In Poland, the number of people opposed to accepting Ukrainian refugees has exceeded the number in favor for the first time
In Poland, for the first time since the Center for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) began conducting surveys, the number of people opposed to accepting refugees from Ukraine has exceeded the number of those in favor of such a decision. According to the survey, 52% of respondents believe that Poland should not accept refugees from Ukraine, while 42% hold the opposite view.
As reported by “Ukrainska Pravda,” citing “European Pravda” and data from an RMF24 poll, such surveys have been conducted since Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014. Immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 94% of those surveyed supported accepting refugees.
The study’s authors noted that the shift in attitudes is part of a long-term trend that has been evident since mid-2023. Compared to December of last year, the share of respondents opposed to accepting refugees from Ukraine has increased by six percentage points. At the same time, the share of those in favor of accepting them has decreased by six percentage points.
Additionally, 54% of survey participants consider the assistance provided to refugees from Ukraine to be excessive. Another 40% of respondents described it as adequate, while 3% deemed it insufficient. Since last September, the share of those who consider the level of assistance excessive has increased, while the share of respondents who consider it adequate has decreased.
Respondents overwhelmingly supported restricting access to the full package of medical services for Ukrainians who do not pay health insurance premiums in Poland: 87% were in favor, while 8% were against. At the same time, 58% of respondents opposed the abolition of the right to free accommodation in collective housing centers for mothers with children over one year of age. This change was supported by 29% of survey participants.
