As Poland prepares for a crucial presidential election, tensions are rising—and so is anti-Ukrainian sentiment. Once welcomed with open arms, many Ukrainian refugees now say they feel increasingly unwelcome in the very country that once sheltered them from war.
Svitlana, a 31-year-old Ukrainian mother, recalls how much her daughter once adored her Polish school. “She didn’t want to change schools, even when we moved,” she says. “There was no bullying, she loved it.”
But recently, the situation has shifted. Just two weeks ago, her daughter came home upset: “A boy told me, ‘Go back to Ukraine,’” she told her mother. What followed was worse. Girls from another class mocked her, yelling “Missile! Get down!”—a cruel reference to the very real trauma the girl had endured back home, where a missile had struck their town, killing civilians, including children.
Svitlana, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, showed the BBC screenshots of messages with school staff as she raised concerns about her daughter’s mistreatment. She says the discrimination isn’t isolated to the classroom. At work, she hears derogatory comments about Ukrainians “behaving badly,” and her friends now talk about returning home—not because it’s safe, but because they no longer feel accepted.
There are currently over 2.5 million Ukrainians living in Poland—nearly 7% of the total population. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Poles rallied in support. “People called every day asking how to help,” says Natalia Panchenko, head of the Warsaw-based Stand with Ukraine Foundation. “They offered their homes, food, and their hearts.”
Now, three years later, that warm welcome has grown cold for many.
Natalia says her organization has tracked a surge in anti-Ukrainian hate online, which has spilled into real-life abuse. “We’re seeing more cases of people being shouted at in shops or hotels just for speaking Ukrainian,” she says. “These women and children are here because of war. Many have lost loved ones. And now, they’re the ones being targeted.”
Polls confirm this chilling trend. A March 2025 survey from the CBOS Centre shows only 50% of Poles still support accepting Ukrainian refugees—a sharp drop from 81% two years ago. And although one million Ukrainians are officially registered, Poland spends 4.2% of its GDP on supporting them, adding financial strain to the mix.
The issue is now playing a central role in Poland’s presidential election. Far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen, polling third, is openly anti-Ukrainian and advocates for a deal with Putin.
Second-place contender Karol Nawrocki wants to block Ukraine’s NATO and EU aspirations, while frontrunner Rafal Trzaskowski—traditionally seen as pro-Ukraine—has softened his stance, even pledging to reduce welfare support to Ukrainians.
“Public attitudes have changed,” explains analyst Marcin Zaborowski. “Supporting Ukraine isn’t as popular anymore. It’s becoming a political liability.”
Meanwhile, far-right provocateur Grzegorz Braun, currently under police investigation for tearing down a Ukrainian flag during a rally, continues to stoke division with talk of the “Ukrainisation of Poland.”
And behind the scenes, another threat looms. Poland recently accused Russia of trying to interfere in its elections by spreading misinformation online—a claim the Kremlin denies.
What began as a story of compassion has turned into one of growing division and disillusionment. For many Ukrainian refugees, the war may be behind them—but the fight for acceptance continues.
