Since the beginning of the aggression against Ukraine, Poland has been one of our most consistent and reliable partners. And it is not surprising that Ukraine-Poland relations have become one of the main directions of information and psychological special operations for russia.
To promote the narratives needed by the kremlin, the so-called tactic “information throw-in” is used. “Information throw-in” is dissemination of specially prepared disinformation and manipulative “news” through all available resources. Preparing them, the russians use official statements of representatives of the Polish and Ukrainian authorities in the appropriate interpretation, as well as outright fakes.
To achieve the maximum psychological effect, propagandists refer to Polish “experts” and politicians of nationalist views and representatives of Polish radical groups. Publications, depending on the target audience, are translated into Ukrainian, Polish and other languages and are simultaneously distributed by controlled mass media and social networks, where they are commented in the right direction with the help of the “troll factory”.
During the year, the main message of the “Polish” case of russian propaganda is the statement that the leadership of Poland, under various pretexts, seeks to occupy the western part of Ukraine. The main “throw-in” over the past year were the following.
Informational “throw-in”. Poland plans to occupy a part of Ukraine, sending a peacekeeping contingent to its territory.
Actually. On March 16, 2022, the Minister of Defense of Poland M. Blaszczak presented the project of creating a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. However, the contingent was to consist not only of Poles, but also of representatives of various NATO member countries, and the project did not foresee the occupation of Ukrainian territories, but was intended to send a clear signal to putin that NATO does not agree with the war crimes of the russian federation. After the refusal of the General Secretary of the Alliance J.Stoltenberg to send a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, the Polish side did not make any more similar statements.
Informational “throw-in”. The law on the special status of Poles in Ukraine legalizes the takeover of Ukraine by Poles and enables Polish citizens to integrate themselves into the Ukrainian government and promote laws and decisions beneficial to Poland.
Actually. The Law “On establishing legal and social guarantees for citizens of the Republic of Poland staying in the territory of Ukraine” is a response to a similar Polish law on assistance to citizens of Ukraine, which simplified legal residence, employment, education, medical care and social guarantees for Ukrainian refugees. So, we are talking about a mirror step, and not about unilateral concessions by Ukraine in favor of Poland. The document only regulates the rules for the stay of Polish citizens in Ukraine, it does not contain a clause that allows Poles to hold public positions.
Informational “throw-in”. In September 2022, pro-russian social media circulated photos of referendum ballots in which residents of the Lviv region are asked whether they support the region’s inclusion in Poland. The authors of the news claimed that such “referendums” could soon be initiated by Hungary and Romania.
Actually. On September 28, Stanislav Zharyn, the Commissioner of the Polish Government for the Security of the Information Space proved irrefutable evidence of the forgery of “photo evidence”.
Informational “throw-in”. On July 9, 2022, fake information is being spread online that the government of Ukraine has allegedly approved a resolution according to which Poland received the right to issue passports to citizens of Ukraine, and therefore the “levers of governance” in Ukraine continue to gradually pass to Poland.
Actually. According to the legislation of Ukraine, citizens can issue ID cards and foreign passports only in state institutions of Ukraine. Passports are issued outside of Ukraine by the Center of SE ‘’Dokument’’, which reports to the State Migration Service of Ukraine, not to the Polish government.
Informational “throw-in”. Poland has launched a program of “politicization” of Ukraine – Polish language lessons are being introduced in Ukrainian schools.
Actually. As Deputy Prime Minister I.Vereshchuk stated, the possibility of Ukrainians getting an education in Poland and Poles in Ukraine was discussed at a meeting in January 2023. However, this is only a proposal aimed at learning the languages of neighboring countries for the integration of Ukrainians into the European space, and there are no reasons talk about the “policing” of Ukrainians.
❗️ Outright fakes about Poland’s aggressive intentions are part of a targeted russian disinformation campaign to discredit the strategic partnership between the countries and reduce the level of support for Ukraine by the Polish authorities and society. Despite the efforts of propagandists, Poland remains one of the most consistent and reliable partners of Ukraine.
