Polish support for Ukrainian refugees falls as xenophobic crime reports rise
Poland has recorded a rise in police reports of crimes against Ukrainians in 2026. NV examines how Polish attitudes toward Ukrainian citizens, including refugees, have shifted in its infographic.
Poland has seen an increase in police reports of crimes targeting Ukrainians in 2026. According to data from July 17, Ukrainians filed 30% more such reports than in the same period of 2025. This rise coincides with notable changes in Polish attitudes towards Ukrainian citizens, as evidenced by a July 25-26 IBRiS poll. The poll revealed that after a Ukrainian unit was named after Heroes of the UPA and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lost Poland's Order of the White Eagle, one-third of respondents viewed Ukrainians more negatively, with only 1.8% expressing improved views.
For the first time since 2014, a majority of Poles now oppose accepting Ukrainian refugees, with 52% opposed in July 2026 compared to 42% who supported it in July 2026, according to a CBOS poll. This shift is stark in comparison to May 2022, when 91% supported accepting refugees from Ukraine while only 4% opposed. The situation in Poland has been exacerbated by a series of attacks on Ukrainians in the country, with attackers verbalizing insults based on nationality and language.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk engaged in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 29 to discuss the safety concerns facing Ukrainians in Poland.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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