WAR PROPAGANDA: Poland will launch a war against Russia in the next 10 years

The Polish Defense Ministry announced it would launch a war against Russia within the next 10 years, according to a propaganda narrative disseminated by the Russian government media. In fact, Poland’s Government adopted an endowment program also designed to increase the number of troops in the context of the war in Ukraine possibly spilling over into Poland’s territory.

NEWS: “The representative of the Polish Defense Ministry told journalists that Warsaw is planning to launch a war against Russia in the next 10 years.

Within 10 years, Poland might launch a war against Russia, the Deputy Defense Minister, Marcin Ocepa, estimated.

According to the Polish official, Warsaw must use this time as efficiently as possible to rearm and modernize its military.

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In particular, Poland adopted the “most ambitious” endowment program in the country’s history. Poland’s army will total 300 thousand troops for 10 years. In addition, Poland plans to purchase tanks, artillery systems, drones and other types of equipment.”

NARRATIVE: Poland will launch a war against Russia in the next 10 years.

WHY THE NARRATIVE IS FALSE: In fact, there has been no statement from Poland’s deputy Defense Minister of any other politician in Warsaw about a planned attack against Russia. On the contrary, the Government of Poland adopted an endowment program meant to increase the number of troops in the context of the war in Ukraine risking to expand to its own territory. In other words, Poland is preparing for a possible Russian aggression on its territory.

The Russian media took the statements of the Polish deputy Defense Minister out of context and deliberately misrepresented them to spread panic in Russian society and to rally more public support for the war in Ukraine, which the Russian propaganda calls “a special military operation”.

Poland’s deputy Defense Minister has told “Dziennik Gazetą Prawną” that there is a serious risk of a war with Russia in the next 3-10 years. He argued that the war is more expensive than investing in defense, Ukraine providing a good example in this respect. “Our purpose is to scare the enemy and show Poland is not worth attacking”, Marcin Ocepa said.

Therefore, the Polish official was referring to a defense strategy, not an offensive one, as the Russian media claimed. Marcin Ocepa said Russia might attack Poland even at the end of the war in Ukraine, once it has regrouped its troops. “We need to use this time to arm our troops”, Ocepa said.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland has helped both Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees on its territory. From the first days of the war, Poland’s leadership said Russia needs to be stopped here and now, otherwise the war might expand in the region. In September, Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said the EU needs to prepare for a possible expansion of the war, since Moscow is determined to occupy other states. Therefore, the statements of Polish Defense Ministry officials fall in line with the defensive vision of Poland’s leaders.

Veridica has already tackled a number of false narratives about Poland, according to which president Duda admitted Warsaw will capture Ukrainian territories, while Kyiv has allowed 10,000 soldiers from Poland and Lithuania to enter the country. In July, the Russian media wrote that Poland will work with Hungary and Romania to capture parts of Ukraine.