Free Trial

Poland says a fake news report on mobilizing 200,000 men was likely the work of Russia

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, left, Jan Grabiec, chief of staff, center, and newly appointed Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski, arrive at the Prime Minister's office in Warsaw, Poland, on Dec. 13, 2023. A fake news report on Poland's national news agency saying that Tusk was mobilizing 200,000 men starting on July 1 was probably the work of Russia-sponsored hackers and was designed to interfere with the upcoming European Parliament election, authorities said. “Everything indicates that we are dealing with a cyberattack directed from the Russian side," said Krzysztof Gawkowski." (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk, File)
Remove Ads

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A fake news report that appeared on Poland's national news agency saying that Prime Minister Donald Tusk was mobilizing 200,000 men starting on July 1 was probably the work of Russia-sponsored hackers and was designed to interfere with the upcoming European Parliament election, authorities said.

“Everything indicates that we are dealing with a cyberattack directed from the Russian side," said Krzysztof Gawkowski, a deputy prime minister who also holds the digital affairs portfolio. “The goal is disinformation ahead of (European Parliament) elections and a paralysis of the society."

Tusk said on X that it was “Another very dangerous hacker attack which well illustrates Russia’s destabilization strategy on the eve of the European elections. ... It is increasingly clear how important these elections are for us.”

Russian authorities didn't immediately provide a reaction to the allegations.

The unprofessional-looking “urgent” report appeared Friday at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) on Polish News Agency, or PAP, the country’s national wire service.

Eight minutes later, the agency “killed," or removed, the report and then issued a statement saying that it wasn't the source of the article. The hack was repeated and the fake news was pushed again to the wire and was killed again.

Security officials said that their experts were working to find the source of the hack, and also insulate PAP from further attempts to publish fake news on its systems.

The government says that Poland, which supports Ukraine in the war with Russia, is being targeted in a hybrid war directed by the intelligence services of Russia and Belarus. Polish authorities say the techniques being used include sending migrants to the border from the Belarus side; sabotage including attempted arsons; espionage cases; and cyberattacks on state administration offices.

Gawkowski said that Poland's sensitive infrastructure was being subjected all the time to various kinds of incidents and cyberattacks.

The European Parliament election in Poland will be held on June 9.

Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now?

Before you make your next trade, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis.

Our team has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and none of the big name stocks were on the list.

They believe these five stocks are the five best companies for investors to buy now...

See The Five Stocks Here

The 10 Best AI Stocks to Own in 2025 Cover

Wondering where to start (or end) with AI stocks? These 10 simple stocks can help investors build long-term wealth as artificial intelligence continues to grow into the future.

Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.
Remove Ads

Featured Articles and Offers

Recent Videos

Institutions Are Dumping These 3 Stocks—Should You?
Will Tesla’s Robot Future Save Its Falling Stock?
NVIDIA’s Dip Is a Gift—Here’s Why It Won’t Last

Stock Lists

All Stock Lists

Investing Tools

Calendars and Tools

Search Headlines

Remove Ads