Fled to Portugal: “When the Russians arrive, we would be the first to die”
Mariia and Volodymyr don’t remember the last night they didn’t share the same bed. At least they’ve been doing it for almost 50 years. Not tonight. The possible room is a dorm of a student residence, there are two metal bunk beds. She’s already wearing black and white polka-dotted pajamas, he’s still in jeans and a T-shirt. The flowered duvets are still folded, the hairbrush and bottles are already placed on the desk that will be her dresser tonight. Mariia is 71 years old, like her husband, and is sitting in a chair facing the window and with her back to the door.
“Now we are going to see our son and grandchildren.” The son emigrated to Portugal for almost 20 years and lives in Cascais. They are part of the 229 Ukrainian citizens that the city council referred to and whose trip, from Romania to Portugal, it organised. Most want to stay in the village, others want to go to different parts of the country, where family or friends wait. A few don’t have anyone and it’s the opportunity to escape the war. “In a while everything will be fine and we will return to Kiev.” The couple wants to believe that the end of the war will be quick.
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