On Friday last week, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) was attacked by hackers who managed to publish a fake dispatch about a partial military mobilization in Poland through the agency’s news feed.

According to the minister of digital affairs, attacks that have the character of critical incidents take place every day.

Gawkowski also announced that the government plans to allocate more than 3 billion zlotys (€700 million) to cyber security.

“The joint activities of the government, of the ministries – of interior and digital affairs – will be directed towards new investments in cyber security,” he said.

The minister added that investments are also planned in various types of programs to protect heavily employed institutions.

Gawkowski assessed that all these elements will serve in the future as a strong “cyber shield,” which will show that Poland is a leader of digital transformation in Europe and, at the same time, a leader of digital security.

Earlier on Monday, Gawkowski said that the attack on PAP was “planned” by Russia, and he expects such attempts at undermining Poland’s critical infrastructure and spreading disinformation to continue, especially in the days leading up to the European Parliament elections on June 9.