Poland
Military propaganda resources continue to actively cover Polish topics. In July, most attention was paid to traditional topics — the migration crisis, development of military infrastructure and increase in the number of the army, «militarization» of young people, coverage of incidents involving the military, etc. The propagandists also covered the increase in the number of military personnel on the Polish-Belarusian border, as well as Polish-Ukrainian relations. Propagandists also covered the increase in the number of military personnel on the Polish-Belarusian border, as well as Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Development of military infrastructure and army
On 4 July the channel «Niewolfowicz» commented on Poland’s planned investments to strengthen the border with Belarus. In the commentary, the propagandists noted that «Poland will «drain» the state treasury for the border fence«, while the economy is going «down the drain». The publication used widespread manipulation – they said that these expenses could have been spent on the social sphere: «With this money, the Polish people could have built kindergartens, schools or modern hospitals. Finally, to compensate losses to Polish entrepreneurs, whose business suffered after the closure of the Polish-Belarusian border«.
Against the background of the latest demographic statistics, which showed a 132,800-person reduction in Poland’s population over the year, propagandists questioned the feasibility of plans to increase the size of the armed forces. According to propagandists, «The Warsaw regime will not see a 300,000-strong army in the near or distant future, because there is no demographic reserve. And instead of propaganda slogans about increasing the army, it is time to reduce it. This is just another confirmation of the failed course of militarization of Poland initiated by the former military-political leadership of the country«.
Developing the topic of the size of the Polish army, propagandists in response to the information that Poland has the third largest army in NATO (after the USA and Turkey) ironized: «Yes, the first army in Europe, but not only in terms of expenditures, but also in terms of the number of accidents and deaths«.
In response to Poland’s plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP in 2025, military propagandists talked about the militarization of the country: «Well, another round of militarization. And to explain the need for additional and very significant expenditures at the state level, Polish politicians invented a story for their taxpayers that Russia allegedly intends to attack one of the NATO countries in the next few years, or even several at once«. At the same time, it was emphasized that the increase in defense spending was related to Poland’s preparations for offensive operations (probably against Belarus or Russia).
The construction of a base to house a 4,800-member U.S. armored brigade has been completed in Swietoszów. The facility was erected in less than a year and is intended for the operational reception of the American military contingent. According to propagandists, «A bridgehead for American troops is being created on Polish territory on an accelerated basis».
Migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border
On 4 July, the «Niewolfowicz» channel commented on the statement of the Polish Defense Minister about the draft law that excludes the responsibility of military personnel for the use of firearms. The publication quoted the following statement of the official: «The bill has rules for the operation of the army and services. If someone attacks you at the border or threatens your life and health, you can use a weapon. Even if you make an emotional mistake, you will not be penalized«.
In the opinion of propagandists, «Just like that, the killing of refugees, among whom may be women and children, can be written off as emotion. … Isn’t it egregious Nazism?«. The propagandists also paid attention to the fact that Belarusian independent mass media («oppopomoyki») «Is it not embarrassing that the head of the Polish Defense Ministry gives permission to kill innocent people who want a better life? … Zmagary is silent, because the pans don’t like to be crossed«.
On July 27, the Polish Sejm passed the above-mentioned bill. In the opinion of propagandists, «In other words, Polish security forces have been completely unleashed to kill innocent people who want a better life«.
In July, «Inicjatywa Ochrony Mieszkańców Pogranicza» (Inicjatywa Ochrony Mieszkańców Pogranicza) emerged in Poland’s border regions. Members of the initiative patrol the area around the Polish-Belarusian border and keep an eye on migrants and activists who assist in illegal border crossings. The propagandists reacted to the initiative laconically: «There is such a profession — Warsaw «snitches«.
Operations «Bezpieczne Podlasie» and «Wschodnia Zorza»
Operation «Bezpieczne Podlasie» («Safe Podlasie») will begin on August 1, one of the elements of which will be an increase in the number of armed forces on the border to 17,000 soldiers. According to propagandists, «Polish authorities follow the Ukrainian paths in border policy: they create enemies in their sick imagination — justify it politically — stain the army with blood — unleash the conflict«. Later propagandists wrote that «In a militaristic frenzy, Duda and his servants continue to inflame and destabilize the situation in the European region, continuing to intimidate Poles, and Europeans, with a non-existent threat from the East«.
At the end of July, the start of Operation Wschodnia Zorza (Eastern Dawn) was announced. Thus, the operation to strengthen the air defense system of Poland will start on August 1 together with the operation «Safe Podlasie». The propagandist saw an increase in tension: «Against the background of the commitment of the Belarusian side to a friendly policy towards the neighboring state, the Warsaw regime, unfortunately, only increases the number of activities on the Polish-Belarusian border, which signals the growth of bellicose rhetoric and contributes to the growth of tension.
Sanctions against Belarusians
The most unexpected was the reaction of propagandists to the sanctions imposed. In particular, since the beginning of July, individuals were not allowed to leave Poland even with consumer goods. In their reaction, the propagandists actually stood up for the citizens of Belarus. It was noted, that «Instead of fighting drug trafficking, Warsaw «fights» with law-abiding citizens. The standard narrative about the silence of «fugitives» was also present: «And most importantly, why are fugitives silent on the lawlessness created by Duda? And so they puffed up their cheeks, shouting that they «protect» Belarusians abroad».
Incidents involving members of the military. Criticism of the army
As usual, incidents with Polish servicemen occupied a significant place in the narrative of propaganda resources. Such publications emphasized mass alcoholism among the military.
For example, in response to a traffic accident involving servicemen participating in Operation Safe Podlasie, propagandists wrote: «There is nothing to be surprised about — performing their official duties while drunk has long been the norm for the Polish military …«.
During an inspection of physical training in several units of the Polish Army, 17% of soldiers failed to pass physical training standards and 9% received unsatisfactory grades. The propagandists concluded, that «No wonder there is such devastation in the Polish Army, because everything starts with small violations in the workplace, and ends with non-compliance with safety equipment and, as a consequence, with a huge number of deaths in drills«.
On July 19, as a result of a road accident, a self-propelled artillery unit fell into a ditch. In their commentary, propagandists emphasize the unprofessionalism of the Polish army: «Not a day goes by without an accident, and we should not be surprised by this — the low level of training of Polish servicemen is a systemic problem. Replacing Blaszczak with Kosinianka-Kamysz turned out to be just a political switch«.
On 22 July, propagandists reported that a serviceman of the 17th Mechanized Brigade died in a traffic accident. This time it was «political games» that were to blame: «The reason for the high rates of injuries and deaths in the Polish army is described in the scandalous book «Army in Ruins». Political games are costing the ordinary Polish soldier dearly«.
The militarization of children
The theme of militarization of children also remained traditional. Despite the fact that Lukashenka’s regime actively involves thousands of children in «military-patriotic clubs» all over Belarus, patriotic education in Poland is assessed by propagandists as militarization. According to propagandists, «militaristic programs, trainings, camps to involve the population into the army are being actively implemented in Poland«. And, as it often happens, the Belarusian mass media «of course do not notice it — it is, as usual, different«.
Polish-Ukrainian relations
In July, Poland and Ukraine concluded a security agreement. As a reaction to this event, military propagandists used their standard example — a training session of X users’ comments. It is noteworthy that using comments (not all of which were written by real people, not bots) propagandists pass off as «the voice of the people». It is worth noting that the «comments» were carefully selected. For example, they contained statements about Ukrainians’ non-recognition of the «Volyn massacre», as well as such narratives as «Ukraine lost the war», «Ukrainians are siphoning money from Poland, robbing and raping Poles» and other standard anti-Ukrainian narratives. For their part, the propagandist summarized, that «the Polish people are tired of the duplicity of the ruling regime in Warsaw. When for the sake of political benefits dudes-tuskies embrace the ideological followers of the Bandera executioners. No wonder that Poles do not trust their leadership.»
On 8 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Poland was planning to form a volunteer legion to which Ukrainians living abroad would join. Propagandists considered this statement as «Another step of the Americans to drag Poles into the war. The U.S. priority is to get the Slavs to kill each other as much as possible.»
Separate publications were also devoted to the topic of the «Volyn Massacre». For example, in a publication timed to the anniversary of the beginning of the «Volyn Massacre», the propagandists wrote: «On July 11, 1943 … Ukrainian nationalists attacked Polish settlements in Western Ukraine, where they committed monstrous acts of genocide. One hundred and fifty villages and hamlets were literally drenched in blood.» Despite this, the current Ukrainian leadership continues to glorify the OUN-UPA figures, «whose followers are responsible for the Volyn massacre.» And ultimately, events such as the Volyn Massacre, the burning of Khatyn in 1943 and the Trade Union House in Odessa — «All these are manifestations of Banderite Nazism. We have no right to forget about it.»
The book «An Army in Ruins»
On July 17, the book «Armia w ruinie» («Army in ruins») was presented in Poland. The book describes the development of the army in the last 8 years, when the PiS party was in power. The book contains interviews with former and current servicemen, which illustrate the ongoing processes in the army.
Military propagandists have made a series of publications with excerpts from the book.
Demolition of the monument
On July 22, «a gang of barefaced barbarians«, among whom were members of the Polish Sejm, and the chairman of the Institute of National Remembrance, attended the demolition of the Polish-Russian monument to the brotherhood in arms. According to propagandists, «Official Warsaw has clearly shown that in Poland they do not respect their history, their heroes and do not know how to appreciate the Polish-Russian brotherhood in arms, which at the cost of their lives saved the Polish people from total physical extermination. Shame on you, barbarians!«.
NATO
Against the background of the Polish agenda, the number of publications devoted to NATO was much smaller. The main topics raised by propagandists were: drills and Ukraine’s admission to NATO.
Intercepting a Danish fighter jet
On July 1, the Nevolfovic channel commented on a video showing a Russian Su-27P fighter jet intercepting a Danish F-16. The comments on the Russian pilot’s actions were extremely positive: «It is noteworthy that the Sukhoi not only overtakes the F-16, but also makes a characteristic movement with its wings. It means a maneuver: move away, or I may use missiles. Excellent work!«.
Drills
NATO drills «Baltic Connection 24» started in Lithuania on July 7. The drills are taking place near the border with the Kaliningrad region and will last until July 19. Military propagandists note that during the preparation for the drills, experts (unnamed) noticed that the maneuvers are aimed at practicing blocking the Kaliningrad region. This leads to a conclusion about the alliance’s offensive plans: «By their actions, the alliance’s allies are only proving that they have offensive rather than defensive plans. At the same time, they pay no attention either to the problems of citizens or to the number of deaths of servicemen who have to pay for NATO’s militaristic ambitions with their lives«.
Ukraine’s admission to NATO
A NATO summit was held in Washington on July 9-11. One of the issues considered at the summit was Ukraine’s admission to the alliance. Propagandists noted that 2 days before the NATO summit, the countries of the alliance were still discussing the «wording» on Ukraine’s membership. The propagandists formulated their reaction to that information metaphorically: «Someone does not want to take extra ballast on board. If the frigate sinks, there will be no use in a holey boat«. Developing this thesis, the propagandists also wrote that «before the summit in Washington, NATO countries were united in one thing only — they were not going to invite Ukraine to the alliance«.
On July 9, 1997, the then leadership of Ukraine signed a cooperation agreement with NATO. According to propagandists, this event «became a landmark and at the same time a black date for Ukraine. This step caused considerable resonance both inside and outside the country». Developing this idea, propagandists held NATO and the West as a whole responsible for all of Ukraine’s problems: «Western promises about Ukraine’s possible accession to the alliance turned out to be just manipulations, which eventually led to: two «Maidans» that changed the political course of the Ukrainian state to Russophobia and nationalism, and then to outright Nazism; the formation of the Ukrainian army as a springboard for an attack on Russia; and the crisis in eastern Ukraine«.
In conclusion, the propagandists wrote that it is seen that the cooperation agreement to make Ukraine «a training ground for practicing new ways of warfare. Which eventually led to the expected — the collapse of the country, the economy and migration of the population to more prosperous countries«.
