Russian disinformation targeted at Poland’s energy security: expert

Russia could be spreading fake news and misinformation to frustrate Poland’s efforts to diversify its energy supplies, Grzegorz Kuczyński, a Russian affairs expert, suggested during a debate aired by public broadcaster Polish Radio.

He named projects such as the planned Baltic Pipe gas link from Norway to Poland via Denmark, part of Warsaw’s efforts to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow.

Meanwhile, Kamil Basaj from the Warsaw-based Cybersecurity Foundation said during the debate that some Russian-backed disinformation campaigns in social networks could be aimed at destabilising Poland’s relations with the United States.

A third expert, Prof. Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski of the University of Łódź in central Poland, voiced his view that Poland was on the whole resilient to Russian propaganda.

He said he believed Poles “have, over the generations, become resistant to Russian manipulation, taught by historical experience” and that attempts to influence the Polish public with pro-Russian messages were “politically ineffective.”

The Polish Radio debate was hosted by journalist Michał Rachoń on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Stanisław Żaryn, spokesman for Poland’s security services chief, has warned in an opinion piece that internet users may be vulnerable to fake news and disinformation in the run-up to elections in Poland this year.

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Source: polskieradio24.pl