Poles name main reasons for worsening attitude towards Ukrainians
Disputes around the Volhynia tragedy and historical policy, social payments to Ukrainians, and Russian propaganda were the three most frequently cited reasons for the worsening attitude of Poles towards Ukrainians. This is according to a new CBOS poll commissioned by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
The main reason cited by respondents was disagreements around the Volhynia tragedy and the historical policy of the two countries — this option was chosen by 45.4% of those surveyed.
In second place were social payments and benefits available to Ukrainians in Poland. They were mentioned as one of the factors worsening attitudes by 36.4% of the study participants.
Third place went to Russian propaganda and disinformation on the internet — pointed out by 26.2% of respondents. Another 24.4% link the worsening sentiment to the actions and statements of Ukrainian politicians toward Poland.
Personal experience of interacting with Ukrainians turned out to be a less significant factor: it was mentioned by 17.8% of survey participants. At the same time, 7.6% of respondents disagreed with the statement that the attitude of Poles towards Ukrainians has worsened.
Government supporters and opposition see reasons differently
The survey revealed a noticeable political divide. Among supporters of the current ruling camp, the main factor worsening sentiment is considered to be Russian propaganda and disinformation — this answer was given by 49.5% of those polled in this group.
Disputes around Volhynia were cited by 37.2% of government supporters, social payments to Ukrainians by 24.6%, and actions of Ukrainian politicians by 18.3%. Only 9.6% explain the worsening attitude through their own experience of contact with Ukrainians.
Among opposition supporters, the picture is significantly different. Here the top reason is historical disagreements around Volhynia — named by 55.1% of respondents. Social payments to Ukrainians were noted by 47.8%, and the actions and statements of Ukrainian politicians by 35.6%. Their own experience of contact with Ukrainians was cited by 20.9%.
Thus, supporters of the ruling camp much more often link the change in public sentiment to external informational influence, while opposition voters primarily point to historical disputes and internal Polish-Ukrainian contradictions.
Attitude towards Ukrainians in Poland has noticeably changed
The results of the new study come amid a general deterioration in attitudes towards Ukrainian refugees. In the July CBOS survey, for the first time in the entire period of observation, the number of opponents of accepting refugees from Ukraine exceeded the number of supporters: 52% were against, while 42% supported their admission.
Moreover, 54% of Poles considered assistance to Ukrainian refugees excessive. At the same time, the attitude to specific restrictions remains ambiguous: for example, 58% were against the abolition of free accommodation in collective centers for Ukrainian mothers with children over one year of age.
Another CBOS poll showed that 53% of Poles still consider reconciliation between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples possible, but this is the lowest figure in the entire history of relevant measurements. The opposite opinion is held by 38%.
The new CBOS poll commissioned by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna was conducted on August 17–20, 2026, among 1,000 adult residents of Poland.
