Poland
Migration crisis
In response to information about the possible extension of the buffer zone on the Polish-Belarusian border, where a temporary stay ban is currently in place (it was introduced on June 13 for a period of 90 days to prevent illegal migration and smuggling), the «GRANITSA FM Facts and Opinions» Telegram channel noted that «the ‘death zone’ will continue to please Polish security forces, who do not mind shooting at refugees».
A post titled «Polish presidential contender promised to shoot illegals» about politician S. Mentzen, who officially announced his participation in the presidential election, was published in the «Nevolfovich» Telegram channel. Referring to the recent adoption of a law authorizing law enforcers to use weapons when threatening the security of an individual or the country, it was also emphasized: «There is nothing surprising in his words. The Polish military has already been authorized to use weapons to kill defenseless refugees.»
Criticism of the Polish Army and Ministry of Defense
On August 26, a drone that was initially detected by the Polish military, but disappeared from radar and was never found, was actively covered. In the Telegram channel «Belarusian Silovik» on this occasion wrote: «Was there really a drone, or is it an attempt of Poland to create a precedent for more aggressive actions in the region? … If there really was a drone, this incident indicates serious problems in the work of the Polish air force, air defense and intelligence.» The Telegram channel «BelVPO» focused on the discontent of Poles over the incident: «The population of the country is indignant about the unreliability of the national air defense system. Among the citizens it has already received the well-deserved title of «leaky». Even more discontent is caused by the fact that the authorities spend huge sums of money in vain on the construction of the country’s air defense system and on the re-equipment of the Polish Army in general». In parallel, the «Nevolfovich» Telegram channel summarized: «And it was Duda who, just the other day, was blasting his air defense system to help shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine. Not even able to ensure the security of his own country.»
Another topic that drew the attention of propagandists was an incident involving the firing of service weapons in the 1st Tank Battalion in Zurawice, in which one soldier was wounded and another was injured. «The very fact of such an incident shows gaps in the discipline and training of the Polish military. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the incident occurred during an operation designed to ensure the ‘security of the region’ [Operation Safe Podlasie – ed.],» noted authors of one of the pro-government Telegram channels. At the same time it was emphasized: «Polish military are now near the borders of Belarus allegedly because of hybrid actions on the part of Minsk. But so far, the threat to life comes from the Polish soldiers themselves.
The article of the «BelVPO» Telegram channel about the upcoming delivery of American F-35 airplanes to Poland emphasized the following: «The MPW [military-political work – ed.] of Poland today is forced to create a false perception among its citizens about the fighting ability of the Polish Army, which today is unable to ensure the security of its citizens».
Militarization and preparation for war
The topic for a publication in one of the pro-regime Telegram channels was the planned construction of a new plant for the production of 155-mm ammunition in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The authors of the post stated: «The ongoing build-up of production capacities of ammunition and AMSE [armament, military and special equipment – ed.] near the Union State is being carried out in the interests of preparing for the conduct of military operations».
A post in the «Nevolfovich» Telegram channel with a video showing the consequences of an accidental collision of a Polish tank with a civilian car was accompanied by the following comment: «Here is the outcome of the country’s indiscriminate militarization«.
In 2025, Poland’s defense budget will amount to a record 4.7% of GDP. The «BelVPO» Telegram channel stressed that such large defense spending will not do without consequences for the economy, and will also lead to an increase in public debt in the coming years. «The way out of this situation will be war,» the authors summarized.
The Polish leadership was also criticized for the massive purchase of arms and military equipment in recent years, primarily from the United States and South Korea: «The authorities, under the guise of fighting for Western values at the expense of Polish taxpayers, enrich the American military-industrial lobby and have a good percentage of the «profitable» deals for their country. At the same time, it was also noted that «this is an excellent example of how officials drive their own citizens into a debt to the overseas suzerain», and «the way out of it is war with Russia».
Military aid to Ukraine
The following was cited as the reason for the formation of a volunteer military unit consisting of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of Poland (the process was announced by Ukrainian President V. Zelenskyy in July 2024) : «Warsaw pursues its own benefit and expects to purge among the most radicalized Ukrainians. Joining the formation is surely a ‘one-way ticket’ and it will be given to those who are not needed in Poland».
The news that Polish Deputy Defense Minister P.Zalewski announced the rejection of Kyiv’s request to shoot down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine was commented on as follows: «Warsaw has not yet received Washington’s permission to directly participate in the conflict. Therefore, it will continue to support the hostilities with the hands of Ukrainians on the territory of their own country».
Under the headline «Europe’s ‘strongest’ army ‘deflated’: no more funds for Ukraine», the “Nevolfovich” Telegram channel published an article criticizing Defence Minister V.Kosyniak-Kamysz. The politician said that he will no longer supply Ukraine with weapons, as for him the security of Poland is in priority. «Kosyniak-Kamysz’s duplicity has been known for a long time: today he talks about impossibility, and tomorrow he is already signing multimillion-dollar contracts with Kyiv,» the authors summarized.
One of the posts in the above-mentioned channel also criticized an article by the Polish General Staff justifying the need for military support to Ukraine. To enhance the effect, comments from social networks from disgruntled Poles who do not consider this war their own were cited. The authors of the post concluded as follows: «It is not the first year of militarization in Poland, but now military propagandists have taken over people’s minds and stir up in Polish society not just hatred of the Russian nation, but are a threat to international peace and security in the Eastern European region.»
NATO
Preparing NATO for war
The «Nevolfovich» Telegram channel published article accusing the North Atlantic Alliance of escalating the situation. The main arguments of the authors are: 1) accumulation of a large number of aircraft and troops near the western borders of the CSTO countries; 2) increase in the frequency and scale of military drills in Eastern Europe; 3) creation of strategic military infrastructure in the region. At the same time, it was emphasized: «First they covered themselves with migrants, now they do not consider it necessary to invent an excuse. The aggressive buildup of groups and NATO’s military activity near the borders of the Union State shows that the West rejects any negotiations on peace and is guided by invasive plans.
This topic was also raised in the August 28 edition of the ATN program «Disposition». According to the anchor, recently, near the borders of Belarus, NATO representatives do not just conduct routine reconnaissance, but «more and more often make flights with combat aircraft to study the physical and geographical conditions of the terrain — this is called the study of the theater of military operations, and the study in practice».
At the same time, they published a video fragment of an interview with A. Serdyukov, Chief of the Joint Staff of the operational-tactical drills, who stated that «NATO is building up a grouping near the western borders of the CSTO under the pretext of defense against the so-called ‘threat from the East'».
The review is available in Russian.
