Iryna Podyryako-Bourdelles, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Nice: “After the war, the ties that have formed between France and Ukraine will have to be strengthened”

IN BRIEF — Iryna Podyryako-Bourdelles, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Nice, reflects on how much deeper the meaning of Ukrainian independence has grown in the face of the Russian invasion, stressing the importance of strengthening Franco-Ukrainian ties. Her commitment to the Ukrainian community on the French Riviera has evolved from a simple association into a genuine support network since 2022.

This Monday, August 24, Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of its independence, proclaimed on August 24, 1991 — a date that takes on a particular dimension as the country has faced, for more than four years, a full-scale Russian invasion. To mark the occasion, Entrevue spoke with Iryna Podyryako-Bourdelles, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Nice and former president of the Franco-Ukrainian Association of the Côte d’Azur. Engaged for many years alongside the Ukrainian community in the south of France, she looks back on the meaning of this day, her own journey, her role as honorary consul, the war, the way the French see Ukraine, and the future of her country.

Today is August 24, 2026, Ukraine’s Independence Day. Does this date still carry the same meaning today as it did before the war?

Before the great war, August 24 was a commemoration. It was a public holiday, a day of flags and concerts. We were celebrating something that felt like a given. Today, it is no longer a celebration. It is a state of mind. It is a front line. Because today, words carry a different weight. The word “independence,” the word “freedom” — before, they were concepts. Beautiful, abstract. Today, they have a price. And we know exactly how much it costs. That price, our people pay it every day. And they pay it with what is most precious: the lives of their soldiers, the lives of their civilians, of their children. When you live a quiet life — here in France, elsewhere in Europe — you don’t think about the fundamentals. You’re caught up in daily life. You forget to ask yourself the existential questions. War, as terrible as it is, is a moment of absolute awakening for a country. For an entire people. It puts you in front of a mirror and asks you: what can you do? On your own small scale, what are you doing? And above all, it forces you to answer the hardest question: is this “my war”? It’s very easy to tell yourself: no, it isn’t mine. I live far away, I’m safe. But I believe that if you consider yourself Ukrainian, if you consider yourself a human being who believes in freedom, then yes — it is my war. It is all of our war. Every day. And that is why August 24 today has far more meaning than it has ever had.

You co-founded the AFUCA, the Franco-Ukrainian Association of the Côte d’Azur, with Oleg Mazur. How did this adventure begin? Tell us about the early days, your own path, and what drove you to get involved.

It all started in 2016. At the time, there was a real void in Nice. Nice, historically, is a city where Russian influence is very, very strong — culturally, socially, in tourism. And for the French, but not only them, there was this habit — partly out of convenience, partly out of ignorance — of putting everyone in the same basket. Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians… “It’s all the same, you speak Russian, you come from over there.” No. It is not the same thing. And we needed to say so. We needed to exist as Ukrainians. We needed an entity. An official Ukrainian voice on the Côte d’Azur. A place where our culture, our language, our identity would not be a sub-category of something else. It was Oleg Mazur who had the courage to launch the idea. He said: “We’re doing it.” At the start, there were about ten of us. Ten active, motivated people who gathered around a table, with a lot of enthusiasm and zero resources. We had no idea where it would lead us. We just wanted to create a home for the Ukrainians here. We didn’t know that in 2022 this little home would become a refuge for hundreds of people.

And today, what does the AFUCA represent? How has its role evolved, particularly since February 2022?

Today, the AFUCA is the largest and oldest Ukrainian association on the Côte d’Azur. And this year, in October, we will celebrate our 10th anniversary. That’s symbolic for us. Since 2022, many other wonderful associations have been created in the department — most in Nice, but also in Cannes, Menton, and Tourrettes-sur-Loup. And that’s an excellent thing. The more of us there are, the stronger our voice, the more visible and undeniable our Ukrainian presence. We’re not in competition; we’re complementary. But you have to remember the context of February 2022. When the full-scale war began, in Nice, we were the only ones. The only ones to exist as an established Ukrainian structure. And what saved us is that we already had a team. Not very large, but very tight-knit. People who had known each other for years, who were used to working together. We didn’t need to organize ourselves — we were already operational. Very quickly, from the very first days, we were able to sit at the same table as the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes. And together, in just a few days, we set up a reception and support system for the displaced Ukrainians who were arriving by the hundreds. Housing, papers, school for the children, psychological support, humanitarian aid… From a small cultural association, we became overnight a crisis unit.

You are now Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Nice. Is it easy to become a diplomat? How did you come to this position?

Honorary consul is a volunteer role, in the service of one’s community. At a certain point, with the arrival of many Ukrainians in our region after 2022, we understood that it would be essential for the community to have official representation here, on the Côte d’Azur. Being present, but without official status, had its limits. After consultations with the Ukrainian Embassy in Paris, we decided to put forward my candidacy, along with recommendations. It was accepted. Then I had to go through several interviews, prove my motivation, my experience, and my local roots, in order finally to be appointed. I can’t say my day-to-day work has changed radically since — I was already very involved with the Ukrainian community. But I am called upon much more often, and in a more official way. It is an honor, but it is also a great responsibility. And often, there isn’t enough time to respond to every difficulty.

Concretely, what does the work of an Honorary Consul of Ukraine involve? What are your missions and the limits of your role?

It is a volunteer and hands-on role, with three main missions: to help the Ukrainians in my district in case of emergency — an accident, a hospitalization, an arrest; to report the local situation back to the Ukrainian Embassy in Paris; and to organize events to promote the image of Ukraine and economic ties with our region. You also have to clearly understand the limits: I cannot issue passports, visas, or other official documents. For that, you have to go to the Embassy in Paris or the Consulate in Lyon.

Your phone must ring often, then… Is it still possible to separate your consular role from your personal life?

It’s quite difficult, to be honest. I never really turn off my phone, so I can be reached in case of emergency. But fortunately, I have a solid team around me that helps me and supports me when I can’t respond instantly.

On June 29, the Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev and members of his family were the victims of a very serious attack in Monaco. The case had international repercussions. Did an event of such violence, occurring at the gates of the Côte d’Azur, cause particular concern within the Ukrainian community?

It is a terrible event. First, let me express all my support for the three people who were victims of this attack in their ordeal. Of course, an act of such violence, so close to us, caused a great deal of emotion and concern within the community. I know the investigators’ work is continuing. I hope that the Monegasque services, in cooperation with the Ukrainian services, will shed full light on this case and find the real culprits. That is essential to prevent such attacks from happening again and to ease the concerns.

Has the war changed the way the French look at Ukrainians and Ukraine?

If we can say the war brought one positive change, it is this: the French and Europe have finally discovered Ukraine as a country. A country in its own right. You no longer hear those phrases like “Ukraine and Russia, it’s the same thing.” That’s over. On one hand, we received an enormous amount of support, and I see that the world continues to admire the courage and resilience of Ukrainians. On the other hand, you also feel a kind of fatigue in French society, which has its own problems to deal with and no longer wants to hear about the war in Ukraine. And unfortunately, that fatigue opens the door to a great deal of manipulation and propaganda.

How do you view President Volodymyr Zelensky today and his role since the start of the war?

You can always criticize the president of a country; that’s normal in a democracy. And his role is so difficult that it is impossible to please everyone. But as long as the war continues, we must stay united behind him. He represents our country, he was democratically elected, and it is his responsibility to defend it.

You recently met the new mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti. How did that meeting go? Is the City of Nice helping you concretely in your efforts, both for the AFUCA and for the honorary consulate?

Yes, we had the honor of meeting Mayor Éric Ciotti during the visit of Ambassador Vadym Omelchenko to Nice. At that meeting, support for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian community was clearly renewed. We discussed several cooperation projects between Nice and Ukraine. We are currently working on them, and I hope that with the new municipal team we will be able to bring these ideas to fruition — for the AFUCA, for the honorary consulate, and for our whole community.

What projects do you want to develop today with the City of Nice and, more broadly, with the institutions of the Côte d’Azur?

We’re working on two main areas. First, a cooperation project between the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and an important strategic region in Ukraine. It’s a genuine partnership project for the future. And second, we dream of opening a Ukrainian center in Nice. A unique place that could bring together all our initiatives: the AFUCA’s cultural and educational projects, economic cooperation, and the honorary consulate. A true place of exchange between Nice and Ukraine.

The Côte d’Azur is associated with sunshine, luxury, yachts, Monaco, and a certain sweetness of life. Is it sometimes strange to talk about war every day in that environment?

Ukraine, too, is a very beautiful country, with magnificent landscapes and a rich heritage. And that country would also love to live in the sun and simply enjoy life. But today that country is under attack, and we cannot just stand by and do nothing, even under the sun of the Côte d’Azur. Deep down, it is not only Ukraine’s war — it is all of our war. And yes, sometimes it’s hard to have to wake up the people around us to remind them of that reality. So we adapt: we invent other ways to talk about Ukraine — organizing film screenings, concerts, exhibitions, moments of exchange. To show that this country is much more than just an image of war.

Do you still manage to have a personal life with all these responsibilities, and to truly “switch off”?

To be honest, it doesn’t happen to me often. But I’m lucky to have a family that understands me and supports me. Let’s say it’s my personal life that has learned to adapt to this rhythm. And besides, when you know how people live in Ukraine today, you’re not going to complain. To keep working without giving up is the least I can do for Ukraine.

After all these years in France, do you feel more French or more Ukrainian?

It’s hard to say. In my everyday life I am French; that’s my daily reality. But my soul, the way I feel the world — all of that remains deeply Ukrainian. And I’ve understood that you don’t have to choose between the two. Leaving a country doesn’t mean denying your roots. They give us strength. You can live in harmony without having to choose, as long as you don’t forget where you come from, and with respect and gratitude for your host country.

What do you miss most about Ukraine?

Its beauty. Its immense landscapes. And of course, the places where I spent my childhood, the ones that remain etched in me. I miss its climate too, with its real seasons. And also the open-mindedness of Ukrainians, that will to live free, which is very inspiring.

And conversely, what do you love most about life on the Côte d’Azur?

My children were born on the Côte d’Azur. So this is where I’m writing a new page of my life, a page filled with all of our memories. And I will love that page forever. I also deeply love the cultural richness of the region. This light, this sweetness of life, but also this incredible mix of history, art, and cultures that cross paths here. You never grow tired of it.

Can you imagine one day returning to live in Ukraine for good, or do you now consider France your second country?

I’ve learned that you should never say never. Today, my life is in France. But who knows what the future holds? I’m optimistic, I believe in Ukraine’s victory. It’s a very rich country, and there will be so much to do to rebuild it. So, we’ll see.

The reconstruction of Ukraine will be one of the great challenges of the coming years. What role will Ukrainians living abroad, particularly in France, be able to play?

Every Ukrainian abroad must remember their responsibility: to represent their country. We must all, in a sense, be ambassadors. To speak up and tell the truth, to fight propaganda. And after the war, the ties that have already formed between France and Ukraine will have to be strengthened — economic ties, but also cultural and human ties. That is where the Ukrainian community in France will have an essential role to play.

What do you think Ukraine will look like in ten years?

I’m an optimist, so I want to believe in a bright future for Ukraine. Realistically, everything will depend on how long this war lasts. Not on its outcome — because, to me, Ukraine has already won it. It won it on the third day, in February 2022. When the whole world held its breath, expecting to see the country fall as the enemy had predicted. And when Ukraine stood up to that army everyone believed was so powerful. When our forces managed to stop it and push it back, and our civilians became volunteers to fight. That is the precise moment when Ukraine won. Today, it’s only a matter of time. Every dictatorship comes to an end, and the Russian empire will collapse. We have to hold on and resist until that moment. And for that, we need support. If we succeed, then in ten years Ukraine will be a magnificent country, rebuilt, with its rich lands, and more welcoming than ever.

If you had one message today to address directly to the French readers reading us, what would it be?

If we want to live in a free and democratic world, then keep supporting Ukraine in its fight against barbarism.

Finally, on this August 24, 2026, if you had to define today’s Ukraine in a single word, which would you choose?

Resilience.

This interview was originally published in French by Entrevue on August 24, 2026. Translated and adapted into English for SN Media.