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Poland Police Detain Five Suspects After Attack on Ukrainian Teenagers in Warsaw
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Polish police have detained five Polish citizens aged between 15 and 18 over the brutal assault of three Ukrainian teenagers in Warsaw last week, Poland’s Interior Minister and Administration Head Marcin Kierwiński announced on X.
Kierwiński stressed a “zero tolerance for aggression” approach, confirming that investigators are continuing procedural actions following the attack, which took place on May 7 on the Świętokrzyski Bridge in the Polish capital.
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“Zero tolerance for aggression. A few days ago, three teenagers—Ukrainian citizens—were brutally beaten on the Świętokrzyski Bridge in Warsaw. In connection with the attack, police detained five individuals—Polish citizens aged 15 to 18. Further procedural actions are ongoing,” he wrote, also sharing footage of the arrests.
According to Polish media outlet Onet, a group of around ten aggressors attacked the Ukrainian teenagers, who were speaking Ukrainian and Russian. The victims were knocked to the ground, beaten on the head, and one of them was reportedly nearly thrown off the bridge into the Vistula River.
One of the victims, a 16-year-old boy named Artem, was hospitalized with a skull fracture and severe facial injuries. He and his family reportedly moved to Poland from Zaporizhzhia after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zero tolerancji dla agresji. Kilka dni temu na moście Świętokrzyskim w Warszawie brutalnie pobici zostali trzej nastolatkowie, obywatele Ukrainy. W związku z napaścią Policjanci zatrzymali 5 osób, obywateli Polski w wieku 15-18 lat. Prowadzone są dalsze czynności procesowe. pic.twitter.com/kRKQ5tZF0s
— Marcin Kierwiński (@MKierwinski) May 15, 2026
Police later confirmed the detention of five of the most aggressive suspects. Three of them are minors, while two will be prosecuted as adults. Authorities noted that all detainees had prior encounters with law enforcement. Investigators have not ruled out further arrests, including individuals who may have witnessed the assault without intervening.
According to Onet, the attackers shouted abusive phrases directed at Ukrainians during the assault. However, Warsaw police spokesperson Paulina Onyszko stated that, at this stage, the collected evidence does not support classifying the case as a hate crime, and it is currently being treated as hooliganism.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Poland strongly condemned the attack, expressing deep concern over the violence.
“The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland expresses deep concern over the brutal attack on a group of Ukrainian teenagers in Warsaw on May 7, 2026, which resulted in serious injuries to a 16-year-old Ukrainian citizen, Artem. We firmly condemn any manifestations of violence, xenophobia, hate speech, and aggression on national or linguistic grounds,” the statement read.
The embassy emphasized that the victims were minors who had fled their homes due to Russia’s aggression and had sought safety in Poland. It called on Polish authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial, and swift investigation and to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice, pledging continued consular support for those affected.
The assault in Warsaw comes amid broader concerns over attacks targeting Ukrainians abroad since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In a separate case in the United States, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was killed at a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22. Zarutska had fled the war in Ukraine seeking safety in the US.
According to The Daily Mail, she suffered multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding officers.
Police arrested the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, shortly after arriving at the station. He was later hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening and has since been charged with first-degree murder.
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