Most Ukrainian Refugees in Poland Plan to Return Home, Survey Finds

A majority of Ukrainian refugees living in Poland intend to return to Ukraine, though most plan to wait until the war concludes, according to a survey conducted by the Rating Group. The study, conducted from Aug. 21 to Aug. 25, 2026, found that 51% of respondents plan to return home. Of that group, only 8% intend to return in the near future, while 43% said they would return only after hostilities end.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Conversely, 26% of respondents stated they do not plan to return to Ukraine, while 23% were undecided. When asked about factors that would encourage a return, 71% identified security and stability in Ukraine as the paramount condition. Economic development was cited by 36% of participants, followed by employment prospects at 26% and the absence of internal linguistic, religious, or political conflicts at 21%. Additional factors influencing decisions to return included the development of social infrastructure (12%), opportunities to participate in social change (12%), direct involvement in national reconstruction efforts (11%), and deteriorating living conditions abroad (11%). The survey also revealed an even divide regarding long-term residency: 44% of respondents expressed a desire to remain abroad permanently, compared to 43% who did not. Among those seeking to stay outside Ukraine, 40% would prefer to remain in Poland, 17% favor another European nation, and 6% would opt for a country outside Europe, while 37% are undecided on a specific destination. Other Topics of Interest Russian Strikes Kill 2, Injure 5 in Kryvyi Rih and Kharkiv Russian ballistic missiles and drones hit Kryvyi Rih and Kharkiv, killing two people, injuring five, and leaving one missing. Secondary migration to Germany and Czechia The polling data follows broader demographic shifts among displaced Ukrainians in Central Europe. Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection in Poland have increasingly relocated to other European countries, primarily Germany and the Czech Republic. The number of registered Ukrainian refugees in Poland fell by 8,100 in July and 6,300 in June, lowering the total to approximately 953,000. By contrast, Germany hosts nearly 1.3 million Ukrainian citizens, while the Czech Republic registered approximately 381,000 by the end of June. Secondary destinations also include Spain, Romania, and Slovakia. The relocation trend coincides with an increase in reported nationality-based incidents in Poland. Polish police data indicates that Ukrainian nationals filed at least 180 hate crime complaints between January and July 2026, representing an approximate 30% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Social frictions were highlighted by a recent incident in Bydgoszcz, where a 46-year-old Polish woman was charged with verbal insults, battery, and property damage targeting two Ukrainian siblings, aged 14 and 12, following a dispute over a toy drone. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the attack, while Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński reiterated a policy of zero tolerance for xenophobia. The demographic and social pressures have contributed to shifting bilateral perceptions. An earlier Rating Group survey in August revealed that 50% of Ukrainians view Poland as a friendly nation, down from 79% in February 2024 and 94% in 2023. By comparison, positive perceptions of France, the UK, and Germany stood at 81%, 80%, and 77%, respectively. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.