Two women attack Ukrainian citizens in Poznań; one detained, second identified by police

The incident

On the night of 12-13 August 2026, around 00:20, two women, described by police as likely intoxicated, attacked two Ukrainian citizens outside a restaurant on Półwiejska Street in central Poznań. The victims were employees of the establishment. A video published on social media by the local profile @poznanmoment shows one woman approaching the men, insulting them, spitting on one, and then knocking over a parasol onto them. She strikes one of the men on the back of the head. Vulgar and xenophobic language is audible, including the phrase "go back to Ukraine, you slut." A second woman later joins, and the altercation escalates with objects from the restaurant's outdoor area thrown toward the men.

One of the Ukrainian men told @poznanmoment that the confrontation began when a young woman heard him speaking Ukrainian with customers while smoking outside the premises and started harassing them.

Police response

Officers from the Komisariat Policji Poznań-Stare Miasto took up the case. Podinsp. Iwona Liszczyńska, press officer of the Wielkopolska Police Headquarters, said police began identification work immediately after the video surfaced, before any formal report was filed. The restaurant manager visited the station on the morning of 14 August and submitted an official notification. Liszczyńska stressed that officers did not wait for that filing to begin their work.

On 14 August, MSWiA chief Marcin Kierwiński announced on the platform X that one of the attackers had been detained. He added that the identity of the second woman is also known to police.

The identity of the second woman is also known to the police. Zero tolerance for aggression and hatred.

MSWiA spokesperson Karolina Gałecka confirmed on X that Poznań police were conducting proceedings related to the recording showing aggressive behaviour by two women toward Ukrainian citizens.

Police stated that identification of all participants is still ongoing and that a decision on the legal classification of the act, and any potential charges, will be made only after the full evidentiary material is gathered.

Social media reaction

The video circulated widely online and drew commentary from public figures. Krzysztof Stanowski, journalist and head of Kanał Zero, posted a vulgar message on social media suggesting the woman should leave for Ukraine while the man stays in Poland.

Deportation context

Separate MSWiA data obtained by Interia shows that deportations from Poland have risen sharply. In the first half of 2026, 6,000 return decisions were executed, nearly 30% more than the 4,600 in the same period of 2025. In all of 2023, 3,000 foreigners were deported; by 2025 the annual total reached 10,000. Ukrainians form the largest group among those deported.

Deputy interior minister Maciej Duszczyk told Interia that Ukrainians are the largest group among deportees simply because they are the most numerous foreign nationals in Poland.