Ukrainian immigration to Brazil began in 1891, with the arrival in the state of Paraná of eight immigrant families from the city of Zolotiv, Lviv Province, in western Ukraine. Subsequently, there were three more major waves of immigration to Brazil. 120 years after the arrival of the first immigrants, a group of 186 Brazilians—most of them descendants of these Ukrainian immigrants—returned to the country of their ancestors’ origin to commemorate this symbolic date, which coincided with the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. In our encounter with today’s Ukraine, there was much joy, emotion, and surprise. It was a true historical and cultural immersion in the daily life of this country and its people, who, despite having always been subjugated, never abandoned their beliefs and traditions.

And this Ukrainian identity is painstakingly preserved to this day by the descendants living in Brazil, who are very proud to say: “Yes, we are Ukrainians too!”