Poland’s PM orders crackdown as anti-Ukrainian attacks spike

Warsaw has ordered closer monitoring of violence against Ukrainians in Poland, warning that Moscow is deliberately working to drive a wedge between the two nations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the new measures on Tuesday, following a series of incidents that have raised alarm over rising hostility toward Ukrainian refugees and workers in the country. “We are seeing a dangerous trend,” Tusk said, according to the draft statement. He added that Polish authorities must respond more forcefully to acts of aggression and vandalism targeting Ukrainians. The Polish government’s warning goes further, accusing Russia of actively seeking to deepen divisions between Poles and Ukrainians. Warsaw says this is part of a broader Kremlin strategy to destabilize the region by exploiting wartime tensions. Poland has hosted more than a million Ukrainian refugees since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and has been one of Kyiv’s strongest allies. However, recent months have seen isolated attacks and protests, often linked to disputes over grain imports and border blockades. The new monitoring push will involve increased police patrols and faster reporting of hate crimes, according to the announcement. Officials have not yet specified whether new legislation will be introduced. The development comes as both countries remain on high alert for Russian disinformation campaigns, which have previously sought to exaggerate friction between the two Slavic neighbors.