The level of positive sentiment among Ukrainians toward Poles and Poland has dropped significantly, from 83% in 2022 to 41% in 2024, according to a survey conducted by the Ukrainian company Info Sapiens for the Mieroszewski Center.
The survey revealed that when asked about their attitude toward Poles:
- 4% of respondents said “very good,”
- 37% said “good,”
- 53% were “neutral,”
- 4% responded “bad,”
- 1% said “very bad,”
- and 1% were undecided.
In contrast, in 2022, the figures were much more favorable:
- 46% said “very good,”
- 37% said “good,”
- 15% were “neutral,”
- 2% were undecided,
- and no respondents expressed “bad” or “very bad” sentiments.
The report, titled “Poland and Poles in the Eyes of Ukrainians 2024”, suggests that while Poland has provided significant support to Ukraine, factors such as Polish farmers’ protests at the border, emotional strains related to the war, and Russia’s exploitation of historical fears have impacted public perception.
The survey was conducted by Info Sapiens from November 1 to 11, 2024, using CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing) on a random sample of 1,008 Ukrainians.