The initial wave of support for Ukraine from Poland after Russia's invasion in 2022 has "run out," and there is a growing number of cases of discrimination and incitement of hatred against Ukrainians living in the country, Bloomberg reports.
A month after the full-scale invasion, a survey conducted by the Warsaw Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) showed that 94% of Poles wanted to accept Ukrainian refugees. According to last month's CBOS survey, this figure dropped to 48%, with half of Poles now believing that the government benefits provided to incoming Ukrainians are too generous.
"Cracks in this solidarity are becoming increasingly evident, as resistance to supporting Ukraine becomes a central point in the power struggle within the upper echelons of Polish politics," the publication notes.
Ukrainians are helping Poland's economy
Experts highlight the contribution of Ukrainian immigrants to the development of Poland's economy. The Polish Development Bank estimated in March that Ukrainian workers, including those who immigrated before 2022, contribute up to 2.4% to Poland's gross domestic product. A report for 2024 indicated that 78% of displaced Ukrainians in Poland were employed — more than in any other OECD member country.
"Thanks to Ukrainian migrants, we could fill the labor shortage amid a sharp demographic decline," said Jan Brzozowski, an economist at the European Studies Institute of Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He warned that the country should not take Ukrainians for granted:
"They are not forced to stay in Poland, so they can move to Germany, France, or other EU countries. Negative attitudes towards them will play a role."
Hate crimes are becoming more frequent
Statistics on hate crimes and discrimination are complex, as many victims do not report incidents, and when they do, nationality or ethnic affiliation is not always specified. The police reported that they registered 651 cases against Ukrainian citizens in Poland in 2024 and 477 in the first nine months of this year.
The "Never Again" Association, a Warsaw-based NGO that collects data on racism and xenophobia, stated that the number of physical assaults on Ukrainians also increased from 2024 to 2025.
The figure of the "ungrateful Ukrainian" holds a significant place in anti-Ukrainian narratives, according to Elena Babakova, a researcher and analyst in migration. When Poles encounter Ukrainians who do not take any job and can compete with them, it violates an unspoken social contract, she said.
Poland's willingness to help experiences cycles of ups and downs, and there may be even more downturns, said Piotr Buras, a senior fellow at the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw. The initial wave of support after 2022 is now "exhausted," he says.
As previously reported by UNIAN, the sharp influx of new Ukrainian refugees has triggered a negative reaction in Europe. Politicians in Germany and Poland have begun to express dissatisfaction with the increasing number of young Ukrainian men arriving in these countries.
At the same time, Polish media reported that the number of crimes committed by Poles against Ukrainians is rising. In most cases, these are crimes motivated by xenophobia and ethnic hatred.
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