Against the backdrop of rising anti-migration sentiment in Poland, radical groups have begun creating so-called public patrols, whose members claim their intention to independently monitor foreigners on the streets. These are not police, not a border service, and not a state programme — they are initiatives linked to far-right circles. Ukrainians, as one of the largest groups of foreigners in Poland, find themselves among those directly targeted by such rhetoric.

What are these patrols

Social media is circulating videos with calls to create patrols that would independently monitor streets and react to people whom participants in such groups consider suspicious. Appearance, language, or foreign citizenship have become practical markers of ‘suspicion’. None of these characteristics is in itself evidence of a crime — a person does not become an offender simply because they have come from another country.

Where the law ends and vigilantism begins

Poland has normal state services, laws, and official procedures for checking documents and foreigners’ residence status. If it is a matter of breaking the law, the police handle it. If it is about the legality of stay, the competent state authorities are in charge. Public patrols are not part of this system: they have no authority, and their actions in effect replace state functions with arbitrary persecution of people based on nationality or appearance.

Why it is particularly dangerous for Ukrainians

Ukrainians are one of the largest groups of foreigners in Poland, so any intensification of anti-migration rhetoric directly affects them. The danger lies in the fact that an ordinary foreigner begins to fear not only official checks but also aggressive groups of people who have decided to determine for themselves who has the right to be on the street. It is especially troubling when such sentiments are directed at a specific national group.

The overall picture has not changed

The emergence of radical groups does not mean that every Pole has a negative attitude towards Ukrainians — millions of people continue to live together normally without conflict. But radical voices can be loud, especially on social media, where provocative content spreads faster than calm information. Poland has the right to control migration and demand compliance with the law, but fighting violations should not turn into persecution of people because they look or speak differently than the majority.