Polish General Slams Government's Hybrid Threat Response as 'Absurd'

Retired General Roman Polko has sharply criticized the Polish government's actions regarding heightened risks of Russian hybrid and sabotage operations, labeling them as "absurd and solely for show."

Polko's remarks come amid recent U.S. intelligence warnings and Polish government communications about potential armed provocations below the threshold of open warfare. He specifically took issue with statements made by Minister Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak, who urged vigilance and warned against downplaying the threats. Polko argued that such pronouncements, while perhaps intended to alert the public, lack practical guidance.

"When the minister addresses the public, he shouldn't scare them, but provide concrete messages about what is expected, not just throw out slogans that have been relevant since 2022," Polko stated in a podcast. He emphasized the need for clear, actionable communication from the government, rather than just meetings and conferences that yield no tangible results.

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When the minister addresses the public, he shouldn't scare them, but provide concrete messages about what is expected, not just throw out slogans that have been relevant since 2022.

The general also took aim at the Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, for suggesting that citizens should buy evacuation backpacks for safety. Polko dismissed this as a "false sense of security," arguing that effective civil defense requires more than just individual preparedness items. He stressed the need for specific guidelines tailored to different environments, from small towns to densely populated urban areas and border regions, where the threat of falling debris from drones or missiles is higher.

Drawing parallels with Ukraine's societal preparedness for war, Polko asserted that not only the armed forces but the entire society must be ready for security-related actions. He expressed disappointment with the Ministry of Interior and Administration's communication strategy, particularly in the "cognitive war" aspect. Citing an example of a sabotage attack on railway lines, where a significant portion of social media commentary wrongly blamed Ukrainians or Polish services instead of Russians, Polko highlighted a failure in effective communication and public education.

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False sense of security, because what is needed is different in a small town, different in Warsaw's Wola, where there is pathological development, and different in border areas, where the threat of falling debris from a drone or even missile fragments is much greater.