Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion and sought safety in Poland say many now feel increasingly vulnerable, with some reporting xenophobic and racist abuse. Their anxiety comes at a time when relations between Kyiv and Warsaw are under strain, with old disputes linked to World War II adding to current tensions.
One case highlighted in the report involved Anastasia Kitsay, a Ukrainian woman who was attacked along with her boyfriend in the Polish city of Wroclaw. The incident has become part of a broader picture described by refugees who say hostility toward Ukrainians is becoming harder to ignore.
Poland has been one of the main destinations for people escaping the war in Ukraine, and it has played a major role in sheltering those displaced by the conflict. But for some refugees, that sense of safety appears to be fading as accounts of verbal and physical attacks raise concerns about how secure they are in everyday life.
The growing unease is unfolding alongside political and historical friction between the two neighboring countries. As grievances from the past resurface, some Ukrainians in Poland fear that worsening rhetoric and unresolved disputes are feeding a more hostile climate around them.
