A proposal has been made in Poland to deport unemployed Ukrainians of draft age
Andrzej Szwilka, a member of the Polish opposition party “Law and Justice,” called for the deportation from Poland of Ukrainian men of draft age who do not have legal employment. He stated that these men could be used to form at least one brigade to participate in the war against Russia.
The politician was commenting on his party’s initiative to deport men of Ukrainian origin of draft age who are in Poland and do not have legal employment.
The day before, Maciej Duszczyk, Poland’s Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration, called such a plan “highly unlikely.”
According to him, the proportion of Ukrainians in Poland who are not working may be around 5%.
Shlivka stated that even this number of people is significant.
“In our opinion, even if it’s 5 percent, that’s at least a brigade, or even a division, of people who can be organized and who can fight for their country,” the lawmaker said.
The host asked the politician who should be responsible for finding people who are unemployed or residing in Poland illegally.
Shlivka replied: “That’s what the Polish authorities are for. I think we would like—and I hope you, Mr. Editor, as well as our viewers, would too—to know who is in Poland illegally or who is in Poland but not working. Such individuals should be identified, and this information is necessary even for our own security,” he stated.
Earlier, the lawmaker stated that the issue of the possible deportation of Ukrainian citizens must be considered “from both sides.”
He cited as the first aspect the alleged increase in the number of “gangs of foreigners who do not work legally.”
The second aspect he cited was the policy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“President Zelenskyy, one might say, is taking a risk, but he is trying to find some new direction in Polish-Ukrainian relations,” said Shlivka, while emphasizing the need to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
The host also asked the lawmaker why similar measures aren’t being proposed for unemployed Georgians, Belarusians, Russians, or Germans.
Shlivka explained his position by referring to the situation in Ukraine.
“As I’ve already said, this proposal is primarily related to the fact that the Ukrainian side is facing enormous problems with manpower shortages as well as desertion,” the lawmaker replied.
He also stated: “We constantly hear stories of local military recruitment offices detaining Ukrainians—often those of Polish descent—who do not want to serve in the Ukrainian army. Despite everything, they are forcibly conscripted,” the politician added.
According to the Polish lawmaker, a specific deadline should be set for Ukrainians of draft age who are not working legally in Poland to return to Ukraine.
“I believe a deadline should be set by which these individuals must return to Ukraine, and if they do not return, the Polish authorities should take measures in accordance with the law and deport them. To me, this is obvious,” he concluded.
Shlivka made these remarks during an appearance on Polsat News.
Previously, the opposition party “Law and Justice” (PiS) proposed deporting Ukrainian men of draft age who are not working legally in Poland.
The Consulate General of Ukraine in Wrocław is monitoring reports of an attack on three Ukrainian citizens in the town of Kozhukhiv, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland. Polish law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances of the incident and its possible motives.
On the evening of August 1, three Ukrainian citizens—37-year-old Volodymyr, 32-year-old Vasyl, and 28-year-old Adelina—were attacked in the town of Kozhukhiv (Lubusz Voivodeship). The incident took place on the private grounds of the hostel where the victims were staying.
