Ukrainian men are being deported from Poland more and more often, and are immediately conscripted into military service

Ukrainians are reporting an increase in cases of men being deported from Poland and subsequently mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This is being described by social media users.

“We’re getting out of Warsaw, out of Poland, because if you’re sitting there thinking this won’t affect you, you’re mistaken: today three people have already been sent to the border. Do you know for what? He threw a cigarette butt at a bus stop. A police officer approached him, just a routine document check, and it turned out he was staying illegally because he hadn’t updated his documents in time. His PESEL [the 11-digit personal identification number in Poland, required for residence, work, medical services, and social assistance — ed.] was canceled because he had been gone for more than 30 days. And where do they send him? Straight into an assault brigade, of course. That’s why I went somewhere warmer, with palm trees and bananas,” one young man said.

“The hottest topic right now is the deportation of Ukrainians. They deport people even because of a refusal to issue a residence card [a residence permit in Poland in the form of a plastic card confirming legal residence and the right to work — ed.]. They came for one man after the deadline they had given him to leave Poland expired. He’s a Ukrainian who didn’t break any laws, he just didn’t meet the requirements. They came with handcuffs, took him away, and drove him to the border. Then his wife called him — that was it: the phone was switched off, the person couldn’t be found anymore, he was already in Ukraine. So right now, if you don’t have up-to-date documents, you’re at risk of deportation,” another user said.

As a reminder, a bill has been introduced in the Polish parliament that would tighten the rules for Ukrainians staying in the country. Warsaw is planning to deport foreigners for even minor violations.