Policy Shift Affects Ukrainian Refugees in Poland
Starting July 1, 2023, Ukrainian refugees in Poland are no longer eligible for free accommodation in temporary shelters. The change aims to ease the financial burden on Polish taxpayers and encourage refugees to find work or return to Ukraine. Thousands of vulnerable individuals—including the elderly, people with disabilities, and pregnant women—are now at risk. Over the past four years, Polish taxpayers have spent roughly 40 billion zlotys supporting Ukrainian refugees.
Struggles of Refugees on the Ground
Today, around one million Ukrainian refugees live in Poland. Among them are Kostiantyn Kostetskyi, a 74-year-old former electrician, and his wife Vira Kostetska, 70. The couple endured eight months under Russian occupation in Kupiansk and now reside in a hotel in Gorzów Wielkopolski. Kostiantyn’s Ukrainian pension amounts to 500 zlotys per month, while Vira receives 300 zlotys. With average rent in Warsaw reaching about 5,000 zlotys, paying for housing is nearly impossible for many pensioners.
The hotel housing the Kostetskyis shelters roughly 70 retirees and is funded by Swedish-Polish philanthropist Les Gonder. Gonder remarks:
“What are we supposed to do with these people? Throw them onto the sidewalk? No. They need help.”Kostiantyn Kostetskyi voices his anxiety over the new rules:
“We have no plan, and we don’t know what to do.”He adds, “Young people can work, they can rent an apartment—but not at my age.” He hopes the regulations will be reversed.
Meanwhile, Yuliia Aharkova, a 30-year-old pregnant woman from Dnipro, is raising six children. She says, “When you try to rent an apartment and mention you’re Ukrainian, sometimes they just hang up on you.” Having six children, she notes, only complicates the search for housing.
Critics point to worsening ties between Warsaw and Kyiv as a possible factor behind the legislative changes. Tensions have been fueled by:
- competition in the agricultural sector;
- differing interpretations of World War II history;
- the renaming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
Poland’s presidential campaign is slated for 2025, and the winner—historian and nationalist Karol Nawrocki—opposes Ukraine’s EU membership. Meanwhile, frustration with the prolonged stay of Ukrainians is also growing in Germany and Ireland.
Kostiantyn Kostetskyi reflects:
“People should think positively and focus on the future. Not on the historical issues that once existed between peoples, between countries.”His words underscore the complexity of the situation facing Ukrainian refugees in Poland and their search for solutions amid new hardships.
The loss of free housing for Ukrainian refugees in Poland highlights the mounting challenges for vulnerable groups, especially the elderly and single mothers. This shift could increase social tension and spur demand for new support mechanisms. As Polish society continues to adapt to immigration pressures, addressing the needs of those in precarious situations remains critical for ensuring their safety and well-being.
The recent policy changes have sparked significant concern among the refugee community, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainians in collective centers. For a deeper understanding of how these new restrictions are impacting housing access and the lives of those in need, read more about the drastic measures affecting Ukrainians in shelters.