A fresh survey by the Rating Group research team, conducted among Ukrainian refugees in Poland and published by RBC-Ukraine, paints a contradictory yet entirely recognizable picture: the majority of Ukrainian displaced persons have already integrated into Polish everyday life, yet the question of returning to Ukraine remains open for a significant portion of them. According to the study, 51% of respondents intend to return to their homeland, with the overwhelming majority not planning to do so in the near future. The key condition for return, as named by 71% of those surveyed, was safety and stability in Ukraine — effectively, the end of the war. At the same time, 44% of Ukrainian refugees would like to stay abroad permanently, while 43% have no such intention, and the rest have not yet decided.
Citizenship, Language, and Adaptation
Among those considering staying abroad, 40% choose Poland, 17% would like to live in another European country, 6% — outside Europe, and a further 37% have not decided on a specific country. The question of legalizing their status remains one of the most pressing: 34% of respondents are considering obtaining Polish citizenship, including those who have already submitted the relevant documents, 46% do not plan to obtain citizenship, and 20% have not decided. Notably, the most desired help for easing life in Poland, as named by respondents, was precisely the possibility of obtaining Polish citizenship — so answered 35% of the survey participants. Language integration, meanwhile, appears quite high: 60% reported knowing Polish at an intermediate or high level, a further 26% have basic knowledge, 12% — a beginner level, and only 2% do not know Polish at all. 57% of those surveyed are satisfied with their level of social adaptation, while 37% remain dissatisfied.
Work, Money, and Housing
The economic situation of Ukrainian refugees in Poland is generally stable. 73% of respondents have a job; among those employed, 87% work directly in Poland, 4% — in Ukraine, and a further 5% — simultaneously in several countries. Over the past year, the financial situation of the majority has not changed — so answered 41%, 36% reported an improvement, and 20% — a deterioration. Ukrainians look somewhat more optimistically toward the coming year: 38% expect their financial situation to improve, 12% — to worsen, and 31% do not anticipate any changes. The housing situation is noticeably more complex: 81% of Ukrainian refugees rent their accommodation, only 7% own their own, a further 3% are provided housing by their employer, 2% each live with Polish families or with Ukrainian friends and acquaintances, and 1% use social housing. Only 16% view buying their own home positively, while 44% consider it unaffordable; 26% rate the availability of quality healthcare positively, and 32% negatively. Refugees rate the opportunities for quality leisure best — 57% view them positively, 41% consider comfortable living in Poland possible, and 39% — the availability of preschool and school education.
Psychology, Discrimination, and Social Circle
Among the main problems of life in Poland, Ukrainians most often cited the negative influence of the media — this was pointed out by 45% of respondents. Psychological well-being also remains an issue: 26% often or very often experienced excessive anxiety or panic that they could not cope with, and a further 31% experienced such states occasionally. Over the past 12 months, 31% of those surveyed faced discrimination on the basis of national or ethnic origin, and a further 22% — because of the use of the Ukrainian language, while 49% did not face discrimination on any of the listed grounds. The immediate social circle of 45% of respondents consists predominantly of Ukrainians, 34% interact with both Ukrainians and Poles, predominantly with Poles — only 8%, and 13% stated that they have no close social circle at all. Ukrainians' attitude toward the local population is mainly neutral (44%) or warm (50%), while Ukrainians assess Poles' attitude toward them more reservedly: 30% called it warm, 46% — neutral, and 22% — cold.
Context: Outflow and Tension
The survey results should be viewed against the backdrop of broader trends. According to RBC-Ukraine, the number of Ukrainians with temporary protection status in Poland continues to decline: in July there were 8,000 fewer than the month before, with some displaced persons leaving for other EU countries, in particular the Czech Republic, which is increasingly becoming an alternative to Poland. In parallel, there is a rise in the number of attacks on Ukrainians in Poland and related tension in Ukrainian-Polish relations; Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, notes that, in its assessment, Polish law enforcement agencies are responding to the incidents. Thus, the survey records a stable but fragile adaptation: Ukrainians in Poland work, learn the language, and build their lives, yet the decision about the future — return or settling down — remains tied to one key factor, safety in Ukraine.
