“I will not leave Ukraine”, the story of chef Stefano Antoniolli

«I arrived in Ukraine twenty years ago. Here is my life. I’m certainly not leaving. ” S.tefano Antoniolli, 45 years old, is one of the best known chefs in Ukraine. His restaurant, Fenix ​​Italia, is in the chic heart of the city. And his face appears in TV talent. Antoniolli stayed in his house in the Krisciatik area, the main commercial artery of the city. “I see people on the run, I see queues at ATMs.”

He worked until Wednesday night, then he chose to send the co-workers home and close. It was not fear that prevailed. “Rather the anger: for eight years Russia and Ukraine have opposed, this situation should not have escalated at this point“. Antoniolli also explains how he refused the bunker in the days. “There is a curfew in the city, but we have chosen not to go to bunkers and subways during the night. Now there is a fight in the streets, whoever violates the curfew risks their lives. We won’t move, but the situation in Kiev is getting worse by the hour. “

Born in Treviso, after working in Dubai Antoniolli moved to Ukraine in 1999. «Here I met my wife. Here was born our son, who is now 17 years old ». In constant contact with Italy, he tries to calm the tension of the family. “My father and my sister call me from Treviso every day, but they don’t try to get me to evacuate. They know me, they know that I will stay here until the end ».

Despite the constant noise of bombs, Antoniolli exhibits strength and steadfast nerves. «We are not worried, I think it’s DNA: let’s try to have confidence. We are certainly preparing for an occupation ». The Italian chef, however, said he was disappointed at the escalation that led to military action. “Anger prevails in me, because the dispute has been going on since 2014 and Ukraine and Russia have not found a meeting point. The situation told on the outside is not exactly like the one we live in. Not even the Russians really want a war. ‘ If anything, the concern is directed at the heart of the city. «Kiev is a European capital, a beautiful and modern city, with every comfort. But it is also one of the great cities of the East, with a centuries-old tradition and wonderful monuments. It must not become a wounded city ».

Other stories of Vanity Fair that might interest you:

– Ukraine: night in the shelters in Kiev, Russian vehicles close to the city

– Ukraine, “We will spend the night in this bunker, in the cold”

– Attack on Ukraine, protests also in Russian cities

– Ukraine, the cry of civilians: “We are terrified”

– Ukraine, the attack started during the night

– Ukraine: “Awakened by the bombing, I threw up with fear”

– Ukraine, Natalia Onipko: «The world help us. We can’t do it alone “

– Putin’s signature: for Russia Donetsk and Lungansk are independent from Ukraine

– Ukraine, the drama of the fleeing population

– Ukraine crisis, Macron way: Putin-Biden meeting possible

– Vittorio Emanuele Parsi: “Ukraine between Russia and the West”

– Ukraine, the fears that the Russian invasion brings us

– Sean Penn flies to Ukraine to shoot a documentary about the Russian invasion

– Ukraine, Draghi: “The return of war in Europe cannot be tolerated”

Source: Vanity Fair

You may also like