Over three years, attacks rose by a third, partly due to reclassification of offenses as hate crimes
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bondar, stated that attacks on Ukrainians in the country have increased by 30% over three years. In 2024, 267 incidents were recorded; in 2025, 275; and in the first half of 2026 alone, 180. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Тетяна Степанова) citing Vasyl Bondar, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Reclassification of Offenses
Bondar explained that the 30% increase is also due to changes in legislation and the practice of classifying and recording offenses. Actions previously seen as hooliganism or insult are now more often classified with consideration of hate motive based on national origin.
This reclassification implies stricter liability but also affects statistical indicators. Notably, the Polish Prosecutor’s Office reported 182 pre-trial proceedings initiated between January and June 2026 regarding crimes committed on national grounds.
Public Reactions and Protests
Bondar noted that aggression toward Ukrainians is becoming more visible in public spaces, as victims or witnesses often post videos on social media. On one hand, this heightens the sense of danger among other citizens; on the other, it increases public awareness and prompts swift action by competent authorities.
Recently, media outlets have increasingly reported new attacks. For instance, on August 14 in Bydgoszcz, two adults attacked a 14-year-old Ukrainian girl and her 12-year-old brother over their use of the Ukrainian language. The attackers, walking a dog, used vulgar language, threatened the children based on nationality, and used physical force.
The incident sparked widespread reaction in Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the attack, calling such behavior unacceptable.
Also on August 5 in Krakow, a man threatened two Ukrainians and punched a woman in the face. Polish police launched an investigation, and the Consulate General of Ukraine condemned the incident, urging authorities not to ignore cases of aggression.
These and other incidents led to mass protests — rallies under the slogan “Don’t Be Indifferent” were held in 22 Polish cities. Participants demanded stricter measures from the government to protect foreigners from violence.
Photo: Варшава. Аеропорт Шопена
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