Poland investigates possible Russian hacker attack over fake mobilization news

(Patria) - Polish intelligence is investigating whether the state news agency PAP was the target of a Russian cyberattack, after it published a fake story that the country would partially mobilize its army.

Minister of Digitalization Krzysztof Gawkowski said in Warsaw yesterday that everything points to the fact that Poland is facing a cyberattack orchestrated by the Russian side.

"Another very dangerous hacker attack is a good illustration of the Russian strategy of destabilization ahead of the European elections," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on platform X.

Kolejny, bardzo groźny atak hakerski dobrze ilustruje rosyjską strategię destabilizacji w przeddzień wyborów europejskich. Polskie służby są przygotowane i działają pod nadzorem ministrów spraw wewnętrznych i cyfryzacji. Coraz wyraźniej widać, jak ważne są dla nas te wybory.

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) May 31, 2024

The fake report, which was shared and later withdrawn, claimed that Tusk had ordered a partial mobilization starting July 1. According to the report, 200,000 former soldiers and civilians were to be deployed in Ukraine.

Poland is one of the most important military suppliers for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. As a member of the EU and NATO alliance, it plays a key role as a logistics hub for Western aid to Kyiv and is therefore considered a hostile country by Russia.

Polish government spokesman Jan Grabiec immediately denied the news. PAP stated that the agency was not the source of the text.

"The report did not originate from the agency, nor was it written or sent by PAP journalists. The report was deleted," the agency added.