Armenian Community in Ukraine Finds Refuge in Armenian Churches

In Ukraine, the Armenian community is finding refuge in Armenian churches as the country faces war. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that they have no information regarding potential casualties or injuries, but they provide an optimistic note, assuring that they will be informed if there are any developments.

Currently, the most tense situations are in Kharkov, Melitopol, and Kherson, where military operations are actively ongoing. Former MP Naira Zohrabyan shared on Facebook that when she spoke to representatives of the Armenian community in Melitopol yesterday, they confirmed that the Russian forces have indeed landed in Melitopol.

It remains unclear what actions the Armenian authorities and the Armenian Embassy in Ukraine are taking to ensure the safety of our compatriots. However, the Armenian community is actively organizing itself. According to Father Markos, many of our compatriots have found refuge in the Armenian church of Kharkov, as well as in several other Armenian churches across different cities.

Moreover, wealthy members of the Armenian community in Ukraine, who own restaurants, cafes, and other establishments in Kyiv and other cities, are providing their basements as shelters for our compatriots, including women, the elderly, and children, effectively serving as bunkers.

At this moment, Russian military units have encircled Kyiv from the west, where our community is significantly large. Fortunately, there are no reports of casualties or injuries among the civilian population of the Armenian community in Ukraine. The war, unfortunately, continues, and I will provide updates on the situation of the Armenian community in Ukraine periodically.