Pro-Russian Disinformation Networks Exploit Telegram in Poland

Recent investigations reveal that numerous Polish Telegram channels, presenting themselves as news outlets, are disseminating pro-Russian disinformation. Despite Telegram’s limited reach in Poland, these channels manage to influence opinions and polarize public sentiment towards Ukraine, thereby complicating the refugee situation and fostering division.

In a remote forest setting, two men in camouflage uniforms ignite a US flag accompanied by portraits of high-profile Americans including former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The video, circulating widely among subscribers of a Polish-language Telegram channel, portrays an illusion of Ukrainian soldiers disavowing support from the West. However, experts point to its constructed nature—generic camouflage, poor Ukrainian pronunciation, and staged action reveal it as a blatant misinformation campaign.

Polska Grupa Informacyjna, the channel sharing this video, is one of 22 identified by the BBC as propagating pro-Russian disinformation in the Polish-language sphere. Collectively, these channels, with over 150,000 subscribers, adopt deceptive headers branding themselves as impartial or reliable sources, while frequently replicating narratives from banned Russian state media like RT and Sputnik.

While Telegram remains a less popular platform in Poland, messages from these channels are amplified among extremist groups, eventually spilling into more widely used social networks. The communication strategy, as analyzed by the BBC, suggests a coordinated effort to sow discord and discourage support for Ukraine, thereby impacting Polish societal attitudes towards incoming Ukrainian refugees—many of whom have fled the ongoing war since 2022.

Fake images and misleading posts permeate these channels. Reports have surfaced of manipulated visuals depicting military victims, while others brand Ukrainian leaders and soldiers as "Nazis." Documentation shows that numerous posts ignored critical real-world incidents, further stirring anti-Ukrainian sentiments among Polish audiences.

The rise of these channels coincides with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, indicating a tactical evolution in the digital landscape. Experts from Polish fact-checking organizations highlight the detrimental influence of these pro-Russian narratives, which morph falsehoods into perceived truths, exacerbating existing economic and cultural anxieties within Poland.

While the identities of many individuals behind these channels remain obscured, there seems to be a strategic alignment with Russian propaganda efforts, evident in their posting patterns timed to Moscow’s schedule. Some channels are linked to notorious figures in the pro-Kremlin media sphere, further solidifying their disinformation campaigns.

Despite the obfuscation of their true intentions, these networks pose a significant threat by reshaping public discourse in Poland, reinforcing biases and potentially swaying opinions against Ukrainian refugees. As the situation evolves, the need for genuine, reliable journalism has never been more apparent—highlighted by the BBC's initiative to launch BBC News Polska, aimed at combating misinformation through trusted reporting.