Poland’s anti-violence rallies test the social side of Polish-Ukrainian relations

Polish-Ukrainian relations are often discussed through security, war, trade and historical disputes. A new protest campaign is shifting attention to a different layer: the everyday safety of Ukrainians living in Poland. Organizers say demonstrations under the slogan “My Poland does not beat, insult or persecute” took place in 22 cities, with an 11,000-signature petition delivered to the prime minister’s office. The institutional backdrop is significant. Rzeczpospolita, citing national police headquarters data, reported 180 hate-crime notifications filed by Ukrainian citizens in the first half of 2026, more than 30 percent above the comparable 2025 period. That number measures reports, not crimes ultimately confirmed. Recent incidents reported in Polish media show how bilateral tensions can spill into public spaces, where nationality becomes a trigger for abuse. The demonstrations therefore concern more than street violence: they are a demand that the state preserve a boundary between legitimate political disagreement and intimidation of individuals. Illustrative photo: Warsaw solidarity rally, 2022. Image credit: Tomasz Molina / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.