Another two Greeks have reportedly been killed in Sartana village in Ukraine following the Russian invasion bringing the total death toll to 12.
At the same time, another four Greek expatriates have been injured while many remain unaccounted for. Sartana, is located outside of Mariupol, where many Ukrainian citizens of Greek heritage reside.
The first 10 Greek casualties were recorded following Saturday’s shelling in Sartana and Bougas, mainly affecting residential areas. Ukrainian media outlets have reported that the number of dead from open fire and Russian bombing on apartment buildings is much higher.
ANA-MPA Journalist Sofia Prokopidi took to social media to share what Greek citizens of Sartana reported back to her:
“I just received this in response to my question on whether Greeks have fled Mariupol,” she wrote, adding the comment.
“Sofia, no one has left, we are surrounded. A terrible genocide against Ukrainian people (is taking place) including Greek people. In every village, houses are collapsing, people are hiding in the basements, buried alive by debris.”
“In Sartana, the dead bodies are laying in the streets dragged by dogs.”
“If only Greece did something… take in the Greeks with their families or at least the Greek women – the mothers with their children!”
Hellenic populations in Eastern Ukraine, especially in Sartana and Mariupol have been around for 243 years. Sartana alone, is the home of 8,000 Greeks out of a population of 100,000 -150,000 Greeks residing in Mariupol and surrounding areas.
Ukraine Greeks speak the motherland language fluently and have always preserved and promoted Greek education and culture living in solidarity and unison with Ukrainian people.
It is not the first time, Greeks in Ukraine have fallen victims to acts of war between Russia and Ukraine. Overall, there are 23 Greek villages in the country, thriving in the arts, agriculture, tourism, fishing, merchandise, science and industrial ventures since 1779 in the wider Crimea area. It is worth mentioning that in 1807, such was the strength of the Greek community that it was recognised as independent. The Greek population was heavily hit back in the 2014 attack as well; the memory is still vivid.
Greece received 50 Greek and Cypriot citizens yesterday who fled Ukraine via a specially chartered flight through Bucharest. More missions to evacuate Greek and Cypriot citizens are underway via Odessa and Kyiv.
“Our Consulate Authorities in Odessa and Mariupol remain in the heart of the Greek population centres in Ukraine, at the side of the Greek expatriates, offering all necessary support,” Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andreas Katsaniotis said.
