Refugees ‘fed pro-Russian views’ head home
HUNDREDS of hopeful Ukrainians are returning home from neighbouring Moldova, as the Russian onslaught continues to meet fierce resistance.
Julia Polishchuck was among those queuing in cars at the border with her daughter Alisa, five, and mother Helen, 55. She said: “Since Odesa is more or less calm, we decided to come back home because it’s not clear how long this is going to last. Half a year, a year?”
The family had stayed for a month with relatives in Transnistria, an unrecognised breakaway region of Moldova occupied by Russian troops. But the trio grew tired of hearing pro-Russian views.
Julia, 32, said: “Everyone was telling me, ‘You have a clown for a president.’ I told them that at least we had a choice and elected him.” Tatiana Stroya, 42, was also heading home to Odesa with her sister Yana and their four children.
They spent three weeks in Transnistria where they were warmly welcomed by a
church organisation. But when the war was discussed, locals said Ukrainians were Nazis. Tatiana said: “I have always spoken Russian but now, since we are on the road, I told my family let’s speak
Ukrainian because this language is disgusting to me.
“Everyone is standing for their Ukraine. Before this, we would think western Ukrainians have their own culture and views. Now we are more united than ever.
“Putin made us much stronger than we were before. We are a free people.”
Elena and Victor Brashovean, both 65, stayed for a month in Moldova but had decided it was time to go home.
Victor said: “It doesn’t matter how safe it is now, we want to be there. Maybe we can help somehow rather than just staying at home.
Elena added: “We also have a vegetable garden that has to be planted.”
But Moldova For Peace volunteer Vitalie Spanceana said most of those he had spoken to were only returning to Ukraine temporarily, often to fetch more of their belongings or pick up relatives. “There’s this uncertainty,” he said.