Ukrainians in Erbil watch the war at home from afar
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Around 500 Ukrainians have made the Kurdistan Region their home, living and working in different job sectors in the city. For the past four days, they have been watching the scenes of war erupting in their home country, from Erbil.
Some Ukrainians are choosing to return to Ukraine to join the military and defend his country, following calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukrainians to fight.
“We will definitely win the war,” Anton, a Ukrainian resident in Erbil, told Rudaw’s Hadi Salimi as he was packing his bags to return home and enlist in the military. “This is my purpose,” he added in regards to defending Ukraine from Russia.
He also urged other Ukrainians living abroad to return to Ukraine and fight.
“All people want safety and a peaceful life…we don’t want fighting,” Sasha, another resident, said.
Sasha’s father and two brothers have joined the Ukrainian military and are currently fighting against Russian troops, she watches the war unfold on social media from her home in Erbil.
Other Ukrainians choose not to speak negatively about either side of the conflict, stating that it is upsetting to see deaths on both sides of the war given that the Ukrainians and Russians are two interconnected nations.
Some Ukrainians are choosing to return to Ukraine to join the military and defend his country, following calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukrainians to fight.
“We will definitely win the war,” Anton, a Ukrainian resident in Erbil, told Rudaw’s Hadi Salimi as he was packing his bags to return home and enlist in the military. “This is my purpose,” he added in regards to defending Ukraine from Russia.
He also urged other Ukrainians living abroad to return to Ukraine and fight.
“All people want safety and a peaceful life…we don’t want fighting,” Sasha, another resident, said.
Sasha’s father and two brothers have joined the Ukrainian military and are currently fighting against Russian troops, she watches the war unfold on social media from her home in Erbil.
Other Ukrainians choose not to speak negatively about either side of the conflict, stating that it is upsetting to see deaths on both sides of the war given that the Ukrainians and Russians are two interconnected nations.