Rise of Pro-Russian Propaganda in Poland through Telegram Channels

A detailed analysis reveals how 22 Polish-language Telegram channels promote pro-Russian propaganda, influencing perceptions about Ukraine and complicating Poland's response to refugees. These channels, despite presenting themselves as impartial, are identified as tools for spreading misinformation, exploiting cultural anxieties and historical resentments amidst the ongoing conflict.

In the heart of a Polish forest, a surreal scene unfolds as two men dressed in camouflage set fire to the US flag and portraits of prominent figures, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk. This dramatic display, captured in a video and distributed widely across Polish-language Telegram channels, raises alarms about the growing influence of pro-Russian propaganda in Poland. The Ukrainian dialogue in the video is heavily accented and mispronounced, suggesting a staged performance rather than genuine sentiment.

The channel sharing this video, Polska Grupa Informacyjna, is one of 22 Polish-language channels identified by the BBC as disseminating various forms of Russian disinformation. Collectively, these channels share content viewed by over 150,000 subscribers, often presenting themselves as news and information services. With claims of "impartial" reporting, two channels specifically position themselves as providing "unbiased" news. However, many of their posts replicate or cite information from Russian state media outlets like RT and Sputnik, both banned within the EU for propagating misinformation.

While Telegram is not mainstream in Poland, it serves as a breeding ground for extremist ideologies, with misleading messages amplified and eventually spread across larger platforms. Notably, Polish channels have forged connections with Russian regime figures, citing prominent voices like Vladimir Putin and various pro-Kremlin commentators.

Some posts propagate outright falsehoods, such as questioning the verified atrocity of the Bucha killings, while others foster a narrative that labels Ukrainian leaders and military forces as "Nazis." The implications of these narratives are amplified by a calculated omission of significant events, exemplified when major attacks on Kyiv were downplayed or ignored by several channels, which instead highlighted Russian triumphs.

The creation of these channels coincides with the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, reflecting a strategic adaptation to Polish digital media. Many channels reportedly follow a posting schedule aligned with Russian time zones and exhibit signifiers of ties to Russian or Belarusian interests, suggesting orchestrated efforts to undermine Polish support for Ukraine.

Aleksy Szymkiewicz from the Polish fact-checking organization Demagog notes that Telegram serves as "a starting point" for misinformation that could polarize public opinion and erode support for Ukrainian refugees, who number nearly one million in Poland since 2022. He warns that anti-Ukrainian sentiments propagated by these Telegram channels exploit economic anxieties among Poles, leading to increased social tensions.

Despite Poland's historical animosity towards Russia, which remains a backdrop to current disinformation efforts, the nuances of pro-Russian messaging combine with far-right content to foster acceptance among more skeptical audiences. This targeted strategy raises questions about the effectiveness of traditional narratives that emphasize betrayal or aggression.

The channels' operators largely remain anonymous, yet experts believe there are connections to broader pro-Kremlin networks, including a multilingual web spearheaded by individuals like Vasily Prozorov, a turncoat former Ukrainian security officer. The presence of channels like InfoDefensePOLAND suggests concerted efforts to leverage both popular and fringe audiences online, extending the reach of Russian narratives.

Consequently, in a landscape rife with confusion and competing truths, the proliferation of pro-Russian propaganda challenges not only Poland's security strategy but also its social cohesion, reflecting the deeper complexities of a nation caught between historical grievances and the present realities of hybrid warfare.