The topic of Poland’s expenditures in support of Ukraine is frequently raised in public discourse, but the economic impact of the presence of Ukrainian refugees in Poland is mentioned much less often. A new study shows that these two factors have, in fact, balanced each other out: the taxes paid, the work done, and the businesses operated by Ukrainians have returned amounts to the Polish budget comparable to the volume of aid provided. Learn more about the findings of Marek Zułkowski’s study, the EU’s role in compensating Poland’s costs, and the scale of Ukrainian entrepreneurship
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The issue of Poland’s financial expenditures on aid to Ukraine remains a central topic in Polish political discourse. At the same time, the other side of this issue—the economic benefits derived from the presence of Ukrainian refugees in the Polish economy—is often overlooked. A new analytical study shows that the funds allocated by Warsaw to support Kyiv have, in fact, been returned to the Polish budget thanks to the work, entrepreneurial activity, and taxes paid by Ukrainians.
This was reported by Finance.ua, citing a report by Marek Ziulkowski, former Polish ambassador to Ukraine, titled “Polish Aid to Ukraine: A Brief Analysis.”
We discuss the study’s key findings, an assessment of military support, the European Union’s role in offsetting costs, and the entrepreneurial activity of Ukrainians in Poland further in this article.
Key Findings of Marek Ziulkowski’s Study
According to the former Polish diplomat, public discourse in Poland has traditionally focused specifically on government spending to support Ukraine. A parallel process has been overlooked—the generation of comparable sums by Ukrainian refugees through tax payments, participation in the labor market, and entrepreneurial activity.
Marek Zułkowski emphasizes that the Polish economy has earned roughly as much from the labor of Ukrainian refugees as the country has invested in support of Kyiv. In the diplomat’s view, this figure should be highlighted in the Polish media with the same regularity as data on government spending on aid.
We previously reported that consular services have been made easier for Ukrainian men abroad.
The Scale of Poland’s Military Aid to Ukraine
Key items of Poland’s military-technical support include T-72 tanks, Krab self-propelled howitzers, Piorun man-portable air defense systems, and other types of weaponry. Poland was one of the first countries to transfer this equipment to the Ukrainian defense forces.
The total value of military equipment transferred free of charge as of mid-2026 is estimated at approximately 16.45 billion zlotys, or about 3.7 billion euros. The bulk of these deliveries—about 90%—took place in 2022–2023.
After 2023, the volume of new free transfers of equipment decreased significantly. The main forms of Polish support remained the logistics hub in Jasionka and individual small shipments of equipment.
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EU Reimbursement of Expenses and Commercial Arms Exports
Poland has already recovered a portion of the funds it spent on military aid through European Union mechanisms after those funds were released. The actual burden on the Polish budget turned out to be less than is often portrayed in domestic political discussions.
At the same time, the Polish government has increased commercial arms exports to Ukraine. According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2024 the total volume of Polish military exports reached a record 3.14 billion euros.
Nearly 79% of this volume was directed specifically to the Ukrainian market.
Poland’s defense industry has become one of the key beneficiaries of demand from Ukraine, which has further reduced the net financial burden on the state budget.
Read also: When will the war in Ukraine end? How many Ukrainians expect it to end in 2026 and 2027?
The Contribution of Ukrainian Refugees to Poland’s GDP
According to an assessment by the consulting firm Deloitte, prepared for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ukrainian refugees quite quickly ceased to be merely recipients of aid. Just a few years after the start of the full-scale war, their participation in the Polish economy became a significant factor.
The main areas of economic integration for Ukrainians in Poland are:
- paying taxes to the Polish budget through participation in the labor market;
- registering their own businesses and engaging in self-employment;
- creating new jobs;
- investing in the Polish economy;
- expanding economic ties between Ukraine and Poland.
According to the findings of Marek Zułkowski’s study, it was precisely the combination of these factors that allowed the Polish economy to receive from Ukrainian refugees an amount comparable to what the state allocated to aid Ukraine.
Important! Poland may deport Ukrainian men without official employment.
Ukrainian Entrepreneurship in Poland: About 30,000 Companies
In the few years since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian citizens have registered about 30,000 businesses in Poland. Some Ukrainian companies have relocated part of their operations to the neighboring country, while others have started new businesses from scratch.
This scale of entrepreneurial activity translates into stable tax revenues for the Polish budget, job creation, and the formation of long-term economic ties between the two countries. These results will continue to have an impact even after the war ends and some Ukrainians return home.
Meaningful Accessories from Visit Ukraine
Ukrainians around the world—whether in Poland, other EU countries, or at home—continue to express their identity and support their homeland no matter where they are. The Visit Ukraine portal offers a line of meaningful merchandise: accessories and clothing that combine Ukrainian style with ongoing support for important initiatives.
Order merchandise from Visit Ukraine to keep a piece of your homeland close by while traveling, working abroad, or in your daily life at home!
Reminder! We previously reported that temporary protection in the EU has been extended until 2028.
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