Russia intensifies disinformation campaign in Poland

Russian disinformation anti-Ukrainian sentiment Volhynia massacre memory media ethics social media propaganda

A Russian disinformation campaign targeting Poland has intensified, specifically exploiting historical tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv regarding the Volhynia massacre. According to an analysis by the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), anti-Ukrainian content in the Polish language has increased by more than 250 percent across platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

This surge follows a dispute triggered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after a formation associated with the historical massacres. Polish officials, including the Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, have noted that disinformation has exploded in both social media and official Russian channels.

In a related development, the Media Ethics Council (REM) ruled that the media outlet Republika violated ethical standards by broadcasting a song containing anti-Ukrainian lyrics. The Council stated that such content can strengthen narratives consistent with Russian propaganda, aiming to sow discord between societies that support Ukraine.