Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Persists in Czech Republic and Poland

Ukrainian refugees have been escaping to Poland for several months (Flickr).

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, around eight million Ukrainians have fled the country, creating the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, according to Foreign Policy Magazine. As Russia, as CNN noted, ramps up its barrage of attacks on civilian centers and energy infrastructure, Europe is bracing for another wave of Ukrainian refugees, a group that, The Economic Times reported, has previously consisted of over 90 percent women and children. This time, however, they will not be welcome with the same open arms. Key Eastern European countries – Poland and the Czech Republic – are increasing pushback against refugees as they reach a crucial breaking point. 

As winter approaches, Euronews found that energy prices and the cost of living in Europe have skyrocketed due to sanctions against Russia. In October, eurozone inflation reached 10.7 percent, marking a record-high monthly reading. Additionally, the 41.9 percent rise in energy costs and mere .02 percent Q3 GDP growth in eurozone countries indicate that a recession is looming. For many European countries, the additional economic burdens and lack of infrastructure have fueled anti-Ukrainian refugee sentiments.  

In the Czech Republic, Bloomberg noted that far-right opposition groups organized a series of protests under the name “Czech Republic First!” Tens of thousands of Czechs took to the streets of Prague to pressure Prime Minister Petr Fiala into negotiations with Russia for cheaper natural gas. Protestors chanted “resign, resign, resign” and called for an “end to the planned dilution of the nation” by Ukrainian refugees, as reported by Foreign Policy Magazine. 

The Czech Republic is currently one of the biggest destinations for Ukrainian refugees, and according to Statista, as of November 1, they accepted 455,731 refugees. The recent protests reveal an emerging populist political force that seeks to leverage public dissatisfaction surrounding rising prices and refugees. In response, the government has significantly reduced state-funded aid programs and stopped providing housing accommodations for refugees. 

Vendula Fortova, a volunteer with Iniciativa Hlavak, an NGO providing help to refugees from Ukraine, explained to Radio Free Europe that, “People don’t view the conflict with the same interest anymore.” “The conflict has been going on for a relatively long time for many here, and their attention, their solidarity is dropping.” This public sentiment, combined with the potential rise of former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis in the upcoming elections, means that Ukrainian refugees will be left with even fewer options. 

Poland is also experiencing the economic burden of accepting more refugees amidst an energy crisis. Since the start of the war, Poland has shown unwavering support for Ukraine and accepted over 1.4 million refugees, the highest number among EU countries, according to Statista. Poland’s embrace of refugees and integration model is expansive but will be difficult to maintain as the war persists. Now, government support programs for Polish households,  hosting over 600,000 refugees, have been completely cut, Notes from Poland reported. 

Similar to the Czech Republic, Poles affected by the high inflation and cost of living find it difficult to accommodate refugees. According to Foreign Policy Magazine, Benjamin Cope, a coordinator for Ukrainian House, an NGO that finds homes for Ukrainian Refugees in Poland, said that “The housing market in Poland was in crisis before the invasion, and the influx of people has worsened it.” He continued with, “there is still a lot of goodwill and support, but finding long-term accommodation is becoming more challenging.” 

Poland and the Czech Republic are two major destinations for Ukrainian refugees, but the energy crisis will severely hinder their ability to shelter the expected surge of refugees this winter. As a result, other European countries will need to step up their efforts and push for a more equal distribution of refugees across Europe.