By Paola Velasco
For the past three months there has been a large-scale war in Ukraine. Some cities have remained less affected and calmer while others are suffering from the ravages of the Russian invasion. Vlad Branashko, cultural attaché of the Embassy of Ukraine in Mexico, recently visited San Miguel de Allende. He came to attend a fundraising concert that took place on April 28 at Casa Europa.
He spoke to us in an exclusive interview and said that the Mexican Republic has always been in favor of territorial sovereignty. Mexico was one of the first Latin American countries to recognize the Independence of Ukraine. In 2014 after the «Revolution for Dignity,» Mexico strongly supported Ukraine through Russia’s first invasion into Crimea. What we see today is a large scale, open invasion of the entire country by Russia.
Mexico is a member of the UN Security Council, and from the beginning, has firmly and clearly supported the resolutions condemning the Russian aggression; voting to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Mexico is very important as a regional leader, and together with France they have made a global call for humanitarian aid.
Mexican society has organized many events to benefit Ukraine. The Concert at Casa Europa was one such occasion. «The support and empathy we feel is very moving,» said Branashko. “Every day we receive messages of support and questions about how to help. It helps us a lot to visualize the issue and encourage fundraising for humanitarian causes.”
The funds raised can be followed through the Facebook page @Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico, where the appropriate cause can be seen and how verified funds are sent to Ukraine. There are funds to help volunteers on the war line, others for children, others for pregnant women, and many more. The Ukrainian embassies around the world are always in communication and try to make the aid specific.
For Branashko, as for many other diplomats around the world, the situation is very complex. They are spokespersons for the current affairs in their country, but they also have family and friends who are at risk. «Every day I am afraid to see the news on my friends’ networks, and find out that someone could have been killed,» Branashko concluded.
