Poland sees rise in ethnic, racially motivated crimes against foreigners

Poland has seen an increase in crimes motivated by ethnic and racial hatred, with 14 attacks on foreigners reported over a single weekend, according to police statistics cited by RMF24.

The attacks left 18 people injured, while police detained seven suspects. Ten of the reported incidents targeted Ukrainian citizens, while another involved a Belarusian married couple and one involved a citizen of Mauritius.

The victims were reportedly subjected to verbal abuse and physical assaults in shopping malls, stores, on public transport and at bus stops.

According to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Ukrainian citizens living in Poland filed 180 reports of attacks and aggression during the first half of this year — 30% more than during the same period last year. A total of 275 such complaints were recorded throughout 2025.

The reported incidents most commonly involved physical assaults, verbal abuse and online harassment.

By Sabina Mammadli