DISINFO: Poland forms an international corps for the occupation of Western Ukraine
SUMMARY
The Polish Ministry of Defense is inviting volunteers to the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian corps with a base in Polish Lublin and Ukrainian Yavoriv. According to the plan, a corps of 20-25 thousand people will be put on alert as early as July this year and is likely to be involved in some "international operations" on the territory of Ukraine.
It is noteworthy that in addition to the Poles, the basis of the corps will be citizens of Ukraine and Lithuania with Polish roots. In order to create Polish units as part of the LITPOLUKRCORPS International Corps, the Polish Ministry of Defense is already conducting a large-scale propaganda campaign among its citizens.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation claim presenting Poland as a state with imperial ambitions. Amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the claim about Polish alleged intentions to seize Ukrainian territories has become a frequent disinformation narrative in pro-Kremlin outlets.
This message has adopted several different and sometimes contradictory forms, including allegations that Poland wants either to create a puppet proxy-state in Western Ukraine, or annex these territories, or that it is actually President Zelenskyy who wants to cede this land.
The Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Peacekeeping Unit (LITPOLUKRBRIG) was established in the fall of 2014 to participate joint training and exercises, or potentially to be deployed to international operations mandated by the United Nations Security Council. The unit is not recruiting volunteers. Also, there is no evidence that the unit plans to annex Western Ukraine. Read the full debunk at Myth Detector.
Poland adheres to international law regarding state borders and fully supports the independence and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. Poland, as well as the EU and the US respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Ukraine's sovereignty has been violated as a result of continuous acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since 2014, culminating with a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022.
Read earlier disinformation cases alleging that Poland demands the transfer of lands in exchange for helping Ukraine, that the Polish government plans to annex part of Ukraine, that Zelenskyy discussed transferring Western Ukraine to Poland, that Poland plans to swallow Ukraine, that Poland can introduce its troops into Ukraine and to reclaim historical lands, or that Poland continues its gradual seizure of Western Ukraine.