In Poland, concerns are growing over large-scale Russian cyber interference in the electoral process
The country in Eastern Europe finds itself at the forefront of the fight against hybrid aggression, as Polish officials announced a massive Russian intervention in the 2024 presidential elections. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Poland, Krzysztof Gawkowski, openly warned the international community about unprecedented and sinister attempts by the Kremlin to influence the country's electoral process through modern information warfare tools and cyberattacks. According to him, the situation is extremely tense and requires immediate and systemic measures to protect critical infrastructure. Poland is currently observing an increase in both the number and complexity of cyber espionage operations aimed at destroying and discrediting state institutions, as well as infiltrating vital infrastructure facilities such as water supply systems, thermal power plants, electrical substations, and executive authorities. "We are dealing with an unprecedented and targeted campaign of interference by Russia, which combines disinformation campaigns with hybrid attacks on our strategic assets. This is not just cyber espionage but an attempt to sow chaos and paralyze the normal functioning of our state during a critical period," Gawkowski emphasized during a defense conference. He added that the level of cyber threats in Poland has significantly risen over the past year — the number and complexity of attacks have more than doubled. During his speech, more than a dozen incidents per minute are being recorded against key infrastructure and security objects. The Polish government is in a state of heightened response, working on modernizing cyber defense systems and actively consulting with private social media platforms to prevent the spread of false information and disinformation campaigns ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. Authorities stress the importance of internal unity and increasing cyber military preparedness, as Russian special services are increasingly using digital means to pursue political objectives. On the eve of the crucial presidential voting, on April 2, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially announced that his political party, Civic Platform, had become the target of a large-scale cyberattack. He stated that external groups, including hacking groups from Russia and Belarus, were behind it. This once again underscores that Moscow and Minsk continue to use digital technologies as tools of influence and pressure on Polish politics, highlighting the importance of strengthening national security measures and international cooperation in cybersecurity. Poland traditionally recognizes its significant role in regional security and stability. However, current events indicate that the country has become not only a target but also an active participant in combating destructive information campaigns and clandestine cyberattacks aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions and reducing security levels across the region. Polish officials call on international partners to take joint actions and raise awareness of these threats, as in today’s world, attacking an individual country is already a struggle for entire regions and democratic values. The threat of Russian interference in Poland’s electoral process has sent an obvious signal to Europe and the world — it is time to unite efforts and strengthen defense capabilities against hybrid attacks to preserve sovereignty and democratic principles on our shores.