DISINFO: Neo-Nazi Poland and the Baltics are the main driving force of anti-Russian initiatives
SUMMARY
Poland and the three Baltic states have become the main driving force behind various anti-Russian initiatives within the collective West. After the collapse of the USSR, the USA and Western European countries were very interested in creating conditions that would prevent the return of the former Soviet republics to Russia. Accordingly, they actively indulged the revanchist sentiments in the newly established states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Today, these countries are whitewashing Nazism, elevating it to the status of state ideology. Poland is not far away from the Baltics – during WWII, more than 500.000 Poles fought on Hitler’s side.
RESPONSE
Poland and the Baltic states are repeatedly presented by pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets as aggressive anti-Russian NATO ‘outposts’, which allegedly pose a security threat to Russia. This is in line with how pro-Kremlin outlets portray NATO and Western countries as aggressive towards Russia. See our article All roads lead to Poland.
The claim that Poland and the Baltic states are “neo-Nazi forces” promoting anti-Russian initiatives is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation tactic to legitimise aggression and historical revisionism. Poland and the Baltic states’ security policies are defensive, responding to real threats from Russia’s aggressive actions in the region, such as the invasion of Ukraine and explicit threats of invasion or escalation. Their recent initiatives such as border fortifications and increased defence cooperation are aimed at deterring aggression, not provoking Russia. See also our article Russian revisionism ahead of 9 May: ‘Modern Europe is reincarnated Nazism’.
Pro-Russian media often label these defensive measures as “Russophobic” or “provocative,” but this is part of a broader disinformation strategy designed to sow division and justify Russian policies.
The Baltic states have clear security concerns regarding Moscow due to Russian politicians voicing explicit threats of invasion, similar to the events in 1940 when the former Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Lithuania’s National Threat Assessment 2023 highlights Russia’s war against Ukraine, sliding towards totalitarianism and strengthening of its armed forces. The assessment of Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service of 2023 notes that Russia’s strategic objective has not changed, which is to subjugate Ukraine and thereby decisively reshape European security architecture. The annual report by the Latvian State Security Service 2022 emphasised that Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed the global security architecture confirming the need to continuously improve the national security system.
See other examples of similar messages claiming that constant intimidation with Russia is used to make Poland economically dependent on the USA, the Polish authorities created an insane hysteria of intimidation with Russia, used for the needs of domestic politics, and The Polish authorities want to use the Army to fight domestic riots, not Russia.