Polish Women’s Shelter for Ukrainian Refugees Struggles as Support Wanes and Hostility Rises

Nastya Podorozhnya founded Martynka in the opening days of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, after witnessing both the generosity of Polish volunteers and the dangers faced by Ukrainian women fleeing across the border. The 29-year-old had returned to Ukraine shortly before the invasion to help her sister and nieces escape, then accompanied them back to Poland as part of the massive initial refugee wave. Her organization operates a helpline and support network specifically designed to protect female Ukrainian refugees from gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Operating from a modest two-bedroom apartment in central Krakow, Martynka has sheltered more than 100 women and children since its inception. The organization provides comprehensive assistance including help escaping abusive situations, medical care, psychological counseling, employment support and housing placement. Podorozhnya recounted how she builds trust with traumatized residents over tea in her kitchen, sharing her own experience of a man attempting to rape her on a Polish street in 2016.

Ukraine’s initial refugee surge brought approximately 3.5 million people to Poland in the war’s first weeks, with the country providing immediate access to jobs and social benefits. By the end of 2022, the population had stabilized at roughly 1 million, with over 70 percent finding employment and contributing an estimated 2.7 percent to Poland’s gross domestic product by 2024. However, this integration success now faces erosion as political priorities shift and international support diminishes.

Anti-Ukrainian sentiment intensified dramatically during Poland’s 2025 presidential campaign, when both mainstream and far-right parties adopted anti-refugee messaging as campaign platforms. National-conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki, who ultimately won the presidency, promised legislation prioritizing Polish citizens over Ukrainians in public services. Liberal opponent Rafał Trzaskowski similarly proposed restricting child welfare benefits for Ukrainians, normalizing xenophobia across the political spectrum.

Historical tensions between the nations erupted when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a military unit after a Ukrainian paramilitary organization accused of massacring Poles during World War II. Nawrocki responded by rescinding a state honor previously awarded to Zelenskyy, further escalating bilateral friction. Research by Vistula University scholar Olena Babakova found that Ukrainian migrants increasingly experience hostile conversations and physical attacks in Polish communities.

Police data reveals a troubling rise in prejudice-motivated crimes against Ukrainians, with 180 victims recorded by mid-July compared to 275 for all of 2025 and 267 in 2024. Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged the crisis in late July, pledging to combat “violence and hatred” following multiple reports of Ukrainians beaten on Polish streets. These assaults reflect the broader deterioration in public sentiment toward the refugee population.

Poland’s government has systematically reduced support for Ukrainian refugees, arguing that many have achieved economic stability. The country’s ombudsman warned that cuts disproportionately harm vulnerable populations including single mothers, elderly residents, and people with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Because Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, single mothers comprise a significant portion of the refugee population.

Deputy Minister Katarzyna Nowakowska defended the reductions, stating that the most vulnerable still receive direct state assistance while others should contact social workers. However, Yuliia Repenko of the Ukrainian House reported that her organization increasingly serves people facing exclusion due to inadequate support systems. The combination of Polish government cuts and declining international donor attention has created a deepening crisis for vulnerable refugees.

United Nations refugee agency data shows international funding for Ukrainians has dropped steadily since 2022, with only half of identified needs financed in 2024 compared to 94 percent two years earlier. Martynka received approximately 1,800 requests for help last year, with staff anticipating increases in 2025. Calls now extend beyond violence victims to mothers unable to afford food and shelter for their children.

Fundraising efforts have become increasingly difficult, with Podorozhnya reporting that donation appeals frequently trigger torrents of online abuse she attributes to her Ukrainian identity. Martynka helpline worker Sonia Novytska emphasized that despite war fatigue among donors, the conflict has only intensified since 2022. Podorozhnya argues the shelter performs essential work preventing homelessness and despair-driven substance abuse in Polish neighborhoods, effectively substituting for inadequate state services.