Poland is placing greater emphasis on public guidance, says Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) deputy director Justyna Gotkowska, as Warsaw prepares for hostile actions she attributes to Russia.
In an opinion piece published by Anadolu, Gotkowska describes Poland’s civilian defense system as still developing and says public guidance has gained importance. She cites arson, sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation and espionage in Poland in recent months, attributing the incidents to Russian special services. She also points to a Russian cruise missile that entered Polish airspace and exploded in southeastern Poland.
EconoTimes previously covered Poland’s rejection of Russian espionage claims in Kaliningrad.
Gotkowska argues Russian pressure is intended to weaken support for Ukraine, divide Western governments and hamper Poland’s decision-making on shaping Western strategy toward Russia. She also says Moscow seeks to shape Europe’s security order, citing two draft treaties Russia’s Foreign Ministry presented to the United States and NATO in Dec. 2021 as earlier examples of that effort.
Poland has strengthened cyber protections across civilian and military sectors and is working with Baltic Sea countries to safeguard critical infrastructure, Gotkowska writes. Separately, she describes efforts to reinforce border crossings in preparation for possible attacks on transport links between Poland and Ukraine. Public guidance encourages household crisis planning and evacuation readiness, with advice on finding dependable information; she says awareness of preparedness remains uneven.
Gotkowska writes that Polish authorities decided in Sept. 2026 to establish a Centre for Countering Disinformation at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The planned center is intended to help government bodies share information, assess threats and coordinate crisis communications, including responses to campaigns attributed to Russia and Belarus.
