Poles take to streets in 22 cities to protest hate crimes against Ukrainians

On August 9, over 20 cities in Poland saw protests against a rise in hate crimes targeting Ukrainians and other minorities, according to the Polish news outlet RMF 24. The demonstrations took place in major cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Lublin, and Wroclaw, reflecting a growing concern over incidents of violence and verbal abuse against Ukrainians.

The Polish Committee for the Defense of Democracy, a non-governmental organization advocating for civil society and human rights, organized the campaign. Participants were given stickers with the slogan "Don't Be Indifferent" to display in businesses and establishments, signaling their support for Ukrainian residents and their determination to combat discrimination.

This wave of protests followed a similar event in Warsaw on August 7, where over 11,000 people signed a petition demanding government action against discrimination, including attacks on Ukrainians. The escalation in violence was triggered by a brutal assault on a Ukrainian couple in Wroclaw on July 26, where three attackers targeted a 20-year-old Ukrainian woman and her 21-year-old Ukrainian partner, likely because of their nationality.

Police recorded 180 hate crimes against Ukrainians in the first half of 2026, marking a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Additionally, polls indicate a growing negative sentiment among Poles toward Ukraine and a reduction in support for accepting Ukrainian refugees. This hostility has intensified due to the deterioration of relations between Poland and Ukraine, sparked by Ukraine's decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group known in Poland for its involvement in mass killings of Poles during World War II.