Polish Opposition Wants Ukrainians Deported

The Polish opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) is pushing a proposal to deport Ukrainian men of military age, between 25 and 60, who are not legally employed in Poland.

The idea was originally proposed by MEP Tobiasz Bocheński and defended on Polsat News by PiS lawmaker Andrzej Śliwka.

Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Duszczyk called the plan “highly implausible”, noting that Ukrainians in Poland who are not working make up only around 5% of the community.

According to Śliwka, however, even 5% would amount to enough men to form at least a military brigade, if not a division. He argued that Ukraine is struggling with a severe shortage of soldiers and said Polish security services should be responsible for identifying such individuals.

The lawmaker also emphasized Poland’s own security, pointing to what he described as a growing problem with gangs of foreign nationals who are not legally employed. He rejected the suggestion that the proposal was anti-Ukrainian, describing it instead as “pro-Polish”.

Asked why the measure would apply specifically to Ukrainians rather than unemployed Georgians, Belarusians or other foreign nationals, Śliwka said the proposal addressed Ukraine’s particular circumstances, including its severe troop shortages and desertion.

“I think we need to set a deadline by which these people should return to Ukraine. If they do not return, Polish authorities should act, take measures in accordance with the law and deport them. To me, this is obvious”, he concluded.

(max)