On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, Vladimir Putin launched a "military operation" in Ukraine.
While planning a demonstration on Sunday to protest against a possible offensive, the Ukrainian community of the Côte d'Azur gathered this Thursday morning in Nice, to "support each other".
All very worried for their families in Ukraine, the nationals are ready to welcome or even leave to help them.
"It's as if the sun hadn't risen this morning," said Tetiana Bak, 48, her eyes swollen with tears as she gazed at the sky from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
Draped in the colors of Ukraine, she holds two posters in her hands: “Stop Putin, stop war” and “Stop Russia” with the head of the Russian President on the symbol of the skull.
Around her, around sixty other nationals met spontaneously this Thursday, from 10 a.m., after being awakened at 4 a.m. by their relatives, 2,000 km from the Côte d'Azur, when Vladimir Poutine announced launch a "military operation" in Ukraine.
“My sister, who lives in Kiev, called me on video telling me: the war has started, we hear bombardments, continues Tetiana, in France for six years.
I was shocked.
Just last night, we thought everything would be fine.
I'm not just scared for my family, I'm scared for the whole country.
My family prepared emergency suitcases in case they might leave in a hurry.
According to his latest information, his relatives cannot leave the country, everything is closed.
She then thinks of going there.
“We feel helpless”
“In 2014, I made the revolution every day, every night.
I cannot stay here quietly while this disaster is happening in my country”, she exclaims before chanting “Long live Ukraine!
“, launched by the group.
After singing the national anthem, a young woman launches music on her speaker, which everyone picks up.
For Olga Golovakina, who has just arrived in Nice, it is important to come together “to support each other” because “we all feel helpless here”.
“We are all going through the same thing, it feels good to talk about it and not be alone in these moments.
We also show that we need support.
She looks at her cell phone.
She has just received a message from her friends in Kiev: “They are afraid that tanks will land in town in an hour.
Doctors were called in for help.
» Kateryna, she has no more news from her parents.
They are in Lugansk, in the east of Ukraine.
“Even yesterday, I imagined going there to help them.
I just wish they were safe,” she said, holding back tears.
“We have been warning of this danger for eight years!
»
On the Prom, Sylvie stopped to say "that she sympathized".
She, who is from Lorraine and who has had the testimonies of her parents who lived through the war, feels very touched even if she “does not know what to do to help”.
A few French people stop and chat.
“I received messages of support from the cultural activities of which I am a part, it feels good.
We would also like the Russian community to react,” says Olga Monakh.
This artist has traveled to several countries and today receives apologies from Russian friends who "are shocked and ashamed".
“Today, the whole world is in danger.
We need country leaders to come together and act with strong sanctions.
It's not a surprise, we've been warning about this danger for eight years!
She came to the Promenade des Anglais with her husband and son, David, 11, who is holding a "Stop War" sign.
For him, “we must not be afraid, we must have courage and above all not lose the feeling that the country can win.
We must keep hope.
»
A new mobilization is planned for Sunday morning, "we are waiting for the authorization of the prefecture", specifies Irina Bourdelles, president of the Franco-Ukrainian Association Côte d'Azur (Afuca).
Society
With the invasion of Russia, "shock", "concern" and "panic attacks" among the Ukrainian community of Nice
Paris
In the Ukrainian cathedral in Paris, a prayer for the soldiers who defend "the fatherland"
Vladimir Poutine
Russia
War in Ukraine
War
0 comment
0 share
Share on Messenger
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Flipboard
Share on Pinterest
Share on Linkedin
Send by Mail
To safeguard
A fault ?
To print