Positive sentiment towards people displaced from Ukraine and their provision with assistance in Poland is in decline, according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Warsaw and the University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw. 

This is the 8th edition of the survey since 2022, conducted between 11 May and 10 June 2024 on a nationwide sample of 622 adults aged 16-65 years.

This shift in sentiment was found across various aspects of life, with one notable exception: 82% of respondents support the admission of Ukrainian children into Polish schools. This said, the majority of respondents said they do not agree with the introduction of a Ukrainian core curriculum in Polish schools; half believe that the Polish curriculum should be mandatory, while 40% support the development of a new curriculum by both Polish and Ukrainian authorities.

The main reason for the decline, according to the survey, is a perceived 'demanding attitude' among those arriving from Ukraine. According to respondents, these new arrivals 'expect entitlements for free', 'want the same rights as Poles', and are 'ungrateful for the help they receive'. Respondents also point to a so-called 'Eastern mentality' among people from Ukraine which, in their view, manifests in 'a lack of concern for the common good'.

Further, the survey found that only 17% of Poles support the long-term settlement of those displaced from Ukraine in Poland, while the majority (61%) said they would prefer these individuals to return to their homeland once the war in Ukraine has ended. Respondents were found to be particularly opposed to the granting of social benefits to those newly arrived, with 95% in favour of reducing the scope of assistance benefits and 62% against transferring the 800+ benefit to Ukrainian children.