Ukrainian national kills priest in Polish monastery attack

A 31-year-old Ukrainian national, Igor M., killed a priest and injured four others during a knife attack at a monastery in Jarosław, Poland. The incident occurred on September 24, 2026, at a Benedictine convent near the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Wassili Bodnar, clarified that the suspect is not a member of the military. According to reports, Igor M. had been residing in Germany since 2022 and was traveling from Germany toward Ukraine when the incident occurred. His attempt to cross the border at Korczowa/Krakowiec was initially rejected due to a lack of vehicle insurance. Following the attack, the suspect was placed in a highly secured medical facility for psychiatric evaluation, as authorities noted signs of mental instability.

The attack has fueled rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland. Some political figures, including members of the far-right Confederation party, have drawn parallels between the incident and historical massacres. In response, local clergy have called for tolerance, urging the public not to hold the Ukrainian people responsible for the actions of a single individual.