Ukrainian refugees staged a protest in Primorsko

Ukrainian refugees protested in the centre of the seaside town of Primorsko on December 9. Once again they demanded the extension of the accommodation programme in private hotels and the payment of additional funds for food.

The protesters have sent a petition to the Council of Ministers, in which they have stated specific demands. They say that currently the hoteliers feed them with their own funds, but the food is insufficient and soon, due to lack of funds, this may stop.

"We have no breakfast. They feed us twice a day with soup or porridge. It's not enough, but it's the little we have," said Natalia Kornyusha from Ukraine, who is the mother of a young child.

Ukrainian refugees are also worried about the new order, according to which new arrivals from Ukraine will not be allowed to stay in private hotels, but will be directly transferred to state-run bases.

"Families are being separated this way. They have to travel to Ukraine for various documents, for example, for children to start school or kindergarten. They need medical documents that can only be taken from Ukraine. On return to Bulgaria, however, refugees are redirected to state bases. I am a doctor, I have to improve my qualifications by attending conferences. But I decided not to do that, because if I go back to Bulgaria I will be relocated and my child is here in the hotel," said another protester.

According to the Ukrainians, many of their compatriots who had been staying in private hotels because of the isufficiency of food have now left for Romania. Thus, the hotels are half empty, resulting in many losses for the hoteliers.