Racism claims at Ukraine border emerge with African students 'stranded'

Young Africans studying in Ukraine say they have suffered racism at the Polish border, where some 500,000 refugees fleeing the invasion have crossed.

Several videos posted on social media appeared to show tense confrontations with border guards in which crowds of predominantly Black people were shouted at or obstructed.

In one clip, men in hi-vis jackets could be seen standing in formation next to white vans blocking the road, refusing to let anyone pass.

Some raised both hands to show they are not carrying weapons, shouting ‘We are students! We are not armed!’, before the crowd burst through the barricade and ran towards the border.

The user who posted the clip, a man of Nigerian origin, wrote: ‘Their Police and Army refused to let Africans cross they only allow Ukrainian.

‘Some have slept here for 2 days under this scorching cold weather, while many have gone back to Lviv.’

A large number of refugees of African, Middle Eastern and Asian origin have successfully made it into Poland, although fears have grown of an impending humanitarian crisis with limited shelter and supplies at checkpoints.

Many Africans remain stranded in Ukraine, according to two Londoners, Tokunbo Koiki and Patricia Daley, who have raised £20,043 online in less than two days with the help of a medical student in Ukraine named Koko.

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