Polish Police Detain Two Suspects Following Assault on Ukrainians

Polish authorities in Poznań arrested two women on Friday in connection with an incident of aggressive behavior directed at Ukrainian citizens outside a local establishment. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed the detentions on X.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The incident occurred after midnight on Aug. 13 near the CastaCraftowe pub in the Old Town area of Poznań, Onet and Wirtualna Polska reported. Mała korekta - druga też już zatrzymana. https://t.co/bVNfGN84r7— Marcin Kierwiński (@MKierwinski) August 14, 2026 A video of the altercation, shared on social media by an employee of the establishment, showed two women behaving aggressively toward individuals speaking Ukrainian and Russian. According to the employee, one of the women began shouting insults and demanding the individuals “get out to Ukraine.” The footage also showed the women throwing a street umbrella and striking the victims. According to law enforcement, the suspects are 35 and 36 years old. Preliminary information from the police suggests the women were likely intoxicated at the time of the incident. “Investigators from the Poznań-Stare Miasto police station and the Municipal Police Headquarters in Poznań detained two women suspected of an attack based on national hatred against a group of Ukrainian citizens,” the police statement read. Following their detention, the suspects were transferred to a police holding facility. A decision regarding formal charges is expected on Saturday. Nationwide rallies support minorities The incident in Poznań follows a series of demonstrations held the previous weekend to protest violence and discrimination against minorities in Poland. Other Topics of Interest Russia Admits New Petrol Shortages as Ukrainian Strikes Hit Refineries Moscow says fuel supplies remain strained in several regions as Ukrainian strikes force the Orsk refinery offline for months. On Aug. 9, the Committee for the Defense of Democracy (KOD) organized rallies in 22 cities, including Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdańsk, under the slogan “Don’t be indifferent.” Organizers stated the nationwide action was a response to an increasing frequency of verbal and physical attacks targeting individuals based on their origin, language, or appearance, and aimed to show solidarity with Ukrainians. During the rallies, participants distributed stickers bearing the campaign’s slogan, intended for display on businesses and vehicles as a sign of support and safety for Ukrainians. Rise in reported hate crimes While Poland has provided extensive military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since 2022 and hosts nearly one million displaced individuals, recent data indicates a rise in anti-Ukrainian incidents. A recent report stated that Polish police received 180 reports of suspected hate crimes against Ukrainians in the first half of 2026, an increase of more than 30% compared to the same period in the previous year. Additionally, diplomatic relations between the two nations have experienced strain over differing interpretations of World War II history, particularly concerning the Volhynia massacres. 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.