Poles oppose asylum for Ukrainians for first time in CBOS poll | Ukraine news - EUROPE SAYS
A CBOS survey reveals a sudden reversal in public sentiment toward Ukrainian refugees, surprising analysts and prompting debate over recent policy changes. In Poland, for the first time in CBOS polling, the. . .
A CBOS survey reveals a sudden reversal in public sentiment toward Ukrainian refugees, surprising analysts and prompting debate over recent policy changes. In Poland, for the first time in CBOS polling, the number of opponents of granting asylum to Ukrainians has surpassed the number of supporters. Such data were released by the Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) against the backdrop of escalating historical tensions between Poland and Ukraine. According to the study, 52% of respondents believe that Poland should not accept refugees from areas of Ukraine affected by the war, while 42% hold the opposite view. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 94% of Poles supported welcoming Ukrainian refugees. The authors of the study emphasize that the decline in support is part of a long-term trend observed since mid-2023. Compared with December last year, the share of those who oppose taking in refugees rose by 6 percentage points, while the share of supporters fell by the same amount. Attitudes toward refugee assistance and changes in aid rulesThe study also analyzes attitudes toward social support for refugees and changes to the rules for providing assistance, which came into force in March and July this year. Although in 2026 social assistance remained lower than in some European countries, 54% of Poles consider it excessive, 40% – adequate, and 3% – insufficient. 87% of respondents supported restricting access to the full range of medical services to those who pay medical insurance contributions in Poland. 8% opposed such restrictions. The decision to abolish the right to free accommodation in collective centers for mothers with children aged over one year was met with much more criticism: 58% of respondents opposed it, 29% supported it. Even among those who consider assistance excessive, more were against the changes than in support. Analysts also emphasize a correlation between responses and political preferences: acceptance of refugees is most often supported by voters of the New Left, Razem, and Civic Coalition, while among the electorate of Law and Justice and Confederation pessimism prevails. Context and conclusionThese data indicate a long-standing polarization of public opinion regarding migration policy and the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The rise in the share of opponents and the decline in support among certain population groups reflect changes in public discourse against the backdrop of historical and political factors. According to CBOS data, the interdependence between political preferences and attitudes toward migration policy is evident in that support for refugees is more common among supporters of the New Left, Razem, and Civic Coalition, while pessimism dominates among supporters of Law and Justice and Confederation. Finally, the survey underscores the need for continued monitoring of public opinion to better understand the dynamics between Poland and Ukraine amid changing migration approaches in Europe.