Ukrainians in Portugal protest Russian festival in Lisbon

The Ukrainian community in Portugal has appealed to Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas to prevent a children’s festival that is organized by the EU-sanctioned Russian foundation Russkiy Mir from taking place in the city.

The appeal was made in a letter from Pavlo Sadokha, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) for Southern Europe and President of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal (UUP).

The letter was addressed to the capital’s mayor.

According to Sadokha, Ukrainian organizations learned about the festival, scheduled for Dec. 4-7 and titled Colorful Dreams – 2025, from official Russian sources that are currently under EU sanctions.

The festival’s promotional materials do not specify an exact location, which the Ukrainian community sees as an attempt by the Russian regime to conceal the event’s true purpose.

The community emphasized that Russkiy Mir operates as a tool of Russian state propaganda, and is particularly aimed at justifying aggression against Ukraine.

Holding a children’s festival is described by the community as an “inhumane act,” especially given that thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia and Russian-occupied territories.

“It is clear that the Russian regime seeks to exploit Portuguese hospitality for political propaganda. Even more appalling, and this is not the first time, is that the Russian regime does this using children,” the letter states.

Sadokha asked the mayor to officially confirm that the municipality is not involved in organizing the event and does not support it.

The UWC Vice President also urged the city to publicly remind festival participants of the need to return all illegally deported Ukrainian children.