Sir Lewis Hamilton has drawn valuable attention to a journalist who has highlighted Africans being stranded in Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
Following months of escalating tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his troops to enter Ukraine and begin an invasion of the country.
It began a horrifying concatenation of events in Ukraine, and it is estimated that at least 3,500 Russian soldiers have lost their lives, while at least hundreds of Ukrainians have perished in the war.
Many people are now fleeing the country as the “barbaric” invasion continues, with civilians flocking to the Polish border for safety. Over half a million people are reported to have already been displaced by the conflict in Eastern Europe.
There has now been an abundance of reports that Africans are being turned away from the Polish border, and a Twitter user posted a video of an African mother holding a child in 3-degree Celsius conditions.
“#AfricansinUkraine the community of Africans in Ukraine stranded at a boarder much of them women and children. — This is happening now The lady in the video is holding a 2 month old and it’s 3°c outside we are in search of aid and hostels,” he tweeted.
This was shared by journalist Jemele Hill, who writes for the Atlantic.
“This is why racism must be seen as a global problem. Absolutely disgraceful,” she commented.
Having seen the message, Hamilton retweeted Hill’s tweet in the hope it may lead to some salvation for the defenceless people currently stuck in the bloody war between Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile in Formula 1, the FIA are to hold an “extraordinary meeting” today to discuss the future of Russian superlicense holders.
This would affect Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, Formula 2 driver Robert Shwartzman, and former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, among others.
Russia and Ukraine recently held peace talks over the crisis as the invasion enters its sixth day, but these negotiations didn’t yield any tangible progress.