Reporting

Argentina: Ukrainians and Russians demonstrate together against the war in Buenos Aires

Audio 01:20

Demonstration marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in front of the Russian Embassy, ​​in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, February 24, 2023. AP - Natacha Pisarenko

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

One year from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Ukrainian diaspora in Argentina mobilized on Friday February 24 in front of the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires.

The South American country has the largest community of Ukrainian origin in Latin America, with some 450,000 people.

Alongside the hundreds of Ukrainians or descendants of Ukrainians who came to demonstrate yesterday, there were also Russians, most of whom arrived on the banks of the Rio de la Plata this year.

Advertisement

Read more

With our correspondent in Buenos Aires,

Théo Conscience

They are a few dozen Russians, discreet but very present in the middle of the yellow and blue tide that has come to shout its anger under the windows of the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Bob, who prefers not to give his real name, left St. Petersburg for Argentina two months ago.

"

We are against the war, and we did not want to stay in Russia as long as it is at war with Ukraine,"

he confides.

We oppose the government, we support Ukraine, and we came here to show that support.

»

A presence and support welcomed by César, Argentinian of Ukrainian origin: "

It's something very comforting, it's very good, because at the point where we are, not taking sides is as problematic as supporting the war.

»

► To read also: 

From London to Bucharest, Europe demonstrates against the war in Ukraine

Sabemos por lo que estamos luchando.

Por nuestro país, nuestra tierra, nuestras familias y nuestros hogares.

Nadie podrá jamás derrotar has a pueblo así.

Fe en🇺🇦es la razón por la que hemos survived.

También es la razón por la que🇺🇦definitivamente ganará#WhatWeAreFightingFor https://t.co/uDgat3st68

— UKR Embassy in ARG (@UKRinARG) February 24, 2023

Protest without fear, a first for some

In the crowd, many came with their children.

Denis pushes a pram where his son, a few months old, born in Argentina, sleeps.

A Russian too, he left Moscow last year and wanted to come and demonstrate.

If your conscience tells you that you have to do something, that you have to take to the streets to take part in the protest, then you have to do it,

he testifies.

I support the Ukrainian people enormously, I have Ukrainian family so it was very important to me.

»

For Denis, as for many Russians present on February 24, this mobilization was also the first time that they could demonstrate their opposition to the war without the risk of being arrested.

► To read also: 

A year ago began the invasion of Ukraine

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

  • Argentina

  • Russia

  • Ukraine