Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Russia Exploits Poland-Ukraine WWII Massacre Dispute in Disinformation Push
During World War Two, many Polish people were killed in a region called Volhynia, and Polish leaders say about 100,000 Poles died.
This happened a very long time ago, but some people are still upset about it.
Russia is fighting a war with Ukraine and wants to keep them apart from their friends.
So Russia uses this old sad story to make Polish people angry at Ukrainian people.
It spreads many angry posts on social media, and some are written by computer programs called bots.
After one Ukrainian naming decision, the number of angry posts in Poland went up by more than 250 percent.
Because of these posts, fewer Polish people now want to help Ukraine in its war.
Russia says it did not do this and that the accusations are not true.
Poland's leader asked people to stop being mean to Ukrainians living in Poland.
Poland and Ukraine are still friends, but their friendship is being tested.
Russian disinformation about the World War Two Volhynia dispute 'exploded' across social and official Russian media including Telegram, Polish deputy digital minister Pawel Olszewski said.
Anti-Ukrainian content in Polish on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube rose by more than 250% after Zelenskiy named an army unit after insurgents, according to an analysis by the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM).
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of a top Polish honour in June, intensifying the dispute over the massacres.
An IBRiS poll found support in Poland for continued military assistance to Ukraine fell to 52% from 78% in 2022, and 33.6% of respondents said their attitude toward Ukrainians had worsened.
Russia denies spreading disinformation, calling the accusations baseless, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for an end to xenophobic attacks on Ukrainians.
- Who
- Russia, according to Polish officials and researchers, who also point to Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Karol Nawrocki as central figures in the underlying dispute; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and deputy digital minister Pawel Olszewski are also involved.
- What
- An intensified Russian online disinformation campaign in Poland that exploits the World War Two Volhynia massacres dispute to inflame tensions between Ukraine and its key ally.
- When
- Aug 14 (article dateline); the campaign escalated after Zelenskiy named an army unit after insurgents and Nawrocki stripped him of a Polish honour in June.
- Where
- Poland, focused on Polish-language social media platforms, involving the dispute between Warsaw and Kyiv amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
- Why
- To inflame tensions between Ukraine and a key ally and influence sentiment ahead of Poland's closely contested parliamentary elections in 2027, Polish officials and experts say; Moscow denies this.
Polish Officials and Analysts
Russian Officials and Skeptical Experts
Russian disinformation campaign
Polish Officials and Analysts
Polish officials and researchers say Russia dramatically stepped up online disinformation exploiting the Volhynia dispute, with anti-Ukrainian content rising more than 250% and bot activity creating the impression of surging sentiment.
Russian Officials and Skeptical Experts
Russia denies spreading disinformation; its embassy in Warsaw says Moscow does not interfere in the relations between other states and calls the accusations about undermining support for Ukraine baseless.
What drives anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland
Polish Officials and Analysts
Analysts say Russian messaging amplifying the real Volhynia controversy has 'fallen on fertile ground' and is a key factor behind deteriorating support for Ukraine.
Russian Officials and Skeptical Experts
Experts caution that negative sentiment cannot be explained solely by foreign influence, citing weariness with 1.8-1.9 million Ukrainian migrants, disputes over grain imports, and the legacy of the World War Two killings.
- Volhynia massacres
- Poland says Ukrainians killed around 100,000 Poles between 1943 and 1945; thousands of Ukrainians died in reprisal killings
- Rise in anti-Ukrainian content
- More than 250% increase in Polish-language content on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube (PISM analysis)
- Polish honour stripped
- President Nawrocki stripped President Zelenskiy of a top Polish honour in June
- Support for military aid to Ukraine
- Fell to 52% from 78% in 2022 (IBRiS survey)
- Worsened attitude toward Ukrainians
- 33.6% of respondents said their attitude worsened after the dispute (IBRiS poll)
- Ukrainian migrants in Poland
- Estimated 1.8-1.9 million
- Polish parliamentary elections
- Expected in 2027; policy toward Ukrainians seen as a potential key theme
- Russia's response
- Embassy in Warsaw says Moscow does not interfere in the relations between other states and calls the accusations baseless