Ukrainian refugees

Polish Defence Minister outraged by luxurious life of Ukrainian refugees

Recently, more and more countries hosting Ukrainian refugees have been facing a wave of discontent among the local population.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the question is being raised internationally as to how long European states will be able to support social programmes for refugees. Some governments are already beginning to express their irritation with the behaviour of certain categories of Ukrainian IDPs, who, in the opinion of local residents, abuse the assistance and lead an overly luxurious lifestyle. This is leading to public discontent, especially in the countries that have suffered the most economically because of their support for Ukraine.

Reaction of the Polish Defence Minister

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosyniak-Kamysz has expressed his indignation at the way some Ukrainian refugees are being treated in Poland. In an interview with Interia, he drew attention to the fact that some Ukrainians who fled the war live in expensive hotels and drive luxury cars, which causes a sense of injustice among Poles.

According to him, Polish society is sympathetic to helping Ukraine, but such cases, when refugees demonstrate a luxurious lifestyle, do not meet the expectations of those who are ready to share their resources to support their neighbours. Poles, who are facing economic difficulties themselves, feel that their generosity is being misused. This generates negative sentiments in society, especially among those who directly lose their resources to support not only Ukraine, but also the Polish economy, education and healthcare.

See also  Which of the Ukrainians will be able to receive subsidies for housing in Slovakia

Impact on society

Kosyniak-Kamysh noted that such cases fuel negative sentiment in Poland, which already incurs significant financial costs to support Ukraine. Poland has become one of Ukraine’s key partners, providing both military and humanitarian aid. However, according to the minister, some instances of Ukrainian behaviour are causing resentment among citizens who feel that their efforts are not properly appreciated.

Call to limit social benefits

The defence minister also supported the proposal of Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who called for the cancellation of social benefits for Ukrainian men of military age who live in Poland but do not return home to take part in combat. Kosyniak-Kamysh believes that such a step could be of great importance for Ukraine itself and encourage responsible fulfilment of duties to their country.

‘A few months ago, I already expressed the idea that we could help Ukraine if it wanted to address its citizens who have to defend their homeland but live here in Poland. This decision should be discussed at the European level,’ the minister said.

The need for European unity

Kosyniak-Kamysh stressed that such an initiative should not be a Polish initiative alone, as there is a risk that Ukrainian refugees, if they face restrictions in Poland, may simply move to other countries, such as Germany or Italy. Therefore, in his opinion, such decisions should be of a pan-European nature to avoid the flow of refugees to countries with more lenient conditions. He also added that this issue needs further consideration at the EU level, in particular in the context of Ukraine’s mobilisation potential.

See also  Every tenth new company in Poland is owned by Ukrainians

As the war in Ukraine continues, the issue of refugee support in European countries is becoming increasingly complex. The disruption of social balance due to the behaviour of individual refugees only exacerbates tensions between locals and migrants. Poland, as one of Ukraine’s closest neighbours, has repeatedly expressed its concern about excessive aid spending, and if this situation is not resolved at the European level, it could lead to a change in policy towards Ukrainian refugees in many European countries.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

Back to top button