“We are a bit of collateral damage” from the situation, launches Ekaterina.

A Russian student doing a degree in geography and planning in Aix-en-Provence, she is the co-founder of the SOS Russian Students Twitter account, which allows them to talk about their difficulties which have accumulated since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. .

“At the moment, we are cut off from the resources sent by our families, regrets this young woman.

We can no longer withdraw money from ATMs, pay with our Russian bank cards, pay for our accommodation...” 

At the start of the war, Ekaterina bailed out her French account and said she had "about the money to finance a month—a month and a half maximum."

But after that she “will no longer be able to pay” for her accommodation.

She is waiting for help from the Crous (Regional Center for University and School Works) of 200 euros in the form of a voucher.

The ordeal of the residence permit

The renewal of his residence permit is also in question because "you must always have the sum to finance the following year", she explains.

On this subject, Russian students in France have made a petition to ask for an exceptional relaxation of the procedure.

Alexandra, in master of Slavic studies at Sorbonne University, depicts a "really difficult" situation.

“Currently, French banks do not open accounts for Russians.

It's a problem, ”points out the one who says she is lucky to have a French account, to be on a scholarship and to have student accommodation.

She congratulates herself on “not having had to face discrimination” because she is Russian.

“But when the French ask me where I come from, there is always a white person...”, adds this 21-year-old student, who would like to stay at least another year in France but is worried about her residence permit. .

Olga, Ukrainian: "Emotionally, it's very difficult"

"For students already in France and whose visa is about to expire, the official instructions have not yet been published, but they are invited to go to the prefecture to ask for their situation to be examined," says Campus France.

According to this organization which promotes the French higher education system abroad, 1,637 Ukrainian students and 5,146 Russians are currently in France.

Provided by universities and Crous, support could become difficult if their number increases exponentially, as anticipated.

Many universities have already set up support systems, such as in Bordeaux, Nantes, Angers or Lyon. 

In Paris-Saclay, south of Paris, emergency social assistance is also mobilized for Ukrainians and Russians present on campus.

Among them, Oleksandra, 19, left Ukraine just before the conflict for a two-month internship.

“I left without suspecting at all that there would be war, without taking a lot of clothes”, she testifies.

"Emotionally, it's very difficult," admits this student, worried about her family.

"But I'm happy to have the opportunity to study and think about something else."

Her internship supervisor has already offered her to stay longer, and she is now wondering “how she will continue her studies”.

200 Ukrainian students in the network of CROUS residences

Like the universities, the Crous network mobilizes its emergency measures (aid, one-euro meals for non-scholarship holders in precarious situations, etc.).

It currently houses more than 200 Ukrainian students in its residences, including Nataliia Kyselova, 25, a film and visual arts scholarship holder in Lyon, France since 2020. 

"When the conflict broke out, it was very unexpected for me, I was in pain, so much so that I had to be hospitalized for several days because it was too difficult psychologically," she confesses.

“There I am better, I accept reality.

I try to be as strong as possible to help as much as I can”, says this student, without news of her grandmother in Mariupol.

"It's hard, but I'm not losing hope."

She is applying for financial aid offered by the Crous and has a residence permit until January 2023. "But I am looking to extend it because I would like to enter a doctorate, and it is not easy at all", sighs. -she.

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