Media reports: Majority of foreign offenses in Poland attributed to Ukrainians
In 2024, nationals from the neighboring country were reported to predominantly commit offenses related to drunk driving and theft. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
In 2024, Ukrainian citizens emerged as the most frequent offenders among foreign nationals in Poland, according to local outlet RMF24, which cited data from the National Police Headquarters. Drunk driving topped the list of offenses.
Currently, approximately two million Ukrainians reside in Poland, as noted by Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak. This figure includes many who arrived following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Initially, these new arrivals received extensive support, encompassing housing and financial assistance. However, reports of involvement in criminal activities by Ukrainians have fueled rising public discontent.
The Polish police detained 16,437 foreign nationals in 2024, a decrease of 857 compared to the previous year, with Ukrainians accounting for 9,753 of those detentions.
According to RMF24, the prevalent offenses among Ukrainians in Poland included driving under the influence and theft, along with drug possession and violent crimes.
Georgians represented the second largest group of foreign offenders, followed by Belarusians.
During a media conference on Tuesday, Siemoniak stated that foreigners committed around 5% of all crimes in Poland in 2024, which he described as “large enough to deal in a special way.”
In recent months, Polish authorities have progressively reduced support for Ukrainians, including cutting financial aid and restricting access to free social services. Siemoniak also announced last week that Poland would cease accepting further migrants under the EU’s migration pact, citing economic concerns and changing public sentiment.
Polish officials have attributed this shift to the frustrations of taxpayers, who feel exasperated seeing Ukrainians living extravagant lifestyles. Additionally, Warsaw previously indicated it would stop sheltering Ukrainians seeking to avoid the mobilization campaign in their home country. Last year, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that all EU countries should diminish social benefits for Ukrainian men of military age to encourage their return to combat against Russia.
Despite Poland being the primary destination for Ukrainians fleeing their country since 2022, many have reportedly begun to leave, either returning home or pursuing opportunities in other European nations, with Germany emerging as a preferred refuge.
Meanwhile, Kiev has continued its calls for Ukrainians to return home, emphasizing the need to address labor shortages and contribute to national reconstruction efforts, while urging European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees to send them back. Late last year, Ukrainian lawmaker Anna Skorokhod estimated that as many as 1.2 million draft dodgers had fled Ukraine illegally.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Currently, approximately two million Ukrainians reside in Poland, as noted by Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak. This figure includes many who arrived following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Initially, these new arrivals received extensive support, encompassing housing and financial assistance. However, reports of involvement in criminal activities by Ukrainians have fueled rising public discontent.
The Polish police detained 16,437 foreign nationals in 2024, a decrease of 857 compared to the previous year, with Ukrainians accounting for 9,753 of those detentions.
According to RMF24, the prevalent offenses among Ukrainians in Poland included driving under the influence and theft, along with drug possession and violent crimes.
Georgians represented the second largest group of foreign offenders, followed by Belarusians.
During a media conference on Tuesday, Siemoniak stated that foreigners committed around 5% of all crimes in Poland in 2024, which he described as “large enough to deal in a special way.”
In recent months, Polish authorities have progressively reduced support for Ukrainians, including cutting financial aid and restricting access to free social services. Siemoniak also announced last week that Poland would cease accepting further migrants under the EU’s migration pact, citing economic concerns and changing public sentiment.
Polish officials have attributed this shift to the frustrations of taxpayers, who feel exasperated seeing Ukrainians living extravagant lifestyles. Additionally, Warsaw previously indicated it would stop sheltering Ukrainians seeking to avoid the mobilization campaign in their home country. Last year, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested that all EU countries should diminish social benefits for Ukrainian men of military age to encourage their return to combat against Russia.
Despite Poland being the primary destination for Ukrainians fleeing their country since 2022, many have reportedly begun to leave, either returning home or pursuing opportunities in other European nations, with Germany emerging as a preferred refuge.
Meanwhile, Kiev has continued its calls for Ukrainians to return home, emphasizing the need to address labor shortages and contribute to national reconstruction efforts, while urging European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees to send them back. Late last year, Ukrainian lawmaker Anna Skorokhod estimated that as many as 1.2 million draft dodgers had fled Ukraine illegally.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
