The number of crimes against Ukrainians has increased significantly in Poland: details of the incidents
Hate crimes against Ukrainians have increased sharply in Poland. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of such incidents has increased by almost half compared to the previous year.
This is reported by TVP World .
According to Polish police, 543 hate crimes were recorded between January and July 2025, a 41 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 384 cases were recorded. The most common type of offense remains threats of violence, with 322 recorded in the first eight months of the year alone.
The number of physical and psychological attacks has also risen sharply, up 73 percent in two years. Attacks causing harm to health have increased by 43 percent, and xenophobic or racist incidents have almost doubled, from 113 in 2022 to 188 in 2024.
There has also been an increase in the number of robberies, harassment, blackmail, and identity theft, where Ukrainians became victims.
Police spokeswoman Violetta Szubska stressed that hate crimes are a serious violation of human rights. She stressed the importance of documenting all manifestations of hostility towards a particular population group during investigations.
Despite the fact that Polish legislation does not have a separate definition of the concept of “hate crime”, law enforcement officers use the classification developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Professor Przemysław Sadura of the University of Warsaw explained that the increase in aggression against Ukrainians is related to economic uncertainty, disinformation, and political manipulation.
“People are afraid that Ukrainians are taking their place — in hospitals, kindergartens, or on the labor market. These fears are fueled by instability and the perception that Ukrainian workers are lowering wages,” Sadura said.
The sociologist also warned about the danger of spreading fake stories on social media, fueled by Russian disinformation.
“We see a transition from isolated acts of aggression to organized hostility. This is how pogroms begin – with the dehumanization of victims and the reversal of roles,” he emphasized.
Sadura called on the Polish authorities to strengthen the fight against xenophobia and protect democratic values so that the country “does not repeat the mistakes that have already led to tragedies.”
We will remind you that in the Polish city of Wroclaw, a group of teenagers tricked a Ukrainian man into going on a “date”, where they mocked him and filmed it .
It was previously reported that Poland is unable to indefinitely accept new waves of Ukrainian refugees and should focus on adapting those already living on its territory.
By the way, Polish law enforcement officers reported the detention of two 17-year-old Ukrainians who painted red-and-black flags and left “Bandera slogans” at places of remembrance of the victims of the Volyn tragedy.
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