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Russian intelligence services have intensified a large-scale disinformation campaign in Poland, exploiting historical disputes between Warsaw and Kyiv to deepen divisions between the two allies.
Reuters reports that Russian actors are focusing on sensitive issues related to World War II, as well as public resentment toward Ukrainian refugees.
Poland’s Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Pawel Olszewski said Russian disinformation “exploded” across social media and official Russian media platforms after a public dispute emerged between Poland and Ukraine. Some of these narratives were later picked up by Polish media outlets.
Anti-Ukrainian content surges by 250%
An analysis by the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) found that the volume of Polish-language anti-Ukrainian content on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube increased by more than 250%.
Experts say the campaign reflects a shift in Russia’s tactics:
- Bot amplification: bot farms generate and distribute large volumes of content to create the impression of widespread anti-Ukrainian sentiment among Poles.
- Exploiting real disputes: rather than inventing entirely fabricated stories, Russian actors distort and exaggerate genuine controversial issues.
- Harder to detect: because the narratives are built around real events and existing tensions, identifying and removing the manipulation is more difficult.
Olszewski said the disinformation campaign found a receptive audience because it was built around an existing dispute.
Moscow, meanwhile, has rejected the accusations. The Russian Embassy in Warsaw called them “groundless” and claimed that Russia does not interfere in relations between other countries.
Tensions between Ukraine and Poland
Relations between Kyiv and Warsaw became strained in late May after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded one of Ukraine’s special forces units the honorary name “Heroes of the UPA.”
The decision was criticized by Polish officials. Poland holds the Ukrainian Insurgent Army responsible for the Volhynia tragedy of 1943–1945, which Polish authorities recognize as genocide against the Polish population.
The dispute over historical memory and the legacy of the UPA was further intensified when Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. Former Ukrainian presidents subsequently announced that they would also relinquish the Polish state honor.
