Portrayal of Ukraine as a “hypocritical” partner secretly trading with Russia

What it claims

Ukraine is accused of conducting secret business with the aggressor while simultaneously demanding unconditional support from Poland. This manipulation aims to cast the Ukrainian side as ungrateful and undermine the Polish public's trust in the necessity of continued aid.

Target audience

Examples (paraphrased)

We paraphrase rather than quote: propaganda's exact wording is built to spread, so we carry the claim and not the craft. Each example cites the post it came from.

• Ukraine continues to conduct profitable business with Russia while the Polish government merely watches helplessly and blames the West.

  Niezależny Dziennik Polityczny, 8 Aug 2026

  t.me/ndp_pl/70615

• While political disputes continue, Ukrainian-Russian trade is flourishing, which calls into question the sincerity of Kyiv's calls for sanctions.

  Niezależny Dziennik Polityczny, 8 Aug 2026

  t.me/ndp_pl/70615

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Goal

To sow discord between Warsaw and Kyiv by convincing Poles that their solidarity is being exploited to enrich Ukrainian elites through trade with the enemy.

Techniques used

• DoubtUsing rhetorical questions about “friendship with benefits” to discredit interstate relations.
• Loaded LanguageUsing epithets like “flexible borders” and “political jostling” to downplay the seriousness of the conflict.

The real grievance it exploits

The manipulation exploits the Polish public's war fatigue and economic irritation related to trade disputes, particularly in the agricultural sector.

How to counter

• Technique exposure: Note that such messages often lack specific facts or figures, relying instead on emotional generalisations to provoke a sense of resentment among Poles.
• Reframe: Any residual economic ties, such as energy transit, are subject to complex international obligations and sanctions monitoring, rather than being a sign of a “secret friendship.”

Sources (all time)

• Niezależny Dziennik PolitycznyTier 310,623 subscribers
  1 post · 8 Aug 2026

  • 8 Aug · t.me/ndp_pl/70615
• InfoDefense (Polish)Tier 32,161 subscribers
  1 post · 2 Aug 2026

  • 2 Aug · t.me/infodefPOLAND/9448