Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has sounded the alarm over a cyberattack targeting the internal computer systems of his Civic Platform party, warning that it may signal the start of foreign interference in the country’s upcoming presidential elections.
In a post on social media platform X, Tusk said evidence pointed to an “eastern” origin — a likely reference to Russia or Belarus — stating bluntly, “Foreign election interference begins.” According to Reuters, Tusk’s remarks come amid growing fears in Warsaw that Poland’s role in supporting Ukraine has made it a target for foreign sabotage efforts.
Authorities Point to Russian Tactics
Poland’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, confirmed the breach was serious and added that security services were working to contain the threat. Jan Grabiec, chief of staff to Tusk, told state media PAP that the methods used in the attack were “specific” and consistent with those employed by Russian-linked actors.
While he stopped short of directly blaming Moscow, Grabiec noted that Belarusian operatives often act on behalf of Russia or use Belarusian digital infrastructure as a mask.
Private media reported that the attack included malicious emails sent from the compromised account of a local party activist — one of which reached a sitting MP.
Election Concerns Grow
Poland’s next presidential vote is set for May. As the country remains on high alert for cyber and disinformation threats, the latest incident raises concerns about broader attempts to destabilize the democratic process.
Opposition lawmaker and former deputy justice minister Michal Wos dismissed the warning as a “prelude” to an electoral narrative, suggesting the government was laying groundwork for a contested vote.
Still, the attack is only the latest in a series of suspected operations linked to Moscow. As reported by Digi24, Poland has previously blamed Russia for cyber intrusions into its space agency, news agencies, and even acts of sabotage across Europe — all of which Russia denies.
