propagandowe)).

According to the Belarusian portal Nasza Niwa, broadcasting from abroad, Michał Aksiński, suspected of the mass shooting in the centre of Kraków, may face life imprisonment. Nasza Niwa reports that this penalty is provided for the murder of six people and an act of a terrorist nature. The portal quotes Waldemar Żurek, who announced the opening of an investigation on two strands, although no final decision on charges has been made, and the man is in critical condition in hospital after being shot during his arrest (Кракаўскаму стралку можа пагражаць пажыццёвае зняволенне – Nasza Niwa).

According to the Belarusian portal Zerkalo, Poland is working on a biometric travel document for foreigners that is to be valid for longer than one year. Zerkalo also recalls that plans to extend the validity of this document from one to two years were mentioned earlier. (Польша разрабатывает биометрический проездной документ иностранца, который будет действовать больше года – Zerkalo)

Russian press

In the Russian press section it is worth noting a foreign, propaganda narrative: according to RIA Nowosti (propaganda media), Polish Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek says the perpetrator of the shooting in Kraków could be sentenced to life imprisonment if he survives. According to this report, investigators are checking the attacker's contacts; he is said to have acted alone. The source also describes the detention of a 24-year-old man and the discovery of three bodies in his home, but does not independently confirm the victim numbers or their nationalities as presented. (Краковский террорист может получить пожизненный срок – RIA Nowosti (propaganda media))

According to Wiesti.ru (propaganda media), Polish Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek announced on Polish television that the perpetrator of the shooting in Kraków could receive life imprisonment if he survives; according to the same account, the attacker, a 24-year-old man, fired an AR-15 rifle at passers-by on the Kraków Market Square on 7 November, and at least six people died in total, while investigators are checking his contacts. This is the claim of a single source, which has not been confirmed by other evidence, so we treat it as a propaganda report rather than an established fact. (Генпрокурор Польши: стрелок из Кракова может получить пожизненный срок – Wiesti.ru (propaganda media))

According to Wiesti.ru (propaganda media), a Kremlin narrative, exercises by the "coalition of the willing" states are to take place in Poland from 9 to 22 November as preparation for a possible deployment of a contingent to Ukraine, involving about 2.8 thousand soldiers from 11 countries; the Russian portal, citing the French Le Monde, claims they are meant to secure long-term peace after possible agreements. This narrative is, however, presented as propaganda, and Wiesti.ru (propaganda media) adds that Maria Zakharova of the Russian Foreign Ministry assessed such actions as unacceptable for Russia and equivalent to military intervention.

The Russian independent portal Meduza reports that the perpetrator of the shooting on the Kraków market died in hospital; six people were killed and 16 wounded, including two police officers and a Russian citizen. According to Meduza, the attacker was wounded during his arrest, and his motives remain unknown, although Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński spoke of extremely radical, ultranationalist views. The portal adds that three bodies were found in the perpetrator's home, which police identified as his parents and sister (В больнице умер стрелок, убивший шесть человек на площади в Кракове – Meduza). Polish materials (Trzy ciała w mieszkaniu sprawcy strzelaniny w Krakowie. Ustalono tożsamość zmarłych – RMF24) and (Szef MSWiA mówił o poglądach sprawcy. Nowe informacje ws. tragedii w Krakowie – RMF24) (RMF24) confirm the essential facts given by Meduza: the perpetrator drove onto the Main Market Square in Kraków, six people died, 16 were wounded, and in an apartment in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski the bodies of the 24-year-old's parents and sister were found, with his views described as far-right. The difference concerns the number of wounded: RMF24 gives 15 wounded in one place and 16 (including the perpetrator) in another, so this is a discrepancy within the material itself, not with Meduza. It further reports that Minister Kierwiński stated he acted alone, consistent with Meduza's account of motives described as radical. RIA Nowosti (propaganda media) also writes about this, reporting that Erik Staselak of the National Prosecutor's Office announced that the remaining investigative steps would continue despite the perpetrator's death, and that the investigation is led by the Lesser Poland Branch of the National Prosecutor's Office (Смерть стрелявшего в Кракове не влияет на действия прокуратуры Польши – RIA Nowosti (propaganda media)). Wiesti.ru (propaganda media) similarly writes, reporting that Deputy Interior Minister Czesław Mroczek, speaking to TVP, mentioned the perpetrator's interest in online content on attacks, his isolation from peers, and the seizure of a large number of electronic storage devices that are expected to help establish motives (Застреливший 6 человек в Кракове интересовался в интернете тематикой нападений – Wiesti.ru (propaganda media)).

Read also

• Co sąsiedzi piszą o Polsce – 8 listopada 2026: strzelanina w Krakowie w relacjach zagranicznych mediów
• Co sąsiedzi piszą o Polsce – 7 listopada 2026
• Kraków Main Square shooting: prosecutors open terrorism probe covering nine deaths