Polish hostility toward Ukrainian refugees rises amid historic grievances and political rhetoric

Poland, once a leading haven for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, now sees growing resentment toward the roughly one-million refugees still residing there. A recent poll shows opposition at 52%, down from 94% support in 2022. Incidents of harassment and violence have risen, with NGOs documenting an uptick in hate-crime calls.

Ultra-right figure Grzegorz Braun and other politicians have stoked anti-Ukrainian sentiment, while analysts link the shift to Russian hybrid-war disinformation targeting historic Polish-Ukrainian disputes, especially the Volhynia massacre. The controversy over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy naming a unit after Stepan Bandera has further inflamed public opinion, leading over 100,000 Ukrainians to leave Poland in the past six months. Human-rights groups warn the deteriorating climate threatens both refugee safety and bilateral relations.