Crimes Against Ukrainians in Poland: Attacks Increased by 73% in Two Years

In Poland, the number of hate crimes against Ukrainians has sharply increased. The police report a rise in threats and incidents of violence by 50-73%. In one of the attacks, xenophobes beat Ukrainians while shouting offensive words. These incidents indicate a trend towards the radicalization of society, which may manifest in organized attacks and pogroms.

Onet: 'On September 5, in Bialolenka, Warsaw, three men brutally beat a group of Ukrainians, accompanying the attack with xenophobic shouts like 'go back to your own country'.

Such cases are becoming more common, concerning both physical violence and insults. Even on a city bus, an elderly Ukrainian woman was insulted, and her defender was beaten. Teenagers threatened a young Ukrainian woman with a hammer, demanding money and a phone.

Emotional Pressure and Growing Aggression Among Ukrainians

Ukrainians who have been living in Poland for a long time are experiencing a significant increase in hostility and aggression. Taxi drivers complain about insults due to their accent and fear for their children. Other Ukrainians also share their experiences of hostility and insults they face in their new country.

Tendency Towards Hostility and Reasons for Growing Hatred

According to official data, in the first seven months of 2025 alone, 543 cases of hate crimes have been recorded, which is 41% more than last year. Sociologists point out that the inclination towards hostility began to grow after expressions of solidarity with Ukraine in 2022. The increasing fears regarding access to social services and jobs, influenced by Russian disinformation and domestic political populism, are concerning.

Professor Przemyśl Sadura: 'Politicians have picked up the anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. This is very dangerous. Hostility may escalate into organized lynchings.'

The situation is being watched with concern by the public, human rights organizations, and the Ukrainian community in Poland, which previously considered the country a safe place for living and development. It is also noted that arrests of Ukrainians on charges of espionage have begun.

The sharp increase in hate crimes against Ukrainians in Poland raises serious concerns among both the public and human rights organizations. Amid the radicalization of society and the rising number of incidents of physical and psychological violence, experts warn of the potential for further escalation of hostility and organized attacks on Ukrainians.