Woman Attacks Ukrainian Teenagers in Legnica as Hate Crime Probe Opens

Police in Legnica are investigating an attack on two 13-year-old Ukrainian citizens by an unknown woman, as prosecutors launch a nationality-based discrimination case.

Police Investigation in Legnica

“Police in Legnica are looking into the matter of an attack on two 13-year-old Ukrainian citizens. The incident reportedly took place last Saturday around 9:00 PM on Polarna Street, near the swimming pool. According to the report, an unknown woman struck the teenagers. Currently, proceedings are underway regarding the violation of physical integrity,” informed Ministry of the Interior and Administration spokesperson Karolina Gałecka in a post on the X platform.

A woman attacked the girls from Ukraine, and police have established her identity.

Official Condemnation of Violence

She emphasized that no one has the right to use violence against another human being, especially against a child. She added that it is also reprehensible that the attack most likely occurred in connection with the teenagers’ national origin.

Prosecutor’s Office and Video Evidence

The case file regarding the beating of three individuals of Ukrainian nationality was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office in Legnica on Tuesday. As the spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Legnica, Liliana Łukasiewicz, informed TVN24, the report was filed by the mothers of the two victims. The attack was allegedly carried out by a woman who was with two small children.

Police secured city surveillance footage which—as the spokesperson stated—confirms the mothers’ testimonies. On this basis, the prosecutor found that there is a reasonable suspicion of the use of violence motivated by nationality and initiated proceedings in the case of national discrimination.

Details of the Attack

She allegedly punched a child in the face; the girl has a bruise on her cheek.

The case was publicized on her Facebook profile by the mother of the two girls who originate from Ukraine. According to the account, her children were playing with others by the swimming pool. At that point, another woman approached them with her children and pointed out that they were speaking Ukrainian in Poland. The woman allegedly accosted the children several more times, and during one such situation, punched one of the daughters of the mother describing the situation, another girl, and a boy who stood up to defend them. The woman also reportedly told the children that she did so because they are from Ukraine.

Injuries and Legal Qualification

According to the findings of the authorities, the injuries sustained by the victims were classified as taking less than seven days to heal—one of the girls has a visible bruise on her cheek. However, the final assessment will be issued by an expert. In the prosecutor’s opinion, the perpetrator acted publicly and without reason, which indicates a hooligan motivation. The identity of the suspect is already known to investigators, and procedural steps are underway.

Rise in Hate Crimes

Attacks on Ukrainians in Poland; the number of hate crimes is rising.

Last Tuesday, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Czesław Mroczek reported on the increasing number of hate crimes. In the years 2024–2025, there was a growth of over 30 percent—from 760 in 2024 to 1200 in 2025.

Support and Reporting Resources

If you witness violence or suspect that someone is being harmed, take action. You can speak to the victim and offer them help, as well as report your suspicions to the police (tel. 997 or 112), the Social Welfare Centre, or the Blue Line—a free helpline operating 24 hours a day at 800 12 00 02.