Ukrainians in Poland Most Often Victims of Common Crimes; Hate Crimes Rare

Ukrainians in Poland are disproportionately targeted by common crimes, with fraud and theft being the most prevalent issues, according to "Rzeczpospolita." While "hate crimes" capture public attention and outrage, the daily reality for many Ukrainians involves being deceived, robbed, or having their homes burglarized.

Data from the Police Headquarters shows that in the first half of this year, 5,130 Ukrainians were victims of crime in Poland, a slight decrease from the same period last year. Overall, crime statistics for foreigners consistently place Ukrainians at the top, but the nature of these crimes is largely ordinary criminal activity. Last year, 10,595 Ukrainians were victims, and the year before, 10,620. If the latter half of this year mirrors the first, the total for this year will be similar to previous years.

Fraud accounts for over half of the reported crimes. This includes online shopping scams, fake job offers, and rental scams. One incident involved two fraudsters renting out a stranger's apartment to Ukrainian women seeking housing, collecting $1,100 without the actual residents' knowledge. Criminologist Prof. Brunon Hołyst notes that criminals are indifferent to victims' nationality or age, focusing solely on profit. He adds that language barriers and unfamiliarity with Polish realities can make foreigners more vulnerable.

Beyond fraud, theft of personal belongings like wallets, phones, and valuable items is also common. In 2025, 1,856 Ukrainians reported such thefts, with nearly 800 cases reported by mid-2026. Stolen documents are also a problem, with criminals using them to take out loans. In 2025, 265 Ukrainians reported their documents being misused for loans, with 93 such cases reported this year.

“

Criminals don't care who the victim is; they are not interested in nationality or age. They are driven by profit. However, for foreigners, language barriers or unfamiliarity with Polish realities can create situations favorable to perpetrators.