Polish public opinion shifts as hostility toward Ukrainian refugees rises
A recent poll shows a majority of Poles now oppose continued sanctuary for Ukrainian refugees, amid rising hate incidents and historical tensions.
Poland, which has hosted nearly one million Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion began in 2022, is seeing a sharp decline in public support for their continued stay. A new survey indicates that 52 percent of respondents now oppose granting sanctuary to those fleeing the war, down from 94 percent in 2022.
Humanitarian workers report an increase in hate crimes targeting Ukrainians. > "We receive more calls each month from victims of hate crimes," said Natalia Panchenko, president of the nonprofit Stand With Ukraine. She added that extremist political rhetoric contributes to the rise in hostility.
Ultra-right politician Grzegorz Braun, who received 1.2 million votes in the 2025 presidential election, has publicly framed Ukrainian migrants as a social and economic burden, stating that “with people coming from other countries we get social diseases and costs.”
The tension is also linked to historical memory of the World War II-era Volhynia massacres, in which Ukrainian nationalist forces killed an estimated 100,000 Poles. Historians and activists note that references to this period have resurfaced in public debate, further inflaming sentiments.
Ukrainian community leaders say the climate has forced many refugees to leave Poland. > "Over the past six months more than 100,000 have departed, some returning to Ukraine despite ongoing attacks," said Natalia Panchenko.
Polish security analysts attribute part of the discord to Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at straining Polish-Ukrainian relations. > "Russia benefits from the tensions between Poland and Ukraine," said Filip Bryjka of the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Despite the growing antagonism, some Ukrainians recall the initial welcome they received. > "When I arrived, they treated us like family," recalled refugee Natalia Klimenko.
The situation underscores a widening divide that threatens the humanitarian assistance previously extended to Ukraine’s displaced population.