Russia Allegedly Executes Duplicate Deception Strategy in Approach to Poland's 2025 Presidential Vote
In the final stretch of Poland's presidential election, scheduled for May 18, European disinformation watchdogs have revealed a chilling revival of the notorious "Operation Doppelganger." This long-running Russian influence campaign has refocused its sights on the Polish electorate, stirring up public discourse and sowing seeds of doubt in the days leading up to the vote.
According to recent reports from Alliance4Europe, in collaboration with Lithuania-based Debunk.org, this latest iteration of Operation Doppelganger involves fake websites mirroring the design and URL structure of prominent Polish media outlets like TVN24, Onet, Interia, and Wprost. These deceptive platforms disseminate false or distorted content harmonized with Kremlin narratives, often through coordinated social media campaigns fueled by automated bots and inauthentic accounts.
Such tactics aim to create an illusion of legitimate journalism while slipping propaganda into the public consciousness. Previous targets of Operation Doppelganger include France, Germany, and the United States, particularly during times of political turmoil or military involvement with Ukraine. As the European stage continues to shake with geopolitical tensions, Poland's presidential election emerges as a prime opportunity for malign actors to meddle and manipulate public opinion.
Between March 4 and April 4, 2025, researchers detected 279 posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Many of these posts linked to 13 major Polish media brands and led to forged websites rather than the authentic news portals they mimicked.
These fake articles embraced anti-Ukrainian sentiment, criticized Western sanctions on Russia, and suggested that Poland's support for Ukraine was harming its economy and international standing. The articles also attacked Polish political figures, including incumbent President Andrzej Duda, as well as candidates competing in the upcoming race.
One popular narrative contended that Polish troops were being secretly deployed to Ukraine, risking a catastrophic confrontation with Russia. Another claimed that Ukrainian refugees were receiving preferential treatment over Polish citizens. To further amplify false narratives, these posts often appeared across multiple fake accounts in a matter of minutes, indicating a sophisticated, pre-planned campaign.
According to the analysts, the disinformation campaign did not stop at Poland's borders. While the primary language of the messages was Polish, some included English and German, hinting at a broader campaign to sway international perceptions of Poland's political climate and international role.
Experts warn that the timing of these messages is no coincidence. As the Polish presidential election looms as a crucial test for democratic stability in the region, Russia's attempts seem aimed at exacerbating political divisions, undermining trust in government institutions, and ultimately reducing voter turnout.
Amidst this deluge of disinformation, teaching media literacy – the ability to discern truth from fiction – becomes more important than ever. By equipping citizens with the skills to question what they see and read, especially when political stakes are high, we can arm ourselves against the insidious tactics of malign actors.
In response to the report, Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to cybersecurity and information security. The Ministry stressed the importance of electoral integrity as a national priority and confirms that it is working closely with EU partners and independent fact-checkers to monitor and counter disinformation campaigns.
Vigilance, transparency, and cooperation between civil society, media, and government will be essential if the Polish public is to cast their votes free from foreign manipulation in the upcoming election.
- The latest version of Operation Doppelganger, a long-running Russian influence campaign, is targeting Poland's presidential election in May, utilizing fake websites that mimic renowned Polish media outlets.
- These deceptive platforms disseminate false or distorted content aligned with Kremlin narratives, often through coordinated social media campaigns initiated by automated bots and inauthentic accounts.
- The content of the fake articles embraces anti-Ukrainian sentiment, criticizes Western sanctions on Russia, and suggests that Poland's support for Ukraine is harming its economy and international standing.
- The disinformation campaign also attacks Polish political figures, including President Andrzej Duda, and candidates competing in the upcoming race.
- Operation Doppelganger does not limit its influence to Poland, as false articles are written in English and German, indicating a broader campaign to sway international perceptions of Poland's political climate and international role.
- As the election approaches, experts warn that Russia’s attempts seem aimed at exacerbating political divisions, undermining trust in government institutions, and ultimately reducing voter turnout.
- To combat these disinformation tactics, teaching media literacy becomes crucial to help citizens discern truth from fiction, especially when political stakes are high.
- Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to cybersecurity and information security, stressing the importance of electoral integrity, and works closely with EU partners and independent fact-checkers to monitor and counter disinformation campaigns.
