2025-10-09 19:10
publication
2025-10-09 19:10
Half of Poles believe that state aid for refugees from Ukraine is too much, CBOS reported on Thursday. 46 percent people have the opposite opinion. The majority also believes that only Ukrainians working in Poland and paying taxes should have access to 800 plus and free health care.
The latest CBOS report “Poles on helping refugees from Ukraine and the future of the war” shows that over the last half a year, the attitude of Poles towards accepting Ukrainian refugees has once again slightly deteriorated, which is in line with the trend observed with short breaks since mid-2023.
The share of votes in support of accepting refugees from Ukraine is the lowest (48%), and the share of votes of opposition is the highest (45%), since CBOS has been monitoring this issue, i.e. since the Russian annexation of Crimea – noted in the study's announcement.
Polish society is currently dominated by the belief that the assistance our country offers to refugees from Ukraine is too much (50%), although only a slightly lower percentage of respondents believe that its scale is appropriate (46%).
Support for accepting Ukrainian refugees is less frequently declared by women (43 compared to 52% of men), younger respondents (21% in the youngest group compared to 51% in the oldest group), people living in rural areas (36 compared to 64% in the largest cities), less educated (25% with primary or lower secondary education compared to 63% with higher education) and lower income per capita in their household (36 among respondents with the lowest income compared to 69% among respondents with the highest). Admitting refugees is also less likely to be supported by supporters of the right (45%) than of the left (61%). The voters of the Razem party and the ruling Civic Coalition are most supportive of accepting refugees from Ukraine (over 70% in both cases).
The majority of Poles believe that only those Ukrainians who work and pay taxes in Poland should have access to benefits and services such as 800 plus or free health care (58%). Every fourth respondent stated that, in addition to working and paying taxes in Poland, Ukrainians gaining access to these services should also prove their refugee status (25%). Every twelfth person believed that Ukrainians in Poland should not use such benefits at all (8%).
More than half of Poles still believe that, regarding the war in Ukraine, the main goal should be to reach peace, even at the cost of territorial concessions, although the percentage of such declarations has slightly decreased (from 58% in March to 54% now). At the same time, the share of people convinced of the need for further, uncompromising fight against Russia increased slightly (from 25 to 28%).
Poles' predictions regarding the end of the war in Ukraine have changed little. Although the majority still assumes that Ukraine will have to give up part of its territory, the percentage of such votes has dropped from 67 to 60 percent over the last six months.
The study was carried out from September 11 to 22, 2025 on a sample of 969 people (including: 65.4% using the CAPI method, 22.1% – CATI and 12.5% - CAWI). (PAP)
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