a Bar Confederation for Meltyukhov is not a ' pro-Polish independence movement ' but only an ' anti-religious tolerance ' one ; for a comprehensive study of Polish-Russian relations , there is no mention of Polish – Russian War of 1792 nor of Targowica Confederation . In another example , he claims that 60,000 Soviet POWs died in Polish camps during the Polish – Soviet War , and all Polish POWs were returned safely ( this claim has been contradicted by the recent finding of both Polish and Russian historians that for both sides , POWs losses were similar ( 15,000-20,000 ) ; for more on this subject , see Camps for Russian prisoners and internees in Poland ( 1919 – 24 ) and Polish prisoners and internees in the Soviet Union and Lithuania ( 1919 – 21 ) ) . Perhaps most controversially , the " 60,000 Soviet POWs murdered during the Polish – Soviet War " is used to justify the World War II Katyn massacre of ~ 20,000 Polish officers . Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact is declared non-infringing on Soviet – Polish Non-Aggression Pact and as containing no anti-Polish aspects ; Soviet invasion of Poland is termed ' peace operation ' and ' liberation ' ; and main concern of Soviet government during its occupation of Poland was the well-being of Polish citizens ( deportations were meant to safeguard Poles from retribution of now-liberated minorities in that region ) . Nowak also criticizes the work on methodological grounds , noting its reliance of Soviet sources like Nikolai Kuzmin '' Kruszenije trietjego pochoda Ententy '' ( 1958 ) or Paweł Olszański 's '' Riżskij dogowor '' ( 1969 ) and near complete omission of any works from Russian authors who would disagree with his claims , as well as ignoring the Polish or Western historiography
Katyn massacre
Katyn massacre
Mikhail Meltyukhov