Thread by @TOrynski

I've noticed a new worrying trend of how Russian propaganda is leaking into Poland and how Poles slowly turn against Ukrainians. I heard it in person too, but let me use one example which, I think, will make a good case study (a 🧵):

1. This is a Facebook profile of a Polish transport industry portal. The article talks about a fleet of new Iveco light trucks for the Ukrainian government presented at the picture of the bodybuilder in Kiyv. The author points out to the destroyed building in the background.

2. The most common reaction to this post is... laughter:

What is so funny for the Polish commenters? Let's browse the comments:

3. "Yeah! Ukrainians are throwing money left and right, our country buys grain from Oligarchs who make businesses with the West, everyone is making money out of it only poor Pole pays!" - writes Marek

4. "For those flip-flops this war is like a miracle from heaven, instantly everyone is rich there, even too rich. Close the borders, throw away all foreigners to Ukraine, then in Poland everything will gets better in no time!" - says Dawid

5. (There is certain irony that he uses "klapek" - which stands for "flip flop" for Ukrainian person. A "flip-flop" is a derogatory term used by British trucking industry for eastern european drivers, although I am not sure if those two have the same root)

6. "Just look how many artics with [fuel] tankers runs to Szczecin and back. And those are new Volvo, Scanias and Mercedes, not the cheapest ones. But apparently one has to show off during the war too!" - observes Damian

7. "They abolished all taxes, so the economy can grow even during the war" - suspects Michał

8. "Cool "war" - says Jack.

"Not too violent" - seconds Dawid.

9. "They are milking us the most from the whole EU" - says Tomasz, obviously a true patriots - judging from his avatar.

10. "I can see in the comments that Poles open their eyes. When they will finally take action?" asks Tomasz, although he fails to define what kind of "action" he has in mind.

11. "Business is going well. But who's going to drive it, if everyone are at the front, protecting European borders?" - wonders Kamil

12. "Those Ukrainians must be crazy. SO TERRIBLE WAR, and they are buying brand new company cars and park them just a few metres from the place that is bombared so heavily?" - Michał tries to do some deeper analysis.

13. "They are driving all over Europe, without permits, checks, standards, taxes. More than 50% brand new trucks bought those Bandera's grandchildren and Poles feel sorry for them. They fuck us in the arse and laugh in our faces" - decides Piotr.

14. I think you get the gist of it now. Of course, there were some positive comments too, but those are rare, I would say one for every 10 like this one. The Ukrainians from the bodybuilder company also came and posted a picture of one of the trucks those are to replace:

15. But this is not my point. My point is, that I see it more and more often - and also hear from some Poles I recently spoke with - that after that ridiculous attempt to spread conspiracy theory that war is fake bbc.com/news/world-eur…
russian propaganda took new approach:

16. So, apparently, the war is not "that" bad, and Ukrainians just make the most to benefit financially from the Western generosity, of course mostly at the expense of poor Poles, as if our poor nation haven't suffered enough from Banderists during Vohlyn massacres...

17. All the failings of the Polish government (like recent scandal with the grain imports which happen due to Polish government incompetence and the fact that the grain, instead going to Africa as planned, ended up flooding Polish market) are (unfairly) blamed on Ukraine.

18. Of course the Polish government has no interest to debunk those lies, as to do that they would have to admit it was THEIR fault. Moreover, while it's true the Polish government did a lot to help Ukraine, it did much less than the Polish population did on its own

19. The amazing response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis for example, for which the Polish government is so keen to take credit, was possible only due to the enormous effort of the army of volunteers, NGO's and grasroot organizations

20. (About a year back I made a podcast about that response, if you are interested it's available also in English thanks to help I got from the crew of @WCountryVoices: )

21. So, basically speaking, the government will do nothing to prevent spread of that propaganda, as with election coming, they are afraid that if they stand up for Ukraine, their voters would move to extreme right Konfederacja party that is pounding anti-Ukrainian crap already.

22. I find this very dangerous. As this is, obviously, aimed at the Western population to be less keen in providing support for the Ukraine - as if the war is "not so bad" and Ukrainians just splash Wester money on new toys - in this case trucks - then why a Westerner,

23. Or even more, a poor Pole, should be sending them his own hard earned money?

And, by the way, do you know what those Iveco vans are needed for? Those won't be used to drive around Europe to undercut poor Polish hauliers. Those vans are delivered for the Ukrainian government

24. departament that is responsible for maintaning critical communication infrastructure. While those might not be tanks, those vehicles will be doing crucial work for the war effort...

🧵ends

@JuliaDavisNews you might find it interesting.