Cuban Raidel Arbelay Becerra spent with his family, his wife and two children, “the saddest night of his life” in Kiev, he tells 14ymedio. This Thursday, while reporting on the presence of Russian troops in the Ukrainian capital and the bombing, a drone was shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force. The aircraft “fell 70 meters from our house and we made the decision to flee.”
Arbelay hears on the news that in the first 24 hours the Russian military deployment caused the death of 137 Ukrainians. “War has neither friends nor winners, only losers, families in mourning, mothers without children and much more,” she stresses.
The athlete arrived in Ukraine in 1996, where he met several Cubans, at least 70 are in Kiev, and “right now we are all in tension because it is expected that this Friday night the city will be attacked by the Russian aggressor” . He knows that some migrants have sought refuge in the suburban of the capital, others, like him and his family, in the basement of houses.
“War has neither friends nor winners, only losers, families in mourning, mothers without children and much more,” he stresses.
Through Ukraine’s presidential spokesman, Sergei Nikiforov, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed that they agreed to hold negotiations on the ceasefire and peace, according to posted RT. “There is a lot of misinformation,” says Arbelay. “This Friday we hope to leave for the area where they are not bombing.” The player’s plans do not change, he seeks to get with his family to the border with Poland.
In this conflict, Cuban authorities have reiterated their support for Russia in the official media. “I am ashamed of the Government of my country”, expresses an annoyed Arbelay. He does not understand why the island supported “the decision of the Russian president to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk.”
The Cubans who are in Kiev, assures the player, have not received assistance or support to transfer them to safe areas. “The embassy hates us.” The situation at the moment is difficult, but we try to “stay very close”.
Arbelay’s children have spent the night restless. “They don’t understand much about the reason for this war.” The calls received by people who share the shelter in a friend’s house, confirm “shots and explosions in Oblon”, a residential neighborhood of Kiev, in addition to “combats in Dymer and Ivankiv”.
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