Reporter Yerin Jung

yljung@theguru.co.krPosted 2026.08.13 13:32:46

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Naver Blog

Polish Navy brings G1 naval base for parade promotion… Video deleted following controversy.

Deputy Defense Minister criticizes “lack of caution”… Navy clarifies “no access to restricted areas or sensitive information.”

The Polish Navy is filming a promotional video for the Armed Forces Day maritime parade at the naval port of Świnoujście in the northwest, using the humanoid robot ‘G1′ manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics. (Photo: Polish Navy)

The Polish Navy is filming a promotional video for the Armed Forces Day maritime parade at the naval port of Świnoujście in the northwest, using the humanoid robot ‘G1′ manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics. (Photo: Polish Navy)

[The Guru = Reporter Jung Ye-rin] Controversy over security vulnerabilities has come to the forefront as Chinese-made humanoid robots equipped with data collection devices, such as cameras and sensors, have been brought into a Polish naval base. Coupled with heightened vigilance against Chinese telecommunications and electronic equipment, particularly among Eastern European countries, criticism of the military authorities’ lax security control system is expected to intensify.

According to industry sources on the 13th, the Polish Navy mobilized the humanoid robot ‘G1,’ manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics, to film a promotional video for the Armed Forces Day maritime parade at the naval base in Świnoujście in the northwest. Although the civilian-owned device was brought into the base for the purpose of producing content tailored for social media, the Navy voluntarily deleted the video from its official account within hours following controversy over security vulnerabilities.

Major Eastern European countries are currently on high alert regarding the possibility of China stealing information through foreign-made equipment imported into their borders. The Polish government, too, determined that Chinese smart vehicles equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems could collect military intelligence, and consequently, completely banned vehicle entry into protected military facilities early this year. This measure was taken to lock down security zones at the source to prevent any information leakage.

Critics point out that the military’s internal security network has collapsed, noting that while it strictly controls the import of Chinese-made vehicles, it allowed the filming of Chinese-made humanoid robots equipped with sophisticated data collection capabilities. The repercussions are growing as it is further compounded by the fact that the manufacturer, Unitree Robotics, was placed on the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of potential dual-use product producers last June due to its ties to the Chinese defense industry.

As the controversy intensified, the Navy explained that the event was planned to reach out to the younger generation who do not usually follow military channels. They also drew a line, stating that the filming location was limited to a dock that had previously been revealed to the media, and that they took down the video in consideration of the flood of speculative public opinion.

Grzegorz Lewandowski, a spokesman for the 8th Coastal Defense Group, stated, “The robot did not roam inside the military base and was only turned on in pre-designated public areas,” adding that “it did not access protected information or restricted areas.”

Senior officials at the Ministry of National Defense also acknowledged the working-level staff’s complacent judgment and the leakage of security protocols, stepping in to contain the situation. They firmly stated that even public relations strategies designed to attract public attention cannot take precedence over preventive measures for national security.

Deputy Minister of Defense Cezari Tomczyk stated, “I do not think serious damage occurred in the specific case itself,” but pointed out, “However, someone clearly lacked caution.”

Unitree’s G1, which appeared at a Polish naval port, is characterized by its 132cm height and appearance wearing a left wristwatch and a backpack, and is active locally as an influencer named ‘Edward Barczocki’. In the past, he was invited by the Polish Parliament to attend an AI-related event, and he gained public recognition after a video of him chasing a herd of wild boars in downtown Warsaw last April garnered over 3.8 million views on social media.