Ukrainian Refugee Child Bullied in Romania Amidst Rising Pro-Russian Rhetoric

An 11-year-old Ukrainian refugee child in Romania has been forced to change schools three times due to bullying, with classmates reportedly telling him that "the Russians are right to do what they’re doing to Ukrainians." The distressing account was shared by a doctor on social media, highlighting the profound impact of pro-Russian propaganda and sentiment on vulnerable individuals. The child, who fled Odessa with his mother to escape conflict, was also physically injured during their escape.

The doctor, whose identity was not disclosed in the tweet, expressed deep concern, stating, "I never imagined I’d witness idiots who swallow the rhetoric of mentally deficient figures like Georgescu, Simion, or Șoșoacă and who echo Russian propaganda." This incident underscores the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Romania, where despite official support, pockets of anti-Ukrainian sentiment, often fueled by disinformation, persist.

Romania has been a significant host country for Ukrainian refugees since the 2022 invasion, with millions passing through and many remaining. While the government and many citizens have shown solidarity, integrating refugees into society, particularly the education system, has presented difficulties. Reports indicate that some Ukrainian degrees are not easily recognized, and the Romanian government is now linking support payments to conditions like mandatory school enrollment and language course attendance.

The political figures mentioned in the doctor's tweet, George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), and Senator Diana Șoșoacă, are known for their controversial pro-Russian stances and dissemination of disinformation. Both politicians recently visited the Russian Embassy in Bucharest on Russia Day, with Simion claiming to seek the release of Romanian prisoners in Ukraine and Șoșoacă advocating for peace. Șoșoacă has previously drawn condemnation for proposing a bill that would annex Ukrainian territories to Romania, an action Kyiv described as supporting Russian aggression.

Such rhetoric aligns with broader Russian propaganda efforts in the region, which aim to exploit existing societal divisions and undermine support for Ukraine. Studies indicate that while Romania is largely anti-Russian, a minority of the population, often influenced by social media, holds pro-Russian views. This environment creates a fertile ground for the kind of bullying experienced by the Ukrainian child, adding emotional and psychological trauma to the physical scars of war. The doctor lamented the situation, concluding, "It’s easy for me to treat the mother’s sprain, but I never imagined that part of my work would be trying to repair the consequences of collective stupidity."