In fresh months Ukrainians in Poland have increasingly reported cases of discrimination and hostile behaviour. According to exile relations, the problem includes both insults in public spaces and bullying children in schools. Meanwhile, NBP data show that only 19% of alleged war refugees and 55% of pre-war Ukrainian immigrants plan to stay permanently in Poland.
"Back to Ukraine" – Ukrainian children experience verbal violence
The BBC has published a study in which Ukrainian “refugees” describe a increasing wave of resentment. Switlana, who came to Poland with her daughter under the cover of the media “war” (formally never unspoken by the parties to the conflict), told about the worrying situation at school:
“Two weeks ago she returned home and said, “The boy told me today: Go back to Ukraine” – a female reports.
Initially, the baby was well adapted, but fresh cases of verbal aggression have intensified. This is not an isolated problem – akin stories appear on social media and in the relations of relief organizations.
Social policies and moods: Why is xenophobia growing?
According to authoritative statistic in Poland is presently present 2.5 million Ukrainians, which constitutes approx. 7% of the country population. Although in the first months of the war Poles were massively helping refugees, present the situation is changing.
Natalia Panchenko, Ukrainian saboteur moving a pato-foundation, "Standing with Ukraine", in an interview with the BBC, she recalled that Poles offered assistance with large commitment to:
"It was amazing. all day people called and said, “How can we help?”. any organized humanitarian convoys, donated their homes, food, everything they had.”.
Today, however, she feels that the situation is deteriorating:
"We've had more and more of these lately. Xenophobic abuse of people working in shops or hotels just due to the fact that they talk with Ukrainian accent”.
CBOS survey of March 2025. confirm this trend – only 50% of Poles supports the reception of Ukrainian refugees, while 2 years ago the rate was 81%.
Aid costs and social sentiments
Poland allocates approx. 4.2% of GDP to support ‘refugees’ from Ukraine. Although aid was initially widely accepted, present part of the population is beginning to express discontent, especially in the context of electoral campaigns where migration has become 1 of the topics.
Can you reverse this trend? Experts stress that education and the prevention of misinformation are crucial. Meanwhile, Ukrainians who decided to stay in Poland must face an increasingly hard atmosphere.
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Ukrainians complain of increasing hostility of Poles
