In Poland, such assertions elicit laughter, ridicule, pity, and outright disbelief. A quick comparison of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between Poland and Belarus shows just how absurd these statements are. For instance, in 2023, according to official World Bank data, Poland’s GDP was valued at USD 811.23 billion, constituting 0.77% of the global economy. In contrast, Belarus’s GDP stood at USD 71.86 billion, which accounts for merely 0.07% of the global economy. On a per capita basis, Poland had GDP at USD 17,270 per person, whereas Belarus’s GDP was USD 6,483 per person. Poland ranks around 20th-21st in the world in nominal GDP, although it ranks about half as high in per capita terms.

However, in Belarus, Lukashenko’s words are taken seriously. Belarusians obediently listen to their leader talk about starving Poles. It’s clear that the topic is important for them. This suggests some kind of genuine communication between the dictator and his subdued society. On April 24, 2022, during Easter celebrations in an Orthodox church in the village of Kopyś, near Orsha, Lukashenko said:

“Look at what’s happening in neighbouring Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland—let’s not even mention Ukraine. They used to be so wealthy, living in a happy world. We had nothing, and they had everything. And where are they now? Standing at the border, begging us to let them into Belarus so they can at least buy some buckwheat. And it’s not just about the buckwheat—they don’t even have salt.

They are begging us for salt. And because we are generous people, we are opening our borders.”

It is noteworthy that Lukashenko made these grotesque claims in a village located about 550 kilometres from the Polish-Belarusian border. Moreover, he did so inside a church during an Easter service, delivering what appeared to be a secular sermon. Standing in front of the iconostasis, a position typically occupied by an Orthodox priest—who had been pushed aside to listen obediently alongside laypeople—was Lukashenko, a self-declared atheist who refuses even to make the sign of the cross, speaking in a solemn, almost preacher-like tone inside a church—and he was being listened to with complete seriousness. The dictator asserted that Belarusians are a “noble people” who open their borders to starving Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, and Ukrainians, especially during the holidays. The crowd gathered around him seemed to fully believe his words, accepting their president’s right to govern not only the secular sphere but even a domain that belongs to God himself.

There Is No Hunger in Poland

 From a Polish perspective, Lukashenko’s claim of hunger in Poland is impossible to take seriously. It is laughable, considering that Polish store shelves are brimming with buckwheat and salt. Poland boasts numerous salt mines, including the world-renowned Wieliczka Salt Mine, attracting millions of tourists. Lukashenko’s statements contradict reality. For those unfamiliar with Poland, it is essential to clarify that these claims lack factual basis. They are not supported by any independent reports or economic analyses. As a member of the European Union, Poland is among the fastest-growing economies in Europe and does not suffer from widespread hunger. In fact, Poland is a significant player in the global food market, an exporter of food, and is fully self-sufficient in food production.

Hunger as Part of a Disinformation Strategy

 Lukashenko’s statements form part of a broader political rhetoric aimed at discrediting neighbouring countries, particularly those that criticise his regime. The assertion of hunger in Poland is merely one of many false narratives propagated by his propaganda machine. Below are some key reasons why Lukashenko might be resorting to such statements.

Echoes of Hunger

 Talking about hunger in Poland, Lukashenko is aware that Belarusians genuinely fear hunger. This fear is deeply rooted in their historical memory, linked to the Soviet era and World War II. The dictator understands that the spectre of hunger is a real tool of control in Belarus. Hunger in the Soviet Union, especially the Great Famine of 1932-1933, was a humanitarian catastrophe that affected not only Belarus but also Ukraine, the North Caucasus, the Urals, and Siberia.

The famine resulted from a combination of factors, with Soviet policies under Joseph Stalin playing a crucial role. Belarusians recall the origins of hunger, which stemmed from the forced collectivisation of agriculture (1928-1933), where private farms were transformed into state-run collectives (kolkhozes and sovkhozes), disrupting traditional farming practices and reducing agricultural output. Despite dwindling harvests, the Soviet government increased grain exports to fund industrialisation. Consequently, grain was seized from farmers, leaving them without food. Stalin also viewed wealthier farmers (kulaks) as enemies of the state, resulting in their deportation to labour camps orexecution, further destabilising agriculture. The famine served as political tool to suppress peasant resistance and bolster state control.

Internal Propaganda

 Lukashenko has frequently employed anti-Western rhetoric to sustain domestic support and divert attention from Belarus’s own issues, including economic crises, political repression, and the country’s growing dependence on Russia. Alexander Lukashenko has long accused the West—particularly the European Union and the United States—of meddling in Belarusian affairs, claiming that such interference destabilises the nation and undermines the opposition. His anti-Western narrative intensified notably following the 2020 presidential election, when widespread protests against alleged electoral fraud were met with severe repression. During this period, Lukashenko accused the West of orchestrating a “colour revolution” aimed at toppling him to weaken Belarus and sever its ties with Russia.

A central theme of his anti-Western rhetoric involves alleging that the United States is attempting a coup by funding the Belarusian opposition. Demonising NATO is also a significant aspect of this narrative. The dictator from Minsk regularly warns of an alleged military threat from the alliance, citing its presence in Poland and the Baltic states. He asserts that Belarus and Russia must collaborate to defend themselves against “Western aggression.” Lukashenko is particularly outraged by the sanctions imposed on Belarus, labelling them a tool of “hybrid warfare” against the nation.

He predicts the inevitable decline of the West, citing alleged moral and economic crises in Europe and the U.S. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lukashenko escalated his anti-Western rhetoric, justifying the Kremlin’s actions and  accusing  the  West  of  exacerbating  the  conflict.  Simultaneously,  heattempted to project an image of neutrality, asserting that Belarus was not directly involved in the war.

Claims regarding hunger in Poland aim to depict the economic situation in the West as being worse than that in Belarus, thereby reinforcing the image of a government that prioritises its citizens’ well-being. In truth, Belarus is grappling with substantial economic challenges due to international sanctions and its heavy reliance on Russia. Allegations concerning issues in Poland may function as a diversion from Belarus’s own difficulties and as a strategy to redirect public anger and frustration towards an external adversary.

Attack on Poland as a NATO and EU Member

 Poland, as a prominent member of NATO and the European Union, is frequently targeted by Belarusian and Russian propaganda. Claims of hunger in Poland may be an attempt to undermine the Polish government and portray the West as a region grappling with poverty, instability or food shortages. This narrative seeks to diminish Poland’s credibility and that of its allies.

Reaction to Poland’s Policy Toward Belarus

 Poland has been one of the most vocal critics of Lukashenko’s regime and actively supports the Belarusian opposition, particularly following the fraudulent presidential elections of 2020. Consequently, Lukashenko likely perceives Poland as a primary adversary and aims to discredit it both on the international stage and in the eyes of the Belarusian public.

Psychological Warfare

 Claims regarding hunger in Poland fit into a broader disinformation strategy designed to create confusion, distrust, and instability within Western societies. Lukashenko’s propaganda often disseminates similar falsehoods about Western nations to bolster his own authority and weaken the morale of opposition forces and external adversaries.

Increasing Uncertainty and Divisions

 Fabricating a negative image of Poland may also be intended to deepen internal divisions within the country, especially in light of economic challenges in Europe, such as inflation and energy crises. This narrative could be an effort to instil doubts among Polish citizens regarding the effectiveness of their government’s policies.

Criticism of Poland’s Migration Policy

 Talking about starving Poles who are storming the Belarusian border looking for salt and groats, Lukashenko accuses Poland of inhumane treatment of migrants at the Belarus-Poland border. The migration crisis, deliberately orchestrated by Belarus in 2021 (known as a hybrid migration attack), aimed to discredit Polish authorities and undermine EU solidarity. The Belarusian government claims that Poland is responsible for the suffering of migrants, despite the fact that Lukashenko’s regime was the one facilitating their arrival from the Middle East and using them to destabilise the border.

Conclusion

 Lukashenko’s claims regarding hunger in Poland exemplify disinformation intended to erode trust in Western nations while enhancing the image of the Belarusian regime. This type of rhetoric is a common tactic employed by authoritarian governments, particularly during times of crisis and increasing international isolation. Lukashenko’s disinformation campaign serves to consolidate his power by creating an external enemy—in this instance, Poland. Such actions are also part of a broader political strategy by Belarus and Russia towards the European Union.

Marek Melnyk