Growing Up of Ukrainian War Migrants in Poland: Evidence from an Empirical Study

This chapter explores the process of growing up among Ukrainian adolescent war migrants in Poland, focusing primarily on older adolescents who left Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion. Before presenting the results of the qualitative study, this chapter outlines the broader context of war-related migration from Ukraine to Poland. It presents selected statistical data illustrating quantitative changes in adolescent migration, particularly the increasing outflow of older adolescents (especially boys). Based on qualitative interviews, the analysis examines how forced migration, family separation, educational trajectories, and new social environments shape adolescents’ autonomy, responsibility, agency, and everyday practices. Particular attention is paid to accelerated forms of growing up related to family obligations, engagement with education and work, and strategies of coping with prolonged uncertainty. The chapter highlights the heterogeneity of adolescent experiences and shows that intentions to return to Ukraine vary across groups. Adolescents who are more strongly embedded in the Polish education system, oriented toward future educational and career opportunities in the European Union, and actively investing in language learning and social integration are generally less inclined to plan a return in the near future.

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