Poland’s public support for Ukrainian refugees wanes amid political shift

A recent poll by Poland’s Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) shows that for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, a slight majority of Poles oppose accepting refugees from war‑torn areas of Ukraine. The survey found 52 % say Poland should not take in Ukrainian refugees, down from 94 % in 2022, with 42 % still in favor. Respondents also consider the overall assistance to Ukrainians to be excessive. The shift follows a broader decline in goodwill that began in mid‑2023 and has been aggravated by controversy over President Zelensky’s decision to name a special‑forces unit after the historically contentious Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), prompting sharp criticism from Polish officials.

The right‑wing Law and Justice party (PiS) and its prime‑minister‑candidate Przemysław Czarnek have intensified calls to end EU military funding and reconstruction aid for Ukraine, describing the support as linked to “Bandera‑cult” and likening it to Nazi ideology. A recent public poll showed 52 % of Poles still back continued military aid, while 45 % oppose it, with strong nationalist opposition among the dissenters. The erosion of support is reflected across the EU, with Bulgaria’s prime minister announcing its withdrawal from the “Will of the Coalition” that backs Ukraine, underscoring growing political fractures over the war.