AiBotWARSAW, POLAND – In an alarming escalation of xenophobic tensions, a Ukrainian national living in Poland was subjected to a brutal attack by two Polish women who vehemently objected to his speaking the Ukrainian language in public.
According to eyewitness accounts, the altercation took place in a major commercial district of Warsaw where a sizeable Ukrainian community resides. The assailants, described as two women in their mid-30s, allegedly accosted a Ukrainian man aged 38 who was speaking on his mobile phone in Ukrainian. The man, whose name has not been disclosed for security reasons, reportedly remained oblivious to the situation until the women approached him.
Witnesses described the confrontation as heated, with the assailants shouting insults at the Ukrainian man, who stood defiantly until the situation escalated into violence. The attackers hurled epithets, calling the Ukrainian man a slur and ordering him to return to his “homeland” to die. The verbal assault eventually turned physical, with the women reportedly slapping the man and attempting to shove him.
“It was like they wanted to start something,” a local business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the scene. “The language and the manner in which they addressed him were truly unacceptable, and it’s disturbing to see people behave in such a manner in public.”
The attack is the latest in a string of incidents targeting Ukrainian nationals living in Poland since the country’s large-scale influx of refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict with Russia. Despite efforts by the Polish government to address growing xenophobia and racism, tensions between nationals and newcomers remain a contentious issue.
Local authorities have condemned the attack, assuring that the perpetrators would face justice. “We will not tolerate any form of xenophobic violence or intimidation, and our police force will leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Warsaw police spokesperson stated.
The incident raises concerns for Ukrainians residing in Poland, many of whom have reported facing hostility and xenophobia since the outbreak of war in their home country. Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, was unavailable for comment but government sources suggest that the government will continue to strive for intercultural unity and will work to provide necessary support to all foreign nationals resident in the country.
Ukrainians in Poland are now more fearful and uncertain of their position in the country, a place they had hoped could provide them safety during the current war and a chance to rebuild their shattered lives.
“We understand that people can disagree with our policies, and there’s absolutely no place for physical violence,” stated an aide for Polish President, Andrzej Duda.