Russia Deploys Disinformation Campaign Against Eastern Europe; Poland Faces Heightened Risk, Expert Cautions

Russia’s “Information War” Targets Eastern Europe with Sophisticated Disinformation Campaigns

Russia is waging a sophisticated “new Cold War” in the information space, deploying targeted disinformation as a strategic weapon to influence public opinion across Eastern Europe, with Poland potentially next in line, according to a leading Polish security expert.

Dr. Wojciech Kotowicz from Poland’s University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn warns that Moscow’s evolving information warfare strategy represents a significant threat to democratic institutions throughout the region.

“In contemporary Russian doctrine, information is treated as a weapon of strategic reach,” Kotowicz explained. “Warsaw’s information security is a system of communicating vessels, connected to the stability of our eastern partners. If we allow disinformation to triumph in Moldova, Poland will become the next, direct target of even more aggressive information campaigns.”

These assessments emerge from a recently completed research project titled “The Impact of Russian Disinformation on Shaping Public Opinion in Eastern European Countries – Analysis and Countermeasures,” which examined Russian tactics in Moldova and Georgia while developing potential countermeasures.

The research reveals a fundamental shift in warfare strategies employed by the Kremlin. “Aware of NATO’s military and economic superiority, Russia has developed sophisticated hybrid warfare strategies in which disinformation and manipulation are important tools,” said Kotowicz. “It is a war that does not require tanks or planes. To achieve strategic goals, all you need is a smartphone, a social media account, and a well-crafted narrative.”

During field research in Moldova’s capital Chișinău, the team documented remarkable shifts in public attitudes over relatively short periods. Older citizens who had long supported European integration began rejecting it based on false narratives that the European Union planned to undermine traditional values or seize private land.

“This was not a coincidence,” Kotowicz emphasized. “It was the result of a systematic, months-long campaign on social media, on Russian-language television, and through influencers who presented themselves as independent commentators, but were actually part of a coordinated network financed by Moscow.”

The Moldovan European integration referendum provides a striking case study. While the pro-European option ultimately prevailed, the margin was razor-thin despite Moldova’s historically strong European aspirations. According to local experts consulted during the research, support would have been substantially higher without Russian interference through coordinated disinformation and alleged vote-buying operations.

Social media platforms have become central battlegrounds in this information war. “Social media, which were intended to be a tool for democratisation and freedom of speech, have become a weapon in the hands of authoritarian regimes,” Kotowicz noted. The algorithms driving platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok inadvertently facilitate disinformation spread by prioritizing controversial, emotionally charged content that generates higher engagement.

The research identified a concerning new wave of disinformation narratives emerging in 2026, focused on Europe’s energy challenges. These coordinated campaigns push messages suggesting European sanctions against Russia are self-defeating and that European leaders are deliberately impoverishing their own citizens. Despite being demonstrably false, these narratives achieve viral spread, reaching millions of users.

The threat landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with Russian tactics becoming increasingly sophisticated. Security experts anticipate that future disinformation campaigns will leverage advanced technologies to bypass current defense mechanisms, presenting new challenges for European democracies.

This information war represents what Kotowicz describes as a “war in our minds,” where perceptions of reality, belief systems, and trust in democratic institutions have become the battlefield. As Russia refines these tactics in countries like Moldova and Georgia, experts warn that Poland and other NATO eastern flank countries must prepare for intensified campaigns targeting their information ecosystems.

The research suggests that coordinated cross-border strategies, digital literacy initiatives, and stronger regulatory frameworks for social media platforms will be essential components of any effective defensive strategy against the ongoing information warfare.