Africa-Press – Angola. Most of the Angolans based in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest, left it Saturday, for fear of being taken over, at any moment, by the Russian army.
The information was disclosed, Sunday (27), by Vivaldo Gomes Monteiro Pedro, one of the four Angolans who decided to stay in the city of Kharkiv, where, until Saturday, around forty compatriots lived.
He said that Kharkiv remains under the control of the Ukrainian government and confirmed that Russian troops had occupied part of the city, where they stayed for approximately five hours. He stressed that “one of the great peculiarities is that the Russian troops, when they entered the city, did not attack the population”.
“I decided to stay so as not to jeopardize my life and that of my family”, declared Vivaldo Pedro, who, in Kharkiv, is responsible for the local Angolan community, now reduced to four people.
When asked if he was able to prevent his compatriots from leaving, he replied: “I couldn’t help it, because the whole staff panicked. The only thing I had to do was inform the Angolan Embassy in Poland, passing all the contacts of compatriots who decided to leave Kharkiv”.
He confessed that he is also thinking of leaving the city of Kharkiv, but only when he is sure that he will leave with his family safely.
Born in Luanda, Angolan Vivaldo Pedro, 35, has a degree in Computer Engineering and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Networks. He said he made the decision to stay in Kharkiv because if he left the city now he could risk his life, as he would have to take an 18-hour train journey to reach the city of Lviv, which is 1,020 kilometers away.
“Anything can happen on the train journey,” he stressed, noting that the clashes in the city of Kharkiv began last Thursday, the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The civilian population that does not participate in the fighting for the defense of the city of Kharkiv is hidden in “bunkers”.
“We only go out on the street or to take a look or to buy hygiene and food products, when we don’t have enough”, described the compatriot, referring that he decided to stay in Kharkiv because he also knew that “Ukraine is prepared for war and has many tunnels for emergency situations”.
The young Angolan is taking refuge with his wife and daughter, in the basement of a building located in the center of the city of Kharkiv. The place has electricity and water. “The underground has the minimum conditions, such as bathrooms and kitchen”, guaranteed Vivaldo Pedro, who said it also has fans and heaters.
Trade in Kharkiv has not been fully operational since the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, according to the source, “it was one of the most difficult days, because the shopping centers were all closed”.
“But I believe that today (Monday) the shopping centers will be open”, he predicted.
The young man traveled to Ukraine in 2012, on a scholarship from the Angolan State, and completed his degree in 2017 and a master’s degree in 2019. The master’s course ended on his own, using the savings he made when he was a scholarship holder and, also, with the help of family and friends.
When Vivaldo Monteiro Pedro applied for a scholarship, there were only two options: study in Russia or Ukraine. He added that he preferred to study in Ukraine because it is “a much more liberal country compared to Russia”. He works and resides in Ukraine.
Angolans living in Ukraine establish “real-time communication”, confirmed Vivaldo Monteiro Pedro, who said it was a way for everyone to be informed of each other’s situation.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
