While more than 2 million people have already fled Ukraine since the Russian attacks began, on February 24, volunteers of different nationalities are entering the country to help resistance forces, including Brazilians.
THE People’s Gazette spoke with Brazilians who responded to the call of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who last Sunday (27) announced the creation of an International Legion for foreigners who wish to volunteer for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The next day, the Ukrainian government authorized a “temporary visa-free regime” to facilitate the entry of foreigners who can help defend against an invasion of Russia.
“On the right side of history”
A group of volunteers, led by São Paulo native Leandro Galvão, 49, a former professional football player and ex-army soldier, is now in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, alongside the Ukrainian fighters.
The group left Estonia last Tuesday (1st) and entered the country through the border with Poland – as Ukrainian airspace has been closed since the beginning of the attacks, the entry into the country is being done through the border with neighboring countries. aligned with Russia. Then they went to Kiev by side roads, with the help of two Ukrainians.
According to Galvão, during the crossing the group was harassed by the Polish border guard, who allowed them to enter with only a cell phone – even so, its camera was damaged so that “they do not take pictures and ‘sell’ atrocities during the fighting”.
“They said: ‘You are going to die, and dead people don’t use a phone’”, said the Brazilian, who added that, while breaking the camera, the Pole said: “If any of you survive, call us smiling”.
In addition to Galvão, the group comprises the São Paulo gunsmith Gustavo Avelar, 33, the Estonian information technology (IT) professional Wladimir Picetti, 40, and the chemical engineer from New York, Robert Stone, 45 years old.
“The attacks are cowardly, for no apparent reason. Even if it costs our lives, we will fight on the right side of history and defend Ukrainian children, women and the elderly,” Galvão said.
According to him, the Ukrainian military expects a major Russian attack on Kiev at any moment. “It was supposed to be a surprise attack, but the city is prepared,” he assured.
Brazilians articulate on social networks
Since the beginning of the conflicts in Ukraine, Brazilians have organized themselves into groups on social media to share information on how to enter the country as volunteers.
One of them is military police officer Leonardo Lauria, 27, a resident of Jundiaí, in the interior of São Paulo, who intends to take a chartered flight in Campinas to Poland, and from there to the front in Ukraine.
Lauria informed that the price of the charter is around 335 pounds sterling, equivalent to R$ 2.4 thousand. “The price is a little heavy, but I’m confident that I might need a one-way ticket,” she said.
Another one who tries to go is entrepreneur Bruno Evans, 27, a resident of Campinas, who had the money he would use to buy a plane ticket, about R$5 thousand, mysteriously stolen from his bank account after giving an interview to the UOL portal about his intention to go to war as a volunteer.
Evans also said he had his Twitter account blocked and his Telegram account deleted. He believes he was the victim of a Russian hacker attack. Evans opened a kitty to regain value and be able to go to war.
“Right after the interview, this happened to me. I was disoriented, not knowing what to do. I saw all my plans go down the drain. But that didn’t discourage me, on the contrary. I believe that if people help me to go, I will feel even more honored to be worth the trust they are giving me,” said Evans.
Another group is organizing a kitty to raise funds to sponsor his trip to Ukraine. The group is managed by Uruguayan realtor Irina Normey, 30, a resident of the city of São Caetano, in São Paulo, who says she already has about 160 registered volunteers.
Irina said that she is acting as the representative of the International Legion in Brazil and that she is looking for sponsors to finance the volunteers’ trip to Ukraine.
“In this first moment, we would like to send 30 people. For this, they are providing passports and keeping vaccines up to date. We have already received some funds, but a sponsor is essential for us to achieve our goal, as the tickets to go there are around R$ 3 thousand to R$ 7 thousand”, said Irina.
If the war ends in the next few days, Irina says the funds will go to Ukrainian refugees.
How to go to Ukraine?
According to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, with the creation of the International Legion and the visa waiver for foreigners, about 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries asked to fight in the war against Russia. According to the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Brasília, Anatoliy Tkach, the list includes more than 100 Brazilians.
At the website created by the Ukrainian government to recruit foreigners, the steps to be followed by those interested in joining the Foreign Legion were laid out:
- contact the Ukrainian Embassy in your country and inform them of their intention to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine;
- provide documents such as a passport for traveling abroad, documents confirming military service and participation in combat;
- take the documents to the embassy for an interview with the consul;
- submit an application to apply for voluntary military service in the armed forces of Ukraine.
In order to join the Legion, volunteers must complete a form detailing their military experience. It is also recommended that they bring their own equipment, such as a helmet and bulletproof vest. The ticket must be paid for by the volunteer.
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