Brazilians in Ukraine on Arthur do Val's assistance: "It didn't help at all"

247 - Brazilians currently in Ukraine have refuted the claims made by congressman and MBL founder Arthur do Val (known as Mamãe Falei), who said he went to the country amidst the war to offer solidarity and helped athletes return home.

In an interview with Domingo Espetacular, this Sunday (13), Mamãe Falei said that in Ukraine she did "interviews, we helped five Brazilians, players, to find their way home".

According to a report by Sara Baptista, from UOLThis version of the story is not confirmed by the players nor by the Brazilian who received them in Slovakia as soon as they managed to cross the Ukrainian border.

Victor Adame, one of the players, claims that the congressman "didn't help at all." João Paulo Araújo, an economist who lives in Kosice, Slovakia, and hosted the five at his home after they crossed the Ukrainian border, says that the MBL suggested creating a crowdfunding campaign, a solution he considered inadequate because it wouldn't be quick enough.

Victor emphasized that they had the support of the Brazilian consulate, which placed staff at the train station in Lviv and brought food and portable chargers for cell phones.

João, in turn, recounts that while he and other young men were waiting to return to Brazil, he was contacted by the MBL, who found him through another Brazilian living in the region. They asked to conduct an interview with the players, which was later released on Congressman Arthur do Val's YouTube channel.

The players' move from Brazil to Ukraine was paid for by the club they played for. "The player explained that up until the moment they gave the interview to Arthur do Val and Renan dos Santos, they were waiting to return to Brazil on a repatriation flight from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they believed would depart from Poland or Romania," the report highlights.

"We would have to find another way to return, on our own. We contacted some people, and one of them was Congressman Arthur do Val, who practically didn't help at all," he says.

João says he took the initiative to contact MBL again in the hope that Arthur do Val could arrange help as a member of parliament. However, as the congressman himself reiterates, he went to Ukraine on his own initiative, as a citizen.

João also explained that he had found tickets for the young people that cost 600 euros each, equivalent to about R$ 20 in total. The MBL claims to have raised more than R$ 200 through crowdfunding.

"However, the contact was unsuccessful. Victor Adame denies having received any help from Arthur do Val," the report concludes.

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