He was only a child when Artemio’s family welcomed him thanks to the program. Today Dimitri returns to Italy with his wife and daughter
His photos, together with his family, have warmed the heart of the whole of Italy. Her name is Dimitri and he was, in 1997, a child from Chernobyl.
At the time it was hosted by Artemio Bertothanks to the i ‘children of Chernobyl’ and the same man, now a retiree and former city councilor, has it contacted and offered him hospitality during the Ukraine – Russia war.
Today Dimitri is a man
Today Dimitri Bratina has 34 years, a wife and a 4-year-old girl. In 1997 during the summer, thanks to the program, the child from Chernobyl was hosted in Italy. Welcomed as a family member by Artemio and his relatives.
And today I could count on that same hospitality, who is protecting him in a time that sadly he will never forget in his entire life. The same guy has told:
Before the invasion, Artemio had asked us if we wanted to come here to him, but we thought it was just a Russian attempt to scare the Ukrainians. Then, when the invasion started, we were already in the car and we were able to cross the border and come up here.
Their photos, while they smile happily because aware of being in a safe place, they have made the rounds of social networks and have warmed the hearts of thousands of people.
Dimitri concludes, referring to Artemio:
We have always kept in touch, considering him ‘grandfather Artemio’. He has a big heart.
Over the past 35 years, Italy has hosted 500,000 Ukrainian and Belarusian children, to help them with decontamination from radiation. Today those children who have become boys, recontact the Italian families and the same Italian families recontact those children, during this nightmare that is seeing so many people die.
There are several stories, like that of Dimitri, which have spread on social networks. Yanafor example, she is a former child from Chernobyl and every summer, as a child, she left the orphanage of her city to reach Italy and to be with her foster parents Carla and Andrea.
I will start again here, with my heart in Ukraine.
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