Nearly half of Poles now oppose accepting Ukrainian refugees, according to the latest polling by the state research agency CBOS, marking the highest level of resistance recorded since surveys began more than a decade ago.
The report, published on Wednesday, January 7th, found that 46% of respondents were against accepting refugees from Ukraine, while 48% remained in favour.
Public attitudes have shifted sharply since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when support for taking in refugees stood at an overwhelming 94%. Earlier surveys between 2015 and 2018 had consistently shown a clear majority backing acceptance. Since then, however, approval has steadily declined as opposition has grown.
Poland currently hosts around 965,000 Ukrainian refugees, the second-highest number in the European Union after Germany and one of the highest relative to population size.
