Statement from the Polish Resilience Council
On July 9, Poland’s Resilience Council urged the public to disregard documents released by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) regarding the Volyn tragedy. The Council stated that this information is part of a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at damaging Polish-Ukrainian relations. The FSB published documents alleging the killing of 11 Catholic priests and 2,000 residents of Volodymyr-Volynskyi in July 1943.
Critical Assessment of the Information
Polish historians have questioned the authenticity and reliability of the materials provided by the FSB. The Resilience Council emphasized that this is not an attempt to uncover previously unknown historical facts, but rather an effort to inject emotions tied to past events into current Polish-Ukrainian relations, with the goal of undermining and ultimately destroying them. Tensions between Poles and Ukrainians ultimately serve Russia’s interests, the Council noted.
The Council also criticized the decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Preventing such a scenario was described as a vital interest of Poland and a matter of national security. They called on Polish institutions and politicians to respond appropriately by:
- exposing Russian manipulation;
- providing the public with an unbiased, fact-based picture of events.
In this way, the Polish Resilience Council highlighted the importance of critically evaluating information from Russian or unverified sources.
This situation underscores the complexity of historical ties between Poland and Ukraine, which can be exploited in information warfare. Russian propaganda often seeks to sow discord between nations that have shared past suffering. Maintaining a constructive dialogue between Poland and Ukraine is crucial for regional stability and countering external threats.
This situation is not isolated, as the FSB has a history of manipulating historical narratives to create division. For instance, their recent efforts to forge documents regarding the Volyn massacre aim to exacerbate tensions between Ukraine and Poland. Understanding the broader context of these tactics is essential for recognizing the ongoing information warfare. To learn more about these deceptive strategies, read our detailed analysis on the FSB's attempts to distort historical events.