Polish attitudes toward Ukrainians worsen: Ambassador explains why
Photo: Refugees in Poland (Getty Images)
The attitude of Poles towards Ukrainians and refugees from Ukraine has deteriorated significantly in recent years, as confirmed by sociological surveys. The reason is complex, says Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Reason is complex
"Imagine: you have a flat, and you let a stranger in — not even a foreigner. At first, you get used to them, and things seem okay. But over time, it starts to wear on you, irritate you, cause discomfort," said Bodnar.
Who came to Poland, and how noticeable the second wave is
According to the Ambassador, the first million migrants who came to Poland worked in low-paid jobs and did not create competition. However, the second million, more than 989,000 war refugees, includes specialists, businesspeople, and educated people, some of whom arrived in expensive cars.
Bodnar explains that there are indeed many Ukrainians in Poland and asks others to imagine a situation where half of the population in Kyiv spoke Polish on the streets — or even a third — adding that he believed Ukrainian citizens would also have certain feelings in such a case.
Stereotypes and myths
Polish society is also influenced by stereotypes: 'Ukrainians took our jobs,' 'Ukrainian women are more attractive and could steal your husband,' 'Ukrainians dominate certain economic sectors,' 'they don't wait in line to see a doctor,' and so on
The diplomat notes that, unfortunately, those were all stereotypes, explaining that if one looked at the statistics, there were only hundreds of cases out of millions of people, but they were visible and created a certain impression.
The Ambassador also cites facts that refute the negative narratives. According to him, 69% of Ukrainians who arrived in Poland after 2022 are working, which is about 700,000 people. They create added value for the Polish economy — about 2.7% of GDP, or €22 billion per year.
Poland ranks second after Germany in terms of the number of our citizens who have moved there due to the war. After obtaining a PESEL UKR, Ukrainians can legally live, study, and work in Poland.
From November 1, so-called collective accommodation centers (OZZ) for refugees from Ukraine in Poland will only accept persons from protected categories - pensioners, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Poland has also passed a bill amending the law on special assistance to Ukrainians. A number of innovations regarding the temporary protection of our citizens are envisaged.
