Tensions have been rising recently in Eastern Europe, but no new war has started, as some social media users claim.
“On the Brink of a New War! Poland Declares War on Russia! Kremlin Demands Peace Talks,” the title and caption of a Sept. 19 Facebook video claimed.
The nearly 26-minute video talks about the raised tensions and developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. Around the 10-minute mark, the video claims Ukrainian agents “infiltrated radio conversations” about Poland declaring war on Russia.
Screengrab from Facebook
But we found no credible news reports or government declarations that Poland has declared war against Russia, and the video did not include any evidence to support the claim.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
In August, Poland Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the country would add 10,000 troops at its border with Belarus, which is allied with Russia. Poland is a NATO member and has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since Russia’s invasion.
Poland bulked up its military presence at the border as Belarus continued to hold military exercises nearby, and more than 100 mercenaries for the Russian-linked Wagner group moved closer to its border. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said repeatedly that he is restraining these mercenaries from attacking Poland.
Blaszczak said during an Aug. 10 state radio interview that Poland wanted to “move the army closer to the border with Belarus to scare away the aggressor so that it does not dare to attack us.”
But this move was not a declaration of war.
We rate this claim False.
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Poland has increased its military presence along its border with Belarus, Russia’s ally, but hasn’t declared war against either country.
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Statement
Context
a Facebook postSpeaker/Target
Statement Date
Our Sources
Facebook video (archived), Sept. 19, 2023
The Associated Press, "Poland plans to deploy 10,000 troops to its border with Belarus," Aug. 10, 2023
The Associated Press, "Wagner mercenaries in Belarus move closer to the Polish border, Poland's prime minister says," July 29, 2023
Reuters, "Poland plans to send up to 10,000 soldiers to border with Belarus," Aug. 10, 2023
NPR, "As tensions mount, Poland plans to deploy troops to its border with Belarus," Aug. 11, 2023
NPR, "Why Belarus is so involved in Russia's invasion of Ukraine," March 11, 2022
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