Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday called for an end to xenophobic attacks on Ukrainians in Poland after a series of hate crimes that have made headlines in recent weeks amid escalating tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv, reports UNN citing Reuters.
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Tusk spoke after a video widely circulated on social media showing three Poles beating a Ukrainian man and his girlfriend in Wroclaw on Sunday, apparently after an argument in a store. Two of the attackers were arrested on Monday.
"Anyone who commits such despicable acts is acting directly against Poland's interests," Tusk said at a government meeting. "You are working against Poland, in favor of Russia and in favor of Polish and Ukrainian nationalism."
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The publication notes that while Warsaw remains a steadfast supporter of Kyiv's military efforts, Ukrainians living in Poland have faced growing public hostility in recent years, as the initial wave of sympathy after Russia's invasion in 2022 has given way to refugee fatigue.
Relations have also been strained by historical tensions, which reached a peak over Ukraine's decision to name an army unit after the UPA.
In June, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland's highest award over the dispute.
Earlier in July, the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that in the first half of 2026, police received 180 reports of hate crimes against Ukrainians, a 30% increase from the previous year.
Sunday's incident was the latest in a series of similar incidents that have been widely covered in local media.