Poland: Lifeline for Ukrainian refugees confronts donor fatigue and online abuse as anti-Ukrainian sentiment grows
A Ukrainian woman who fled the war in her country built a lifeline for refugees in Poland. Now her organization faces donor fatigue, funding cuts and rising hostility as support for Ukrainians in Poland wanes.
As Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, Nastya Podorozhnya rushed back to her homeland to help her family and guide them to safety in Poland. She realized her Polish knowledge could be invaluable to the many women and children arriving in the country. Nastya founded Martynka, a shelter and support organization for vulnerable refugees in Krakow.
Since March 2022, the organization has received over 5,000 requests for help, providing psychological support, legal assistance, and counseling in four languages. Nastya's motivation stems from a traumatic experience of her own, as a Ukrainian man attempted to rape her while she was studying in Krakow. This led to PTSD and a difficult legal battle, which gave her a deeper understanding of survivors' trauma and the justice system.
Despite international organizations' support, donor fatigue and online abuse have hindered Martynka's operations. The UNHCR has reduced its staff in Poland from 120 to 40 due to funding cuts, and three regional offices have been closed. Reports of hate crimes against Ukrainians in Poland have increased by a third in the first half of the year, and Poland's President has stripped Zelenskyy of Poland's highest state honor in response to a controversial naming of a military unit.
Nastya remains hopeful and dedicated to her work, despite the challenges and emotional strain caused by online abuse and hostility towards Ukrainians in Poland.
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