Attacks on Ukrainians in Poland up 30% — Ambassador Bondar

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bondar has said that over three years the number of attacks on Ukrainians in the country has grown by approximately 30%.

He made the statement in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

According to Polish police data cited by the diplomat, 267 cases of attacks on Ukrainians or acts of aggression were recorded in 2024, 275 in 2025, and already 180 cases in the first half of 2026.

“We have statistics from the police, which state that in 2024 there were 267 cases of attacks on Ukrainians or acts of aggression. In 2025 there were 275. In the first half of 2026 — already 180. So we are indeed seeing growth of approximately 30 percent,” Bondar said.

At the same time, the ambassador urged that these figures be viewed in the context of changes in legislation and law enforcement practice. Actions that previously might have been classified as ordinary hooliganism or insult are today more frequently examined with regard to the motive of hatred on the grounds of nationality. This entails stricter liability, but at the same time affects statistical indicators.

“The data cited reflects statistics on crimes or offenses committed on ethnic grounds. Data from the Polish prosecutor’s office also indicates 182 pre-trial proceedings ongoing during January–June 2026 specifically for these crimes,” the ambassador clarified.

Bondar also noted that manifestations of aggression toward Ukrainians are becoming especially visible in the public sphere, with victims and witnesses frequently posting video footage of incidents on social media.

“On the one hand, this heightens the sense of danger among other citizens. On the other hand, it promotes public awareness and prompts the competent authorities to respond quickly,” the diplomat added.

In recent times, media outlets have increasingly reported on specific cases of attacks on Ukrainians in Poland. On August 14, in a park near the railway station in Bydgoszcz, two adults — a man and a woman — confronted a 14-year-old Ukrainian girl and her 12-year-old brother. According to preliminary information, the trigger for the aggression was the Ukrainian language the children were speaking to each other. The attackers, who were walking a dog, hurled obscene insults at the children, threatened them because of their nationality, and used physical force. The incident received widespread attention in Poland and was condemned by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who stated that such behavior is unacceptable.

On August 5 in Kraków, a man threatened two Ukrainians and punched a woman in the face. Polish police launched an investigation, and the General Consulate of Ukraine condemned the incident and urged people not to ignore cases of aggression.

These and other incidents sparked mass protests: rallies were held in 22 Polish cities under the slogan “Don’t be indifferent.” Participants demanded that the authorities take tougher measures to protect foreigners from violence.