Once a ‘Bastard’, Now the ‘Hyena of Europe’

Russian media often accuse Poland of plotting to seize a portion of western Ukraine. They offer no proof to support these claims, as none exists. However, such “minor details” do not seem to bother Russian propagandists. For example, Aleksandr Stavrin writes on mail.ru (specifically vfokuse.mail.ru, a popular opinion section of the VK/Mail.ru group) that “Talks of Polish territorial claims toward the western regions of Ukraine have resurfaced in the information space.”

Stavrin fails to provide any specifics regarding the nature or origin of these alleged “talks.” But he emphasises that although formally the issue involves economic “compensation” for aid provided, “in the sphere of rhetoric, historically disputed territories are increasingly being mentioned.” Stavrin goes further, speculating that “Such framing of the issue could undermine the image of the alliance as a unified front. Ukraine risks facing problems on ‘two fronts’ at the same time.”

In other words, Poland is supposedly going to establish “its own front,” in a similar vein to Russia.

Sergey Mirkin goes a step further, providing an “analysis” of near-future events in his article. Titled “Польша нацелилась на Галицию и Волынь: как это будет” (Eng.: “Poland Has Set its Sights on Galicia and Volhynia: What the Future Holds”), the text was published on e-news.su.

In his piece, Mirkin anticipates Ukraine’s defeat and then outlines two prospective “scenarios.” In his opinion, in 2023, “Rumours appeared in the media and social networks of Poland and Ukraine suggesting that Warsaw and Kiev had agreed to create a confederate state that would have a single currency, foreign policy and army. Preparations began for its creation.” Further, Mirkin claims that Warsaw sought  to introduce NATO troops into Ukraine, a move allegedly vetoed  by the United States.

The aim of the Poles, however, was to subjugate the whole of Ukraine. When this failed, Poland resolved to confine itself to its former “eastern borderlands.”

“How might Poland technically try to take over Galicia and Volhynia?” According to his analysis, there are two potential scenarios, as translated from the Russian:

Soft Takeover

On the front lines, the situation in Ukraine is demonstrably deteriorating. Despite Western support, the nation’s economy and social sphere are approaching collapse. Total mobilisation is leading to a series of riots. The United States is refusing military support to Ukraine, while the EU, despite its promises, is unable to provide sufficient assistance. Realising the imminent liberation of Kiev by the Russian army, Zelensky and his cronies flee to Lviv. 

There, a document is signed on the unification of Poland and Ukraine as a confederation. Polish troops enter western Ukraine. Following negotiations with the Americans, Moscow agrees to this arrangement. Initially, the Poles maintain political pathos, calling Ukraine an equal subject of the confederation. But then the złoty displaces the hryvnia from the economy, and Polish becomes an official language in all government agencies. Before long, all shops and restaurants in Lviv and Ternopil will have signs in Polish. Polish will also become the primary language used in education.

In 10 years, the confederation will be officially dissolved, and the western Ukrainian lands will receive the status of Polish voivodeships.

Absorption by Force

Realising that Ukraine will cease to exist within months under Russian military pressure, Warsaw decides to grab a piece for itself. Under disguise of protecting the interests of the Polish population from the border areas and Polish business, the Poles, despite Kiev’s protests, deploy troops into Volhynia and Galicia. The Ukrainian army puts up disorganised resistance. Although in some areas the Poles struggle due to the combat experience of many Ukrainians, the resistance is suppressed within a few days.

FIrst, the Poles establish military administrations and then involve Western Ukrainian politicians. Finally, a referendum is held on the territories occupied by the Poles, where residents vote in favour of joining Poland. Somewhere in the Middle East, a quiet meeting takes place, facilitated by the Americans, between representatives of Russia, Poland and Hungary, to determine zones of influence on the territory of the former Ukraine. But in fact, Ukraine’s division takes place. The government in exile led by Zelensky, now settled in London, is outraged, but no one seems to care about their opinion.

Failure of Expansion

Taking advantage of Ukraine’s vulnerable position, Poles introduce troops into neighbouring territories and begin to build their power. However, Russian troops soon advance to the borders of the Polish-controlled lands in Galicia and Volhynia. Poland issues an ultimatum, demanding that Russia leave the former Ukrainian territories so that they do not become part of Russia. Warsaw turns to Washington, Berlin, and Paris for help, only to meet with refusal, which ultimately leads to a Polish retreat from the occupied territories.

In any case, true to its role as the “hyena of Europe”, Poland will wait until Ukraine finally weakens, and then try to snatch a piece of it.

And so, the Russian propagandist concludes his piece, leaving Russian readers with yet another justification for the Kremlin’s so-called Special Military Operation. If this trend continues, it may not be long before the Russian media publishes an article suggesting that Russia merely pre-empted Polish aggression and intervened to protect Ukraine…

It’s worth remembering another description while we’re talking about “hyenas”: Vyacheslav Molotov, the USSR’s People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, called Poland “a monstrous bastard of the Treaty of Versailles” on 31 October 1939.

Two weeks prior, on 17 September 1939, the Red Army, as Germany’s ally, invaded Poland, acting on the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact’s secret protocol. The Kremlin needed a reason to avoid appearing as the aggressor in the eyes of the world. Thus, Molotov argued that Poland had “ceased to exist” and that the USSR was simply “protecting” Belarusians and Ukrainians. Labelling the Second Polish Republic a “bastard” was meant to completely delegitimise it.

written by Igor Hrywna