Illustration: Truthmeter- Meta.mk

This article was first published by Truthmeter.mk (North Macedonia), within the framework of Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Project.

The Russian disinformation campaign that accompanies the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones is part of a broader hybrid operation against NATO and the EU. The aim of these actions is to spread fear, deepen internal divisions, and create tensions in relations with Ukraine in order to discourage Western societies and decision-makers from providing further support. The direct use of military means, combined with disinformation activities, demonstrates Russia’s willingness to escalate tensions in order to force the West to accept Russian conditions for ending the war

Author: Ana Anastasovska

On the night of September 9-10, at least 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace. This incident has become not only a security challenge, but also a classic example of modern information warfare. It has triggered a wave of disinformation on the Internet, promoting a pro-Russian narrative, and sowing doubt about the events. Pro-Russian accounts on social media platforms are actively spreading false information, trying to deflect responsibility from Russia and create confusion.

Russian drones and propaganda

Polish authorities have confirmed that at least 19 drones, some of which originated in Belarus, have entered Poland, with one of them causing damage to a house in the village of Wyryki-Wola, in the eastern part of the country. NATO condemned the action as a “deliberate provocation” and a test of the Alliance’s defense readiness.

In parallel with the official information, numerous disinformation began to circulate among the public. Claims appeared on social networks and in media outlets close to Moscow that the damage to the house in Wyryki-Wola was the result of a storm that had occurred two months earlier, and not a drone crash.

Other reports suggested that it was a “false flag” operation, in which Poland or Ukraine allegedly staged an attack to blame Russia and gain additional support from NATO.

Some pro-Russian commentators have argued that little, if anything, actually happened. Russian propagandist Alexandre Dugin, for example, has argued:

There was nothing at all. Fragments, debris, explosions.… And the Poles panicked.

For his part, Vladimir Solovyov mocked the deployment of Patriot missiles in Poland as a result of incursions by “just three or four drones.”

Others, as EUvsDisinfo notes, have tried more technical arguments, such as the observation that the Russian drones have a range of only 700 kilometers, so they could not reach Poland. In fact, the drones have been modified to carry additional fuel tanks, giving them a greater range.

According to the Kremlin, THEY did it. “They” refers to the Kremlin’s list of usual suspects that it blames for aggressive acts or atrocities that its own forces have committed. So maybe Ukraine did it. Perhaps they tried to carry out a “provocation” to drag Poland into the war against Russia. Or maybe Poland did it, attempting another provocation to drag NATO into the war. Or perhaps the whole thing was a secret Western operation intended to sabotage peace talks, or even provoke the United States into entering the war, EUvsDisinfo notes,

Some media outlets have fallen for the claim that Polish or EU authorities have provided “no evidence” that the drones belong to Russia. In fact, there have been many reports showing downed Russian Gerbera drones.

The incident has also sparked a debate about the capabilities of Gerbera drones. Pro-Russian propaganda has downplayed their destructive potential, describing them as lightweight and made of styrofoam, capable of causing only minor damage upon impact. However, aeronautics experts dispute this narrative. David Bacci, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, confirmed that while relatively cheap to produce, these drones can carry up to 10 kg of explosives, enough to destroy a civilian house. While they pose no significant threat to military assets, their low cost and ease of deployment make them a cost-effective tool for harassment, reconnaissance, and fear-mongering. Bacci also highlighted the asymmetry of using expensive air-to-air missiles to combat relatively inexpensive drones, creating a financial burden on defenders.

Deliberate Russian provocation

Polish authorities characterized the drone incursion as a “deliberate Russian provocation” designed to test NATO air defenses. NATO acknowledged the airspace violation but did not confirm Russia’s intent, stating: “Regardless of whether Russia’s actions were intentional or not, Russia violated NATO airspace.”

This cautious wording, while diplomatic, also contributed to the ambiguity exploited by disinformation, DISA said. Poland has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump‘s suggestion that the incursion may have been a mistake, while the Kremlin has accused Warsaw of spreading “myths” to exacerbate the Ukraine crisis.

The Polish foreign minister said that the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace was an attempt by the Kremlin to test NATO’s reactions with a gradual escalation without provoking a full-scale response.

North Macedonia was not immune to Russian disinformation either. Truthmeter.mk noticed propaganda posts that attempted to “justify” the Russian drones in Poland. It was manipulatively and propagandistically claimed that Russia was provoked to send drones to Poland.

The incident with the Russian drones also sparked other speculations and disinformation on social media, claiming that Poland had entered Ukraine with its troops, thereby entering into war with Russia.

The Kremlin’s hybrid strategy

According to the Polish Institute of International Affairs, the parallel spread of disinformation is part of a broader hybrid strategy by Moscow, which combines military actions with media outlets and psychological operations to create divisions and distrust in NATO and the EU.

The Russian tactic is not just to attack with drones, but also to attack the public narrative. The goal is to make citizens doubt their institutions, say experts from PISM.

The Russian disinformation campaign accompanying the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones, they add, is part of a broader hybrid operation against NATO and the EU. The aim of these actions is to spread fear, deepen internal divisions, and create tensions in relations with Ukraine in order to discourage Western societies and decision-makers from providing further support. The direct use of military means, combined with disinformation activities, demonstrates Russia’s readiness to escalate tensions in order to force the West to accept Russian terms for ending the war.

The drone incident in Poland has shown that modern warfare is fought on two fronts: combat and information. While Polish and NATO forces deal with physical threats, they must also contend with an avalanche of disinformation aimed at the public.

For Poland and its allies, the key challenge remains not only to protect their territory, but also to protect the truth.