Key directions of the Russian disinformation apparatus impact on Poland – first half of December

The Russian disinformation device continues to make its main directions related to actions aimed at deprecating the image of Poland and the Poles – these are: exaggerating/falsifying the actual state of Polish-Ukrainian relations and portraying Poland as a threat to peace in the region. Lately (between November and December), the predominant focus among the aforementioned has shifted towards (and continues to be) the issue of Polish-Ukrainian relations. In the context of this circumstantial activity, the Russians are focusing on commenting on the protest by Polish carriers, in order to solidify a negative perception of Poland in Ukraine and convince Russians that the war will shortly end in a crucial victory, as a consequence of halting Western support to Ukraine.

By exaggerating the situation on the Polish-Ukrainian border (portraying protests as a state preceding an armed conflict between Poland and Ukraine) and presenting Poland as a country that allegedly decided to form an global “anti-Ukrainian coalition,” the Russians distort the image of this phenomenon, presenting it as a supposedly widely supported initiative by the Poles, which is expected to service as evidence of Poland’s/Polish people’s “ultimate betrayal” towards Ukraine. This “betrayal” is said to be, on the 1 hand, the consequence of “Poles’ rejection of Russophobia” (which was allegedly the basis of the Polish-Ukrainian agreement) or the consequence of Poles knowing their “mistake” of supporting the “Kiev neo-Nazi regime.” In a broad context, the carriers’ protest is utilized to present Poland as a country that “betrayed” Ukraine, while simultaneously depreciating the image of Ukraine (showing Kiev as a “regime” whose “criminal/harmful to Europe” nature was noticed even by Poles).

Another direction, which is not as prominent, refers to Poland’s efforts to continuously enhance its military capabilities in the east part of the country, depicting it as a threat to Belarus, Russia, and regional peace. As part of its activities, the Russian side exposed reports about the formation of a sapper battalion in Augustów and issues related to the acquisition of fresh equipment by the Polish Army. The Russian and Belarusian side uses the indicated actions and akin events to represent the “aggressive” and “militaristic” policy of the Polish state. The messages formed do not mention the basic origin that stimulates actions to increase the defence possible of the Polish Armed Forces, which is the request to strengthen safety in the face of armed aggression committed by Russia (with the participation of Minsk) against the neighbouring country – Ukraine.

The ongoing disinformation and propaganda run led by the Russian side is aimed at portraying Poland in a negative light in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and on the global phase as a whole. The Russians, on 1 hand, effort to convince their citizens that Ukraine is losing global support, which “will end in its failure”, and on the another hand, they effort to whitewash/justify their own actions, which are expected to be a consequence to “aggression from the West”. Simultaneously, there are efforts to cultivate the most negative perception of Poland in Ukraine and Belarus by portraying Poland as a “traitor” and an unreliable partner. Those activities are supplemented with the deconstruction of the affirmative message about Poland as the leader of support provided to Ukraine on another abroad destinations – undermining this message by arguing that Poles (as evidenced by the carriers’ protest) only “seemingly” helped Ukraine and “in fact” are hostile attitude towards Kiev and the Ukrainian nation.

Author: dr Michał Marek

Public task financed by the Ministry of abroad Affairs of the Republic of Poland within thegrant comp etition “Public Diplomacy 2023”