The conflict in Ukraine due to the invasion of Russia caused a big problem for Ecuadorian citizens who are there, who are still looking for the fastest way out. However, students in Russia also have concerns about what could happen if the war spreads, since in this first week their day to day life has already been complicated.
Marcela Benalcázar has her son Isaac in Belgorod -40 km from Ukraine-, where she has been studying Medicine for three years, and believes that although everything that is happening at the moment is in Ukrainian territory, there must be a plan for Ecuadorians who are in Russia and especially those with parents with limited resources.
“I have already bought a ticket for my son and, God willing, I will have him in Ecuador, but I do worry about the rest of the young people,” says Benalcázar, who is in contact with other parents in the same situation and to awaits what happens with the talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Sandra Carcelén is another mother of a family who has her daughter Doménica studying languages in the Russian city of Kasán (about 1,300 km from Ukraine –less than 24 hours by car–) since 2018, and she tells her that things are fine for there, but if the dialogues do not work it is preferable that they help her to return. In addition to the fact that the university is forcing them to cancel the entire semester of the degree.
“It is true that the Foreign Ministry attended to the parents that we were… but they have not really given us answers or told us how they are going to help us. So we’re worried… we know what’s happening in Ukraine, but we don’t know what could happen to our children in Russia,” says Carcelén, who is in contact with her daughter to make a decision.
Both mothers comment that their children already told them this Sunday that the ruble (Russian currency) has collapsed and that it is also difficult to send money at the moment. The latter would be due to the economic sanctions against Russia that are coming into force.
Paulina Muisin has her son Erick, 20 years old, studying Medicine in Belgorod for two years and he tells her that the classes continue in person and normally, and that the only problem she sees is that they have been recommended to have cash and that possibly communications with the outside can be complicated later on.
She says that her son shared an apartment with another Ecuadorian boy, but that the latter, due to the situation with Ukraine, decided to withdraw from the university and go to Moscow to return to Ecuador from there. In addition to that other students have gathered to buy groceries and basic necessities in large quantities for any eventuality.
“He told me: ‘Mommy, don’t worry, we’re calm.’ He does not want to return, but the anguish that we do not know what will happen tomorrow makes us as parents despair and we are in anxiety about what will happen to them, “says Muisin, who adds that his son has already registered at the Ecuadorian Embassy in Russia to be in contact for any movement or plan if things get complicated, for example, voluntary trips amid the growing complication of flights to other countries.
Another point that Benalcázar addresses is that these young people who return to Ecuador leaving their studies should be helped in this area, because it is not easy to start or validate studies here and it would be of great help if the Government intercedes for them.
While Muisin points out that his son told him that things are calm today, but in previous weeks he did see the war vehicles on their way through the city towards Ukraine. She is in contact to see if it is possible to come and study remotely until the situation calms down, but it is something that she is still analyzing.
The Russian Embassy in Ecuador has mentioned in previous days that the security of Ecuadorians in their country is assured and that only in Belgorod there are 500 Ecuadorians studying.
In an interview with this newspaper, Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguín indicated that there are about 2,000 Ecuadorians in Russia, of which 1,200 are students. And of the latter, 900 are in towns relatively close to the border with Ukraine. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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