Embassy asks Brazilians to travel by “own means” in Ukraine

The Brazilian Embassy in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, a country that has been under attack from Russia since the early hours of this Thursday (24), recommended that Brazilians living in the country “may travel by their own means to other countries around the world.” western Ukraine to do so as soon as possible, after finding out about the local security situation”. The Ukrainian community living in Brazil asks for a firmer position from the Brazilian government on the attacks against the eastern European country and the situation of Brazilians in Ukraine.

The statement points out that the Ukrainian authorities have asked the population not to go out to avoid large traffic jams on the way out of the Ukrainian capital. “Brazilians who seek to leave the city at this time must face great difficulties. You are requested to await further instructions from the embassy,” the embassy said in a notice issued around 8 am on Thursday.

In the message, the embassy asked Brazilians living in the regions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, in the east of the country, where the separatist regions are located, to head west “by their own means or in a safe way”.

“[Os brasileiros] must travel to Kiev and contact the embassy as soon as possible on the consular duty +380 50 384 5484. It is requested that the number be used only in case of extreme need. Community guidelines will continue to be broadcast through this channel [Telegram e Facebook]”.

For those who are unable to move safely, the embassy asks them to seek a safe place “away from military bases, facilities responsible for supplying energy and internet and areas responsible for the production of electricity”.

Ukrainian community in Brazil

In Brazil, the honorary consul of Ukraine, Jorge Rybka, lamented the situation in his country in an official statement. “This morning was very sad and very difficult. I won’t say it was a total surprise, but what we wanted was for that not to happen. Until the last moment, we imagined that diplomacy would be the way,” he declared.

Rybka said that there are 600,000 Brazilians of Ukrainian origin and that everyone who lives here is concerned about family members who are in the eastern European country that woke up under attack and ask for a clearer position from Brazil.

“We, as a community of Ukrainian origin in Brazil, would like the Brazilian government to take a clear stand against these actions, this aggression and promote actions for this fight, with everything that can be done to make Putin go back,” said the consul. , who also spoke of the concern for Brazilians of Ukrainian origin who are in the country under attack.

“In addition to being honorary consul, I am the vice president of the Central Representation of Ukrainians in Brazil. They are all apprehensive, worried. Many have family members in Ukraine, in different regions. Unfortunately, this attack is not concentrated in just one location, it is all over Ukraine, which is being bombed. Missiles are falling all over Ukraine, unfortunately, contradicting everything that has been said so far. Is very sad”.

understand the attack

After weeks of tension, Russia attacked Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning. A military operation in the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, explosions and sirens were heard in several cities across the country.

Ukrainian authorities reported that dozens of people died and six Russian planes were reportedly destroyed. On Thursday morning, long lines formed on Kiev’s main avenues as residents tried to leave the area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the population to defend the country and said that “citizens can use weapons to defend territory”.

In his speech before the attack, Putin justified the action by saying that Russia could not “tolerate threats from Ukraine”. Putin urged Ukrainian soldiers to “put down your weapons and go home”. The Russian leader further stated that he will not accept any kind of foreign interference.