--- title: "Tusk called the attack on Ukrainian children in Bydgoszcz an \"anti-Polish action\" and promised to detain the aggressors by the end of the week" description: "🇵🇱 Polish PM Tusk condemns attack on Ukrainian children in Bydgoszcz: \"This is an anti-Polish action!\" Perpetrators urged to surrender voluntarily—otherwise arrest by the end of the week. Incident: Two adults attacked 12- and 14-year-old children for speaking Ukrainian. #Poland #Ukraine #Tusk #Bydgoszcz #AttackOnChildren" date: 2026-08-18T12:58:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/tusk-called-attack-on-ukrainian-children-in-bydgoszcz-anti-polish-action tags: [poland, ukraine, donald-tusk, bydgoszcz, xenophobia, children-assault, polish-government] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Tusk called the attack on Ukrainian children in Bydgoszcz an "anti-Polish action" and promised to detain the aggressors by the end of the week ![Donald Tusk at a press conference commenting on the attack on Ukrainian children in Bydgoszcz](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/18/tuszk-nazval-napadenie-na-ukrainskikh-detey-v-bydgosche-antipolskim-deystviem/tuszk-nazval-napadenie-na-ukrainskikh-detey-v-bydgosche-antipolskim-deystviem-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Polish PM Tusk called the attack on Ukrainian children an "anti-Polish action" - Attackers are wanted—arrest promised by the end of the week - Call for voluntary surrender called "free legal advice" - Incident occurred on August 14 in Bydgoszcz due to the Ukrainian language - Contradictory versions of events appeared on social media, not officially confirmed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk strongly condemned the attack on two Ukrainian children in the city of Bydgoszcz during a government meeting on August 18, 2026. The incident, which occurred on August 14, sparked widespread public outcry and became the subject of an official statement by the head of government. Tusk emphasized that violence against children is not just a crime, but an "anti-Polish action" that damages the country's reputation. ### Incident details: Attack on a playground According to law enforcement data, on August 14, in a park near the railway station in Bydgoszcz, two adults—a man and a woman walking a dog—attacked a 14-year-old Ukrainian girl and her 12-year-old brother. The cause of the aggression was the Ukrainian language in which the children were communicating with each other. The attackers insulted them with profanity, threatened retribution based on national animosity, and used physical force. The children were hospitalized with minor injuries, but the psychological trauma, according to local psychologists, could be long-term. ### Official government reaction: "This is unacceptable" Tusk called what happened "another piece of information about aggressive behavior," emphasizing that regardless of political disagreements between Poland and Ukraine, an attack on children is "absolutely unacceptable." He stated that such actions harm Poland's own interests and undermine its image as a country that accepts refugees and protects human rights. The Prime Minister also noted that the authorities are aware of problems on both the Ukrainian and Polish sides, but this cannot serve as a justification for violence. ### Call for voluntary surrender: "Free legal advice" Tusk personally addressed the wanted perpetrators, urging them not to wait for a forced arrest and to turn themselves in to the police. "These two "brave" citizens who attacked a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old child are wanted. I have information for them. By the end of the week, you will be detained. It would be much better for you—you can ask a lawyer you know if you contact the police today," he declared. The head of government called this appeal "free, heartfelt legal advice," emphasizing that voluntary surrender would ease their procedural position. ### Contradictory data Although the official version of events has been confirmed by the police and the government, alternative narratives are appearing on social media. Some users claim that the children provoked the conflict themselves by starting to insult local residents. Other sources, including anonymous Telegram chats, report that the attackers are not local residents but visitors from other regions of Poland, which, in their opinion, indicates an organized nature of the incident. However, none of these versions have been confirmed by official investigations. The police insist that the motive was exclusively national animosity, not provocation by the children. ### Consequences and prospects for the investigation The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Bydgoszcz prosecutor's office. It is expected that the suspects will be detained by the end of the current week, as Tusk promised. If guilt is confirmed, they face up to five years in prison for inciting national hatred and using violence. The Polish Minister of the Interior has already stated that in the coming days, additional checks of other similar incidents in the country will be carried out to prevent a recurrence of such cases. The question of introducing additional security measures on playgrounds in cities with a high percentage of Ukrainian refugees is also being considered. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What happened in Bydgoszcz on August 14? **A:** Two adults attacked 12- and 14-year-old Ukrainian children on a playground because they were communicating in Ukrainian. ### Q: How did the Polish Prime Minister react? **A:** Donald Tusk called the attack an "anti-Polish action" and urged the attackers to voluntarily surrender to the police. ### Q: When will the attackers be detained? **A:** According to Tusk, law enforcement will detain them by the end of the current week—August 18, 2026. ### Q: Are there contradictory versions of events? **A:** Yes, claims are appearing on social media that the children provoked the conflict, but these versions have not been officially confirmed.