Polish Senator and Former General Commander Mirosław Różański Dies at 63
General Mirosław Różański, a Polish senator, head of the Senate National Defence Committee, and former General Commander of the Armed Forces, died on 24 August 2026 at age 63 following a five-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Announcement and illness
Senator Grzegorz Fedorowicz, head of the Nowa Polska - Centrum senate club, confirmed that General Mirosław Różański died on Monday, 24 August 2026, at the age of 63 after receiving the information from Różański's wife. Różański had been diagnosed in 2021 with multiple myeloma, an aggressive form of blood cancer. He initially kept the diagnosis private before speaking publicly about his condition in a June 2026 interview with NewsMed. In that conversation, he described the psychological impact of the news and emphasized that active professionals should continue working within necessary medical restrictions.
I considered myself almost immortal. Illnesses did not affect me, I never paid attention to them. When the diagnosis appeared, the world trembled, in my imagination. I remember it to this day.
Military command and defence reforms
Różański was born on 1 December 1962 in Głogów and began his military service in 1986 as a platoon commander in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment in Żary. Over three decades in uniform, he commanded the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade and the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division, in addition to serving on foreign deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He completed tactical courses and defence policy studies at the National Defence Academy in Rembertów, where he earned a doctorate in 2011. Between 2012 and 2013, Różański led the Department of Strategy and Defence Planning at the Ministry of National Defence and acted as ministerial plenipotentiary for Armed Forces command reform. In those leadership roles, he introduced a new sniper training model, oversaw the deployment of KTO Rosomak armoured vehicles, and formed Poland's first fully professional motorized battalion.
- Graduates from Mechanized Troops Officer Higher School and begins service in 42nd Mechanized Regiment in Żary.
- Commands a mechanized company during the Przyjaźń 1989 maneuvers, the first Polish exercise observed by NATO representatives.
- Appointed commander of the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade in Międzyrzecz.
- Promoted to brigadier general and reassumes command of the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade.
- Appointed commander of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division and promoted to major general.
- Obtains a doctorate in defence sciences at the National Defence Academy.
- Appointed head of the Department of Strategy and Defence Planning at the Ministry of National Defence.
- Appointed General Commander of the Armed Forces.
- President Andrzej Duda formally signs his resignation from active military service following disputes with the defence minister.
- Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, keeping the illness private for several years.
- Elected to the Senate of Poland from the Trzecia Droga list and becomes chair of the Senate National Defence Committee.
- Leaves the Trzecia Droga parliamentary group to co-found the Nowa Polska - Centrum Senate club.
- Dies at the age of 63 following his illness.
Political career and veteran advocacy
Różański was appointed General Commander of the Armed Forces in 2015, serving in the post until late 2016. He resigned from his command following policy disputes with then-Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, and President Andrzej Duda formally signed his dismissal in 2017. Following his departure from active service, Różański founded the Stratpoints Foundation to assist veterans and provide security analysis. In 2019, he joined Szymon Hołownia's presidential campaign team as chief security advisor before winning a Senate seat under the Trzecia Droga banner in the 2023 elections. Różański served as chairman of the Senate National Defence Committee and later co-founded the Nowa Polska - Centrum Senate club in February 2026.
Reactions from defence leaders
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz paused a framework agreement ceremony for Piorun missile systems in Skarżysko-Kamiennej to request a standing tribute for Różański.
To the end of his days, he helped build the strength of the Polish Army, the resilience of the armed forces, and the strength of the Republic.
Former GROM special forces commander General Roman Polko described Różański as a decisive commander with combat experience who earned deep respect throughout the armed forces. Szymon Hołownia and Member of the European Parliament Michał Kobosko both shared tributes on social media noting his dedication to soldiers and his resolve during his illness. Operational Commander of the Armed Forces General Ireneusz Nowak also recognized his decades of service at home and abroad.
