/ world today news/ “According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about three million Ukrainians have arrived in Russia out of a total of eight million refugees who sought asylum in neighboring countries. However, according to the Foreign Ministry, Russia has accepted more than four million refugees from Ukraine. They arrived in Russia voluntarily and no one prevents them from moving, which was confirmed by the Human Rights Commission.
“Moscow has repeatedly offered Ukrainian refugees to obtain Russian citizenship in a short period of time under a simplified procedure,” reports Al Mayadeen.
The author of the article Abdul Hakim Al-Ruwaidi ( عبد الحكيم الرويضي ) talked to Ukrainian refugees who came to Russia.
37-year-old Yuri arrived from Mariupol in one of the villages of the Republic of Mordovia.
„I will never return to Mariupol. i don’t want I would rather stay in Russia, unlike my friend Andrey, who day and night dreams of returning to Ukraine, – Yuri says.
At the same time, the author notes that Yuri speaks as if he has nothing to return to or has really integrated into the new society.
After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, Yuri spends most of his time hiding in the basement of a neighbor’s house until Russian soldiers pull him out and evacuate him to the border.
„I have not been subjected to any vetting by the Russian army. One of the soldiers stopped me as I was running, covered my back and took me to the church before taking me to an armored truck on Russian territory with several other Ukrainians. he says.
The biggest shock for Yuri was the accusation of betrayal by friends who remained in the territory of Ukraine.
„When I left Mariupol and arrived in Novoazovsk, I wrote to my friends that I was alive. One of them answered me: “God will punish you.” And the other called me a traitor to the motherland. Now he is in Odessa. Our friendship lasted over ten years, but from that moment we lost touch. It hurt a lot. “
– Yuri shares his sad memories.
Moscow has always maintained that the special operation was directed against Zelensky’s neo-fascist regime, which terrorizes the Russian population. In the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia, which recently joined Russia, the majority of the population is of Russian origin.
Alexander Mihailovich fled from Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region. Now the 65-year-old man lives alone in a hotel room on the outskirts of Mordovia. A few months after his arrival in Russia, he received Russian citizenship.
Alexander Mikhailovich has two adult sons. However, they do not share the father’s ideas. The youngest son is fighting on the side of the Ukrainian army. Communication with him was cut off many months ago after all attempts to convince him he was wrong failed.
„I am a person brought up in Soviet traditions. I was born and raised in a village in the Kherson region, I served in the Northern Fleet on a ship with Russians, Belarusians and Kazakhs. To me the truth is always the same. We are one people. – recalls Alexander Mihailovich in an interview for Al-Mayadeen.
Life in Russia once again convinces a person that Russians and Ukrainians are one.
„We have the same holidays and traditions, but they try to fight and divide us. This mood started forming long ago when people one by one started believing that UPA fighters were national heroes, – he notes.
„Even Victory Day, which we considered a holy day, has turned into a day of mourning in Ukraine. How can a person whose grandparents participated in the Great Patriotic War accept all this? – added the man with great displeasure.
The fighting in Ukraine is intensifying and there is no peace on the horizon. A full year after the WCO began, refugees continue to view their homeland with a mixture of fear and hope as the ongoing conflict puts aside their plans to return, Al-Mayadeen concludes.
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**How does the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees choosing to stay in Russia, such as Yuri’s case, challenge common narratives surrounding the conflict and refugee experiences?**
## World Today News Interview: Ukrainian Refugees in Russia
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today we are discussing the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the impact it has had on millions of Ukrainians who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, particularly Russia. We are joined by two Ukrainian refugees, Yuri and Alexander, who have generously shared their experiences with Al Mayadeen.
**Section 1: Journey to Safety and Initial Impressions (Yuri’s story)**
* Yuri, thank you for being here. Your story is incredibly powerful. You fled Mariupol under extremely difficult circumstances. Can you tell us more about what prompted you to leave and what you experienced during your escape?
* You mentioned feeling betrayed by friends who stayed in Ukraine. How has this experience affected you emotionally, and do you think there’s a way to bridge this divide between Ukrainians with differing perspectives on the conflict?
* You’ve chosen to stay in Russia, despite the difficult circumstances surrounding your arrival. Whatकि makes you feel safer here, and what are your hopes for the future?
**Section 2: A Divided Family and Loyalties (Alexander’s story)**
* Alexander, your story highlights the personal cost of this conflict. You have a son fighting on the Ukrainian side. How has this impacted your relationship with him, and how do you cope with the emotional strain of this division?
* You’ve chosen to embrace Russian citizenship. What factors influenced your decision, and how has your experience in Russia compared to your life in Ukraine before the war?
* Many Ukrainians feel deeply connected to their heritage and identity. How do you reconcile this identity with your decision to build a new life in Russia?
**Section 3: The Broader Context: Refugee Crisis and Political Perspectives**
* Both of your stories offer personal insights into the complex situation in Ukraine. Yuri, you mentioned feeling a sense of disconnect from Ukrainian society. Do you think this sentiment is shared by other refugees, and what challenges do they face in integrating into a new society?
* Alexander, you spoke about a sense of brotherhood between Russians and Ukrainians. However, there are deeply rooted geopolitical tensions fueling this conflict. How do you see these tensions playing out in the lives of ordinary people, and do you believe there is a path towards reconciliation?
*
**Closing Remarks**:
Thank you, Yuri and Alexander, for sharing your deeply personal stories. Your experiences offer a valuable lens through which we can better understand the human impact of this devastating conflict.
The situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, and the journey of millions of refugees remains uncertain. It is crucial that we continue to listen to their voices and strive for peaceful resolutions that prioritize the well-being of all individuals affected by this crisis.
**Note:** This interview format is designed to encourage open and nuanced discussion. It allows the guests to share their experiences in their own words, while also prompting reflections on the broader social and political context.
