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Politics

Poland Is Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees, But It’s Taking a Toll

As the populist government in Warsaw repairs its image abroad, the financial strains of embracing people fleeing the war are showing.

Displaced Ukrainians rest at a temporary shelter set up in the former Krakov Main railway station building on March 13.

Displaced Ukrainians rest at a temporary shelter set up in the former Krakov Main railway station building on March 13.

Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg

It’s been a month since the war in Ukraine started, and the flow of refugees arriving at Warsaw’s biggest railway station shows no sign of abating. Crowds of people disembark trains from the border and wait for shuttle buses to temporary shelters at exhibition and sports venues. Outside, passersby are asked for directions.

The unflinching support for their neighbors — at least 2.1 million of them and counting — has turned into a pivotal moment for Poles, but it’s also now raising some urgent questions over what happens next, politically and economically.