Kraków abuse of Ukrainians: Consulate demands action but warns against generalising about Poles

Ukraine's Consulate General has expressed concern over an incident in Kraków in which a man supposedly threatened and verbally abused two Ukrainian nationals, while urging people not to generalise about Polish society as a whole.

Source: European Pravda, citing a statement from the Consulate General of Ukraine in Kraków

Quote: "The Consulate General of Ukraine in Kraków strongly condemns all manifestations of aggression, xenophobia, discrimination and humiliation based on nationality. Such behaviour and rhetoric are unacceptable and require an appropriate response."

Details: Video footage of the incident shows a man behaving aggressively towards a Ukrainian citizen, chasing him, using abusive and offensive language, including insults related to his Ukrainian nationality, and demanding that he leave Poland and return to Ukraine.

The footage also appears to show the man pushing away a young woman who was present at the scene.

The consulate said it remains in contact with the relevant Polish authorities and expects a thorough investigation into the incident, as well as an appropriate legal assessment of the actions of those involved.

It also urged Ukrainian citizens to report any cases of threats, aggression, xenophobia or discrimination to the Polish police and to Ukrainian diplomatic missions.

Quote: "Meanwhile, we emphasise that isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour must not serve as grounds for generalisations about Polish society as a whole. We highly value the solidarity and support that Poland and the Polish people continue to show to Ukraine and Ukrainians."

Background:

• A man allegedly threatened and verbally abused two Ukrainian nationals in Kraków, with Polish police now investigating the incident.
• Earlier this week in Gdańsk, a man assaulted a Ukrainian passer-by and two Polish citizens, calling them "Banderites".
• In Wrocław, a group of Polish men recently attacked a young Ukrainian couple after supposedly hearing their accent. The suspects were remanded in custody for three months.
• According to Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, there have been numerous attacks on Ukrainians in Poland since 2022, but Ukrainian residents have learned how to protect themselves.

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