Attack on Ukrainians in Kraków: Threats, Pursuit, and Assault Investigated by Police

Kraków police are investigating an incident from August 5, 2026, involving threats, a pursuit, and the physical assault of two Ukrainian citizens near Polonijna Street.

Police Investigation Underway in Kraków

Police in Kraków are clarifying the circumstances of an incident involving two Ukrainian citizens. A woman was reportedly insulted, attacked, and struck or pushed, while the man accompanying her was pursued by an aggressor. The victims have filed a formal report, and part of the occurrence was recorded on a mobile phone and published online.

The event took place on August 5, 2026, in the area of Polonijna Street in Kraków, near a shop. The Municipal Police Headquarters in Kraków confirmed to Wirtualna Polska that officers are conducting activities to reconstruct the entire event, specifically determining what happened before the recording began.

Details of the Recorded Confrontation

The video circulating online shows a fragment of the confrontation, depicting a man harassing two Ukrainian citizens. When he realizes his behavior is being recorded on a phone, he issues threats and chases one of the victims, followed by physical contact with the woman.

Police have not yet determined the exact legal character of the incident. This will depend on participants’ testimonies, the secured footage, and whether the perpetrator’s behavior was linked to the victims’ nationality.

Victims Formalize the Complaint

According to information provided by Anna Wolak-Gromala from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Kraków, the victims contacted emergency services immediately after the incident. The following day, they reported to the police station and formally filed a notification.

Police confirm that one of the victims is a woman who was attacked by a previously unknown man who hurled insults and threats. Reports indicate she was pushed or struck, and part of this behavior was captured on video.

Legal Framework and Potential Charges

The woman did not suffer injuries resulting in a health impairment, though this does not automatically classify the event as a minor dispute. Evaluating the nature of the threats, the attacker’s behavior, and the potential connection between the attack and the victims’ nationality remains crucial.

Polish law addresses crimes driven by nationality separately. Under Article 119 of the Criminal Code, violence or unlawful threats applied due to nationality carry a penalty of three months to five years in prison. Article 257 addresses public insult or violation of bodily integrity based on national, ethnic, or racial grounds, punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.

Evidence and Next Steps

The video serves as significant evidentiary material, though it does not capture the entirety of the incident. Investigators must reconcile its contents with the victims’ testimonies and other gathered information.

At this stage, police have not announced the detention of the suspect or the formal presentation of charges. The investigation remains active following the complaint filed by the victims, and a definitive legal classification requires a complete evaluation of all gathered evidence.