Research indicates that these channels aim to undermine support for Ukraine and influence public sentiment in Poland.
**Polish Telegram Channels Amplifying Pro-Russian Propaganda**
**Polish Telegram Channels Amplifying Pro-Russian Propaganda**
Pro-Russian disinformation and propaganda are spreading in Poland through Polish-language Telegram channels.
The article text:
In a tranquil clearing nestled within a forest, two men clad in generic camouflage stand behind wooden poles adorned with images of prominent international figures, including former US President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and billionaire Elon Musk. The US flag hangs low in front of them as the men, speaking Ukrainian with heavy mispronunciations and a strong Russian accent, declare, "We don't need allies like you," before igniting the flag and portraits in a performative act.
This manipulated video, disseminated via the Polish-language Telegram channel Polska Grupa Informacyjna, is emblematic of a larger trend. The BBC has identified 22 similar channels, collectively boasting over 150,000 subscribers, that propagate various forms of pro-Russian disinformation and propaganda in Poland. Although Telegram usage is limited in the country, such misleading narratives find amplification through extremist groups, spreading to platforms with a broader reach.
Characterized as Polish news outlets, many of these channels frequently cite or reproduce content from Russian state media, including RT and Sputnik, both of which are banned in the EU for their propaganda and misinformation campaigns. Several channels claim to deliver "impartial" or "reliable" information, yet often they echo Kremlin narratives and disseminate overtly false claims.
For instance, one channel referred to a notorious incident in Bucha, where hundreds of Ukrainians were killed by Russian forces, purveying the false narrative that it had been staged, referencing images showing actors applying fake blood. The rhetoric doesn't shy away from derogatory terms, with some channels labeling Ukrainian leaders as "Nazis" or portraying their government as "controlled by the United States".
Amidst factual reporting of deadly attacks by Russia, many channels intentionally ignore or misrepresent developments, highlighting supposed successes of the Russian armed forces instead. An analysis of Telegram's activity indicates that many of these channels emerged around the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, with some initially in Russian before rebranding for a Polish audience.
Experts suggest that while Poland plays a crucial role in supporting Ukraine, including humanitarian efforts for over a million Ukrainian refugees, these channels seek to sow doubt, escalate public discontent, and polarize opinions between Polish and Ukrainian communities. Aleksy Szymkiewicz of the Polish fact-checking group Demagog articulates that Telegram acts as a breeding ground for falsehoods, with those false claims often migrating to more widely used platforms like X and Facebook.
The narratives crafted by these channels often target Polish anxieties, feeding into economic fears as they perpetuate stereotypes about Ukrainian refugees as aggressive and burdensome. As such, Szymkiewicz warns that pro-Russian sentiments could influence public support for Ukrainian refugees adversely.
While the individuals behind many of these channels remain anonymous, evidence suggests connections to Russia or Belarus. Some accounts operate on a posting schedule aligned with Moscow's work hours, hinting at an orchestrated effort. For instance, the channel UKR LEAKS_pl is tied to a network run by Vasily Prozorov, a former Ukrainian official who defected to Russia, while the InfoDefense group is associated with controversial pro-Kremlin figures.
Despite the claims of impartiality, channels like Polska Grupa Informacyjna continue to circulate misleading content, asserting that it is merely showcasing controversial material from around the web. This underscores a grim reality, as the persistent pro-Russian disinformation infiltrates the Polish-language media landscape, fostering narratives that legitimize and reinforce the Russian regime’s perspective.
In response, BBC World Service is launching a new initiative, BBC News Polska, to provide unbiased reporting to the Polish-speaking audience, utilizing human editorial oversight alongside AI translation technology—an attempt to counteract the malicious spread of misinformation prevalent in the region.
In a tranquil clearing nestled within a forest, two men clad in generic camouflage stand behind wooden poles adorned with images of prominent international figures, including former US President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and billionaire Elon Musk. The US flag hangs low in front of them as the men, speaking Ukrainian with heavy mispronunciations and a strong Russian accent, declare, "We don't need allies like you," before igniting the flag and portraits in a performative act.
This manipulated video, disseminated via the Polish-language Telegram channel Polska Grupa Informacyjna, is emblematic of a larger trend. The BBC has identified 22 similar channels, collectively boasting over 150,000 subscribers, that propagate various forms of pro-Russian disinformation and propaganda in Poland. Although Telegram usage is limited in the country, such misleading narratives find amplification through extremist groups, spreading to platforms with a broader reach.
Characterized as Polish news outlets, many of these channels frequently cite or reproduce content from Russian state media, including RT and Sputnik, both of which are banned in the EU for their propaganda and misinformation campaigns. Several channels claim to deliver "impartial" or "reliable" information, yet often they echo Kremlin narratives and disseminate overtly false claims.
For instance, one channel referred to a notorious incident in Bucha, where hundreds of Ukrainians were killed by Russian forces, purveying the false narrative that it had been staged, referencing images showing actors applying fake blood. The rhetoric doesn't shy away from derogatory terms, with some channels labeling Ukrainian leaders as "Nazis" or portraying their government as "controlled by the United States".
Amidst factual reporting of deadly attacks by Russia, many channels intentionally ignore or misrepresent developments, highlighting supposed successes of the Russian armed forces instead. An analysis of Telegram's activity indicates that many of these channels emerged around the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, with some initially in Russian before rebranding for a Polish audience.
Experts suggest that while Poland plays a crucial role in supporting Ukraine, including humanitarian efforts for over a million Ukrainian refugees, these channels seek to sow doubt, escalate public discontent, and polarize opinions between Polish and Ukrainian communities. Aleksy Szymkiewicz of the Polish fact-checking group Demagog articulates that Telegram acts as a breeding ground for falsehoods, with those false claims often migrating to more widely used platforms like X and Facebook.
The narratives crafted by these channels often target Polish anxieties, feeding into economic fears as they perpetuate stereotypes about Ukrainian refugees as aggressive and burdensome. As such, Szymkiewicz warns that pro-Russian sentiments could influence public support for Ukrainian refugees adversely.
While the individuals behind many of these channels remain anonymous, evidence suggests connections to Russia or Belarus. Some accounts operate on a posting schedule aligned with Moscow's work hours, hinting at an orchestrated effort. For instance, the channel UKR LEAKS_pl is tied to a network run by Vasily Prozorov, a former Ukrainian official who defected to Russia, while the InfoDefense group is associated with controversial pro-Kremlin figures.
Despite the claims of impartiality, channels like Polska Grupa Informacyjna continue to circulate misleading content, asserting that it is merely showcasing controversial material from around the web. This underscores a grim reality, as the persistent pro-Russian disinformation infiltrates the Polish-language media landscape, fostering narratives that legitimize and reinforce the Russian regime’s perspective.
In response, BBC World Service is launching a new initiative, BBC News Polska, to provide unbiased reporting to the Polish-speaking audience, utilizing human editorial oversight alongside AI translation technology—an attempt to counteract the malicious spread of misinformation prevalent in the region.
