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73% of Poles in favour of admitting Ukraine war refugees: survey

11.05.2023 21:30
Seventy-three percent of Poles are in favour of accepting refugees from war-torn Ukraine, according to a new survey.
Refugees from Ukraine at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, on April 1, 2022.
Refugees from Ukraine at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, on April 1, 2022.Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

Meanwhile, 72 percent of respondents believe that Russia's invasion of Ukraine poses a direct threat to Poland’s security, the study by pollster CBOS found.

The survey was carried out from April 11 to 20 on a sample of 1,081 respondents, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

The study also found that 39 percent of Poles were providing support to Ukraine and its people amid the Russian invasion, which is now in its 15th month.

More than 11.77 million people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since the start of the war in February last year, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 9.97 million people have left Poland for Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, the agency also said.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda told public broadcaster Polish Radio last month that the country "is currently home to an estimated 3 million Ukrainians," including those who arrived before the war.

The Polish presidential office said in March that around 1.3 million war refugees from Ukraine were staying in Poland after many who had fled Russia's invasion moved on to other countries or decided to return to Ukraine.

In March last year, Poland enacted a measure to offer wide-ranging support to Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion of their country.

The measure grants them residence rights and ensures access to educationhealthcare and social benefits.

Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 442 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: PAP, wnp.pl