Ukrainian ambassador: entire Greek villages near Mariupol relocated to Cyprus

This was reported by Serhiy Nizhynskyi, Ukraine's ambassador to Cyprus, in an interview with Ukrinform.

The diplomat said that, according to the Cypriot Minister of Internal Affairs, there are currently 24,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection status on the island, compared to about 4,000 before the war. According to the embassy's estimates, there are approximately 33,000 Ukrainians in total, or 2.6% of the population of Cyprus.

"In Cyprus, in particular, there are many people from Greek villages near Mariupol, in particular the village of Sartana, which has moved almost entirely. They are familiar with the Greek language, and the climate reminds them of home. Ukrainians are not standing with their hands outstretched — they quickly find work and use their skills, participating in public life," Nizhynskyi said.

When asked whether we risk losing these people to Ukraine, the ambassador replied that it depends on the citizens themselves.

"There are those who will never lose their identity and are constantly doing something for Ukraine. There are others who are more flexible, ‘plastic,’ whose self-identification depends heavily on who they work with. That is why our efforts, from education to cultural diplomacy, are aimed at supporting Ukrainian identity where it may dissolve and developing it where it is already strong," the diplomat emphasized.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Ukrainian House, a cultural center that will become a meeting place for Ukrainians, has opened in the Cypriot city of Paphos.

Photo: Facebook/Sergiy Nizhynskyi