Russia claims 1939 invasion of Poland was to protect Ukrainians and Belarusians, Germany reacts

Politico reported the information.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry shared a video on social media marking the 85th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s 1939 invasion of Poland alongside Nazi Germany, following the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that divided the country and sparked World War II.

“On September 17, 1939, the Red Army launched a military operation in Poland’s eastern regions, preventing the genocide of the population of Western Belarus and Western Ukraine,” the ministry wrote on X.

In the video, Russia argued that depicting the Soviet Union as the "aggressor" contradicts historical truth, claiming it had no choice but to invade Poland to prevent Germany from seizing all Polish territory and weakening Russia’s strategic position.

“The Soviet Union also sought to ensure the safety of the Ukrainian and Belarusian population in Poland,” the ministry added.

Germany’s foreign ministry responded to Russia’s post with a single word: “Seriously?”

It also shared a map signed by Stalin and Nazi Germany’s Foreign Minister Ribbentrop, showing the planned division of Poland, accompanied by the hashtags “#MolotovRibbentropPact” and “#HitlerStalinPact.”

As reported by Politico, Russian President Vladimir Putin has often used pseudo-historical theories to justify Moscow’s past and present aggression, including against Ukraine since 2014. 

• American political scientist John Mearsheimer, in an interview on the YouTube channel Judging Freedom, stated that Russian aggression against Ukraine was driven by NATO expansion.