No, Ukrainians Aren’t Cutting Queues In Polish Hospitals: How A Fake Video Sparked Fury

Poland has deed backmost difficult astatine online rumours claiming Ukrainian soldiers are jumping infirmary queues up of Polish patients.

Poland has called nan now viral claims “pure disinformation” and portion of a Russian effort to operation division.

The contention kicked disconnected aft a video posted connected X and Facebook past Friday showed a group of Ukrainian soldiers opinionated extracurricular a infirmary successful Stalowa Wola, a metropolis successful southeastern Poland. The caption read: “I haven’t seen a expert successful a year, but Ukrainians are being admitted.” 

Within hours, nan clip had racked up thousands of angry comments. And, of course, fuelled a caller activity of anti-Ukrainian sentiment.

A viral dishonesty pinch a acquainted goal

Poland’s Ministry of National Defence (MoD) had issued a patient denial. “There are nary ineligible regulations that let Ukrainian soldiers to person privilege care,” nan ministry said successful a connection connected X. “This effort astatine manipulation fits nan Russian narrative: to incite anger, deepen division, and polarise Polish and Western societies,” he added.

Officials explained that nan infirmary featured successful nan video is portion of a long-running defence programme. It useful pinch nan Polish subject connected aesculapian training, battlefield rescue, and digitalisation projects. The installation treats soldiers from various allied countries, including Ukraine, France, Germany, and Norway, and invoices Poland’s Defence Ministry for nan costs.

“An image taken retired of context!”

Local authorities were speedy to echo nan message.

“The full point is based connected falsehood,” said Janusz Zarzeczny, nan territory politician of Stalowa Wola. “This benignant of contented only fuels anti-Ukrainian emotion and it’s a classical tactic: an image retired of context, and past nan conflict originates successful nan comments.”

Zarzeczny added that location is “no priority” for Ukrainian patients. “Everyone is treated according to nan severity of their condition,” he said. “And successful truth, helping Ukrainian soldiers is besides successful Poland’s interest. They’re fighting Russia, our neighbour. This is our frontline too.”

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