Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Report Reveals Anti-Ukrainian Content Floods Poland’s Social Media


(MENAFN) A recent study by Demagog and the Institute of Media Monitoring (IMM) uncovered nearly 94,000 Polish-language social media posts with anti-Ukrainian content between April and July, reaching an audience of 32.5 million—approximately 80% of Poland’s population.

The IMM estimates the advertising value of these posts at 12 million Polish zlotys ($3.3 million). The disinformation narratives accuse Ukrainians of sabotage within Poland, allege an anti-Polish genocide during World War II, and claim that 10% of Ukrainian refugees in Poland have ties to terrorist organizations.

The media watchdog also noted that these themes frequently overlap with pro-Russian disinformation efforts.

This report emerges as Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski prepares to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Miami on Tuesday to discuss NATO’s eastern flank security and prospects for peace in Ukraine.

Additionally, on Wednesday, talks are planned in Washington between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and US President Donald Trump. Since Nawrocki’s election in June, Poland’s approach to Ukraine has sharply divided along party lines, with Sikorski’s visit viewed by some as a counterpoint to Trump’s engagement with the Ukraine-skeptic Nawrocki.

IMM researchers monitored 18 key phrases such as "Stop the Ukrainianization of Poland," frequently used on platforms including US-based X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and online forums. X alone accounted for 92% of the identified posts, while Facebook made up only 1%.

“We see external actors, such as Belarusian and Russian outlets, driving messages meant to frighten Poles about Ukrainians," Michal Marek of the National Research Institute (NASK) told a news agency.

"But it is the internal disinformation networks that generate the largest reach, and the two factors reinforce each other,” he added, highlighting the influence of Polish far-right figures like Grzegorz Braun from the Confederation party.

Polish officials blame Russia and its ally Belarus for waging hybrid warfare by spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda aimed at fueling historical animosities and undermining Polish and wider EU support for Ukraine.

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