The number of attacks against Ukrainians has increased in Poland

Rzeczpospolita

The number of hate crimes targeting Ukrainians has increased in Poland, Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reports, citing data from the National Police Headquarters (KGP). Experts believe the real scale of the problem may be higher, as many victims do not report incidents to law enforcement agencies.

What happened to Ukrainians in Poland

Crime dynamics

In 2024, Ukrainians in Poland reported 267 hate crime cases. In 2025, the number of registered attacks reached 275. During the first six months of 2026, 180 such incidents were recorded — more than 30% higher than during the same period last year. If the current trend continues, the annual figure could reach 360 cases by December.

Police note that the statistics reflect the number of reports, not necessarily confirmed crimes. After investigations, some cases may receive a different legal classification.

Abuse targeting children and women

In July, in the city of Bielsko-Biała, a 54-year-old man insulted two 11-year-old Ukrainian girls on a bus, using nationally motivated slurs. One of the schoolgirls recorded the confrontation, and the video later attracted significant public attention.

The attacker, who previously worked as a driver for the municipal transport company MPK, was detained. He was charged with publicly insulting people based on nationality. The man admitted guilt, although prosecutors did not disclose his explanation. After the incident, he was dismissed from his job and placed under police supervision.

At the beginning of July, two men filmed a Ukrainian employee at the University of Economics in Poznań and questioned her about Stepan Bandera. After the video was published online, the woman faced harassment. It was later revealed that one of the participants had previously been accused of espionage for Russia.

Assault in Warsaw

In May, a group of teenagers aged 15 to 18 attacked three Ukrainian teenagers on Świętokrzyski Bridge in Warsaw. The most serious injuries were suffered by 16-year-old Artem, who was diagnosed with a skull fracture. Investigators are determining whether the attack was motivated by the victims’ nationality.

In addition, two Polish citizens placed an anti-Ukrainian banner in the suburbs of Poznań. At the same time, an investigation into another high-profile case in Bytów showed that not all conflicts involving Ukrainians are related to national hostility. Police are considering a personal dispute as a possible motive in the case of a fight that resulted in the death of a 36-year-old Polish man.

Anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland

The authors of the “Hate Speech Monitoring” report by the Union of Ukrainians in Poland note that the increase in hostile statements and crimes against Ukrainians follows a wave-like pattern. According to the report, such spikes are linked to political and social events as well as information campaigns targeting Ukraine.

The study identifies several periods when negative attitudes intensified, including events following the 2005 Orange Revolution, discussions around the 80th anniversary of the Volhynia tragedy in 2013, and the release of the film Volhynia in 2016.

A new rise in hostility occurred in 2025 during Poland’s presidential campaign. One of the factors was politicians’ statements calling for restrictions on certain benefits for Ukrainian citizens.

A study by the Demagog organization and the Media Monitoring Institute found that between April and July 2025, Polish-language internet platforms contained 94,000 anti-Ukrainian publications with a total reach of more than 32 million contacts.

A notable role in spreading negative sentiment was attributed to Grzegorz Braun, who during the election campaign participated in removing a Ukrainian flag from the city hall building in Biała Podlaska. Similar actions later took place in other Polish cities.

Disputes between Poland and Ukraine

The UPA battalion

In 2026, tensions between the two countries increased due to new disputes over historical memory. The immediate trigger was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to name one of the battalions “Heroes of the UPA.”

Following this, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped the Ukrainian leader of the Order of the White Eagle. Additional disagreements emerged over issues related to drone technology transfers, deliveries of Polish MiG fighter jets, and participation in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.

A July poll conducted by IBRiS for Rzeczpospolita showed a change in Polish attitudes toward Ukrainians. Some 33.6% of respondents said their attitude toward the Ukrainian community had worsened after disputes over the UPA. Only 1.8% reported improved views, while 60.7% said their opinion had not changed.

At the same time, 56% of respondents blamed Volodymyr Zelensky for the deterioration of Polish-Ukrainian relations. Another 20% said responsibility was shared equally by both presidents, while 19.7% pointed to Karol Nawrocki.

Attempts to resolve the issue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken steps to reduce tensions with Poland, Reuters reports. He held a meeting and called for expanding investigations into crimes committed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) against the Polish population during World War II. He also ordered the opening of archives related to the mass killings of ethnic Poles in Volhynia.

Zelensky emphasized that improving relations with Warsaw is important because of Poland’s extensive support for Ukraine. “We all need good-neighborly, equal and mutually beneficial relations in Europe, based on respect,” he wrote on social media platform X.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the Ukrainian leader’s statement, saying Warsaw was ready for a “serious and friendly dialogue” on issues that unite the two countries as well as topics that remain controversial.

In Ukraine, part of society views the UPA as an independence movement that fought against Nazi Germany and Soviet forces. However, historians state that the organization and related nationalist formations participated in the killings of between 70,000 and 100,000 Poles in Volhynia between 1943 and 1945. Thousands of Ukrainians also died during retaliatory actions.

Experts’ views: what is happening in Poland

Sociologist and President of the Institute of Public Affairs Jacek Kucharczyk believes official statistics may not reflect the full scale of the problem. Some victims do not report incidents because they fear contacting law enforcement.

The expert says hostile rhetoric toward Ukrainians, spread through political debates and the internet, is gradually moving into everyday life. In his view, this creates a perception that such behavior is acceptable, and some people begin to view aggression toward Ukrainians as justified. He also points to Russian online trolls as a factor that amplifies existing negative attitudes.

Criminologist Professor Brunon Hołyst believes Polish society’s attitude toward Ukrainians changed after the first months of the full-scale war. While sympathy and support dominated at the beginning of the conflict, irritation and aggression have become more visible.

Political statements and public debates influence these attitudes. When claims are made that there are “too many Ukrainians” in Poland, some people perceive this as justification for hostility toward foreigners. At the same time, the growth of the Ukrainian community has made individual cases of illegal behavior more visible, which can affect perceptions of the entire group.

Europe tightens rules for Ukrainians

International Investment analysts note a broader European trend toward stricter conditions for Ukrainians’ stay. After accepting millions of refugees in 2022, EU countries are reviewing their support programs. Governments are reducing some benefits, increasing control over access to social assistance and encouraging stronger participation in the labor market.

One of the main changes is a shift from emergency support toward integration. Ukrainians are increasingly encouraged to find employment, learn local languages and move toward financial independence. Some countries have already reduced payments for new arrivals or changed accommodation rules. Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and other states are discussing measures to reduce pressure on public budgets and social systems.

The approach to temporary protection is also changing. The EU has extended the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians, but member states are simultaneously preparing a long-term strategy — including the return of some people to Ukraine after the conflict ends or their transition to other residence permits.

Restrictions on accepting Ukrainian men are also being discussed, with some countries arguing that men of military age should serve in the army rather than receive temporary protection status.