Ukrainian siblings attacked in Poland for speaking Ukrainian

In Bydgoszcz, Poland, a man and woman violently attacked two Ukrainian teenagers merely for speaking their native language, according to the Consulate General of Ukraine in Gdańsk. The 14-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother were targeted solely for conversing in Ukrainian, an act of unprovoked aggression driven by ethnic intolerance.

The assailants began by hurling profanities and violent threats, before resorting to physical assault. They twisted the boy's arm, destroyed his toy drone, and scattered broken plastic fragments, causing scratches on the victim. The Consulate is closely monitoring the situation and has reported the incident to Polish police. While the children are not facing any physical danger, they have suffered severe emotional distress.

The Consulate will ensure that this incident receives an appropriate legal response during a meeting with Pomeranian Voivodeship leadership, municipal mayors, and police chiefs. Polish police recently introduced initiatives to combat hate crimes targeting Ukrainians, with a focus on improving law enforcement effectiveness in investigating such cases and prosecuting offenders, starting in 2026.

Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainians living in Poland have filed 180 formal complaints about hate-motivated offenses, a 30% increase compared to the previous year.