A tragic knife attack in Jarosław, in which a Ukrainian citizen fatally wounded a priest and injured four other people, has shocked the public, prompting calls for the perpetrator to be punished to the fullest extent of the law as well as warnings against the political exploitation of the crime. According to witnesses, the late priest Stanisław Zbojnowicz came to the defense of worshippers after the attacker entered the church.
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a brutal crime took place on the grounds of the Benedictine Sisters’ Monastery in Jarosław. A 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen, who had entered Poland from Germany during the night, forced his way onto the abbey grounds. The attacker grabbed a kitchen knife found inside the facility and attacked people gathered in the church. Startled worshippers desperately sought shelter, with some hiding in confessionals. The man was arrested at the scene by responding police officers.
Attack toll: Priest killed, others seriously injured
A total of five people – four men and one woman – were injured in the attack. The victims included three members of the clergy and two laypeople. All were transported to hospitals. One of the attacked priests died from his injuries. The condition of the remaining injured victims was described as serious and life-threatening.
Who was the murdered priest?
The victim of the brutal attack was Father Stanisław Zbojnowicz. When the attack began, he was serving as a priest in the church, hearing confessions before Mass. According to witnesses, when the attacker entered the church carrying a knife, the priest showed extraordinary courage and attempted to stop the assailant, standing in defense of the people gathered inside the church. The priest died from stab wounds sustained while attempting to protect those present.
Witnesses and the nuns emphasized that the determination and heroic actions of the priests who tried to protect those present prevented an even greater tragedy.
Politicians’ reactions: Karol Nawrocki and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The tragedy in Jarosław prompted immediate reactions at the highest levels of government in Poland and internationally.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed his condolences in a post on X to the family of the deceased priest and the entire abbey community. He stressed that “in the face of such acts, the state must be strong, act swiftly, and enforce the law decisively”, and that the rules in force in Poland must be respected by all foreigners staying in the country. He also said he expects the authorities to quickly and thoroughly establish the circumstances of the tragedy.
Z bólem przyjąłem wiadomość o śmierci księdza, który padł ofiarą brutalnego ataku w jarosławskim Opactwie. Jego Bliskim i całej wspólnocie Opactwa składam wyrazy najgłębszego współczucia. Rannym ofiarom tego ataku życzę szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia.
Wobec takich aktów państwo…
— Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) September 24, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement calling the attack a “terrible crime” and expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased. He said the perpetrator must face full criminal responsibility under the law, expressing hope for a fair and thorough investigation and sorrow over the fact that a person was capable of such a cruel act.
Жахливий злочин в абатстві сестер-бенедиктинок у Ярославі, скоєний громадянином України. Шоковані цим злом.
Станом на зараз відомо про загибель священника та поранення ще кількох людей. Висловлюємо найглибші співчуття родині та близьким загиблого. Усім постраждалим бажаємо…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 24, 2026
Investigators’ findings and the attacker’s motive
The exact motive of the 31-year-old remains unknown. The investigation is being conducted by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl in cooperation with the police. Blood samples were taken from the detained man for laboratory testing for the presence of alcohol or drugs. Authorities are also establishing the exact route taken by the suspect and the circumstances of his stay in Poland.
Concerns about relations and calls for empathy
An intense discussion immediately erupted in the media and on social media. There are clear concerns that the perpetrator’s nationality could lead to an increase in anti-Ukrainian sentiment and a deterioration in relations between the two nations’ societies. Commentators point to the risk that hostile actors could exploit the tragedy to conduct disinformation campaigns and sow division.
At the same time, some commentators have been accused of moving too quickly toward political and geopolitical disputes while overlooking basic human empathy, concern for the condition of the injured, and respect for the family of the deceased priest.
The events in Jarosław carry the risk of social tensions and attempts to exploit the tragedy for political purposes. Calls have been made for the prosecution service to provide a full and transparent explanation of all the circumstances of the crime, while refraining from exploiting the tragedy in the current political struggle and avoiding provocations that could further fuel social divisions.