Russian narration of alleged plans for Ukraine to transfer or occupy western Poland by Polish troops has been present in the infosphere almost since the beginning of the full-scale conflict. Various fact-checking organisations have looked at the subject and have repeatedly regarded it as deliberate misleading. However, In connection with the fresh visit of Volodymyr Zelenski to Poland, the pro-Russian centres spreading disinformation took the subject anew. So let us look at whether the Ukrainians truly want to "give" Poland the western circuits of their country.
False
More about our evaluation system:Articles have been published in the Independent Political diary (Here. and Here.), which the author convinces that the president of Ukraine came to Poland with concrete intentions. According to authors, the intent of the Ukrainian leader's visit was to discuss the transfer of Poland to western Ukraine. Fragments of articles from the Independent Political diary indirectly cited the English-speaking pro-Russian media. This subject was taken up, among others. Andrew Napolitano on his YouTube channel. erstwhile Fox News commentator interview with Alastair Crook, ex-graduate and MI6 spy. In parallel with the publication of video material on Judging Freedom channel, pro-Russian channels on Telegram began to sale Posts talking about the “real” intent of Zelenski's visit to Poland. Napolitano's conversation with Crook gained 67,000 views. The Independent Political diary has been for many years involved in creating pro-Russian disinformation. Examples include depreciating content American soldiers stationed in Poland, Polish commanders and politiciansand creating a negative image of Poland.
Post on the Pro-Russian Telegram channel saying that Ukrainians want to give Poland their western circuits of their country. Source: TelegramPredated Poland, which is simply a review of narratives about the dedication of Poland or its business of western Ukraine circuits
Any narratives about Poland's business or their devotion to the Republic of Ukraine are nothing new. Their presence in the infosphere can be noted, as mentioned, almost from the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's propaganda on a wider scale has been utilizing this communicative since Matthew Morawiecki and Jarosław Kaczyński visited Kiev. It should be recalled that the unfortunate words of NATO's peaceful mission, which were utilized by the Russian propaganda machine, were made during the war. Kaczyński's message was deliberately misinterpreted and used By Sergei Jurov. The Minister of abroad Affairs of Russia utilized it to unduly delegate Poland to alleged territorial claims against Ukraine.
Circumstances surrounding narratives of Polish territorial claims against Ukraine
It is worth noting that any narratives about predatory Poland appear at the minute of key visits of Ukrainian and Polish heads of state in Warsaw and Kiev or in moments of closer cooperation. First, we could observe a rash of misinformation accompanying last May's visit to Kiev by Andrzej Duda. Then the subject of alleged Polish territorial claims and predatory aspirations of the Polish state appeared during Zelenski's last visit to Poland.
False order
Another example of spreading misinformation on the subject is the collation by the Pro-Russian propaganda channels of information about "Order No. 24/P3/P7 of the Chief of General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces of 27 April 2022", which was addressed to "General of the Brigade of the Polish Army Grzegorz Grodzki". False document was to strengthen the Russian propaganda communicative about Poland's territorial claims towards Ukraine. It resulted that the units of the Polish Army were to be put on full alert and sent to Ukraine. The task of the soldiers was to defend critical infrastructure in the western circuits of the Ukrainian state. Polish troops evidently did not enter Ukraine.
“Zelenski’s Polonaise” and litany of accusations
On 22 May, president Andrzej Duda visited Kiev and met with Volodymyr Zelenski. On the same day the Ukrainian president announced plan the adoption of a law on peculiar legal position of Poles in Ukraine. This was a consequence to Poland's adoption in March 2022. Act giving Ukrainian citizens a peculiar legal position in the Republic of Poland. The flood of Russian disinformation and propaganda did not take long.
On the same day, 1 of the erstwhile Duma MPs statedthat Duda came to Kiev to communicate with Zelenski on the determination of conditions for the takeover of western Ukraine. This is only the beginning of litany of unjustified accusations, in which, according to the Russian model of information operations, public figures joined. Among the prosecutions we can observe: Alexander Lukashenko, Maria Zacharova, many Russian politicians and media representatives. The culmination of disinformation activities was a breakthrough of this communicative to Foreign media. In addition, the TASS press agency published a comprehensive text Polyones Zelenski and comment Sergei Narishkin. This text states that Zelenski is willing to give back the western circuits of Ukraine to Poland in exchange for financial and armed support.
Pseudoreferenda and the Polish case
In September, just after the pseudo-referendums conducted by Russia in the occupied areas of Ukraine, Russian propaganda channels sold false information about Poland's plans and actions to hold a referendum in Ukraine. The vote was to take place in the Lviv Oblast and the voters were to answer the question whether they wanted to join the Lviv Oblast in Poland. We examined the case and described it. Here..
Above, only a fewer selected propaganda narratives were presented. A more complete list is published, among others, on the portal OkO.press (Here. and Here.). Our editorial board has published and continues to print reports on Russian propaganda and misinformation.
Propaganda above all
The Pro-Russian communicative about predatory Poland managed to penetrate again into the western information space. In this case, the interview with Alastair Crook on the YouTube channel Juding Freedom mentioned at the beginning of this article is mentioned. Let us remind you that the host is simply a lawyer and a erstwhile analyst and commentator on Fox News legal events. His guest is an ex-graduate and founder of the Conflicts Forum Foundation. At this point it is worth noting that the foundation founded by Crooke was involved in the defence of Syrian government Bashar al-Assad. Currently appears It is mainly in arabian media active in spreading pro-Russian disinformation.
A conversation with Alastair Crook, in which it is stated that Ukrainians want to give Poland the western circuits of their country. Source: YouTubeDuring the discussion on the political situation in Europe, the programme president states that there have been reports of details of talks between the Presidents of Poland and Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenski at his last gathering with Duda was allegedly to come out with an offer to hand over western Ukraine circuits. These territories would be annexed to Poland in exchange for support in the recovery of Crimea. Crooke in his answer states that Volodymyr Zelenski is desperate and wants to extend the conflict. The Ukrainian leader would strive to do so by dragging Poland into war as a NATO country. The erstwhile diplomat concludes that this thought in Poland, however, has no broad support, but there are no uncertainty talks about it.
Despite multiple denial Ukrainian and Polish representatives of the communicative of pro-Russian centres are inactive present in media circulation. Doubts as to the reliability of the information in the mention materials rise certain phrases. In an article published in the Independent Political Journal, the author wishes to make his thesis credible, citing inside information. On the another hand, Alastair Crooke gives her private opinion on the back-to-back talks concerning the takeover of Ukrainian territory by Poland. It specifically uses a phrase I think and It’s rather possible. However, the subject of annexation of Ukrainian lands or their acquisition from Ukraine does not appear in the public debate of any of the mentioned countries. In addition, Russian propaganda uses and rip from the context of the words of both leaders about the deficiency of borders between Poland and Ukraine (another example Here.). Like Andrzej Duda's words in Kiev. In fact, the president of Poland said that the border should not divide, but merge.
Summary, i.e. on the deluge of Russian media
The subject of business or transfer by Ukraine of its western circuits of Poland is inactive popular in Russian propaganda and among pro-Russian activists. By breaking into the western infosphere, it reaches an increasingly many audience. Although the first origin of disinformation was the Polish-speaking Independent Political Journal, false content moved on. Disinformation about the "real" intent of Volodymyr Zelenski's visit to Poland besides appeared in the English-speaking information space and on Russian propaganda channels.
An example of spreading pro-Russian narratives about occupying Western Ukraine's circuits in the Polish infosphere. Source: Twitter.The primary nonsubjective of spreading this communicative is to sow the seeds of disagreement between both countries and societies and to make common distrust and hostility. The next is first of all the explanation of why Poland became active in the conflict so intensely. erstwhile the recipient believes that Poland has territorial interests in Ukraine, it will more easy accept the fact that Russia besides has specified interests.
With this in mind, it must be stated that the subject is utilized in various configurations to spread false, pro-Russian messages. The consequence of the Mayans and hallucinations of pro-Russian media and their usage for the activities of disinformation centres is to make a negative image of Poland. Moreover, the message reaches not only Russian-speaking but besides western audiences. It is besides worth noting the reappearance of this communicative in the Polish infosphere. Examples can be seen on social media, specified as the 1 shown on the screenshot above.
Sources
Fakenews survey on Polish-language activity of propaganda centres: https://fakenews.pl/research/propaganda-rosion-in-polsce-do-we-what-bac/
A fragment of the OKO.press article on false order: https://oko.press/absurd-narration-rosion-polska-robot-Ukraine#:~:text=To%20increase%C4%87%20official,Si%C5%82%20Armour%20RP%E2%80%9D
Rzeczpospolita on the plan of the Zelenski Act with peculiar legal position of Polish citizens in Ukraine: https://www.rp.pl/diplomacy/art36344641-zelenski-polacy-na-ukrainie-maja-receipt-special-status
Law of 12 March 2022 on the assistance of Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in the territory of that State: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20220000583
Fakenews.pl article about the false referendum in the Lviv Oblast: https://fakenews.pl/community/referendum-o-attachment-Lwowski-to-Polish-to-Russian-disinformation/
OKO.press Calendar: https://oko.press/govorit-mosqua-persistent-conquest-Ukraine-via-polske-Russia-resist-ile-sie-da#:~:text=Calendar%20division%C3%B3w,SB)%20Russian Federation%20.
The series “Gworit Moscow” published on OKO.press: https://oko.press/tag/govorit-moskwa
The denial of Stanisław Żaryn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stzarin/status/1519694308517027840
Reports of Russian propaganda published on Fakenews.pl: https://fakenews.pl/tag/uwd/
Summary and Fakenews.pl reports on Russian disinformation: https://fakenews.pl/research/summary-action-group-working-Ukraine-war-disinfo-group/
