Once Welcomed, Now Resented: Ukrainians Face Rising Hostility in Poland
Support for Ukrainians in Poland, extremely high after Russia's full-scale invasion, is now noticeably declining, while anti-Ukrainian sentiments and incidents of discrimination are on the rise amid political struggles in Warsaw.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Bloomberg.
In the first months after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Poland became one of the main refuges for Ukrainians: millions of refugees found safety here, and the country's economy received a significant contribution from Ukrainian workers.
According to the European Commission, about one million Ukrainians are still under temporary protection in Poland, actively working in factories, construction, and the service sector.
Estimates by the Polish Development Bank indicate that Ukrainian workers, including those who arrived before 2022, contribute up to 2.4% of Poland's GDP. In 2024, 78% of displaced Ukrainians were employed, representing the highest employment rate among all OECD countries.
At the same time, support for Ukrainians among the Polish population has declined significantly. A CBOS survey showed that while 94% of Poles supported the admission of Ukrainian refugees in 2022, this figure had fallen to 48% in the latest survey.
The number of acts of discrimination and hate speech is growing: in 2024, 651 crimes against Ukrainians were recorded, and in the first nine months of 2025, the figure reached 477.
Sociologist Przemysław Sadura notes that the rise in anti-Ukrainian sentiment is linked to economic instability, misinformation, and political exploitation. The initial wave of solidarity after Russia's invasion in 2022 gradually faded, and citizens began to fear competition for jobs, social benefits, and access to services.
Sadura also emphasizes the role of social media in spreading false narratives and Russian propaganda, which fuels hostility.
He warns that Poland may be approaching a tipping point where incidents of hatred transform into organized aggression.
“We need to stop flirting with hate and start protecting the values of a democratic society,” Sadura said. “The state must stop ceding ground to extremist groups and take responsibility for safeguarding public discourse.”
Anti-Ukrainian sentiments are intensified by political struggles. Polish President Karol Nawrocki and his allies criticize social assistance to refugees, and in August, he vetoed a bill that would have extended support to Ukrainians.
Subsequently, the Polish President signed a new bill that extended the legal stay of Ukrainians in Poland until March 4, 2026, and regulated the procedure for receiving social and medical assistance. The law introduced verification of economic activity through the social insurance system and restricts adults' access to medical services, with exceptions for parents of children with disabilities.
At the same time, Tusk's government is focusing on real policies to protect Poland, understanding all the threats posed by Russia's aggressive policies.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that Russia is prepared to use sabotage, cyberattacks, and hypersonic missiles, and its willingness to fight gives it an advantage over the West, despite economic problems and sanctions. He called on NATO to take its own security seriously and not rely on “sweet illusions” about protection in the event of an attack by Moscow.
As The Gaze informed earlier, Poland has joined forces with eight Nordic and Baltic countries to expand a military training center that will enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities through advanced drone operations and allied cooperation.