●  Insult in Warszawa Praga-Południe

Ukrainian writer and academic Oleksandra Ivaniuk, who has lived in Poland since 2010 and teaches at the University of Warsaw, was traveling by tram near Washington Roundabout with a friend visiting from London. They were speaking Ukrainian when a man in what appeared to be military-style clothing began shouting at them in Polish, calling them “Russian whores.”

No passengers intervened. Oleksandra says the atmosphere in the tram was one of indifference and silent approval. She and her friend got off several stops early, shaken by the incident.

She noted that anti-Ukrainian sentiment has grown sharply in recent months, and believes the last presidential campaign contributed to it — even liberal politicians, including Warsaw’s mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, used anti-migrant rhetoric. In her view, instead of recognizing Ukrainians’ contributions to the Polish economy, political leaders have chosen to fuel hostility, effectively legitimizing hate.