In recent days, Russia has intensified these efforts through the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the NKVD and the KGB, by declassifying allegedly previously unknown documents purportedly demonstrating that the crimes committed by Ukrainians against Poles in July 1943 were more extensive than previously believed. These documents concern the alleged murder of eleven Catholic priests and two thousand inhabitants of Volodymyr-Volynskyi.

Polish historians have expressed scepticism regarding the authenticity and credibility of the information contained in these materials, emphasizing that the event described in the documents did not occur. Most likely, in an effort to maximise the propaganda effect, the Russian propaganda apparatus combined incidents that took place in different locations and at different times. This is not an attempt to uncover previously unknown historical facts, but rather an effort to transfer emotions associated with past events into present-day Polish-Ukrainian relations in order to undermine and ultimately damage them.

Russia's actions also form part of a broader attempt to exploit the FSB materials to undermine the credibility of Ukrainian institutions countering disinformation, including the Centre for Countering Disinformation, which had already warned on 4 July about a Russian information operation concerning Volhynia planned for 5 July. The use of a document that is most likely authentic in form but contains false information appears to have been intended to discredit the Ukrainian side's warnings about Russian disinformation activities. If such a perception were to take hold, it could deepen prejudice and distrust towards institutions engaged in countering Russian disinformation, which would not serve Poland's interests.

Therefore, while reaffirming the importance of Polish historical memory and acknowledging the emotions associated with the Volhynian crime, as well as expressing a critical assessment of the decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after the "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army", the Council calls on the public not to react to information concerning the Volhynian crime originating from Russian or otherwise unverified sources until it has been examined by Polish historians. The Council also calls for restraint in responding to statements and reports from the Ukrainian side.

It is important to remember that the Volhynian crime has long been exploited by the Russian propaganda machine to deepen divisions between the Polish and Ukrainian nations, with the Kremlin's ultimate objective of provoking conflict between the two countries and undermining their cooperation. Such an outcome would serve Russia's strategic interests.

Preventing such a scenario is a vital interest of Poland, as it would pose a direct threat to our national security. We therefore call for restraint in emotions directed towards Ukrainian society and for a critical and cautious approach to information designed to provoke such emotions. We must remember that misunderstandings between Poles and Ukrainians ultimately serve Russia's interests.

The Council also calls on the competent institutions and political actors in Poland to respond appropriately, in particular by undertaking information activities that, on the one hand, expose and refute Russian manipulation and its underlying objectives and, on the other hand, provide the public with an impartial, credible, and fact-based account of the situation.