Russian propaganda is continuing in its efforts to trash the reputation of Poland, Stanisław Żaryn, the head of Poland’s National Security Department, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Wednesday.
He went on to add that the Russian propaganda attacks on Poland are part of the Kremlin’s multi-pronged disinformation campaign.
“The Kremlin's information activities are still focused on three vectors: disparaging Ukraine and Ukrainians, portraying support for Ukraine as an escalatory factor, and scaring people with the vision of Poland entering the war and its possible consequences,” he said.
According to Żaryn, the Russians are striving to permanently mar Poland's image. To pull it off, the official said, they present Poland in a false light as an adventuristic state in the region, waging a proxy war with Russia on Ukrainian territory, and as a country with a plan to seize part of Ukrainian territory.
“Recently, after a certain period of calm, the Kremlin's propaganda again persistently circulates disinformation content about the alleged mass participation of Polish mercenaries in the fighting in Ukraine,” he said.
“Such a change is consistent with Russia's clear departure from the propaganda narrative of a ‘special military operation’ against one foe – Ukraine. Now the Kremlin's message suggests that this is in fact a defensive war for Russia in a conflict with the West, especially the US, the UK and Poland,” Żaryn told PAP.
He felt that the Russians have also recurred to promulgating information schemed to instil fear of its armed forces.
“That is why they publish dramatic photos of attacks on Ukrainian positions, materials showing the transports of heavy combat equipment and masses of soldiers moving towards Ukraine,” the official said.
“The Kremlin's influence apparatus has also begun to shape the false myth of the 'Second Patriotic War' in its own society – in this way it seeks to develop the perception that the current 'conflict' is just as difficult, significant, and a threat to Russia's security as World War II was,” he continued.
These tactics, he elaborated, fit in with the Kremlin's desire to familiarise the public with the vision of a long-term war or psychologically prepare it for further waves of mobilisation.
This map provides an instance of Russian manipulation designed to disinform and wear down the Ukrainian society’s trust in Poland.Russians claim Polish TV shows the weather for imperial Poland. They even made a hoax photo to prove it 😂 pic.twitter.com/YOv1eAouwm
— Karol Gotfryd, disinflate your expectations (@GotfrydKarol) January 17, 2023
Russia has long been pretending to be the protector of conservative values, the sole bulwark standing against the wave of leftist Western ideals and an “effeminate West”. A spin-off of that narrative was promulgated in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine, this time suggesting that by invading Ukraine Russia is saving it from westernisation and from being forced to embrace the LGBT ideology.Spokojnie, na 🇷🇺 Telegramie są lepsze kwiatki 👇 pic.twitter.com/lKajTSa33K
— WarNewsPL (@WarNewsPL1) January 17, 2023