Hill folk, informally

POLS

Think of a casual term for people from a country known for pierogi and a turbulent history in Eastern Europe.

"Hill folk" is a playful nod to people from Appalachia, often called "hillbillies" in informal slang. The answer "POLS" is short for "Polacks," a dated and sometimes offensive slang term for Polish people—but in crosswords, it’s used neutrally as a quick abbreviation. Here, the clue twists the idea of "hill folk" to hint at a different group known by a similar-sounding slang term, relying on the solver’s familiarity with both cultural shorthands.