The company said the figure circulated online—around €0.50 (roughly 2 złoty) below the Polish wholesale price—came from customs data that excluded excise duty and other domestic levies, making the comparison misleading. Orlen said that when “base” prices are compared on the same tax‑free basis, fuel sold in Poland is in fact cheaper than the fuel it exports to Ukraine. The company described the campaign as an attempt to undermine public trust in Polish institutions and businesses and said it had already reported the matter to state authorities and would pursue legal action against those responsible. The case fits into a wider pattern of Russian influence operations targeting Polish‑Ukrainian relations and domestic trust in Poland’s energy sector and state institutions, documented by analysts and EU bodies.