Assault in Olsztyn
A 14-year-old Ukrainian boy was assaulted by a group of men in Olsztyn, Poland, in what authorities believe was a hate crime motivated by his nationality. The attack took place over the May holiday weekend in the Old Town district. The perpetrators, estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, forced the teenager to kneel and threatened to kill him. The victim spent two days in the hospital before a formal complaint was filed with the police. The suspects have already been identified, and investigators have both witnesses and video evidence.
Ukraine's Consulate General in Gdańsk has contacted Polish law enforcement to support the investigation. The victim's lawyer, Dawid Denert, plans to push for the incident to be classified as a possible hate crime based on nationality. During the attack, the assailants shouted derogatory remarks about Ukrainians and threatened to put the boy in a car trunk and take him back to Ukraine.
Rise in attacks against Ukrainians in Poland
This incident is not an isolated case, as Poland has seen an increase in attacks targeting Ukrainians. Between January and July 2025, 543 hate crimes were recorded—a 41% rise compared to the previous year. One such case involved a 32-year-old Ukrainian man in Wrocław who suffered 14 stab wounds but survived. The Consulate General of Ukraine remains in contact with the mother of the Olsztyn victim.
The growing number of attacks on Ukrainians in Poland has raised concern within the Ukrainian community and among human rights advocates. The Olsztyn case underscores the need for more effective measures to combat hatred and protect minority rights. Monitoring these incidents and ensuring thorough investigations will be key to improving safety for Ukrainians in Poland and strengthening interethnic relations.
The alarming trend of violence against Ukrainians in Poland is further highlighted by another recent incident involving a Ukrainian man who was brutally attacked in Wrocław. This case, which resulted in 14 stab wounds, underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and protective measures within the community. For more details on this shocking event, see this report on the Wrocław stabbing.