Discontent with Ukrainian refugees is growing in Poland, fueled by a sense of injustice that shows no sign of abating. In an interview with Interia, one of the country’s main news portals, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz gave voice to this growing frustration. Many citizens can no longer tolerate the sight of those young Ukrainians whizzing around in dream cars or staying in exclusive hotels, while their nation is ravaged by war. “It is shocking to see them living in luxury, while their fellow countrymen fight for survival”the minister stated bluntly.
One of the most sensitive issues raised by the minister concerns young Ukrainians of military age who, instead of fighting for their country, remain in Poland. According to a survey conducted by CBOS (Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej), one of the country’s main research centers, 67% of Poles believe that these men should return to Ukraine and contribute to the war effort. “It is unfair that Poles continue to support those who do not participate in the defense of their country”Kosiniak-Kamysz further stated.
The statement certainly did not go unnoticed in Kiev. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba promptly responded, underlining that also Ukraine demands the return of its soldiers. In fact, he assured that Kiev is already implementing concrete measures to guarantee the repatriation of men of military age, so that they can actively contribute to the country’s war efforts. Meanwhile, since last July, Poland has introduced new policies, reducing social benefits for this type of refugees. This move clearly reflects the change in attitude of the country, which has stopped seeing these young people exclusively as victims to be supported.
However, the Poles’ frustration transcends the mere military question: refugees, in addition to being seen as individuals who are escaping their duty to defend their homeland, are considered part of an economic problem that is creating significant difficulties for the population. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the national economy has suffered serious consequences due to the massive import of Ukrainian agricultural products, a phenomenon that has further aggravated the situation. This influx of goods caused a collapse in the prices of local products, seriously damaging Polish producers.
It’s about the “wheat crisis”a phenomenon that has sparked widespread protests among Polish farmers, who perceive imports from Ukraine as a significant threat to their economic survival. The problem originated in the first half of 2023, when the European Union opened so-called “solidarity lanes” to facilitate the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to member countries, thus flooding the Polish market.
In another interview given to Onet.pl, one of the largest and most popular websites in Poland, Kosiniak-Kamysz commented on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, stating that “It’s not a question of life or death,” but rather a possibility for economic development. However, he stressed that Poland intends to condition its support on respecting historical issues, in particular the Volhynia massacre.
This tragic episode marked the beginning of a series of brutal attacks against the Polish population between 1943 and 1944 in the Volhynia region, now part of Ukraine. The killings were perpetrated by Ukrainian nationalists from the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). It is estimated that around 100,000 Poles, including civilians and entire families, were massacred. The goal of Ukrainian nationalists was to liberate the region from the Poles to create an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state during World War II.
It is understandable, therefore, that Poland requires Ukraine to officially recognize that massacre as genocide and openly condemn it before welcoming it to Europe. Furthermore, he wants the exhumation and commemoration of the Polish victims.
And here it is, Despite Poland’s continued military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, unfinished business from the past and growing discontent with refugees risk seriously testing relations between the two countries. Kiev’s promises to collaborate on the repatriation of men of military age may not be enough to calm the growing impatience and frustration of the Polish population. History and expectations of justice are intertwined, making the path towards real collaboration increasingly difficult.
