Ukrainian's refugees are coming to Poland to look for a shelter

Poles about helping Ukrainian’s refugees escaping war

Stand with Ukraine

Poles about helping Ukrainian's refugees escaping war
Source: foregine policy; Omar Marques/Getty Images
Magdalena Szymanska Magdalena Szymanska

On 24th of February 2022 the whole world woke up in a different, brutal reality, where President Putin declared war on Ukraine and attacked their homeland.

Why did Putin start a war on Ukraine?

President Vladimir Putin in his special announcement justified “militar operation” as an answer for help from Dunbas’s People’s Republicans, which is internationally recognized as a part of Ukraine, but partly controlled by Russian’s separatists. “It’s goal is the protection of people who, during eight years, suffer from abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime” he claimed.

However, there are some discussions around Putin’s motivations. One of them, concerns his objections to Ukraine joining NATO. It could be a threat to Russia, as NATO and the U.S. would be getting stronger.

The other hypothesis, about Putin’s real intentions, reaches back to a shared past, as Ukraine used to be a part of Russia. As he said himself during his speech “I would like to emphasize again that Ukraine is not just a neighboring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space.”

What is going on with refugees?

Since then, millions of Ukrainians have escaped their country looking for a safe place in Europe, leaving all their lives and beloved ones, who are fighting for their land, behind. “It’s really hard. We’re living in constant fear and stress. My family and friends are still in Ukraine. I’m texting them everyday to ask them if they are alive.” 

“People, civilians, want to escape from Ukraine, to find shelter, but in some cities it is impossible, because once the truck is leaving the city they are being shot. In turn, in some cities there is no mobile service, so it is hard to communicate with those people and get to know if they are fine, ” said an Ukrainian student living in Poland.

Escaping from war on Ukraine, finding shelter in Europe

Many countries in Europe offered shelter and help for refugees from Ukraine. Among them there are Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, Romania, Moldova, Belarus and Poland which up till now, has taken in most of them. Since the invasion started, already around 1,412,502, as of March 9 2022, people have crossed the polish border and found a safe place.

“Poles are offering them, not only food and shelter, but also free access to the doctors, medicine, lawyers, psychologists and public transport” some say. However, the situation is getting tense. Poland is not prepared for this amount of refugees. It is a struggle. “You can see thousands of refugees moving around the city, sitting on train’s stations. We all want to help them, but it’s getting harder. We are offering them food and clothes, and there are lots of those, but right now what they need the most, is a roof above their heads, a home, and that is really hard to find, especially for a longer term.”

Nevertheless, Poles are the ones who have been in a similar situation almost 100 years ago during the Second World War, and now they are trying to do their best and help the Ukrainian in any way possible.

Poles perspective

Many Poles are engaged in helping Ukrainians. It can be seen and felt on every corner.

“I am incredibly proud of Polish people, honestly the atmosphere in Warsaw is amazing, seeing all those people united in order to help Ukrainian, giving them food, donating money, finding them accommodation. I think I have never been so proud of Poles. Just hoping that the government will take care of us. Right now we’re united, but who knows what may happen in some time? Especially, when the new reality hits and we will find ourselves in the country where we are struggling, for instance with the new wave of pandemic, because Covid is still here… or with finding a job, because there are too many people and not enough job offers. I recon, the rest of the countries should take some refugees from Poland to help them and us,” one said.

Here is a short conversation with a Polish friend involved in helping the refugees. Sharing his thoughts about war on Ukraine and talking about how things are back in Poland.

Magdalena Szymanska

Psychology student intrested in personal development, travelling and sports. Book lover. Doing Erasmus exchange here, in stunning Barcelona.