Speaking before a meeting of Poland’s Council of Ministers, Tusk stressed the need for a firm response to violence, particularly attacks targeting Ukrainians on the streets of Polish cities, Ukrinform reports.

Tusk said that a Ukrainian man and woman were seriously injured in the attack in Wrocław. According to him, police swiftly detained two suspects, while a third person allegedly involved in the assault is expected to be arrested soon. The Prime Minister thanked law enforcement officers for their prompt response and instructed the interior minister to convey the government's appreciation to them.

"We in Poland are all highly sensitive to violence, especially when it affects the most vulnerable – women, children and the sick," Tusk said, adding that he would not have raised the issue if such attacks were not becoming increasingly frequent.

He noted that national prejudice and hatred are increasingly becoming the motive behind such assaults, with Ukrainian citizens often among the victims.

According to the Polish Prime Minister, Poland earned a special place in the world through the tradition of the Solidarity movement, a spirit that reemerged during the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when Poles provided extensive assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

"Today, all of this is being destroyed. Nothing but ruins will remain if we allow thugs, football hooligans and ordinary criminals to beat and humiliate people with impunity simply because they speak with a slightly different accent," Tusk stressed.

At the same time, he emphasized that the rise in violence threatens not only Ukrainians. According to him, attacks by Polish citizens against fellow Poles are also becoming more frequent.

"We must declare a determined war on this violence, because thugs, hooligans and those who promote a culture of violence have grown bolder and more arrogant as they have gained political patronage," Tusk said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that one of the suspects detained in connection with the attack on the Ukrainian couple had previously boasted on social media about his activities as a self-described "border defender."

According to Tusk, some political forces in Poland support groups that portray themselves as patriotic while, in reality, undermining Poland's reputation and creating a sense of insecurity in society.

He called on the police, prosecutors and other state institutions to ensure not only the swift detention of those responsible but also their prompt and effective punishment. He also instructed officials to prepare proposals for possible legislative and procedural changes if the current mechanisms prove insufficient.

"They have become bolder precisely because today they have political examples, political patrons and political support," Tusk said.

He added that politicians who justify or morally support such actions also bear responsibility for the increase in violence and the deterioration of Poland's international image.

The head of the Polish government called on Polish President Karol Nawrocki to "stop remaining silent on this matter," noting that Nawrocki had previously praised clashes involving football hooligans, calling them "noble." Tusk also urged the leader of the right-wing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party to stop calling for the creation of "militant groups" to protect Poland's borders from illegal migrants.

According to the Prime Minister, Warsaw is preparing a large-scale international promotional campaign aimed at presenting Poland as "a safe, clean and peaceful country, free of violence on its streets, where people can walk through cities at night without fear."

"Today, this image is being destroyed by people like them. Anyone who commits such despicable acts is acting entirely against Poland's interests," Tusk stressed.

The Prime Minister said that attacks on Ukrainians in Poland fuel nationalist sentiments in both Poland and Ukraine and work to Russia's advantage.

"Those who beat Ukrainian women and children today are acting against Poland – in the interests of Russia and nationalism," Tusk emphasized.

Tusk also urged Poles not to remain indifferent to acts of violence, but to respond and immediately report them to the police.

"Indifference is the ideal environment for criminals, violence and evil. We must remember that," the Polish Prime Minister concluded.

Read also:Ukrainian Consulate General urges Polish authorities to respond to assault on Ukrainians in Wroclaw

As reported by Ukrinform, two men suspected of brutally assaulting Ukrainian citizens in Wrocław have been detained. One of them attempted to leave the city but was apprehended by officers from the police counterterrorism unit.

According to Polish media reports, the suspects are 27 and 45 years old. One has a criminal record, while the other is associated with football hooligan circles. Both participate in mixed martial arts tournaments.

In recent months, amid growing tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations over difficult chapters of their shared history, the number of incidents involving hostility toward Ukrainians in Poland, including verbal abuse and physical assaults, has increased significantly.

Photo: Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland