ISLANDERS from countries which have agreed to take in Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion have expressed their sadness at the outbreak of the conflict.
Mircea Lancrajan from Romania and Helmut Fuchs from the Czech Republic made the comments after forces launched an assault on Kyiv.
Pictures emerging from Ukraine show huge queues of vehicles heading west out of the country in a bid to escape a barrage of Russian artillery fire and air strikes, which are impacting densely populated areas.
Mr Lancrajan, a chef from St Martin, said: ‘A lot of the locals living on the [Romanian] border are personally helping them by giving them food and shelter. They are trying to do their best.
‘It is really sad what is happening. It is a disaster and not OK at all. I hope they do not accidentally end up firing towards Romania or we could have a third world war as the Nato member states would have to join in. It is so easy to send a missile in the wrong direction.
‘It is very bad and, in my opinion, I do not think most people understand the gravity of the problem. Tomorrow I could wake up and be given orders to return to Romania within ten to 15 days to be in the army.’
Mr Lancrajan added that Ukrainians and Romanians had many things in common, including their history and culture, which he said made the situation even more upsetting.
‘We are all basically friends and we share some parts of our culture. Everybody knows how it was in the days of Communism and how it was not easy. It is a shame because Ukraine had its independence but obviously somebody does not want them to be independent. I do not think anyone, including the Russian people, want to fight. It is all just for politics.’
Helmut Fuchs, who co-owns an Eastern European food business in St Helier, said he thought more countries should step in to help refugees and that sanctions imposed by Nato states would have little effect.
‘It is a normal thing to help people involved in conflict. I am happy we are helping and I think everyone else should do the same,’ he said. ‘We are bound by our history – the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Poland. A lot of people from Ukraine work in the Czech Republic and they are really good workers and highly qualified. With Slavic people, our cultures are very similar. We all respect and like each other and all we want is a good quality of life. We just want to live and let live and be in peace.’
