On January 18, 2024, prominent Ukrainian mass media and Telegram channels began to spread information claiming that Poland had extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees for one more year, until March 4, 2025.
However, further clarifications indicated that this was a misunderstanding of the Polish government's decision and that it did not apply to Ukrainians. In the telegram groups of Ukrainians in Poland, a sharp discussion arose about what this decision actually means.
We determined what exactly this decision of the Polish government means, who it applies to, and what expectations Ukrainians who have found refuge in Poland after the start of a full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022 can have.
On January 18, information regarding the extension of temporary protection appeared on the official web portal of the Polish government.
"The temporary protection mechanism launched by the decision of the EU Council in March 2022, initially for one year, has now been extended for another year until March 4, 2025," the decision reads.
However, this initiative applies exclusively to persons who "received a security certificate from the Office for Foreigners".
It is noted that such documents were issued to citizens of third countries (not Ukraine), who were legally in Ukraine at the time of the start of the full-scale invasion and were forced to seek asylum in Poland.
On the contrary, the legal stay of the majority of Ukrainian refugees is regulated by another mechanism, which is defined by a special law on assistance to Ukrainians. In particular, they receive a PESEL UKR - a document that guarantees their basic rights in Poland.
Currently, the Polish authorities have not extended this protection. Thus, Ukrainians who have already received a PESEL number with UKR status have the opportunity to legally stay in Poland until March 4, 2024.
Parents of children studying or attending kindergarten can stay in Poland a little longer - until August 31, 2024. And those preparing for their GCSEs (and their parents) are allowed to stay until 30 September 2024.
There is only a month and a half left until the expiration of the current protection. However, should Ukrainians be worried?
It seems that the Polish government is already dealing with this issue. According to the Polish publication Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the government is preparing amendments to the special law, which plan to extend the term of legal stay of Ukrainians for another year - until March 4, 2025.
In the coming weeks, this project should be submitted to the Diet for consideration. It is noted that the extension of legal stay is also important for employers, as it simplifies the process of employment of citizens of Ukraine.
Poland, as a member of the European Union, is obliged to comply with the decisions of the Council of the EU. Earlier in September 2023, it extended temporary protection for those who fled the war in Ukraine for another year.
Almost a million Ukrainians took advantage of temporary protection in Poland. According to the data of the main statistical office of the country as of March 31, 2023, they received PESEL UKR.
More than half of these persons (64.8%) were women. Donald Tusk, who in December again became the head of the Polish government, in his speech in the Polish parliament expressed support for Ukraine and emphasized the importance of providing further assistance.
This comes against the backdrop of the latest escalation of relations between the countries due to the blocking of the border by Polish carriers, and many Ukrainians see it as a positive signal.
