A new law limiting social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Poland came into force on Thursday, more than four years after the start of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Adopted at the end of January, the text introduced new restrictions on social services, medical insurance, legal residence and education granted to Ukrainian refugees after the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, AFP and Agerpres report.
Under the new law, social services are no longer accessible except to minors, employed persons, victims of torture or rape, and vulnerable groups living in collective accommodation centers.
“After four years, the situation is now more stable,” Polish government spokesman Adam Szlapka said when it was first announced.
According to him, “these extraordinary regulations can be gradually suppressed and we can move from temporary solutions to systemic solutions”.
Food and housing aid will only apply to groups considered to be particularly vulnerable.
Ukrainian refugees, however, continue to enjoy a protected status in Poland at least until March 2027.
Nawrocki: No special aid for Ukrainians
According to an opinion poll conducted in January by the Polish institute CBOS, only 48% of Poles agree with aid for Ukrainian refugees, while 46% oppose it.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced at the start of his term last year that he would not sign any law on “special aid for Ukrainian citizens”.
According to the Polish Ministry of the Interior, between February 2022 and December 2024, approximately 1.6 million Ukrainians took refuge in Poland.
In 2024, the Ukrainian workforce in Poland contributed to 2.7% of the country's gross domestic product, according to a Deloitte study conducted for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
