Poland Urges EU to Cease Social Support for Ukrainian Refugees to Strengthen War Efforts

Poland’s Call for Change in Support for Ukrainian Refugees

During a recent forum in Kyiv focused on Ukraine’s European future, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski made a significant appeal to European Union governments. He urged them to reconsider the provision of social support to Ukrainian men of fighting age who have sought refuge in various EU nations. Sikorski emphasized that halting these financial incentives is essential to bolster Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. He stated, “To help Ukraine’s war effort, there should be no financial incentives for avoiding the draft in Ukraine.”

Concerns Over Airspace Violations

Sikorski’s statements come in the wake of alarming reports regarding Russian drones violating the airspace of NATO member countries. On September 8, both Latvia and Romania reported incidents where Russian drones had strayed into their territories. One drone was observed crossing into Romania during nighttime attacks on Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure along the Danube River. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence indicated that F-16 warplanes had been deployed to monitor the situation, issuing text alerts to residents in two eastern regions to ensure their safety.

In Latvia, Defence Minister Andris Sprūds confirmed that a Russian drone had crashed near Rezekne, likely having entered Latvian airspace from Belarus. Rezekne, home to over 25,000 residents, is situated approximately 55 kilometers from Russia and around 75 kilometers from Belarus, the Kremlin’s close ally. Sikorski pointed out that the resources currently allocated to social support could be redirected towards preventing such airspace violations, which would serve the interests of both Ukraine and Europe. “A significant portion of Russian missiles and drones often lose their intended path,” he noted, adding, “Even the Belarusians have had to shoot them down.”

Nuclear Safety Risks

In addition to airspace incursions, Sikorski raised grave concerns about the potential risks posed by Russian drones to Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities. He remarked, “We know the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear incident in Ukraine. It would pose a threat to all of Europe.” The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, has been under constant threat since coming under Russian control following the full-scale invasion. Recent reports indicated that artillery shelling in the vicinity has damaged critical power access at the facility, with Energoatom blaming Russia for these aggressive actions.

During a visit to Zaporizhzhia earlier this month, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, described the situation as “very fragile.” Experts believe that while an explosion at Zaporizhzhia could result in radiation leakage and widespread panic, the radiation risk would be limited compared to the scale of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Financial Aid and Military Mobilization

Sikorski argued that terminating financial aid to Ukrainian men of draft age could save countries like the Netherlands and Germany “tens of billions of euros” that could be better utilized elsewhere. He asserted, “It’s not a human right to receive payments to avoid military service and evade the responsibility to defend one’s nation.” As the conflict continues, Russia maintains a significant advantage over Ukraine in terms of both personnel and weaponry. Earlier this year, Ukraine responded to this challenge by lowering the call-up age for military service from 27 to 25, aiming to expedite the mobilization process within the armed forces.