Introduction and objective:
International students may face threats to life and health related to adaptation difficulties in a new social environment. The aim of the study is to identify predictors of such threats among Ukrainian and Belarusian students studying in Lublin, Poland.

Material and methods:
An online diagnostic survey was conducted in 2023 among students of three universities in Lublin. The final sample comprised 403 respondents: 232 students from Ukraine and Belarus and 171 Polish students. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used.

Results:
During their studies, a significantly higher proportion of students from Ukraine (43.7%) and Belarus (44.4%) than Polish students (23.4%) reported experiencing life- or health-threatening situations (p<0.001). Logistic regression showed that discrimination based on nationality or religion was the strongest predictor of such threats in both international and Polish students (p<0.001). Discrimination in this respect increases the likelihood of experiencing threats to life or health. Among students from Ukraine and Belarus, year of study (p=0.016) and number of close friends (p=0.027) were also significant predictors, while perceived access to medical assistance approached statistical significance (p=0.054). The likelihood of experiencing threats decreased with progression through the years of study and with a more positive assessment of access to medical treatment, but increased with the number of close friends.

Conclusions:
Threats to life and health among Ukrainian and Belarusian students are significantly associated with discrimination and adaptation difficulties. Universities should therefore strengthen anti-discrimination measures, support integration within the academic community, and improve communication with international students. Such actions may enhance both subjective and objective safety by improving students’ sense of security and reducing the risk of threatening situations.