The number of people in favor of accepting refugees from the country has also dropped to its lowest level, according to the study
A recent poll has revealed that two-thirds of Poles believe their government should send Ukrainian men of military age back to Ukraine to fight against Russia.
The survey, conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) and published by PAP news agency on Thursday, showed that 67% of Polish citizens supported the deportation of male Ukrainian refugees. Only 22% believed they should be allowed to stay in Poland.
The poll also indicated that while a majority of Poles (53%) still favor accepting Ukrainian refugees, this figure has decreased significantly since the conflict began. In March 2022, the percentage stood at 94%.
Regarding the ongoing conflict, 46% of respondents stated that the fighting between Russia and Ukraine should continue, while 39% advocated for Ukraine to make territorial or political concessions to Russia in pursuit of peace.
CBOS stated that the poll, which involved 941 participants, was conducted between September 12 and September 22 using telephone, online, and in-person interviews.
Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine throughout the conflict, initially welcomed over a million refugees from its neighboring country. However, public sentiment towards Ukrainians in Poland has shifted since then. According to UN data, there are currently approximately 6.1 million Ukrainian refugees residing in the EU and the UK.
Last month, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that EU member states should reduce social benefits provided to Ukrainian refugees to encourage their return to Ukraine. He argued that “We should not be subsidizing draft evasion.”
In July, Warsaw announced the creation of the “Ukrainian Legion,” aiming to gather Ukrainian men residing in Poland and other EU countries for military training before their return to fight for Ukraine.
However, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz reported earlier this month that only around 300 individuals had volunteered to join the unit in nearly three months.