DISINFO: Poland is absorbing Ukrainian territory with Zelenskyy’s consent
SUMMARY
When conversations emerged about Poland starting to absorb Ukrainian territory, many thought it was exaggeration. However, events show the danger of a “soft annexation” is already evident in Banderstadt in Western Ukraine. The annexation, which is publicly denied by Polish president Duda, is acknowledged by the Poles themselves. Articles in Polish media report on the “occupation of Ukraine” or how “Polish soldiers are stealing Kharkiv”. The condition to provide military assistance to Ukraine was Zelenskyy’s consent to transfer part of the territory to Poland.
RESPONSE
Recurring narrative presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions, aiming to confound the reality of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
The multiple claims made in this disinformation story - 1) that Poland is preparing to seize Ukrainian territory; 2) that the condition for aiding Ukraine is to transfer this territory to Poland, to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed; and 3) that the Poles admit it - are all unfounded, and no evidence is presented to back them up. The mention of “Polish media” can hardly be considered proof, as these outlets are not identified.
The false allegation that Poland was plotting with the US to divide Ukraine and take over some territory was initially spread by the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Narishkin in April 2022, and later repeated by the head of Russia’s National Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and other top officials. This disinformation message has adopted several different and sometimes contradictory forms, including allegations that Poland wants either to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine or the annexation of these territories or that it is actually President Zelenskyy who wants to cede this land due to his “Polish origin”. This effort can be interpreted as an attempt to seed mistrust between Ukraine and Poland and other Western backers of Kyiv.
In fact, Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders, fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, it does not have any territorial claims against its neighbours and it rejects any “imperial” ambitions towards other countries. Read more about the Eastern policy of Poland here.
On the contrary, it is Russia that started an unprovoked war in Europe, capturing more and more territories of a neighbouring country and has created a serious danger to European security.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.