Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February and since then there has been the largest influx of refugees into Europe since World War II. It is estimated that more than 3 million people have left Ukraine since then but the EU believes the figure could be as high as 6.5 million displaced. We have seen how international solidarity networks were quickly activated to welcome the displaced population and send urgent humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The EU has also promised refugees’ regularization within 24 hours, subsidies and work permits in European host countries. BRIDGES welcomes all measures that question borders and institutional barriers that hinder freedom of movement, and we are happy to see the usual controls being relaxed to facilitate the reception of those who are forced to flee their countries. However, these measures of institutional openness do not apply to people migrating from other countries that are equally affected by armed conflicts, in situations of poverty or where certain fundamental rights are systematically violated. As a result, people who are currently refugees in Ukraine but who come from non-EU countries have the doors of Europe closed to them and are not equally welcome in neighbouring EU countries such as Poland. Also, as a consequence of this invasion, a wave of social discrimination towards the population of the Russian diaspora and even towards artistic and cultural expressions of Russian origin has emerged. The exclusion of Russian publishers from international book fairs or the boycott of businesses and shops of Russian individuals living in Europe are examples of this. BRIDGES wants to show solidarity with the displaced people who, regardless of their country of origin or reasons for displacement, are being affected by the invasion and its multiple consequences. To this end, we would like to make visible and share some of the initiatives, resources and support networks that are working to help, accompany and welcome them:

https://linktr.ee/ksvarnon

https://pad.xpub.nl/p/UKRAINEINVASION_LinkFarm

https://podermigrante.es/2022/03/21/campana-directivamigraparatodas/