Polish and their descendants who have immigrated to the United States and elsewhere for many generations have maintained their ethnic heritage by promoting their culture, attending Catholic churches, attending parades and festivals, maintaining ethnic food traditions, speaking the Polish language, and promoting interest in their home country through media events as well as economic and political channels. For newer immigrant Poles, maintaining ethnic heritage means learning English and obtaining a good job. Newer immigrants are less concerned with raising consciousness over Polish American issues than they are with financially helping families who remain in Poland and raising concerns over the political and economic climate in their homeland. Polonia is the name given to Polish communities in the United States. Poles are a heterogeneous group. Much of the diversity within this ethnic group is due to the degree of acculturation, individuality, and variant cultural characteristics. The coronavirus (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread throughout Europe, reaching Poland in 2020. The pandemic had a significant impact on Poland's health system, the health of its citizens, and social, economic, political, and cultural services even after the disease diminished. Social interactions among Polish citizens and travel restrictions severely affected tourism to the country. Another humanitarian crisis challenged Poland. The Russian military invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which resulted in an unprecedented influx of Ukrainian war refugees into Poland. As of September 2023, 15.4 million people have fled Ukraine. One major factor for this influx is Poland's geographical location adjacent to Russia. Since the war began, Poland has received over 1.7 million refugees, mostly women and children. Poland is a major destination in Western Europe. As of February 2023, there are over eight million Ukrainian refugees residing in Poland. The current refugee crisis caused by this conflict has resulted in additional challenges with Poland's healthcare system and social services.
