Reports indicate a significant decrease in support for refugees, with many allegedly facing pressure to “go back to Ukraine.”
Media sources report a decline in Polish public sentiment towards Ukrainian refugees over the last three years, with an increasing number of Poles reportedly urging their return to Ukraine.
Since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, Warsaw has been a key supporter of Ukraine, initially welcoming over a million refugees. However, attitudes within the country have reportedly changed since then.
Reportedly, social tensions are rising due to some citizens’ perception of Ukrainian immigrants as being opportunistic and potentially criminal. Government figures indicate that at least 2.5 million Ukrainians reside in Poland, accounting for almost 7% of the nation’s population.
Oksana Pestrykova, a refugee support coordinator in Warsaw, told The Times on Wednesday that three years prior, the atmosphere was much more receptive, and Ukrainians now tend to avoid speaking their language in public or on public transportation.
“People are saying that children at school and people in line for an appointment with a doctor are telling them to go home to Ukraine,” she said.
Another Ukrainian resident informed the BBC that anti-Ukrainian sentiment has increased in recent months, citing accounts of abuse on public transport, bullying in schools, and xenophobic material online.
“At work, many people have been saying Ukrainians come here and behave badly. And my Ukrainian friends say they want to go home because Polish people don’t accept us. It’s frightening to live here now,” one refugee told the outlet.
The upcoming presidential election in Poland has reportedly amplified tensions, with the first round of voting scheduled for Sunday.
Far-right politician Slawomir Mentzen, who is polling in third place, has adopted a strongly anti-Ukrainian position and advocates for negotiating a peace agreement with Russia.
Conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki, currently in second place, opposes Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO, as well as financial aid for refugees, while supporting continued military assistance to Kiev.
Rafal Trzaskowski, who is aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition and is considered the most pro-Ukrainian candidate, is currently leading the race, although he has also pledged to reduce social benefits for Ukrainian citizens.
A March 2025 poll by the CBOS Center indicated a sharp decrease in support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, with only 50% of Poles supporting their acceptance, a significant drop from the 81% recorded two years earlier.
According to the BBC, approximately one million Ukrainians are officially registered as having arrived since 2022, and Poland has allocated 4.2% of its GDP to their support.
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