Russian exiles bring banyas and blinis to Buenos Aires

Russians Ilia Gafarov and his wife Nadia Gafarova share a laugh at the rooftop of their "banya", a traditional Russian sauna they are building together, after moving to Argentina 9 months ago, as part of a wave of migration since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, in Buenos Aires, Argentina February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - When Ilia Gafarov and Nadia Gafarova host the grand opening of their "banya", a traditional Russian sauna, in April, they hope it will help make a permanent home of their adopted city of Buenos Aires.

The couple, a former banker and recruiter from Russia's eastern port city of Vladivostok, moved to Argentina with their two daughters nine months ago, part of a wave of migration from Russia to Latin America since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.