Poland
Migration crisis
Adding Poland to the “top pseudo-democracies of the week,” the Nevolfovich Telegram channel wrote: “Polish border guards brutally beat two refugee women from Eritrea and Guinea: one girl was diagnosed with a fractured spine, the other with a deep laceration on her leg. This is the reality that refugees face at the border of the European Union”.
At the same time, refugees were mentioned in an article about the current situation on the borders of Belarus. It was noted that “over the last three years, more than 320 people suffered from the actions of Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian law enforcers.”
Militarization and preparation for war
Continuing to promote the narrative about the militarization of Polish society, the BelVPO Telegram channel in a post titled “How Neighbors Prepare for War” drew attention to the first aid classes for school students, which were conducted by servicemen.
Poland’s growing military spending was once again criticized. For example, it was reported that coliform bacteria were allegedly found in the water supply network in the city of Gdynia, and “meanwhile, the military is buying another batch of armaments worth a billion zlotys.”
At the same time, the words of Defense Minister V. Kosiniak-Kamysz about the plans to create unmanned troops and accelerate the transformation of the army provoked the following reaction: “Thus, the Polish leadership is already directly saying that the country is preparing for a full-scale armed conflict”. Here, referring to Lukashenka’s statements, they also threatened to use nuclear weapons: “We remind that in case of an attack on Belarus, the aggressor will receive an immediate response from Minsk and Moscow with all kinds of weapons.”
Raising the issue of the country’s budget deficit of 184 billion zlotys in 2024, one of the pro-government Telegram channels emphasized: “In a militaristic and revanchist frenzy, the Polish top brass does not think about the fact that it is driving the country into a debt hole. It was also noted: “The rulers of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth have been looking with envy for many years at the fact that the Banderovites have been siphoning off Western aid with such zeal… And how are we worse? — the Przeks wonder. This is how “defense” megaprojects are born, the main task of which is to enrich the fierce Russophobes who have gained power in Poland.”
At the same time, the construction of the first fortifications as part of the “Eastern Shield” defense system on the border with Belarus and Russia was commented on as follows: “The Polish military top brass continues to exacerbate tensions in the region. However their military ambitions may not play against them”.
Criticism of the Polish Army and Ministry of Defense
Amid deliveries of new types of weapons to the Polish army, the message about the lack of sufficient ammunition for them was once again delivered. “The issue of ammunition availability for the Polish Army remains more pressing than ever, given the bellicose rhetoric of the authorities. However, politicians prefer not to publicize this problem, hoping, in case of emergency, to get support from the ocean without delay,” the authors summarized.
At the same time, the news about the death of a lieutenant in the Polish Army (off-duty, presumably as a result of an accident) was responded to in the style typical of the editors in the Nevolfovich Telegram channel: “The insolvency and ruin in the Polish Army cannot be compensated for by either buying weapons or increasing the number of tin soldiers. And until the Polish leadership starts looking for a threat inside the country, the soldiers of the Polish Army will continue to die in peacetime.”
The case of looting by a Polish officer in the flood-affected areas was also recalled. It was reported that his superior could have known about the crimes but turned a blind eye to it. However, the propagandists decided to embellish and added that the latter also “encouraged and had his share from the activities of his subordinate,” and concluded as follows: “There is a disturbing tendency in the Polish Army when lack of discipline, encouragement and covering up of crime becomes commonplace.”
Criticism of the Polish authorities
Head of the government D. Tusk was criticized for refusing his earlier statements about D. Trump’s ties with Russian intelligence services. In this connection, the Belarusian Front Telegram channel noted: “The ruling regime in Warsaw has once again confirmed the statement ‘Poland is a meme country’.”
At the same time, false information about Warsaw Mayor R. Trzaskowski was published. It was claimed that at first he banned the march on Polish Independence Day on November 11, but then changed his mind and now invites to take part in it. The politician did this allegedly because of his desire to get more votes in the upcoming presidential election. However, in reality, the initial rejection of the organizers’ application was due to their desire to hold marches for sixteen days instead of one.
Ukrainian Legion in Poland
Attention was also paid to the issue of the formation and further training of the Ukrainian Legion on the territory of Poland. The propagandists questioned whether this unit would include Ukrainian citizens. As it was noted, “mercenaries from all over the world will be trained in Poland under the guise of Ukrainians.”
Contradictions between Poland and Ukraine
Polish Foreign Minister R. Sikorski said that his Ukrainian counterpart had promised progress on the issue of exhuming the victims of the Volyn massacre by 1 November, but the promise was never fulfilled. In this regard, it was emphasized: “On the road to eternal Polish-Ukrainian friendship, ghosts from the past have crossed the road. How terrible were the deeds of the Banderites that the Kiev authorities, under the threat of blocking Ukraine’s accession to the EU, do not agree to the demands of the Poles.”
Among the contradictions between the countries also highlighted the reduction of arms supplies to the Ukrainians, including the Poles’ refusal to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets. In this regard, the authors of the Belarusian Front Telegram channel wrote: “Polish aid is not a manifestation of solidarity, but a favorable calculation: in exchange for old equipment sent to Ukraine, Poland receives loans from NATO countries for the purchase of new weapons.”
Poles in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
In a post congratulating National Unity Day (the anniversary of the liberation of Moscow from the forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1612), which is celebrated in the Russian Armed Forces on November 4, the BelVPO Telegram channel, apparently alluding to the participation of Polish volunteers in the operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kursk region, said: “Today Polish mercenaries, with the connivance of Polish politicians, have come to the Russian land again. We are confident that this time, too, the brazen enemy will get what he deserves and will forever learn the lesson that Russia’s borders are sacred and inviolable!”
Dependence on the U.S. and EU
The narrative of Poles’ dependency continued to be promoted. For example, it was emphasized that “Poland is used to living as a beggar for money from the United States and the European Union” and that “usually, when it is necessary to demonstrate a triple deflection towards Washington, Andrzej Duda always runs ahead of everyone else.” Prime Minister D. Tusk, who “could not miss a chance to show off for his Western masters” when he spoke about the construction of a network of defensive structures on the eastern border, was also criticized.
Situation of labor migrants in Poland
The BelVPO Telegram channel described a case when a Polish citizen and two Ukrainian citizens forced five Colombians to work in slave-like conditions at a Polish enterprise. “Thus, one can see the inhumane attitude of Poles, who exploit refugees through their Ukrainian villeins,” the authors of the post summarized.
NATO
Preparation for war with Belarus and Russia
On this topic, in the November 8 ATN program “Disposition” the following was said: “The neighboring NATO countries have recently become amicably concerned about the acquisition of powerful and accurate missiles and ammunition. Poland seeks to take the lead in Europe in HIMARS, even Estonia for some reason plans to purchase long-range models, including ATACMS. It is unlikely that these instruments are intended to establish good-neighborly relations or Christmas fireworks.”
At the same time, referring to the interview of Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces V. Kuprianyuk, the Nevolfovich Telegram channel wrote: “NATO is actually preparing for an open armed confrontation with Belarus and Russia.” And in an article on the website “Belarusian Military-Political Review” they saw “preparation of the alliance for military actions against Russia in the north-western operational direction” in the NATO drills held in November.”
Baltic bridgehead
The news about the construction of a bridge over the Nioman river in Kaunas and the planned inspection of the state road network throughout Lithuania was commented on as follows: “We are facing the working moments of realization of measures from the section ‘Operational Equipment of the Territory’ of the plan to prepare Lithuania for war. To be even more precise, the preparation of the Baltic bridgehead to receive NATO troops is in full swing.”
NATO and the war in Ukraine
Referring to Foreign Policy, the Belarusian Front Telegram channel claimed the following: “NATO recognizes that Kiev is losing the conflict, and Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election only increases concerns about Ukraine.”
At the same time, a number of Putin’s quotes about the North Atlantic Alliance from a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club were cited, including: “The bloc structure is losing its meaning, NATO is an example of this. It was this organization that provoked Russia to retaliate in Ukraine. The White House is breeding conflicts in self-interest.”
It was also noted: “The objective reasons for the withdrawal of the NWO into a protracted war is that by the summer of 2022, the NATO bloc led by the United States had already joined the war, taking over the function of rear, combat management, combat support and intelligence. Ukraine was only required to fill the front with people… A proxy world war had begun.”
