Warsaw University Lecturer Assaulted on Tram for Speaking Ukrainian: Incident Details

Lecturer Faced Aggression Over Ukrainian Language

According to hvylya.net: Oleksandra Ivaniuk, who teaches at Warsaw University and has been living in Poland since 2010, shared her story about becoming a victim of verbal aggression on public transport due to her use of the Ukrainian language.

According to The Warsaw citing Wyborcza, during the trip one of the passengers – a man in military uniform – began yelling at the women in Polish, calling them 'Russian b***hes'.

The woman recounted that in the tram where the attack occurred, there was an atmosphere of indifference and silent consent, during which no one rushed to help her. She felt fear, paralyzed by the unpleasant situation.

The Future in Poland from the Lecturer's Perspective

The incident made Oleksandra Ivaniuk think about her future in Poland, where she founded a literary club to foster dialogue between Poles and their eastern neighbors through literature, but now faces anti-Ukrainian sentiments.

'Instead of stating the truth – that Ukrainians contribute significantly more to the Polish budget than they receive in social aid, that most Ukrainian migrants work hard and genuinely contribute to the country's development – it was decided to escalate hatred. The authorities have permitted hate, legalized it,' Oleksandra Ivaniuk expressed her opinion.

The lecturer emphasized that she cannot imagine starting over in another place, but blinded by the atmosphere of unfriendliness, she begins to doubt whether Poland is a country where she wants to live and work.

The incident involving lecturer Oleksandra Ivaniuk is indicative of the rise of anti-Ukrainian sentiments in Poland, which further push towards alienation and animosity between nations.