Defender of Ukrainian Boy Suffers Memory Loss After Brutal Tramway Attack

A 60-year-old man who intervened to protect a Ukrainian boy from verbal abuse in a Poznań tram was subsequently assaulted at a bus stop, leaving him with memory gaps.

The Assault in Poznań

A 60-year-old man reported to the Poznań Provincial Police Headquarters on Saturday, accompanied by his wife, following a violent encounter the previous day. The victim suffered memory loss as a result of the beating he sustained at a tram stop on Kurpińskiego Street.

The victim had previously intervened while on a tram after witnessing three men shouting insults at a Ukrainian boy. The aggressors shifted their hostility toward the man, eventually following him to the stop, where the altercation escalated into a physical assault.

Details of the Attack

According to police statements, one of the assailants struck the man multiple times in the face and head, including knee strikes. A bystander attempted to intervene before the attackers fled the scene.

A short recording of the incident has surfaced, capturing one passenger shouting xenophobic slurs at the victim, telling him to leave the country. Police have since secured surveillance footage from the tram stop and are currently working to identify the suspects.

Rising Tide of Hate Crimes

Authorities are reviewing additional footage from the tram, which is expected to be released Monday. The investigation into the suspects remains ongoing.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Czesław Mroczek recently reported a significant rise in hate crimes. Official statistics indicate an increase from 760 incidents in 2024 to 1,200 in 2025.