Ambassador denies there are 1 million Ukrainian refugees in Poland

The prime minister made the claim during her address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

However, Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia has stated that the majority of Ukrainians seeking refugee status in Poland have been refused.

“Only two people received such a status last year,” he said of the 4,000 Ukrainians who had sought asylum in Poland.

However, he acknowleged that large numbers of Ukrainians work or study in Poland. Some come to Poland for seasonal work, others seek more long-term employment.

“The vast majority of them are working, studying, paying taxes, and thus contribute to the development of the Polish economy,” he said.

“They are well-educated, have appropriate qualifications, and have integrated well into Polish society,” he added.

The ambassador clarified that about half a million Ukrainians had obtained temporary visas to be in Poland, and that 65,000 Ukrainians had obtained residency permits.

“These are not refugees, they did not get that status and therefore do not receive any social aid,” he stressed. (nh/pk)

Source: Ukrainska Prawda