Road to URC – Security and Defense Dimension
The Mieroszewski Centre took part in the Road to URC “Security and Defense Dimension” conference, one of the key events leading up to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, which will take place in Gdańsk later this year.
This annual forum brings together representatives of governments, international institutions, businesses, and civil society organisations engaged in the reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine.
The conference in Rzeszów focused on security and defence issues, including the role of modern technologies, industrial cooperation, and societal resilience in Ukraine’s recovery process. The Mieroszewski Centre’s participation highlighted its commitment to fostering Polish–Ukrainian dialogue and analysing the social and political processes shaping the region.
One of the programme’s key events was an expert panel organised by the Mieroszewski Centre titled “Poles and Ukrainians: what has changed since 2022?”, featuring Łukasz Adamski (Mieroszewski Centre), Mykola Riabchuk (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), and moderated by Olha Vorozhbyt from Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism.
The discussion was based on public opinion research conducted by the Mieroszewski Centre, examining shifts in social attitudes in Poland and Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The conversation addressed, among other issues, the impact of Russian disinformation, growing social tensions, and the role of political elites and the media in shaping narratives around Polish–Ukrainian relations.
As Łukasz Adamski emphasised, interpreting public opinion research requires caution and context. He noted that respondents’ answers may vary significantly depending on how questions are framed, and that the reality of Polish–Ukrainian relations is often more complex than the emotionally charged debates seen on social media.
As part of the event, the Centre also hosted an information stand presenting public opinion research reports, publications by the Lemkin Laboratory, and books dedicated to Ukrainian-related topics. The Centre’s presence was further complemented by a photography exhibition by Maciej Stanik, prepared in collaboration with curator Bartłomiej Kiełbowicz.
The Mieroszewski Centre’s participation in the Road to URC conference provided an opportunity to present its research findings, contribute to the debate on security and Ukraine’s recovery, and create space for a substantive dialogue on Polish–Ukrainian relations.
