Kathmandu— Two Ukrainian children, a 14-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother, were allegedly attacked by two adults in Bydgoszcz, Poland last week while speaking Ukrainian to each other, according to a statement from the Consulate General of Ukraine in Gdansk. The incident has sparked condemnation from Ukrainian officials and comes amid increasing reports of anti-Ukrainian sentiment and hate crimes in Poland, fueled by a diplomatic dispute over Kiev’s commemoration of nationalist groups with ties to WWII atrocities. Polish police have confirmed they are investigating a criminal complaint related to the attack.

Details of the Alleged Attack

The Ukrainian consulate stated that the man and woman allegedly used obscene language and threatened the children due to their national origin. The situation escalated when the adults reportedly twisted one child’s arm, damaged a drone belonging to the siblings, and threw pieces of it at the boy, causing scratches. The consulate strongly condemned the incident as an act of xenophobia.

Escalating Anti-Ukrainian Sentiment

Reports of hate crimes against Ukrainians in Poland have seen a significant increase this year, rising by over 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to Polish media citing police data. A recent IBRiS survey also revealed that more than two-thirds of Poles believe Ukrainian men of military age who are not legally employed should be deported.

Diplomatic Tensions and Historical Grievances

The rise in tensions between Poland and Ukraine follows a decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May to grant the honorary title “heroes of the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army)” to a military unit. This move drew strong condemnation from Poland, which holds the UPA responsible for the deaths of an estimated 100,000 ethnic Poles during WWII in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. Moscow has also accused Kiev of glorifying Nazi collaborators, claiming Western nations are ignoring this practice.

Polish authorities continue to investigate the alleged assault while broader tensions between Poland and Ukraine remain elevated due to historical grievances and differing perspectives on nationalist groups.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.