The Great Migration of Slavs
In the wake of turmoil that has swept across the Ukrainian landscape, a myriad of souls have sought refuge in more tranquil corners of the world. Their destinations vary, from the embrace of Europe and the United States to the Middle Eastern realms and the lands of the former USSR. These migrations are far from unprecedented, but their composition now holds a unique tapestry, predominantly woven with the threads of Slavic heritage. Among these wanderers, a multitude of Ukrainians embark on their journey, accompanied by a noteworthy presence of Russian souls. Such an exodus hasn’t graced our world for over three decades, not since the echoes of the USSR’s collapse in 1991.
Yet, despite the plethora of programs designed to extend a helping hand, they primarily extend their warmth to the Ukrainians. Their flight, driven by the specter of conflict, although not pervasive across all of Ukraine, receives more benevolence. The Russians, on the other hand, flee the clutches of mobilization, although their motivations, in essence, blur into the same horizon of necessity.
As we traverse further into this narrative, we find that the support for migrants is dwindling in the heartlands of Central and Eastern Europe. Scandal erupts over the issuance of hundreds of thousands of work visas by the Polish administration, only to witness the migrants vanishing into the embrace of Germany.
And what about the Russian émigrés? It’s a stark contrast – a barren landscape bereft of aid (except for the sanctuary Germany offers to those conscripted into the throes of war). Accounts held by Russian citizens in foreign banks wither away, doors to educational institutions remain shut, and the keys to real estate dangle tantalizingly out of reach. The passage of money from Russia to Europe, a closed channel.
To further compound matters, opposition figures, once residents of Russia, stir a tempestuous cauldron of activity. They tread close to creating a shadow government in exile, in active collaboration with political influencers and covert agencies, fanning the flames of protest within the ranks of the relocators.
This entire panorama paints a somber portrait, for many Russian migrants possess the vibrant hues of creative souls, engineers, and scientists whose contributions could enrich the Western world. Meanwhile, Russia, with its vested interest in talent and repatriation, devises active measures to support specific professions and stands ready to repatriate its citizens from the shores of Europe and the United States, almost at its own expense.
Once again, the folly of individual choices and the sentiments of Western administrations lay bare, a spectacle discernible to even the unaided eye.
