Basic Myths about Ukrainians in Poland and Other European Countries

Marking the World Refugee Day, the Migration Platform EWL described and debunked basic myths and stereotypes about Ukrainians in the European Union.

Find out more in the article by Anatolii Zymnin, the press officer of the Migration Platform EWL, which combats the Five most common stereotypes about Ukrainians in Europe and explains why they are untrue.

It is important to point out once again that Ukrainian women and men who had fled to the EU due to the war are not officially considered "refugees" because the mechanism of EU temporary protection provided has a different legal status. However, this term has become commonly used in Europe regarding Ukrainians.

One of our Polish friends once said, "To begin understanding your migrants, you need to stop calling them labourers (zarobitchane)."

The term "labourers" reduces migration to labour, often low-paid and low-skilled (and incidentally, used by the Kremlin in the Russian language without translation, with a negative connotation, alongside the clearly derogatory name "gastarbeiters").

The stereotypical "labourer" (zarobitchane) describes only the initial, short period after the migrant's arrival. Ukrainians are highly mobile in the European labour market, and they are inclined to change employers in search of better jobs, working conditions, and alignment with their skills and profession.

When mass migration from Ukraine broke out in 2015, Ukrainians increasingly appeared in managerial roles. Moreover, Ukrainians actively create their own businesses abroad.

Another myth is the "Russification" of Ukrainian migrants. This is confirmed by the data from the latest population census in Poland, where one of the questions related to the language spoken at home.

85% of surveyed Ukrainians stated that they primarily use the Ukrainian language at home.

Given "lack of education," our recent research showed that over half of the migrant and refugee group (56%) have completed or are pursuing higher education.

A paradox arises: the education rate among Ukrainian migrants is higher than the proportion of people with higher education in the EU as a whole (33%).

There is also a myth that Ukrainians are "lazy." In the spring of 2022, there were concerns in many EU countries about the integration of such a large number of Ukrainian refugees.

These concerns were actively manipulated by Russian propaganda, claiming that Europeans would now have to "support" and sustain millions of Ukrainian refugees at the expense of their own taxes.

However, it turned out that the majority of Ukrainian citizens prefer to seek employment rather than wait for social benefits. Our research revealed that over three-quarters of Ukrainians residing in Poland (78%) found employment.

Furthermore, Ukrainian citizens not only work but also assist their homeland at war.

The myth about the supposed high criminality of migrant groups, although long debunked, remains the most enduring.

While it is true that migrants commit crimes and violate the law, these are isolated cases. However, Russian propaganda and its "partners" often use these stories against Ukrainian immigrants and refugees, fueling hostility and attempting to turn local societies against them.

The antidote to the creation and dissemination of stereotypes lies in the same tools used for combating propaganda and fake news – critical thinking and information hygiene.

Additionally, it is important to realise that every migrant – whether labourer or someone who arrived in Europe due to invasion – is a carrier of Ukrainianness. Their behaviour, actions, and narratives greatly influence the perception and creation of a new vision of Ukraine.