Polish-Ukrainian relations face challenges as historical disputes and anti-Ukrainian sentiment rise online.
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Polish society’s relationship with Ukraine is facing difficulties, with initial support for Ukrainian refugees giving way to anti-migrant sentiment. Monitoring by organizations like Alliance 24/08 shows a rise in negative discourse against Ukrainians across social media platforms, correlating with real-world incidents of hostility. Public support for accepting Ukrainian refugees has declined from 94 percent after the 2022 invasion to 52 percent opposing them by July 2026. This tension is exacerbated by a complex historical dispute concerning wartime violence in regions like Volhynia, which has become a major public topic in Poland. Experts note that while historical reconciliation efforts are ongoing, political messaging often weaponizes past atrocities to fuel contemporary negative narratives about Ukrainians, portraying them as a threat. These narratives, which include claims of criminality and threats to Polish territory, are amplified through unregulated online spaces and are often linked to pro-Russian influence. To counter this, experts suggest that solutions must move beyond fact-checking and focus on improving mutual understanding, integration, and trust between the Polish and Ukrainian societies.
