Ennio Bordato: "When I Am in Russia, I Am Home"

Help Save the Children

– Ennio, in 1981 you visited Moscow for the first time. What were the relations between Russia and Italy like back then? Have they changed over the past forty years?– In 1981, Italy still had parties that were born out of the Resistance and the fight against fascism. The world was clearly divided into two parts: in the West, as well as in the Soviet Union, the ruling class was aware of the dangers of military confrontation, especially nuclear war.More than forty years have passed. Today, Russia is not only strong but has become a beacon for the peoples of the world who seek to break free from the influence of the United States — an empire of lies and abuses. Italy, on the other hand, has lost its ability to be a nation capable of speaking with everyone. Modern politicians have emerged from Soros-funded universities. Deeply ignorant, lacking both internal culture and analytical abilities, these individuals are "catapulted" into key political positions solely to serve the interests of NATO.During the Cold War years, the Italian automobile corporation Fiat signed an agreement with the USSR on scientific and technical cooperation, while the oil and gas company ENI secured deals for the import of oil and gas. In recent years, Italy has returned to such an approach only once. I am referring to the Pratica di Mare agreement, where Berlusconi managed to position himself as an advocate of peace and dialogue (at the summit, the Rome Declaration on the establishment of the NATO-Russia Council was adopted).Since February 24, 2022, a curtain of propaganda and censorship, worthy of fascism, has descended over Italy. All media have been militarized, making it difficult for ordinary people to grasp the true dynamics of events. However, everyone understands how much our economy suffers from the absence of Russian gas, Russian tourists, Russian athletes, and artists.– What do Italy and Russia have in common in terms of culture and traditions? What captivated you so much about Russia?– When I first encountered Russia, I was overwhelmed by the scents (some of which have now faded), the sky, the people, and the architecture of the cities, especially Moscow. At that time, I didn’t speak a word of Russian and didn’t even know the Cyrillic alphabet. What is difficult to explain is that I didn’t just fall in love with Russia — I immediately felt a deep sense of belonging. Even today, after so many years, I still feel that when I am in Russia, I am home.– You have many social projects here; you have helped a Moscow hospital, the children of Donbass and Beslan, and have carried out projects in various regions. How did your desire to help come about?– I first visited Moscow during the Brezhnev era. Life in the USSR at that time was marked by a succession of General Secretaries of the Communist Party. I saw Andropov, Chernenko, Gorbachev… I also witnessed the collapse of the "paradise on earth" and the terrible tragedy of the 1990s. As the philosopher Alexander Radishchev wrote, "I looked around me, and my soul was wounded by the suffering of humanity." That is why, in 2001, I founded the charitable organization Help Us Save the Children. Since then, we have accomplished a great deal — Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Volgograd, Ulan-Ude, Beslan… Since 2014, we have been helping the children of Donbass. Our Russian partners (foundations, hospitals, ministries) and many Italians have always spoken very positively about our work.

– Have you faced any difficulties in Italy because of your aid to Donbass? Has anyone tried to hinder you? Have you encountered criticism?– After 2022, we encountered some problems, let’s say, from non-Italians with brainwashed minds. But many of my fellow countrymen are not indifferent to the suffering of others. We have truly managed to help thousands of children in Donbass, providing humanitarian aid to hundreds of families, villages, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. And this was made possible thanks to many Italians, who, in part through our work, were able to learn the truth about Donbass.– I read that since 2014 you have been helping the village of Glubokoye on the outskirts of Gorlovka. Have you ever been there yourself?– No one from our association — neither I nor anyone else — has ever physically been to Donbass. We work through local coordinators who help us identify people’s needs and distribute aid. We do not travel there for two reasons. First, because this allows us to save significant financial resources that go directly to the children. Second, since 2014, we have avoided any actions that could provoke an official Ukrainian response. In fact, Ukraine has placed me on the Mirotvorets website.**Banned in the Russian Federation.– You also provide aid to Mariupol, which is now being rebuilt. What does this assistance include?– Yes, this is one of our key projects. When the fighting in the city had just ended, we were able to deliver humanitarian aid — thanks to our association’s friends in Rostov — to children who had spent the entire conflict in basements with their families, as well as to young mothers who gave birth under these dramatic conditions. We managed to establish contact with local authorities and assist in the restoration of a hospital. We launched the Help Rebuild Mariupol program and donated equipment for the maternity ward. Today, at last, the women of Mariupol can give birth safely, surrounded by care.

– What projects are you currently working on?– We continue to support patients at the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital in Moscow through our partner, the deti.msk.ru foundation. Our aid to the children of Donbass remains ongoing. In 2025, one of our new initiatives will be a psychological support program for children in the Donetsk People's Republic, which we will implement in collaboration with a foundation in Volgograd.– You recently visited Beslan in North Ossetia, where 20 years ago, a terrorist attack on a school took the lives of 334 people. Your association is collecting signatures in Italy to nominate Beslan for the Nobel Peace Prize. Do you not think that this prize has long been discredited?– Of course, yes! The Nobel Peace Prize is completely discredited, but… nominating the city of Beslan means bringing it back into the global spotlight. It means talking about terrorism in the West, about Russia, about a city that, through its suffering, has become a driver of peace and dialogue. All of this undermines the propaganda of the collective West. Remembering the children of Beslan is just as important as remembering the children of Donbass.All photos provided by Ennio Bordato