Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London

For those who have escaped war, everyday kindness can turn an unfamiliar place into a community.

In Rzeszów, Małgorzata Cisek-Kozieł helps create exactly that kind of place. Since July 2023, the Polish-Ukrainian Seniors’ Club has brought together seniors from Poland and Ukraine to talk, learn, spend time together and build real friendships. 🇵🇱🤝🇺🇦

For 70-year-old Vasyl, who fled Ukraine in 2022 to protect his daughter and granddaughter, the club became much more than a meeting place. From Polish language conversations to a game of chess, these everyday moments help people feel safe and needed.

Today, Vasyl and Małgorzata are also members of the Rzeszów Seniors’ Council, playing an active role in the life of the city.

Sometimes, help begins very simply: with an open door and people who make you feel that you belong again. 💙💛

📢 Poland at Photo London

If you're interested in world-class photography from all over the world, why not visit this year's edition of Photo London at Olympia London. Taking place from 14–17 May, the event will bring together major galleries from across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Among the world's leading artists, there are particular Polish highlights (per the brilliant account of our colleagues of the Instytut Adama Mickiewicza:

📷 Raster will present Zofia Rydet's monumental project "Sociological Record". Begun in the late 1970s, the long-term documentary series comprises thousands of portraits of people living in rural Poland.

📷 Galeria Monopol will showcase works by Zygmunt Rytka (1947–2018) in a section dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe. Rytka is regarded as one of the key figures of the Polish neo-avant-garde of the 1970s and the independent art scene of the 1980s.

📷 In Sources, the fair's most prestigious section, JEDNOSTKA will present a solo exhibition by Weronika Gęsicka, featuring a selection of her best-known series: Traces, Cliffhanger, and Encyclopaedia.

📷 Initiated by Zula Rabikowska, the Rethinking Eastern Europe project explores themes of memory, migration, and family ties. Featured artists include Alexandra Joanna Baker, Magda Kuca, Paulina Korobkiewicz, and Marcelina Amelia.

📷 The Sun Archive and Friends (Wydawnictwo Archiwum Słońca) booth will bring together independent publishers and artists such as Sun Archive, RUST Publishing, and Pix.house, Bored Wolves, Outer Space Press, and BLOW UP PRESS — all working at the intersection of photography, design, archives, and experimental publishing.

The participation of artists, galleries, and publishers from the region at Photo London 2026 is supported by the Instytut Adama Mickiewicza and the Polish Cultural Institute.

📢 Ambasada RP w Londynie odradza podróże do Londynu w najbliższą sobotę, 16.05.2026 r. ze względu na planowane demonstracje: marsz „Unite the Kingdom” i marsz „Dla Palestyny” (oczekiwane kilkadziesiąt tysięcy uczestników) oraz finał Pucharu Anglii w piłce nożnej, oczekiwane są duże utrudnienia w ruchu w centralnym Londynie. Mimo wzmożonej obecności policji nie można wykluczyć, że przebieg demonstracji nie będzie spokojny, dlatego zalecamy unikanie okolic tras przemarszu.

📢 The Polish Embassy in London advises against travelling to London this coming Saturday, 16 May 2026, due to planned demonstrations: the "Unite the Kingdom" march and the "March for Palestine" (with tens of thousands of participants expected), as well as the FA Cup final; significant traffic disruption is expected in central London. Despite a heavy police presence, it cannot be ruled out that the demonstrations may not remain peaceful; therefore we recommend avoiding the areas along the march routes.

Last evening, the Embassy hosted an event on "Polish–Ukrainian Relations: History, Contemporary Challenges, and the Path Forward,” co-organised with the Ukrainian Institute London. 🇵🇱🇺🇦

Chargé d'Affaires Jerzy Boczkowski opened the panel with a reflection on the shared history and identity that connects our two nations. The discussion that followed - moderated by Dr Olesya Khromeychuk (Ukrainian Institute London) and featuring Dr Ernest Wyciszkiewicz (Centrum Mieroszewskiego) and Professor Andrii Portnov (Prisma Ukraïna Research Network Eastern Europe) - covered the historical ties between Poland and Ukraine, the current war and its aftermath, the experience of Ukrainian migrants in Poland, and the path forward. It was a thoughtful, wide-ranging, and inspiring conversation.

Thank you to Dr Olesya Khromeychuk for moderating and organising, to our panelists for their valuable insights, and to everyone who joined us. Events like this remind us why dialogue - honest, informed, and forward-looking - matters more than ever.

📜 On 3 May 1791, Poland adopted one of the world's first modern constitutions. It was the first codified national constitution in Europe and the second in the world, establishing principles of democratic governance, separation of powers, and civic rights.

🎉 Yesterday, the Embassy marked the 235th anniversary of the Constitution. Chargé d'Affaires Jerzy Boczkowski opened the evening with reflections on the history and lasting significance of the Constitution. Christine Scott, Director General Network at the FCDO, spoke about the strength of the Polish-British diplomatic relations, expressing her pleasure at celebrating this occasion together with the Polish community in London.

🙌 Thank you to everyone who joined us.

🇵🇱 Wiwat maj! Wiwat Konstytucja!

🚑 Since 2014, Damian has been saving the lives of soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. 🇵🇱 🇺🇦

Together with fellow Polish volunteer battlefield medics from the “W międzyczasie” group, he works just behind Ukraine’s front line. He provides first aid and evacuates the wounded where conditions are toughest and every second matters – often under fire, close to Russian positions.

He also shares his experience with others – through workshops and training sessions, he teaches how to respond effectively when a life may depend on quick action.

Damian’s story is one of courage, responsibility and cooperation. There are days when Polish volunteers evacuate dozens of wounded soldiers from the front line. Every life saved is proof that we are strongest when we stand together. ❤️

Damian Duda W międzyczasie

History tells that brutal dictators MUST be stopped until the price gets too high. Kremlin publicly embraces the USSR's crimes as its legacy. No amount of historical distortion can vindicate the Soviets' own role as occupiers. Occupation is not liberation.