Just some twenty years ago Bulgarians used to live with the thought that war in Europe had remained in history books. However, in 1999 the bombing of neighbouring Yugoslavia came. Earth slowly absorbed the Slavic blood, as silent witnesses remained the jagged buildings in the center of Belgrade. It seemed that everything went quiet but artillery and gunfire unleashed once again the fiery dance of death near Bulgaria – this time in Ukraine. Central to the news have become reports of battles for territories and lost human lives. There are some 6000 Bulgarians living in the area of conflicts and we are obliged to pay attention," said in an interview for bTV from 12.02.2015 Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and added: "We have instructed the Consulate in Odessa and our embassy in Kiev to easily grant visas to ethnic Bulgarians." A few days later the Troyan Monastery said they were ready to accommodate up to 60 Bessarabian Bulgarians from Ukraine. The village of Gurkovo near Balchik also responded. Here's what mayor Todor Georgiev told us:

"Our village has a lively spirit. During the wars in 1918-1919, the inhabitants of Gurkovo were displaced to Romania, and after Northern Dobrudzha was returned to Bulgaria a number of people from the region moved to Gurkovo. People here know the hardships of displacement and now express sympathy and willingness to help other Bulgarians in need."

Contact was made with the Association of Bulgarians in Ukraine. Not long after that the village warmly welcomed its first Bessarabian guest. Miroslav Marchev opened not only his heart but also his home for young Vitaly Drozda who came from Ukraine. But problems did not end here.

"I have a number of problems. I arrived here with visa C, which gives me the right to stay here as an ordinary tourist. In order to get permanent residence and then citizenship, I need visa D. I want to live here, my roots are here," says Vitaly Drozda.

The Bulgarian Embassy gives tourist visas to Bessarabian Bulgarians, which are valid for three months. When we go to the Migration office they want from Vitaly visa D in order to give him the right for permanent residence, says the mayor of Gurkovo who helps Vitaly with the application documents. I hope these things will be clarified as after all it was the Parliament and the Council of Ministers that vowed to help these people, he adds.

Vitaly left in Ukraine his wife and 18-month-old child. He has been looking forward to bringing them to Bulgaria. But in order for this to happen he must find a job. In order to survive he currently relies on his landlord. At this backdrop the statement of the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, that in case of worsening of the situation, the Bulgarians in Ukraine "and especially the representatives of the younger generation would have the option for migration towards Bulgaria," sounds a bit unrealistic.

Miroslav Marchev told us about the reasons that made him give shelter to the ethnic Bulgarian and the problems they face:

"I decided to give shelter to a person in distress, who is fleeing from war and who has Bulgarian roots. His grandmother fled to the Zaporizhie Region during the Russo-Turkish War. Today, he is forced to flee back to the land of his ancestors but faces major problems. When they helped him come here he was not told that without visa D he cannot stay in the country for more than 3 months. And the days go by. He has been staying here for some 20 days. I manage to provide him with some comfort but he needs money. His family has been selling their property for miserable sums in order to collect enough to come here. They also need about 2500 euros for translation and certification of documents and for obtaining visa D. Various media and politicians come here to help improve their own image but nobody asked Vitaly if he needed money or clothes, or food. It was just the mayor who responded immediately and brought food and some money and that is why we are grateful to him.”

English: Alexander Markov