Poland reports sharp rise in attacks on Ukrainian residents

Polish police data show a steady increase in nationality‑based attacks against Ukrainians in Poland. In the first half of 2026, 180 incidents were recorded, marking a rise of more than 30 % compared with the same period in 2025 and about 35 % above 2024 levels. One widely reported case involved an adult man verbally abusing and threatening teenage Ukrainian girls on a city bus in Bielsko‑Biała because they spoke Ukrainian.

Politicians have exchanged accusations over who is responsible for the surge. Interior and Administration Minister Marcin Kierwiński blamed rival parties, while Law and Justice opposition spokesman Rafał Bochenek condemned Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Kierwiński for downplaying the violence. Ukrainian activist Natalia Panchenko of the Stand With Ukraine in Poland urged calm and called for accountability for individual perpetrators.

The data underline growing tensions in Polish‑Ukrainian relations and prompt calls for stricter enforcement against hate‑motivated offenses.