A Russian intelligence‑derived claim that Ukraine staged attacks on Polish and Romanian infrastructure to frame Russia was issued on September 30, but former GROM commander Roman Polko dismissed it as fabricated propaganda.
Russian Claim of Fake Ukrainian Provocation
On September 30, the Russian news agency TASS published a dispatch that referred to information from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. It alleged that Ukrainian authorities were preparing staged attacks on critical infrastructure in Poland and Romania. The claim said the aim was to accuse Russia of the attacks, thereby further discrediting Russia on the international stage and pulling NATO deeper into the conflict.
Similar allegations had been released a few days earlier by Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kremlin’s Rhetoric of Polish‑Ukrainian Division
Former GROM commander Roman Polko called the reports “absolutely nonsense.” He questioned how Ukraine could be portrayed as antagonizing Poland, a key partner for Kyiv in military logistics, when Ukraine actively assists Poland with anti‑drone systems and shares intelligence on Russia.
Polko accused the Kremlin of continually pursuing a policy that stokes discord between Polish and Ukrainian societies, reinforcing a narrative produced by official sources.
Hybrid Warfare Tactics Accused of Russian Use
Polko warned that Russia is employing large‑scale hybrid‑war methods, including false‑flag operations, chemical weapons, diversionary attacks, drone and missile fleets, and GPS jamming. He noted that Europe is now closer to war than ever because of these activities.
He described Russian operators as “thieves shouting ‘catch the thief,’” accusing them of framing Ukraine as a guardian of peace.
Public Acceptance of Kremlin Narrative in Poland
Doubts were raised about the West’s resilience to Russian propaganda, as polls revealed that a significant portion of the Polish populace accepts the Kremlin narrative that “this is not our war” and that “Ukraine wants to bring us into war.” Polko warned that producing more citizens who believe this story is dangerous for national security.
Call for Offensive Information Warfare
Polko urged the Polish state to take decisive, proactive measures in the information battleground. He argued that simply reacting to misinformation is insufficient; instead, Poland must launch its own offensive campaigns to challenge Kremlin narratives and safeguard societal morale.
According to Polko, modern warfare extends beyond the battlefield to encompass public education, social awareness, and the strategic use of people skilled in information warfare.
