Poland has registered 988,000 war refugees from Ukraine

More than 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens are now living in neighbouring Poland almost three years after the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Around 988,000 of them have been registered as war refugees with a temporary protection status, a representative of the Ministry of the Interior told a session of the Polish parliament on Friday. There has been a "slow, steady increase in this number since June," the official said.

Of the Ukrainians who came to Poland after the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022, 20% are considering staying there permanently. Around 28% said they now have a good command of Polish.

Half of the Ukrainians who were already living in Poland before the war broke out are considering staying permanently, and more than two-thirds say they have a good knowledge of Polish.

The Polish Ministry of the Interior says that among the war refugees, income from their own work accounts for an average of 76% of their total income.

It says that the refugees, who are mostly women, often take on work below their level of qualification. In Poland, refugees from Ukraine are entitled to child benefit, old-age and disability pensions, and free access to the education and health care systems. They do not receive benefits such as basic income support.