Poland in the communication of the Russian disinformation apparatus – “a country of saboteurs and provocateurs”

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In connection with the ongoing Ukrainian offensive, the Russian disinformation apparatus has temporarily limited activities in the field of depreciating the image of Poland to a certain extent. Disinformation centres are presently focusing on covering up developments on the front that are unfavourable to Moscow (creating the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as a force able to cope with the impact of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – even succeeding on the battlefront). Despite the limited amount of material published, the Russian side continues to act on the following threads:

1) creating Poland as the country “responsible” for the demolition of the Nord Stream pipelines (an alleged Polish-Ukrainian diversion);

2) creating Poland as a state whose citizens argue supporting Ukraine (the Polish government as a puppet of the US and a government that supports Ukraine “against the Poles”);

3) creating Poland as a state “preparing” to provoke a war with Russia.

The first of the above threads relates to the creation of the West and Ukraine as the organization liable for destabilising the balance of power in Europe. In the Kremlin’s narrative, it was the Polish state that, by “blowing up Nord Stream”, brought about the “culmination” of Warsaw’s long-standing efforts to destruct German-Russian relations. From this perspective, Russia is one more time the “victim” of the despicable intrigues of 1 of the NATO countries.

The second storyline relates to efforts to reenforce the communicative about a “serious discrepancy” between the views of Poles and the Polish government on Russia and Ukraine. From this perspective, the US is to blame for the crisis in Polish-Russian relations due to the fact that without “Washington’s scheming”, Poland would not be willing to prosecute specified a “Russophobic policy” (concerns support for Ukraine). To lend credence to the given narrative, the Russian side reached out to Leszek Sykulski, PhD, who confirmed the indicated thesis in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The 3rd thread refers straight to the creation of Poland and NATO as a side that “provokes Russia” and “forces” Moscow to attack Ukraine for another possible war. The argument that Russia is simply a “victim” of the ongoing war and must “defend itself” against ongoing “aggressive acts of NATO” is the most overt instance of the Kremlin trying to minimise the impact of its policy.

All of the above threads relate to persuading Russians that the Russian Federation is notoriously struggling with the “aggressive actions” of the West. The identified narratives are, furthermore, “exported” to another countries through the activities of pro-Russian (or those cooperating with Russian services) “experts” and influencers. Statements by Western “media authorities” supporting Russia’s objectives (whether consciously or not) not only infect the infosphere of their countries of origin, but supply Russians (and pro-Russian forces from another countries) with a origin that lends credibility/reinforces the disinformation and propaganda narratives popularised by media centres associated with the Russian state.

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”