Many Ukrainians living in Poland have told the BBC that they have recently encountered xenophobic content online, bullying in schools, and abuse on public transit.
Tension has increased due to a divisive presidential election campaign; the first round of voting is scheduled for this Sunday.
Poles were incredibly sympathetic when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022. At least 2.5 million Ukrainians reside in Poland, making up nearly 7% of the country’s total population, according to official statistics. Official records indicate that about a million Ukrainians arrived after the full-scale invasion began. Poland’s spending on Ukrainian refugees amounts to 4.2% of its GDP.
The public’s perception of Ukrainians in Poland appears to be deteriorating, according to research. Only 50% of Poles support welcoming Ukrainian refugees, a seven percentage point decline in just four months, according to a March 2025 poll conducted by the reputable CBOS Centre. The percentage was 81% two years ago.
In Poland’s pivotal presidential election campaign, Ukraine has emerged as a contentious political issue. Slawomir Mentzen, a far-right populist who is presently in third place, is fiercely anti-Ukrainian and favours a “agreement” with Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Second place goes to conservative Karol Nawrocki, who backs the war effort but opposes Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO as well as financial aid for refugees.
Although even front-runner Rafal Trzaskowski of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition has pledged to cut social welfare for Ukrainians, he is the most pro-Ukraine candidate. According to political analyst Marcin Zaborowski, Trzaskowski has not emphasised his pro-Ukrainian credentials in an attempt to win over the centrist vote in the elections. Poland is still primarily a Catholic, conservative nation. Some voters outside of cities find Trzaskowski’s liberal views offensive, especially his support of LGBTQ+ rights and involvement in Pride parades. In addition, he is criticised for his perceived wasteful spending, contentious real estate management, and inefficiency in local government.
Although the prime minister and legislature hold a large portion of Poland’s power, the presidency is far more than just a ceremonial position; it has the authority to veto laws and has influence over military and foreign policy matters.