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Nearly six in 10 Poles fear war with Russia, survey finds

15.05.2024 08:45
Fifty-nine percent of Poles say they are concerned about the prospect of a war between NATO and Russia in the next three to eight years, a new survey has found.
Photo:
Photo:EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV via PAP

Meanwhile, 32 percent of respondents are not afraid of such a scenario, according to a study by pollster CBOS.

The remainder are neutral on the issue, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.

Forty-four percent of those surveyed declared they would actively defend the country in the event of a Russian invasion.

Among them, 14 percent expressed a willingness to take part in combat operations, and 30 percent stated they would support the war effort in other ways, such as engaging in operations behind the lines, according to CBOS.

Sixteen percent of respondents said they would seek refuge abroad, while one in 10 found it difficult to provide a definitive answer, the PAP news agency reported.

The survey was carried out between April 8 and 18 among 1,079 respondents. 

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said earlier this year that Poland must urgently prepare for the threat of war with Russia.

In an interview published in February, Kosiniak-Kamysz was asked whether he was worried that Russia would defeat Ukraine and subsequently invade Poland.

"I expect every scenario and take the worst ones most seriously," Kosiniak-Kamysz replied.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Photo: P. Chmielewski/PR

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Wednesday is day 812 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP