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Tuesday, 18 July

01:00

The War in Ukraine Isnt Over, but Many Refugees Are Coming Home "IndyWatch Feed Nthamerica"

KYIV, Ukraine Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has caused the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. The exact numbers are unclear, but UN agencies estimate that at least 6 and up to 8 million Ukrainians have fled the bombs and bullets. The vast majority of them are women and children, as men between the ages of 18-60 have mostly been banned from leaving the country. Now, millions have of those refugees have returned to face an uncertain future. Three of them talked with me about why they left and the mix of happiness and uncertainty they face on returning.

Marta in Kyiv

My mom was begging me to wear this ugly sweater she unburied in the old grandpas wardrobe. Another ugly thing she made me wear was the bitter taste of embarrassment and guilt, and it will not save me when my heart gets frozen.  

These are lines Marta, a 29-year-old from Kyiv, shared with me. They are part of a poem she wrote about the guilt and grief of leaving her home. She refers to her time in Poland, where she fled from the war in Ukraine, as the worst ever in my life. She didnt want to give her last name, as she says she still feels a strong sense of guilt about her decision to leave.

Marta left Ukraine when the war began and relocated to Warsaw. At that time, the Russians were attacking from five different directions, and the entire country was under assault. Marta expected to feel relief at escaping the chaos. Instead, however, she was overwhelmed with shame. I felt horrible mentally; the feeling of guilt would never leave me all that time, Marta said. I wanted to punish myself for not being in Ukraine. There was always a feeling, regardless of being safe, that I am not where I am supposed to be. 

It was not that she felt unwelcome in Poland. Unlike refugees from conflict zones such as Afghanistan or Syria, Ukrainians have reported general acceptance and warm receptions from their hosts. Their fears are usually not for their immediate survival. Thats especially true in Poland, where the languages and cultures are very similar, and the Polish government has invested heavily in social programs and housing initiatives to help support refugees.

However, many, like Marta, report a deep sense of unease, even shame, about being safe abroad while people in their homes are suffering....

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