A women’s shelter for refugees in Poland fights for survival as anti-Ukrainian sentiment rises
KRAKOW, Poland (AP) — When Nastya Podorozhnya’s relatives fled the war in Ukraine for neighboring Poland, volunteers welcomed them with open arms. Podorozhnya, 29, was already living in Poland when the war…
Nastya Podorozhnya stands in the kitchen of the Martynka support shelter in Krakow, Poland, on July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Claudia Ciobanu) 2026-08-25T05:03:37Z KRAKOW, Poland (AP) — Nastya, 29, had already lived in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. She traveled back to Ukraine to assist her sister and nieces in escaping the conflict.
Upon returning to Poland amidst the influx of refugees, she observed both the generosity of Polish volunteers and the potential risks to Ukrainian women seeking assistance. Motivated to safeguard female Ukrainian refugees from gender-based violence, Nastya founded Martynka, a helpline and support organization. Four years after its inception, the group faces significant challenges.
With dwindling funding for refugee aid, mounting anti-Ukrainian sentiment, and a lack of long-term integration plans, Martynka struggles to remain operational. The organization, housed in a modest two-bedroom apartment in central Krakow, has accommodated over 100 women and children. These women receive assistance in escaping abusive relationships, accessing medical care, psychological support, employment opportunities, and housing.
Nastya recounted her own traumatic experience of a man attempting to rape her in Poland in 2016, emphasizing her empathetic approach to supporting the women she serves.
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