Poland’s border guard has expelled 15 Ukrainian nationals from the country, citing repeated criminal convictions and threats to public order, according to RMF 24 and official statements from Polish authorities.
The expelled citizens had been repeatedly convicted of theft, robbery, and driving under the influence, reports the border guard service.
“The persons covered by the procedure were repeatedly punished for crimes and misdemeanors. These include possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, theft, robbery, forgery, driving vehicles while intoxicated, as well as organizing illegal crossing of the Polish border,” the border guard reported in an official communication.
One individual was already listed in the registry of persons whose stay in Poland is considered undesirable, according to the border service announcement. The authorities placed all expelled individuals on this registry and imposed re-entry bans ranging from five to ten years.
The Ministry of Interior Affairs defended the deportations through spokesperson Karolina Gałecka, who emphasized Poland’s stance on law enforcement regardless of nationality.
“Poland is a country friendly and open to foreigners. However, there is no and will never be consent to breaking the law by them, regardless of the country of origin. The Ministry of Interior Affairs services will firmly respond in cases of violations of our legal order,” Gałecka said.
The deportations represent part of a broader enforcement pattern. Since the beginning of 2025, 1,100 foreigners have been forcibly expelled from Poland, the ministry reported.
The border guard cited national security concerns as the primary justification for the expulsions, pointing to the individuals’ criminal histories spanning drug possession, property crimes, document fraud, and human trafficking activities related to border crossings.
As of February, the Office for Foreigners reported nearly 1 million Ukrainian citizens, predominantly women and children, using temporary protection in Poland. A total of 1.55 million Ukrainians held valid residence permits.
Ukrainians represent the largest foreign population in Poland, comprising 78% of all foreigners who have settled in the country, according to official data.