Poland unveils total funds it granted Ukraine since Russian invasion

The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita has estimated that Poland's total financial support for Ukraine had reached 40 billion zlotys ($9 billion) since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

About 40 per cent of the total amount - 15.9 billion zlotys ($3.6 billion) - was allocated by the Polish authorities to support Ukrainian refugees, the newspaper wrote.

Poland was said to allocate 9-10 billion zlotys ($2-2.2 billion) to support individuals in the first three months after the Russian troops entered Ukraine. Over the summer and autumn, the amount increased by several billion (zlotys) more. Military aid is estimated at 8.5 billion zlotys ($1.9 billion).

The newspaper estimates that 77 per cent of Poland's population took part in helping refugees from Ukraine. Seven per cent of Polish citizens accommodated refugees in their own homes.

In addition, Polish authorities passed a bill in March that allows Ukrainian citizens to stay legally in the country for 18 months starting February 24. The legal stay is also applicable to children born after Ukrainians entered Poland.