Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker spoke of Poland's swift response to the Russian attack on Ukraine. The Government Plenipotentiary for War Refugees from Ukraine stressed that the mobilisation that had taken place in Poland deserved special recognition. 

As early as 24 February this year, Minister Mariusz Kamiński issued an order to set up reception points at the border. On the same day, the points were already operational. Such places functioned at every border crossing

– he said.

The Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration recalled that the first refugees were received at Polish reception points just a few hours after the Russian attack on Ukraine. He also reported that at the peak of the refugee wave, more than 140,000 people a day sought refuge in Poland. 

Volunteers who worked day and night to provide appropriate assistance to refugees came to reception points across Poland 

– Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker said. 

Effective assistance for Ukrainian citizens

Immediately after the outbreak of war, the Government prepared the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens. Provisions were made to allow war refugees to stay legally in Poland. These solutions also allowed them to benefit from social benefits, health care, and work and study. The Assistance Fund was also established under this Act. 

This aid was possible thanks to a huge upsurge of Polish society and the actions of local governments, NGOs and the Government. We acted under tremendous time pressure and did everything to ensure that each person received assistance

– argued the Government Plenipotentiary for War Refugees from Ukraine.

Furthermore, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration recalled that the Polish Government had decided to provide funding for those providing accommodation to refugees from Ukraine.  He informed that to date, more than 1.4 million people from Ukraine had been assisted and had found shelter with Polish families; collective accommodation points had also been set up, benefiting 416,000 Ukrainian nationals, and about 80,000 refugees remained in them.

We are the first country to use the Diaa.pl application, popular among Ukrainian citizens. It streamlines their functioning in our country

– said Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker. 

This document confirms legal residence on the territory of Poland and enables travel within the European Union and crossing its external borders. 

Deputy Minister Paweł Szefernaker also drew attention to the critical role of the Border Guard in providing aid to people fleeing war. He also spoke of the involvement of Police officers, the State Fire Service and Armed Forces soldiers in these activities. 

Good cooperation with the Ukrainian side

Deputy Minister Bartosz Grodecki emphasised that all activities were coordinated by the Government, local governments and NGOs. 

We responded properly to what happened on our eastern border

– he said.

The Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration recalled that our allies had visited the border crossing in Korczowa.

The first guests were Americans, and there were representatives of the European Commission, European countries, non-European countries, and international organisations. Everyone was impressed by how efficiently the Ukrainian citizens were transported to their accommodation places

– the Deputy Minister stressed.

Deputy Minister Bartosz Grodecki also spoke about the cooperation with the previous Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Andriy Deshchytsia.

This cooperation was imperative. Managing traffic at the border without the other side's help would have been impossible. I sincerely thank the Ukrainian side for this excellent cooperation

– he said.