TOWN OF GURKOVO WELCOMES THE FIRST REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE

The first refugees from Ukraine have already arrived in the South Bulgarian town of Gurkovo. A month ago, the management of the local municipality announced that they were ready to offer homes for Bulgarians fleeing from the conflict-torn Ukraine.

A family with a two year old child and a man from Lugansk were the first migrants accommodated in the small Bulgarian town in the district of Stara Zagora. Some 40 more families of Bessarabian Bulgarians are expected to accept the invitation made by the local community of Gurkovo.

Alexander Hromenko arrived from Ukraine. He is of Bulgarian ancestry. Alexander says he read on the internet about the initiative of the Bulgarian businessman, Kolyo Atanssov, from Gurkovo, to help refugees.

As a result of the military actions in Ukraine, Alexander was left with nothing. This made him set off to Bulgaria to look for work and home for himself and his wife. The family has an 11 year old son.

In addition to the home, Alexander will be offered a job in the company of the businessman Kolyo Atanassov who is the organizer of the initiative to provide help for refugees. The businessman undertook the commitment to secure jobs for other Ukrainian migrants, who look for his help.

Atanassov offers 100 houses, for free. He does not want any rent.He says he does it out of love for his country. Atanassov explained that a century and a half ago, 68 families from today’s town of Gurkovo fled from the Turkish and went to Ukraine, where they were warmly welcomed by the local community.