Aggressive Attack on Ukrainian-Speaking Teenagers on Polish Bus

An aggressive incident occurred on a public bus in Płock, Poland, where two teenagers speaking Ukrainian were targeted by a man who demanded they speak Polish.

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He just told us that we have to speak Polish in Poland.

The 15-year-old victim recounted that a stranger approached him and his friend, stating, "He just told us that we have to speak Polish in Poland." The situation escalated quickly as the man became aggressive, physically striking the teenager. When the bus stopped, the assailant forcefully pushed both teenagers off the vehicle, continuing to use abusive language.

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He was very aggressive, swore a lot and pushed us out of the bus.

The victim's mother, Natalija Melnyk, expressed deep concern for her son's safety, stating, "I don't feel safe in Płock. I'm really scared to speak my language." She described her constant anxiety, particularly when her son doesn't answer his phone immediately.

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I don't feel safe in Płock. I'm really scared to speak my language, I'm really very scared.

The Płock prosecutor's office has launched a pre-trial investigation, interviewing witnesses and one of the victim's parents. Prosecutor Marcin Policewicz confirmed that necessary investigative actions are underway to identify the perpetrator. This incident occurs amid a backdrop of changing attitudes towards Ukrainian refugees in Poland. A recent poll by the CBOS public opinion research center revealed that 54% of Poles believe the support provided to Ukrainians in their country is excessive, indicating a growing segment of the population is less supportive of their presence.

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Now, when I call him now and he doesn't answer right away, I get so nervous that I can't work normally.