Thousands of Ukrainian men in Poland are grappling with declining living standards and rising uncertainty, caught between the ongoing war in Ukraine and Poland's tightening policies on refugees. Many of these men fled Ukraine to avoid being sent to the front lines, where hundreds of thousands have died since Russia's invasion began. Now, they find themselves in a legal limbo, with Poland's recent policy changes making their situation even more precarious.
Toughening Policies and Rising Uncertainty
Poland, which hosts around one million Ukrainian refugees, ended special support measures for those displaced by the war in March, following the election of nationalist president Karol Nawrocki. Since then, Ukrainians have faced stricter rules, similar to those for other foreigners in a country known for its tough migration policies. Anna Tatar, a representative of Polish anti-racism NGO 'Never Again', described the situation as 'a deep disgrace for the Polish state', especially for the most vulnerable groups.
Caught Between War and Strict Policies
The situation is particularly dire for men escaping mobilisation. Poland has historically argued that these men should not be granted protection. Volodymyr, a 50-year-old man living in a hostel with Dmytro, entered Poland illegally three years ago to avoid being drafted. He, like many others, is anxiously awaiting the outcome of his residency application. 'I'm worried because no one knows what will happen next,' he said.
Ukraine, which mobilises some 30,000 men every month, is also tightening its policies. The European Commission recently announced plans to exclude Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 from its temporary protection programme, a decision made at Ukraine's request. This move is expected to push more Ukrainian men to apply for long-term residency in Europe. 'If people used to leave for economic reasons, today many men leave due to the risk of losing their lives or their health,' said Andriy Gaidutsky, a Ukrainian migration expert.
Adding to their uncertainty, Kyiv has restricted men abroad from accessing consular services unless they update their military records, a task many avoid due to the fear of mobilisation. Vadym, a 31-year-old man, is worried about renewing his soon-expiring Ukrainian passport. 'I'll have to think about it,' he said, nervously.
