Rising nationalist attacks and discrimination strain Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Ukrainian families arriving after the Russian invasion are encountering a harsher environment in Poland, with reports of school bullying, street assaults and intimidation that deter them from speaking Ukrainian publicly. Police received 180 nationalist-motivated complaints in the first half of the year, a rise of almost one-third compared with the prior period, and some victims required hospital care. Entry procedures now involve border queues lasting up to 16 hours, and mistakes in passport stamps can strip refugees of their protected status, leading to loss of health coverage and child benefits.

Organizations such as the Ukraїński Dom and advisers like Dmytro Dymydyuk warn of growing difficulties, while politicians including President Karol Nawrocki and right-wing parties display increasingly anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. Economists stress that Ukrainian workers and entrepreneurs are vital to Poland’s GDP, yet a CBOS poll shows a sharp drop in public support for accepting more refugees.