Information campaign against Poland’s Army
A multi-element campaign based on reports on the WINTER-20 exercises was carried out by Russian propaganda in February and March 2021.
For several weeks, Russian propaganda conducted multi-element information campaigns aimed at Poland, its position in NATO and the image of the Polish Armed Forces. As part of these activities, the lines of narratives directed at the West, typical of the Kremlin, were implemented.
STAGE#1:
The pretext for the launch of the campaign against Poland was a publication by the Polish media in which the alleged course of the Polish military exercise WINTER-20 was discussed. The media claimed, inter alia, that as a result of the exercises, the Polish army was unable to defend itself against the attack from Russia for more than a few days. According to media narratives, the commanders made bad decisions during the manoeuvres, which sparked a rebellion in the army.
Based on the reports of the Polish media, the case was widely referred to by the Russian media, including those involved in aggressive propaganda against Poland. In the Kremlin's narrative, the WINTER-20 exercise showed that Poland is unable to oppose Russia. Propaganda messages wrote about the "shame" of the Polish army, mockery of the Polish army and the ridicule of Poland.
The publications also contained theses aimed at showing the allegedly overwhelming power of the Russian army, as well as threats against Poles. It has been suggested that the exercises proved the power of the Russian army unstoppable. The Russian media also tried to capitalize on political capital in their propaganda texts. One of the texts indicated that the exercises "showed that it is better to be friends with Russia". Another text stated that Poland lost during the exercises "because of excessive faith in the USA and NATO".
The texts published in the first phase of the campaign were intended to discredit the Polish army. The issue of the military exercises and Polish publications about their alleged course was widely commented on in the Russian media.
The propaganda activities carried out against the Polish Armed Forces also had their international dimension. The Chinese news agency Sina cited the reports of the Russian media. It described the "course of the military exercises WINTER-20", pointing out that the Polish army was defeated, and for Poland the exercises ended in a "catastrophic failure".
Another Chinese portals, describing the alleged course of the exercises, suggested that their results were a strong disappointment for the NATO Allies. Both Chinese agencies indicated that the Polish army had compromised itself.
STAGE#2
The next stage of activities was carried out by the Chinese media, publishing theses consistent with the Kremlin's narrative against the Republic of Poland. The expert quoted in the text argued that the "failure" of the WINTER-20 exercises was due to Poland's desire to manipulate its US allies.
The opinion in the article suggested that the failure of the exercises described by the media was a Polish tactic, calculated to draw the attention of the new US administration to the security of NATO's eastern flank. At the same time, Poland was accused of threatening the West with Russia for political purposes. In the narrative of the Chinese agency, Poland scares the West with the Kremlin, counting on greater help from its allies and collective defence.
The text was part of attempts to slander Poland in the international arena. It was also an example of showing Poland as an unstable country and a threat to Europe. There were some theses in the text suggesting a crisis in PL-US relations.
The article by the Chinese agency was promoted by Russian Internet portals which indicated that "Poland's failure in the exercises" was related to the US and the political situation in the US.
The Russian theses were also used to denigrate Poland and stimulate tensions on the PL-US line. One of the articles directly accuses Poland of "manipulating the Americans." In the joint Russian-Chinese narrative, the very organization of the exercises by Poland was an attempt to influence the USA.
STAGE#3
In the next stage of activities, media reports on the course of the WINTER-20 exercise were used by Russian propaganda to insinuate that Poland raises doubts among NATO allies. In the texts, there was an attempt to divide the members of the Alliance.
Russian publications suggested that the result of the Polish exercises had disappointed NATO. According to the Kremlin's narrative, "the search for the causes of the rapid defeat of the Polish army" is now to be continued. The texts promoted by the Russian media duplicated information previously published in the Polish press. At the same time, it was suggested that the exercises proved the ineffectiveness of the Polish army.
Articles promoted by the Russian media at this stage of activities contained narratives typical of the Kremlin, including: accusations against the Polish army of ineptitude, suggestions that NATO is disappointed with the Polish army and the result of the exercises, attempts to ridicule the Polish army and weaken the morale of Polish soldiers.
STAGE#4
In the last stage of information activities, the Russian media published theses aimed at forcing Poland and NATO to change the policy related to the eastern flank of the Alliance. The published materials contained theses, which were an attempt to show that the results of the WINTER-20 exercises should force changes in the paradigms of the Polish policy, because the current assumptions did not come true.
The Russian publications were based on the text of the Austrian magazine, which included a commentary on reports on the Polish exercises. The text indicates that the results of the WINTER-20 manoeuvres should have an impact on the policy towards NATO's eastern flank, which has been strengthened in recent years.
The texts of the Russian media also indicate that Poland should change its policy towards its neighbours. At the same time, Poland is accused of pursuing a "Russophobic" policy. The implicit policy changes are to affect the attitude of the Republic of Poland towards Russia.
The theses contained in the Russian texts are also an attempt to arouse tensions between Poland and the USA. The authors of the texts argue that the "failure of the exercises" is "the end of Poland's historic dreams" related to the alliance with the USA. The articles show Poland as a country aggressive towards Russia. The articles argue that despite the "Polish Russophobia" and Poland's hostility towards the Kremlin, Russia does not plan to attack Poland.
A multi-element information campaign based on reports on the WINTER-20 exercises was carried out by Russian propaganda in February and March 2021. As part of it, a narrative line typical of the Kremlin was implemented. Actions directed against the Polish Armed Forces are a permanent element of propaganda activities against Poland.
Common lines of narrative include:
- attempts to ridicule the Polish army and the commanding staff,
- weakening the morale of soldiers of the Polish army,
- attempts to fuel disputes between Polish soldiers and allied forces,
- undermining the credibility of the Polish army among NATO members,
- showing the alleged ineffectiveness of the Polish army,
- showing the alleged superiority of Russian troops over NATO troops.
The Polish Armed Forces remain one of the most common targets of Russia's hostile propaganda.
Spokesperson of the Minister-Special Services Coordinator