They have been helplessly witnessing Russia's aggression against their country for a thousand days. For refugees from Ukraine, this Tuesday, November 19, 2024 marks a sad anniversary and reminds us how dramatic the situation remains.
A gathering was organized on the square in front of Tours town hall, in the early evening at the call of associations which have emerged in Indre-et-Loire since the arrival of the first refugees.
“They sometimes have to make difficult choices”
On this occasion, Olena Froment, president of Ukraine Avenir, evokes the complex feelings that inhabit the Ukrainians welcomed in Touraine. “Many have been there for two and a half yearsshe comments. At first, they didn't think they would stay that long. They see their previous life, what they had built in Ukraine, slip away. They sometimes have to make difficult choices, a person who had a bac + 5 before is forced to take a less qualified job… There are many Ukrainian mothers in this case, they make this choice for the safety of their children. »
This is the case of Nadiia and Hanna, two refugees now living in Ligueil, who traveled 45 km to come and participate in the demonstration. “We are still very sad because every day our country is bombed by the Russiansspecifies Nadiia. But the children have adapted here. The people at Ligueil were very supportive of us and helped us a lot. »
This is also the case for Anastasiya, a refugee in Touraine with her son – a little autistic boy – since the start of the war. For her, who comes from Donbass, these thousand days are not the real symbol. “The war started here, in Donbass, in 2014, she recalls. It's been well over a thousand days. »
Olena also talks about the doubts that assail the displaced people regarding their status. “We can keep the temporary statusshe indicates, or request another status, refugee, which is sometimes more advantageous, particularly for elderly people. But then we must give up going back to Ukraine. »
These difficult choices add to the pain of seeing Ukraine still in difficulty in the face of Russian aggression. “My family lives in the West, near Lvivspecifies Olena. But even there, there were recent air alerts and a missile fell on a house, decimating a family. In other cities too, like Odessa. Kharkiv and Soum are constantly shelled. »
“We don’t trust Russia”
Like many of her compatriots, Natalya notes that in Western countries, attention to the conflict is decreasing. “That’s why it’s important to be hereshe explains. Even if it rains heavily, in Ukraine, our compatriots endure much harsher conditions. Westerners must be reminded that the war continues. » She admits to being afraid that they “let go of Ukraine”.
“We feel that people are saying that we will have to end this war, Olena comments. The Ukrainians are also tired, but we do not trust Russia. If we freeze the territorial situation, one day or another, Russia will attack again and it is our children and our grandchildren who will have to face that. »
The uncertainty over their fate in France, the doubt over the future of their country and the wavering support of Western countries, a gloomy end to the year awaits for the Ukrainians of Touraine.
Tours puts on the colors of Ukraine
In solidarity with the Ukrainians of Touraine, Ukraine Avenir is offering a rich cultural program at the end of the year, with the support of the City of Tours.
– Salle Ockeghem: Thursday November 28, at 7:30 p.m., musical journey from Norway to Ukraine with K. Tomaszewska (piano) and T. Bervetsky (violin). Works by Grieg, Chopin, Skoryk… Price from €8 to €14. Reservations recommended on [email protected]
– Villa Rabelais: Saturday November 30 afternoon, discovery of the culinary traditions of Ukraine at Villa Rabelais; Saturday December 14, discovery of end-of-year traditions.
– Halles de Tours: Saturday November 23 and Sunday November 24, discovery of literature and introduction to the Ukrainian language.
– In the libraries: selection of works on Ukraine at the Central Library, bilingual reading of Ukrainian stories for children at the Paul-Carlat library, Saturday November 23, at 10:30 a.m.; meeting with Nicole Parlange and Olena Froment around the novel Madame Hanska, the Stranger by Balzac, Friday November 29, at 7 p.m., at the Central Library.
