Law, Power, and Justice

The violation of Polish airspace with Russian drones on the night of Sept. 9–10 is one of the most straightforward examples of how the West is already experiencing direct Russian aggression. At the same time, the intrusion was accompanied by a coherent, multi-layered Russian information operation conducted by the Kremlin’s disinformation apparatus both domestically and abroad. 

This approach represents Moscow’s typical mode of operation, where it concurrently utilizes a range of hybrid methods: physical attacks — frequently hard to attribute — alongside information-related measures like propaganda, disinformation, and influence campaigns, all aimed at magnifying the desired impact. The objective is to disorient and undermine the adversary, ultimately forcing them into choices beneficial to the Kremlin.
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Messages aligned with those coming from Russia aimed to amplify feelings of threat and panic, undermine trust in state institutions — the government and the army — and suggest that Poland lacks an effective military or defense. Online discussions have called for suspending cooperation with Ukraine and sometimes even, starting cooperation with the Russian aggressor, something that until recently would have been immediately condemned online. In a society that has taken in over two million Ukrainian refugees since the invasion began, an uncontrolled eruption of growing anti-Ukrainian sentiments would be a major success for the Kremlin. 

Politicians from both ruling and opposition parties have pursued policies the Russian propaganda has long labeled as “Russophobic.” Will the information operation accompanying the drones reverse this trend? Not necessarily.

However, the drone incident undoubtedly shows that pro-Russian narratives can penetrate Western socio-political debate when favorable conditions arise. Russia is capable of generating such conditions and, if it does not face a decisive Western response, will likely attempt similar provocations again.

Disinformation is a weapon of war for Russia. Moscow continues to exploit Western freedom of speech to poison citizens’ minds. 

In the face of increasingly blatant hybrid aggression, democratic states not only have the full right but also the urgent responsibility to implement decisive and effective measures to defend themselves.