Russia Deploys Deepfakes to Strain Polish-Ukrainian Relations
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation has exposed a series of Russian-led influence operations, including AI-generated deepfakes, designed to incite hostility and fracture diplomatic support...
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation has exposed a series of Russian-led influence operations, including AI-generated deepfakes, designed to incite hostility and fracture diplomatic support between Warsaw and Kyiv.
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AI-Generated Disinformation Campaigns
Russia is circulating an AI-generated video featuring Yevhen Karas, commander of the 413th Separate Drone Battalion, falsely claiming Ukraine does not need Polish assistance. The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation (CPD) confirmed the video is a deepfake, noting it is being spread on TikTok through an account masquerading as a Ukrainian military outlet.
The CPD warns that this operation aims to trigger conflict between Poles and Ukrainians ahead of July 11, the National Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Volhynian tragedy.
Fabricated Reports of a Monument to the UPA
Another Russian disinformation campaign involves a fake report styled as a France 24 news segment. The video claims that President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to build a multi-million-euro monument in Volhynia honoring UPA leaders, with construction allegedly starting on July 11.
France 24 has officially denied creating or airing this material. The CPD identifies this as part of a broader, state-directed Russian strategy to exploit historical sensitivities regarding the Volhynian massacre to weaken international support for Ukraine.
Tensions Over Historical Memory
The status of the UPA remains a highly contentious issue in Polish-Ukrainian relations. Polish historians characterize the 1943 attacks on approximately 150 Polish settlements as a genocide, while many Ukrainian figures view the UPA as symbols of resistance against the Soviet Union.
Diplomatic frictions have escalated recently following President Zelensky’s decision to name a military unit after the UPA. This move faced severe criticism from Polish officials, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and contributed to the recent controversy surrounding the Order of the White Eagle.