Two Ukrainian children attacked in Poland for speaking their native language

On August 14, in a park near the railway station in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz, two adults attacked a 14-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother solely because the children were speaking Ukrainian to each other.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a post by the General Consulate of Ukraine in Gdansk.

The attackers turned out to be a man and a woman who were walking a small dog. They used obscene language, threatened the children with violence on the grounds of national hatred, and used physical force. The children’s physical health is not at risk, but both experienced severe emotional stress.

A police report has been filed in connection with the attack, and law enforcement officers are searching for the perpetrators. The General Consulate of Ukraine in Gdansk is keeping the case under special oversight: consular staff are in constant contact with the mother of the affected children and are providing her with consular and legal support.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the attackers is asked by the consulate to contact the police without delay.

The consulate strongly condemned the manifestations of xenophobia. The issue of countering intolerance and ensuring the safety of Ukrainians will be one of the key topics at a meeting planned in the coming days between the consulate and the leadership of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, city mayors, and police commanders.

Such incidents in Poland are not unprecedented. 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 that incident and called on people not to ignore cases of aggression.

As RBC-Ukraine reported, these and other incidents triggered 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.