Ukrainians’ views of Poles worsen sharply since 2022, poll shows
The most noticeable decline in Ukrainians' attitudes has been observed toward Poles (Photo: Anadolu via Reuters/Jakub Porzycki)
In 2025, Ukrainians showed a more negative attitude toward Poles, Belarusians, and Russians compared with 2022, according to a new Kyiv International Institute of Sociology survey published on April 2.
Respondents demonstrated the smallest social distance toward Ukrainian-speaking (index 2.4) and Russian-speaking (3.5) citizens of Ukraine, meaning most were willing to accept them as family members or close friends.
Next came Jews living in Ukraine, Canadians and Germans (indices around 3.9), followed by Poles, French, and Americans (around 4.0–4.1). Belarusians living in Ukraine ranked at 4.5, Romanians at 4.7, and Russians living in Ukraine at 4.8.
Greater distance was recorded toward Belarusians living in Belarus (5.6) and Ukrainians living in Russia (5.6). The highest social distance was toward Russians living in Russia (6.5). About 80% of respondents said they would not allow Russians into Ukraine even as tourists.
Compared with 2022, attitudes toward Russians and Belarusians worsened. The social distance index toward Belarusians in Belarus rose from 5.3 to 5.6 (+0.3), and toward Russians in Russia from 6.4 to 6.5 (+0.1).
The most noticeable deterioration was toward Poles, with the index rising by 1.1 points since 2022.
KIIS analysts suggest the decline in attitudes toward Poles may be linked to conflicts over Ukrainian grain exports, when Polish farmers blocked the border, as well as political debates between Ukraine and Poland over the Volyn tragedy.
However, KIIS noted that Ukrainian attitudes toward Poles remain significantly better than toward most other groups.
The KIIS conducted the poll on Sept. 19-Oct. 5, 2025 by telephone interviews using a random sample of mobile numbers. It surveyed 1,008 respondents aged 18 and older in all non-occupied regions of Ukraine. Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical margin of error for such a sample did not exceed 4.1% for values close to 50%, 3.5% for values close to 25%, 2.5% for values close to 10%, and 1.8% for values close to 5%.
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