Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland welcomed numerous refugees. However, current Polish politicians aim to reduce the number of Ukrainian parents who receive child benefits.
Lukasz Jakubowski frequently goes to schools where Polish students not only hurl insults but also resort to physical assaults against their Ukrainian peers. Sadly, he notes that these occurrences are becoming more common.
Jakubowski serves as an anti-discrimination counselor for the Polish organization Never Again (Nigdy wiecej) in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland.
At a school I visited, there are Ukrainian children learning Polish, and they understandably struggle with the language," Jakubowski explains to CDRNEWS. "Other kids sometimes avoid playing with them, pushing them aside and insulting them, which creates a sort of psychological divide. These children are told they should return to Ukraine.
The organization has been issuing documents outlining racially motivated assaults like those mentioned since 2009. These publications are referred to as their "brown books."
Incidents of aggression and hateful rhetoric on the rise
Nearly 1 million individuals have escaped to Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of that nation in February 2022.
The number of attacks on this group of people has increased drastically over the past three years, says Jakubowski. Internet hate speech targeting Ukrainians is also on the rise.
Individuals criticize the Polish administration for showing excessive leniency towards its devastated southeast counterpart. Some voices have gone so far as to advocate resisting what they describe as a supposed "Ukrainian influx" affecting municipal governments within Poland.
A well-known author and journalist from the conservative sphere has asserted that Ukraine is a morally corrupt nation, and suggested that Poland refrain from engaging in commerce with it.
In March 2024, a swastika was painted on the facade of the Ukrainian House foundation’s headquarters in Warsaw. Foundation leader Miroslawa Keryk stated that this act of desecration is associated with the increasing anti-Ukrainian sentiments in Poland, sentiments that have escalated due to the grain disagreement between the two countries.
Demonstrations against Ukrainian cereal shipments and transportation firms
In both 2023 and 2024, this occurred as well. massive protests across Poland Opposition to the liberalization of the European Union’s market for Ukrainian cereals emerged. Various derogatory and hostile statements were made regarding Ukrainians during these protests.
The circumstances were comparable in 2023. truck drivers' protests in opposition to the liberalization of the European Union’s transport sector for Ukrainian businesses. Such demonstrations received support from various groups. far-right Confederation party .
"Never Again" has also recorded numerous instances of Ukrainians facing beatings or some form of physical mistreatment.
Some individuals only need to overhear someone speaking Eastern European—whether it’s Russian or Ukrainian—to become aggressive," explains Jakubowski, adding that numerous Poles struggle to distinguish between these languages. He continues, "As a result, those who have resided in Poland for several years continue to encounter hostility.
Starting with a friendly reception to facing harsh truth
A survey carried out in November and December by the Warsaw-based think tank known as the Mieroszewski Centre indicates a decline in support for Ukrainians among Poles.
Just 25% of participants had a favorable view of Ukrainian refugees, 30% held an unfavorable opinion, and 41% remained indifferent.
Half of those surveyed said that the support given to refugees was too high. Only 5% said it was insufficient.
Many people in Poland believe that Ukrainian refugees have unrealistic expectations about welfare benefits and salaries. There is also a common view that these refugees act entitled, behaving as though they own the country, and are perceived as noisy and untrustworthy.
However, the Mieroszewski Centre’s studies also reveal another aspect of the situation: Ukrainians’ views toward their northwest neighbors are worsening as well. In 2022, 83% of Ukrainian participants expressed a favorable view of Poles, but this number dropped dramatically to just 41% by November 2024.
The 'demythologization' of Ukrainians
Meanwhile, the count of individuals adopting a neutral stance is increasing, leading researchers to view this trend as "a sign of the relationship becoming more practical."
This process is termed the "de-mythification" of Ukrainians in Polish perception. Despite Poles admiring the Ukrainians' "heroic stance" against Russian aggression, with most Poles backing Ukraine’s endeavors to integrate into NATO and the European Union, everyday issues are progressively taking center stage.
Ukrainians in the job market are diligent and entrepreneurial, leading many Poles to worry about the competition.
"Many recognize the significant role Ukrainians play in Poland’s economy. Numerous businesses worry they would face severe challenges if hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were to depart abruptly," explains Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, director of the Mieroszewski Centre.
Actual-life experiences are quite distinct.
Natalia Panchenko, who co-founded both the StandWithUkraine foundation and the Euromaidan Warsaw initiative, stands out as one of the most recognizable figures within the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland. Because of her prominent role, she frequently becomes a victim of hate and harassment.
"They usually tell me off online because they've never crossed paths with me but just vent all their negativity about Ukrainians onto me," she shares with CDRNEWS.
Yet, she notes that there is a significant difference between the survey outcomes and everyday realities: "In actuality, most Poles we interact with at our workplaces, kindergartens, or schools do not object to our presence," she states.
She points out that most Ukrainians living in Poland tend to integrate smoothly into society, pick up the Polish language rapidly, and seldom encounter unpleasant remarks from locals.
Ukraine becomes a topic in elections
Several politicians clearly aim to leverage anti-Ukrainian sentiments to strengthen their standing ahead of the upcoming presidential election in May.
Rafal Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and the liberal candidate backed by the center-right political alliance Civic Platform (PO), along with Karol Nawrocki, who is endorsed by the right-wing ruling party Law and Justice (PiS), both advocate for providing child benefits exclusively to Ukrainian parents who are employed and paying taxes in Poland.
The monthly child allowance in Poland is approximately €200 ($217) per child. At present, every parent in Poland receives this benefit.
Currently, there are approximately 900,000. Ukrainian refugees in Poland Most of the adults in this group are employed. However, for many, child benefit payments are crucial since Ukrainian refugees in Poland do not receive any additional welfare support from the government.
Natalia Panchenko views the ongoing debate on limiting eligibility for child benefits as discriminatory since it would impact only Ukrainians among migrant groups without affecting others.
Despite this, the regulation might swiftly be implemented as it is among the few provisions that nearly all factions within Poland presently concur upon.
The article was initially published in German .
Author: Monika Sieradzka (based in Warsaw)