Igor (the name is changed) is from Kramatorsk, where the war has not stopped since 2014 when pro-Russian separatists seized the Donetsk region with Russian military assistance. As we speak to him 30 kilometers east of Kramatorsk, around Bakhmut, the heaviest battles at this stage of the war are taking place. The building where his home was located has been destroyed. Before the war, he used to sew and repair shoes. Now he works in the kitchen of a hotel in Sunny Beach that accommodates Ukrainian refugees.
“What do I think about Bulgaria? People are friendly and kind-hearted. You can immediately feel that they love Ukrainians. As the saying goes, they open their souls to us. They help with whatever they can. This is very nice! We are very grateful to the government, to the Bulgarian people, to everyone, to everyone!”
Read the rest of the stories:
Nadia, with the never-ending dream of becoming an Olympic champion
Diana on how much the illusion of normality helps
Natalia from Herson who wants her country to be the best in the world
Nadezhda from Nikolaev who believes that when it comes to helping others, Ukrainians could learn a lot from Bulgarians
Natalia, the volunteer from Kyiv, who is happy that she can be helpful to others
Ekaterina from Odessa, who wants everything to be as it was before
Natalia from Kramatorsk, whose home was destroyed but still dreams of returning back
Katya, who we brought to tears by asking one naive question
