On vacation with friends on a trip to several European cities, Ukrainian Roslislav Burilo, 22, was surprised by Russia’s attack on his country while enjoying the sunny days in the south of the continent.
Even though he can remain safely in Portugal, which has guaranteed automatic legalization for all refugees from the conflict, he is now trying to return to Kiev to join the resistance forces.
Although he was never actively engaged in the Army, the young man attended a military academy during university and is therefore part of the reserve contingent of the Armed Forces.
“As I am in the reserve, I am militarily obliged to return to the war. But I want to return because my family and friends are there. I have friends who are now on the front lines fighting for the country”, he says.
“I try to use critical thinking for everything, but I think the time has come to be patriotic. Ukrainians have realized that they have to fight together.”
When the Russian invasion took place on February 24, he was on the island of Tenerife in Spain. To have better connections back home, the young man decided to travel to Lisbon, where the Ukrainian community created a robust task force to support victims of the conflict.
Ross’s initial plan, as he is called by friends, was to hitch a ride on the humanitarian aid convoy that will leave Portugal for the Ukrainian border this weekend. Shortly before boarding, however, he got a plane ticket to Poland on Monday (7).
A native of Lviv, a city close to the Polish border, he reports that the family refused to leave the country. “I warned everyone that there is a large community of Ukrainians in Portugal, that they could help them with everything to come,” he says. “But it was no use, they didn’t want to. They told me that this is their land and that, if necessary, they die there.”
Talking about the war and family at risk in Ukraine is the only thing that takes the smile off Ross’ face, who sports a funky haircut, piercing in both ears and big green eyes. He says that when he started his trip about a month ago, he didn’t think there would be an invasion.
“In November and December, when they started talking about the possibility of war, we were all very scared. Then it seemed that things calmed down, and the stress lessened.”
For that reason, Ross remembers the news of the start of the offensive as a particularly difficult moment. “Knowing that Ukraine had been attacked was a mixture of feelings, all very negative,” he says.
“First frustration, then anger, and finally hopelessness because my parents were there, and I knew I couldn’t do anything. So I started trying to think strategically, trying to rationalize what I could do.”
In his opinion, the complete invasion of the country served to reveal to the world the authoritarian face of Vladimir Putin, something that, he says, has been well known to Ukrainians for many years.
“Ukraine has been in a hybrid war since 2014 [anexação da Crimeia e apoio à independência de Donetsk e Lugansk]but the international community didn’t take it seriously”, he says.
While waiting for his return, he works as a volunteer with the Ukrainian Refugees UAPT association, which offers everything from groceries and other donations to legal aid and housing.
In the few moments of relaxation, he managed to walk around the Portuguese capital. “I arrived at the time of Carnival and it was very beautiful to see the animation. The Portuguese are very welcoming. People also care a lot about the situation. Whenever I say I’m Ukrainian, everyone shows support”, he says.
Ross also says he was surprised by the large Brazilian community in Portugal, which has also shown concern about the situation in their country.
About to embark on war, he tries to keep a positive mindset about his future and the fate of Ukraine itself. “I’m going to Lviv and I’m going to report to the army, if they’ll accept me. Maybe I’ll just have to join the next wave of drafts, but I’ll be there to help, including refugees from other regions,” he says.
“I also think I can continue to work remotely at the association in Portugal. What I want is to do as much as possible because now is the time to help everyone.”
According to Kiev’s border security agency, more than 50,000 Ukrainians residing abroad have returned to the country to join the army in the war effort.
