Vladimir Putin said on February 24th, 2022, that Russia would commence a “special military operation” against Ukraine. This was the start of a full-scale invasion.
In the early hours, Russia fired missiles and dropped bombs on several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kiev, as well as Kharkiv, Odesa, and other important places.
Soon after, ground soldiers from the north, east, and south crossed the border and quickly moved toward important locations.
UNHCR data shows that about 5.3 million Ukrainians have fled to foreign nations in the last four years.
Some Ukrainians have fled to nearby nations like Poland and the Czech Republic, but others have gone to faraway places like Spain, where they have selected cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Torrevieja.
In the second scenario, four years after the invasion, Ukrainians already make up about 10% of the registered population and have become the largest foreign group in the municipality, with about 10,000 persons.
From 2,300 to over 10,000
Before the war, there were already about 2,300 Ukrainians living in Torrevieja. They had their own association and even a weekend school where families could keep their language and traditions alive.
They were a small but noticeable group in a city where people were used to living with British, Russians, or Nordics.
Everything changed after the invasion in February 2022. The European Union’s decision to activate temporary protection allowed Ukrainians to enter and live legally without going through the ordinary immigration process. This was in addition to the existing network of compatriots.
Spain gives this protection to a lot of people, even those who were already in an irregular situation. Torrevieja becomes one of the main places where people arrive.
The census says that there are a little over 10,000 Ukrainians living there today, out of a total population of 110,500. Gitte’s “crazy” prognosis of 10,000 in February 2022 has not come true. “Nobody believed me when I said that number in 2022,” she adds.
Torrevieja became a place of safety
The councilwoman said that Torrevieja has several things that make it very appealing to Ukrainians.
There was already a solid relationship, a specific educational offering, and a city where people were used to living in more than one language at a time. Word-of-mouth has spread most of the remaining information.
The other thing to think about is where it is, which is almost emotional considering Torrevieja is so far from the combat zone. Poland and its neighbours are taking in a lot of people, but Spain seems like a faraway safe place to go, even though it costs a lot to go there. There was already a solid relationship, a specific educational offering, and a city where people were used to living in more than one language at a time. The rest has mostly been done by word of mouth.
Another thing to think about is geography and almost emotion, since Torrevieja is far from the combat zone. Poland and its neighbours are taking in a lot of people, but Spain seems like a faraway place to go, even though it costs a lot to get there. It is thought to be safe and stable.
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