**Pro-Russian Propaganda Spreads in Poland via Telegram Channels**

As Poland navigates ongoing tensions related to the Ukraine conflict, pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns are finding traction, raising concerns over their impact on public opinion.

In a woodland setting, two individuals in camouflage uniforms ignite a US flag and photographs of notable figures like US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. This provocative act, boasting a Ukrainian dialogue with noticeable mispronunciations and a Russian accent, has gained traction on a Polish-language Telegram channel called Polska Grupa Informacyjna. The channel is among 22 others identified by the BBC that propagate pro-Russian disinformation, collectively amassing over 150,000 subscribers.

Despite Telegram's limited use in Poland, experts note that fabricated narratives originating from these channels often find amplification through extremist forums, before extending into more widely used platforms. These channels, which masquerade as news outlets, employ misleading slogans like "we are where the truth is needed" and frequently propagate content from discredited Russian state media, including RT and Sputnik.

These channels not only distort facts but also promote incendiary narratives, such as branding Ukrainian authorities as a "Nazi regime" purportedly under US control. One notable instance involves the UKR LEAKS_pl channel sharing a manipulated image insinuating that the tragic killings of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha were fabricated.

Echoing Kremlin viewpoints, many channels have downplayed the severity of recent Russian military actions, instead relaying misleading information that reflects positively on Russia. Such strategies foster public skepticism towards Ukraine while cultivating animosity towards Ukrainian refugees, claiming they impose unaffordable burdens on Polish society.

Since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, these pro-Russian Telegram channels have proliferated in Poland, often echoing each other’s content and promoting collaborative subscription appeals among their followers. This trend has caused concern, with reports of weakened support for Ukrainian refugees shaped by aggressive propaganda.

Experts indicate that while the Polish public harbors historical grievances against Russia, the effectiveness of blatantly pro-Russian messaging remains limited. Consequently, these channels intertwine their disinformation with far-right ideologies, effectively manipulating prevailing social anxieties around economics and refugee integration.

While the identities behind these Telegram channels often remain obscure, connections to Russian entities have been suggested, including practices aligned with Moscow's operational hours. Networks such as UKR LEAKS and InfoDefensePOLAND are linked with individuals advocating for pro-Kremlin narratives and are believed to operate under a wider umbrella of disinformation practices extending beyond Poland.

As the BBC analyses the influx of Russian disinformation into Polish discourse, it emphasizes the dangers of fabricated narratives infiltrating public perception, prompting a call for vigilance against such misleading communications in an age increasingly dominated by digital misinformation.