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Poland accuses Russia of 'unprecedented' interference ahead of May 18 presidential election
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia on Sunday. Reuters
Poland's digital affairs minister has warned that the country is facing an 'unprecedented attempt' by Russia to interfere in its upcoming presidential election, as the campaign enters its final stretch ahead of the first round of voting on May 18.
Speaking at a defence conference on Tuesday (May 6), Krzysztof Gawkowski said the Kremlin was stepping up its hybrid warfare against Poland, combining disinformation campaigns with cyberattacks aimed at paralysing critical infrastructure and disrupting democratic processes.
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'During the current presidential elections in Poland, we are facing an unprecedented attempt to interfere in the electoral process from the Russian side,' Gawkowski said.
'This is being done… (by) spreading disinformation in combination with hybrid attacks on Polish critical infrastructure in order to paralyse the normal functioning of the state,' he added.
Gawkowski detailed a surge in cyber intrusions targeting water and sewage systems, power plants, heating facilities, and various state administration bodies. He claimed the level of Russian cyber activity in Poland had more than doubled compared to last year.
'Today in Poland, during every minute of my speech, a dozen or so incidents targeting critical infrastructure were recorded,' he said.
Poland's government has long viewed itself as a frontline state in Europe's response to Russia'a moves, particularly given its role as a central hub for delivering military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Officials have repeatedly sounded the alarm over Moscow's efforts to destabilise Polish institutions through digital means.
Warsaw said in March that the Polish space agency was hit by a cyberattack, and last year, the state news agency was also likely targeted in a separate incident linked to Russian actors.
Allegations of Russian involvement in subversive activities have not been confined to Poland. cancelled its presidential election in December amid similar concerns over Russian meddling. Moscow, for its part, has consistently denied involvement in foreign electoral interference and criticised Romania's decision to suspend the vote.
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The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Poland and its allies have also accused Russia of being behind a wider campaign of sabotage across Europe, including suspected acts of arson. The Kremlin has dismissed those claims as unfounded.
With less than two weeks until Poles head to the polls, officials in Warsaw remain on high alert, bracing for further attempts to destabilise the election process.
With inputs from Reuters
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