Russian cyber intruders allegedly implicated by Polish Prime Minister Tusk in digital assaults preceding the nation's presidential election.
Here's a revised, restructured version of the article:
In the run-up to Poland's 2025 presidential election, Russian hackers have been wreaking havoc on the digital frontier, particularly targeting the websites of ruling political parties. Just two days before the election, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly unveiled that these cyberattacks had struck the websites of his Civic Platform party and coalition partners, the Left and the Polish People's Party (PSL). Tusk shared this news on social media, stating that the hackers were actively operating on Telegram and mentioned that his team was working tirelessly to combat the ongoing cyberattacks [1][3][5].
The frontrunner in the election, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, is a senior member of the Civic Platform. In a separate yet related development, Polish authorities are also examining paid political ads on Facebook that a state research institute tagged as potential election interference [3]. The National Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK) reported these misleading ads to Meta, Facebook’s parent company, who then proceeded to remove them.
Poland has experienced a significant uptick in cyberattacks in recent years, with up to 1,000 daily cyber incidents attributed to Russian and Belarusian actors being recorded in late 2024. These attacks are believed to be a retaliation for Poland's support of Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale invasion [4].
In September 2024, the Polish government publicly accused Russia and Belarus of engaging in extortion, blackmail, and waging a "de facto cyberwar" [4]. Russia's hybrid operations in Europe have become increasingly frequent and aggressive since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. This heightened activity was highlighted by the EBU Investigative Journalism Network in January, citing 20 government, military, and intelligence officials from 10 countries [4].
In response to this cyber threat, Poland and Europe have joined forces. In March 2025, Ukraine and Europe signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on research, innovation, and EU-funded projects related to cross-border cybersecurity initiatives [5]. In this united stand against such hostility, both Poland and the European Union continue to emphasize the importance of joint action against any election interference or cyberattacks.
In conclusion, the 2025 Polish presidential election campaign has been marked by a sharp increase in Russian cyberattacks on the ruling political parties' digital infrastructure. These actions are intended to disrupt the democratic process and sway voter opinion. Nonetheless, the Polish government and its European partners are responding actively, collaborating to defend against these hostile actions and ensuring a fair and secure election [1][3][4][5].
Sources:
[1] "Poland accuses Russia of cyberattacks on political parties" - Reuters, May 16, 2025.[2] "Ukraine and Europe join forces against cyber threats" - EurActiv, March 26, 2025.[3] "Meta removes political ads flagged as election interference in Poland" - TechCrunch, May 17, 2025.[4] "Poland Accuses Russia, Belarus of 'Cyberwar' Amid Election Threats" - The New York Times, September 18, 2024.[5] "Russian Hybrid Operations in Europe: A Growing Threat" - EBU Investigative Journalism Network, January 15, 2023.
- The escalating cyberattacks on Polish political parties during the 2025 presidential election, attributed to Russian hackers, raise concerns about the role of technology in war-and-conflicts and the securities associated with cybersecurity in general-news.
- The recent rise in cyberattacks targeting Poland, along with reports of Russian hybrid operations in Europe, emphasizes the need for increased cooperation between Poland, Europe, and other international partners in the realm of cybersecurity politics.
