Nigerian students trying to escape war-hit Ukraine have alleged that there is racial discrimination among evacuees trying to leave the country via neighbouring countries. Journalist Stephanie Hegarty of BBC published a series of tweets explaining the ordeal of the students. She said that a Nigerian medical student told her that while she was waiting to cross the border, the Ukrainian soldiers did not allow black people to cross and sent them back. She said, “They have to let ‘Ukrainians’ through first”.
A Nigerian medical student at Poland/Ukraine border (Medyka-Shehyni) told me she has been waiting 7hrs to cross, she says border guards are stopping black people and sending them to the back of the queue, saying they have to let ‘Ukrainians’ through first.
— Stephanie Hegarty (@stephhegarty) February 26, 2022
Poland border force spokesperson had said they were allowing anyone to enter Poland from Ukraine. A similar problem was faced by Indian students stranded at the Poland-Ukraine border. Reportedly, the Indian students have not been allowed the cross the border and were told, “When your govt has not cooperated with us, why should we cooperate with you?”
A Twitter user Damilare_arah shared a video that showed African people being stopped by Ukrainians from boarding a train. He said, “The official visuals of Ukrainians blocking Africans from getting on trains.”
The official visuals of Ukrainians blocking Africans from getting on trains. #AfricansinUkraine pic.twitter.com/hJYpM3LY0A
— Damilare / ViF (@Damilare_arah) February 26, 2022
Another user Nzekiev said Africans were the last to be allowed to board any train. He said, “In the train stations here in Kyiv, children first, women second, white men third, then the remaining is occupied by Africans. This means that we have waited for many hours for trains here & couldn’t enter because of this. The majority of Africans are still waiting to get to Lviv.”
In the train stations here in Kyiv, children first, women second, white men third, then the remaining is occupied by Africans. This means that we have waited for many hours for trains here & couldn’t enter because of this.
— Nze (@nzekiev) February 25, 2022
Majority of Africans are still waiting to get to Lviv.
He shared another tweet alleging Africans were at the border for two days, but the Ukraine Police and Army did not let them pass.
We met many Africans at the border, they have been here for 2 days but Ukrainian Police and Army refused to let them pass.#AfricansinUkraine pic.twitter.com/prY3oQ40ua
— Nze (@nzekiev) February 27, 2022
In another video, he said the Ukrainian security agencies threatened to shoot them. The Africans could be heard saying, “We do not have guns,” in the video.
Watch how they are threatening to shoot us!
— Nze (@nzekiev) February 27, 2022
We are currently at the Ukraine -Poland border.
Their Police and Army refused to let Africans cross they only allow Ukrainian.
Some have slept here for 2 days under this scorching cold weather, while many have gone back to Lviv. pic.twitter.com/47YG4gxFC4
Dr Ayoade Alakija, Special Envoy, ACT WHO, said in a tweet that the Black Africans were facing racism in Ukraine. She said, “Black Africans are being treated with racism and contempt in Ukraine & Poland. West cannot ask African nations to stand in solidarity with them if they cannot display basic respect for us even in a time of war. Ignored in a pandemic and left to die in war?!! UNACCEPTABLE.”
Black Africans are being treated with racism and contempt in Ukraine & Poland. West cannot ask African nations to stand in solidarity with them if they cannot display basic respect for us even in a time of war. Ignored in a pandemic and left to die in war?!! UNACCEPTABLE.
— Dr. Ayoade Alakija (@yodifiji) February 25, 2022
Another video shared showed a woman feeding her two-month-old child while waiting for a passage to Poland.
#AfricansinUkraine the community of Africans in Ukraine stranded at the boarder much of them women and children. — This is happening now
— Damilare / ViF (@Damilare_arah) February 26, 2022
The lady in the video is holding a 2 month old and it’s 3°c outside we are in search of aid and hostels pic.twitter.com/Ae2Iwn4zpg
Russian attack on Ukraine
On February 24, Russia announced military action against Ukraine. Notably, Ukraine is one of the most famous destinations for students of developing nations, including Africa. There have been several social media posts suggesting Africans and people of other ethnicities are facing racial and political discrimination.
