Anti-Ukrainian content surges on Polish social media: Report

BRUSSELS

Poland has seen a sharp rise in anti-Ukrainian content on social media platforms in recent months, according to a new report cited by TVP World on Sunday.

Nearly 186,000 discriminatory or offensive statements targeting Ukraine or Ukrainians were recorded between August and November in Polish-language sections of social networks, the report showed.

The study, conducted by Polish fact-checking organization the Demagog Association and private media analytics firm the Institute for Media Monitoring, found a 98% increase compared with the April–July period.

The total audience reach also rose by 104%, exceeding 66 million contacts during the August–November timeframe.

More than 92% of all anti-Ukrainian content was published on US social media company X, which also accounted for over 60% of all user interactions with such material, the report said.

While the authors of the report said the precise cause of the latest surge remains unclear, they noted that earlier spikes in discriminatory messaging have coincided with the objectives of "Russian disinformation campaigns."

According to the report, recent peaks in hostile content aligned with several events, including Polish President Karol Nawrocki's veto of legislation extending social welfare rights to Ukrainians, the mass breach of Polish airspace by Russian drones, and a November sabotage attack on Polish railway lines.

Poland is one of the countries hosting the largest number of Ukrainians since the war began, alongside Germany and the Czech Republic, with around 965,000 people.

BRUSSELS

Poland has seen a sharp rise in anti-Ukrainian content on social media platforms in recent months, according to a new report cited by TVP World on Sunday.

Nearly 186,000 discriminatory or offensive statements targeting Ukraine or Ukrainians were recorded between August and November in Polish-language sections of social networks, the report showed.

The total audience reach also rose by 104%, exceeding 66 million contacts during the August–November timeframe.

More than 92% of all anti-Ukrainian content was published on US social media company X, which also accounted for over 60% of all user interactions with such material, the report said.

Poland is one of the countries hosting the largest number of Ukrainians since the war began, alongside Germany and the Czech Republic, with around 965,000 people.