Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

Ciara O'Rourke
By Ciara O'Rourke July 11, 2022

No, Belarus hasn’t declared war on Poland

If Your Time is short

  • Belarus has threatened to retaliate against Poland in the case of "Western provocations" amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to news reports, but it hasn’t gone so far as to declare war against the country. 
 

Belarus’ president has said his country supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Belarus hasn’t declared war on Poland, as a recent Facebook post claims. 

"This is a very stupid move!" the July 8 caption of a video post says. "Belarus declares war on Poland."

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) 

A video in the Facebook post offers a more nuanced take on global affairs, noting recent remarks by Maj. Gen. Ruslan Kosygin, a top military official in Belarus. Kosygin recently said that Belarus would respond to Western provocations by attacking Poland, according to the International Business Times. 

Featured Fact-check

"In the event of a conflict, the territory of Poland with its military infrastructure becomes a priority target of the strike, namely decision-making centers, elements of the control system, points of permanent deployment of the National Armed Forces, arsenals and bases, as well as critical objects of their economy and transport infrastructure," the Times quotes Kosygin as saying. 

Sign up for PolitiFact texts

RELATED VIDEO
 

Poland has previously accused Belarus of engaging in "hybrid warfare" by sending increasing numbers of migrants over their shared border. But the claim that Belarus has declared war on Poland was made in the context of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. 

Although news reports have said that Belarus has threatened to retaliate against Poland in the case of Western provocation, it’s an overreach to say that the country has declared war. 

We rate this post False.

 

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Ciara O'Rourke

No, Belarus hasn’t declared war on Poland

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up