Russia Launches Mirror Image Disinformation Strategy Aimed at Poland's 2025 Presidential Vote
With under a month to go until Poland's presidential election, European disinformation watchdogs have uncovered a renewed Russian influence operation aimed at manipulating public discourse in the country. According to a fresh report by Alliance4Europe and Lithuania-based Debunk.org, the long-running "Operation Doppelganger" campaign has refocused its efforts on the Polish electorate ahead of the vote taking place on May 18 [1].
Analysts reveal that Russian information warfare tactics now include impersonating Polish media, promulgating false narratives about the conflict in Ukraine, and undermining public trust in the government and NATO. This ongoing campaign appears to be a continuation of earlier attempts tointerfere in Western elections and critical geopolitical moments [1].
This latest iteration of Operation Doppelganger includes links to counterfeit versions of leading Polish news platforms, such as TVN24, Onet, Interia, and Wprost. Researchers suggest that disinformation actors exploit the trust readers place in familiar news brands to amplify the reach and impact of false narratives [1].
Between March 4 and April 4, 2025, researchers documented 279 posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that linked to 13 major Polish media brands, many of which directed users to fake websites rather than genuine news portals. The fabricated articles contained anti-Ukrainian sentiment, criticism of Western sanctions on Russia, and accusations that Poland's support for Ukraine is damaging its economy and international standing [1]. Other articles attack Polish political leaders, including incumbent President Andrzej Duda and candidates running in the upcoming race.
One prominent narrative falsely claimed that Polish troops were being secretly deployed to Ukraine, risking direct conflict with Russia. Another baseless assertion repeated was that Ukrainian refugees were receiving preferential treatment over Polish citizens [1].
Researchers warn that the timing of these messages is not coincidental, as the Polish presidential election serves as a crucial test for democratic stability in the region amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions across Europe. Increasing political divisions, undermining public trust in institutions, and reducing electoral turnout seem to be Russia's objective [1].
While the primary language for disinformation posts was Polish, some messages were also discovered in English and German, suggesting that the campaign may also target external perceptions of Poland's political climate and international role [1]. The operation's reach, however, appears to be limited yet highly coordinated, with similar posts surfacing across multiple fake accounts within minutes of each other [1].
In response to this report, Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed its commitment to cyber and information security, emphasizing that ensuring electoral integrity is of national importance [2]. The Ministry is collaborating with EU partners and independent fact-checkers to monitor and counter disinformation campaigns.
Experts argue that the best defense against such operations is a combination of technical safeguards and increased public awareness, specifically emphasizing the importance of teaching media literacy at all levels of education [3]. Debunk.org and other fact-checking organizations have launched educational campaigns to help voters identify fake websites and verify sources [3]. They advise double-checking URLs, comparing articles with those found on official platforms, and reporting suspicious content to reliable watchdogs.
As Poland gears up for an important presidential election, Operation Doppelganger's resurfacing serves as evidence of the evolving nature of foreign interference. While the extent of the operation remains relatively contained, its objective to destabilize the information environment and weaken democratic institutions is clear [4]. Ongoing vigilance, transparency, and cooperation between civil society, media, and government will be vital to ensure a free and fair election devoid of foreign manipulation.
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- The Russian influence operation, Operation Doppelganger, is refocusing its efforts to manipulate public discourse in Poland ahead of the presidential election on May 18.
- Analysts reveal that Russian information warfare tactics include impersonating Polish media, promoting false narratives about the conflict in Ukraine, and undermining public trust in the government and NATO.
- The campaign appears to be a continuation of earlier attempts to interfere in Western elections and critical geopolitical moments.
- Russian disinformation actors are exploiting the trust readers place in familiar news brands to amplify the reach and impact of false narratives.
- Between March 4 and April 4, 2025, researchers documented 279 posts on platform X that linked to 13 major Polish media brands, many of which directed users to fake websites rather than genuine news portals.
- The Operation Doppelganger includes links to counterfeit versions of leading Polish news platforms like TVN24, Onet, Interia, and Wprost.
- Researchers warn that the objective of these disinformation campaigns seems to be increasing political divisions, undermining public trust in institutions, and reducing electoral turnout.
- Experts argue that the best defense against such operations is a combination of technical safeguards and increased public awareness, specifically emphasizing the importance of teaching media literacy at all levels of education.
- As Poland gears up for an important presidential election, ongoing vigilance, transparency, and cooperation between civil society, media, and government will be vital to ensure a free and fair election devoid of foreign manipulation.
