Ukraine Bans Polish Journalist for Three Years
Ukrainian authorities barred Polish commentator Łukasz Warzecha from entry after holding him at the border for over seven hours.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Immigration
Live Poll
Should a country be able to bar journalists on security grounds?
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) issued a three-year entry ban against Polish journalist Łukasz Warzecha, who was held at the Ukrainian border and told the decision was made for 'security reasons'. He had been due to join a study visit for Polish journalists organised by the Mieroszewski Centre and the Ukraine Institute.
Why it matters
The ban disrupts a bilateral exchange programme whose journalist list had been cleared in advance with Ukrainian state authorities, raising questions about how security screening is applied to visiting media. Polish lawmakers have called for explanations and a firm response from Warsaw.
Warzecha, a journalist primarily associated with the weekly Do Rzeczy, was held at the Ukrainian border and told to wait in a room for over seven hours before being informed of the three-year ban. The SBU issued the decision, which was cited as being for 'security reasons' without further detail.
The players
Łukasz Warzecha
Polish journalist and commentator primarily associated with the weekly Do Rzeczy, who was banned from entering Ukraine for three years.
Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
Ukraine's national security agency, which issued the entry ban against Warzecha citing security reasons.
Mieroszewski Centre
Polish organisation that co-organised the study visit for Polish journalists to Ukraine and sought to intervene in the case with both governments' foreign ministries.
The details
Warzecha announced on social media that he had been held at the border, and the Mieroszewski Centre subsequently sought to intervene with the foreign ministries of both countries without success. Andrzej Śliwka, a Law and Justice (PiS) MP, criticised the ban and called for explanations and a firm response from Polish authorities.
Timeline
Monday (2 November 2026): Warzecha was held at the Ukrainian border and informed of the three-year ban.
October 2026: The Mieroszewski Centre arranged a visit for Ukrainian journalists to Poland, the reciprocal programme context for the study visit.
Political Context
The ban was issued by the SBU under security-based entry restrictions, but it hit a journalist on a programme whose participant list had been forwarded to Ukrainian state authorities without objection. Polish critics argue that the lack of disclosed reasons makes the decision difficult to contest or reconcile with prior approval.
For journalists and researchers planning reporting trips to Ukraine, a security-based entry ban can be imposed at the border even after participant lists have been approved. Travellers should expect that prior clearance does not guarantee entry and should verify current requirements with the relevant authorities before departure.
The takeaway
Advance approval of a travel list does not guarantee entry, so journalists and programme organisers should plan for last-minute border refusals. Clear disclosure of the grounds for any ban remains the key open question in this case.
Further reading
Explore more on Immigration to see how entry and border rules shape international travel and reporting.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Notes From Poland.
Live Poll
Should a country be able to bar journalists on security grounds?
