Russia Exploits School Attacks in Poland for Disinformation Campaign

• •Two knife attacks in Poland resulted in one death and several injuries.
• •Polish officials report a disinformation campaign linked to the attacks.
• •Increased security measures and school closures have been implemented in response.

Following two violent knife attacks at schools in Poland, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported a significant disinformation campaign aimed at spreading panic. The attacks, which occurred in the Mazovia region, resulted in one death and multiple injuries. A 15-year-old former pupil attacked a primary school, while a 19-year-old targeted a vocational school, injuring several individuals. Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated that hostile actors, potentially linked to Russia, were attempting to exploit the crisis for disinformation purposes. He referenced previous instances where Russia utilized crises to disseminate false information, such as during the floods in 2024. The Polish government has increased security measures in schools and is monitoring online activity for further disinformation efforts. No direct evidence has been found linking Russia to the attacks themselves, but the minister emphasized the pattern of exploiting crises as part of Moscow's strategy.