Ukrainian lured to fake “date” in Wroclaw and beaten: police classify attack as a crime with ideological overtones
1 October 19:25
In Wroclaw, a group of teenagers organized a brutal attack on a 23-year-old Ukrainian citizen. The youths created a fake profile of a “16-year-old girl” on social media and invited the man to a meeting. When he arrived, he was beaten, his head was shaved, and Nazi symbols were drawn on his face. Everything was filmed. This was reported by the Wroclaw police, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that they are considering the case not only as a beating, but also as a crime with a “disturbing ideological motive.” Some of the attackers are minors, so the materials have also been submitted to the family court.
Police and calls for caution
The Wroclaw police strongly condemned the actions of the teenagers.
“Such actions are a crime and will be treated with the full force of the law. We are talking about beatings, as well as disturbing ideological motives,” the statement said.
Law enforcement officials called on parents and young people not to resort to lynching even if they are suspected of wrongdoing.
“Independent actions and attempts to “deliver justice” can lead to tragic consequences – both for the victim and the perpetrators,” the police emphasized.
Ukraine’s response
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed its strong protest and called on the Polish authorities to ensure a proper investigation.
“We expect a full and transparent investigation so that the perpetrators are held fully accountable,” the ministry said.
Diaspora organizations in Poland emphasized the need to strengthen communication with young people and prevent xenophobia, as well as the importance of protecting Ukrainians from ethnic violence.
Media and civic activists call on Ukrainians in Poland to be careful when communicating with strangers on social media and report suspicious contacts.
After 2022, Ukrainians became the largest community of foreigners in Poland – more than 1.3 million people. This has changed the labor market, education, and social relations.
At the same time, cases of discrimination were reported:
- In 2023, a group of young men attacked Ukrainian students in the subway in Warsaw.
- In 2024, the prosecutor’s office investigated cases of attacks using nationalist symbols.
Despite the fact that the Polish authorities treat such episodes as isolated, each of them becomes a factor of sensitivity in Ukrainian-Polish relations.
Consequences and predictions
The investigation into the Wroclaw case should determine whether the attack was motivated by a purely “domestic motive,” an attempted lynching, or whether it was motivated by xenophobia. If the court finds that there was an ideological basis, the case could become a precedent in the approach of Polish justice to hate crimes against Ukrainians.
Experts predict that after this case, attention will increase to the prevention of radicalization among adolescents and strengthening of cooperation with the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland
