The group of Brazilian players, their families and professionals from soccer linked to Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev, was unable to leave the Ukrainian capital on Friday night (25). Due to lack of security, they decided not to go to Kiev Central Station and try to take the train offered by Itamaraty as an alternative to reach the Ukrainian-Romanian border.
They were given short notice by the Itamaraty that a train would leave for the city of Chernivsti, in western Ukraine, from where they could try to reach Romania. But without any guarantee of security, the group chose to stay at the Hotel Ópera, where they are housed in a bunker.
“We were warned about the train at the last minute and without any security strategy. It was not feasible to leave, we all moved. Even more so at that time. We are still here”, he told the UOL Esporte businessman Augusto Nogueira, who represents 18-year-old winger Vinicius Tobias, who transferred from Internacional to Shakhtar at the end of January.
According to Nogueira, there are approximately 50 Brazilians who are installed in the bunker. “We have children, from babies of 3, 4 months, to children of 6, 7 years. There is not the slightest safety to go outside. We are hearing bomb noises here in the hotel.”
The businessman says that there is already a lack of food and water in the hotel. “The situation is critical, and we are very concerned. But we do not intend to leave without having the least security. We believe that the Brazilian government will find a way to get us out of here.”
The contact between the group of Brazilians and the Brazilian diplomatic representation takes place only through electronic channels — through the website or Telegram. It was through the messaging app that the group was informed, at 9 pm in Kiev, that the train would leave just an hour later. No one from the Brazilian Embassy in Kiev sought them out. “Nobody [nos procura]. Only us and God”, lamented Nogueira.
In addition to Vinicius Tobias, who turned 18 on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, players such as defender Marlon, former Fluminense, attacking midfielder Pedrinho, formerCorinthiansstriker David Neres, ex-São Paulo, and side Dodô, ex-coritiba.
On Instagram, Marlon made a post at 2 pm in Kiev (21 pm in Brasília), in which he confirmed the dramatic situation of Brazilians who are sheltered in the hotel. “We continued in the bunker of the Hotel Ópera, in Kiev. We did not try to board the train organized by the Brazilian embassy. It would be a high risk for all of us.”
The player, who showed on video the conditions of the group in the bunker, continued in his appeal: “We still need the help of the Brazilian government! Our supplies are running out. There are many children here!”.
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