Ukrainians become more distant from Poles - KIIS poll data

Over the past three years, Ukrainians have significantly increased their social distance from Poles, although previously their attitude was "one of the best".

This is evidenced by the results of a poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

Respondents were asked how close they were willing to allow relationships with representatives of different ethnic groups. The social distance scale ranged from 1 (allowing family members) to 7 (not allowing them to enter Ukraine).

Ukrainians showed the highest distance from russians - 6.5 points. 80% of respondents said that they would not allow russians even as tourists.

Sociologists note that in 2022, social distance from most ethnic groups increased compared to previous years, and most of all - towards Poles (+1.1 points). In 2022-2023, attitudes toward Poland were consistently positive, which was explained by the country's role as a key ally of Ukraine after the start of a full-scale invasion.

Sociologists attribute changes in attitudes toward Poles to the strained bilateral relations in 2023-2024. Among the factors are the blocking of Ukrainian grain exports by Polish farmers and political discussions about historical memory, including the Volyn tragedy.

How the poll was conducted

The KIIS survey was conducted from September 19 to October 5, 2025, using telephone interviews among 1,008 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and over.

The formal sampling error ranged from 1.8% to 4.1%, depending on the indicator. In wartime, additional "systematic deviation" is possible, but the results remain highly representative and allow for the analysis of public sentiment.

As a reminder, Poland has canceled free health insurance for some Ukrainians with temporary protection status since March 4. Pensioners and adult refugees who do not work and do not have a Polish pension may be left without it.

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