This article discusses the reaction of the Russian press to the information about the Act of 5th November of 1916 proclaimed by Germany and Austria-Hungary with regard to the independence of Poland together with the response of Russians and Poles alike.

This publication is dedicated to the response of Poles living in Russia during WWI to the Act of 5th November declared by Germany and Austria-Hungary. An analysis has been carried out on articles written by journalists and primarily democratic as well as national-democratic politicians in selected Polish newspapers published in Russia during WWI.