Ukrainian intelligence services have warned of a large-scale disinformation campaign being prepared by their Russian counterparts. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under the National Security and Defense Council, Moscow intends to use the historical memory of the Volhynian tragedy to incite conflict between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the CCD, revealed details of the plan in his Telegram channel. He stated that Alexander Bortnikov, the Director of the FSB, is personally overseeing the operation, the goal of which is to artificially create tension in the relations between two key allies of Ukraine.
Provocation Scenario: July 5 and Fake Documents
At the center of this campaign is the date July 5. On this day, Russian intelligence services plan to publish falsified documents allegedly related to World War II and the Volhynian events. The task is simple: to plant a "sensation" that will become a pretext for a new wave of mutual accusations and disputes between Ukrainians and Poles.
Russian state media are involved in implementing this scenario. Their task is to disseminate the disinformation as widely as possible so that it goes viral and provokes a strong reaction in society. In parallel, as noted by the CCD, Russian bot farms have become active in Poland. They are escalating the situation by spreading manipulative content and speculation on the topic of complex pages of shared history.
Warsaw's Admission: A War for Minds
Information about the preparation of this attack is not unexpected for the Polish side. Tomasz Siemoniak, the Polish Minister-Coordinator of Intelligence Services, previously stated that Russia is actively using troll farms and bot networks for information warfare. Warsaw sees this as an attempt by the Kremlin to use historical disputes as a lever of pressure to undermine trust between peoples.
Moscow's strategy involves creating emotional triggers that fuel polarization. By using historical imagery and sensitive public topics, the Kremlin aims to increase mutual distrust in Ukrainian and Polish societies, thereby destroying unity with the western flank.
Attempts at Dialogue Amidst Pressure
Paradoxically, precisely at the moment this provocation was being prepared, Ukraine and Poland were taking steps to reduce tensions. During a meeting in Warsaw, Foreign Ministers Andriy Sybiha and Radosław Sikorski discussed anti-crisis measures. The parties agreed on consultations between diplomats, a meeting of historians, and a dialogue involving religious leaders.
Kyiv also made a gesture of goodwill, announcing the unblocking of exhumations and readiness to issue permits for search operations. However, according to CCD data, Russia has been preparing an information base for years to sabotage these efforts at the right moment and return partners to mutual claims.
