after several weeks of exile, residents return to kyiv

The war in Ukraine is entering its third month, with fighting now centered in the east of the country. In the capital, kyiv, some residents who had fled decided to return.

Article written by

Farida Nouar and Fabien Gosset. Edited by Frederic Wittner – franceinfo

French Radio

Posted

Reading time : 1 min.

The situation in kyiv, after two months of war, has become more livable for a few days. Businesses have reopened, and more and more people who had fled the bombardments and the advancing Russian army have decided to return home.

The night bus connection between Warsaw, Poland, and kyiv, Ukraine, has been restored. On Sunday April 24, exiled Ukrainians arrived at the kyiv bus station. Lena, who had taken refuge with her brother in Poland, finds her town and her family: “We decided to come back now, because people are coming back to kyiv. And we missed it. My granddaughter was crying, she wanted to see her parents again.” Dasha, her granddaughter, hugs her mother: what she misses the most, she says, is her mother’s love.

At the foot of the bus, a young man is waiting for his fiancée, Valeria, a white rose in his hand. “I’ve been waiting for a month and a half to see each other again and she’s back! We’re finally going home.”

“When I left I said to myself: ‘It is absolutely necessary that I return as soon as possible, as soon as there is an opportunity’.”

Valeria, back in kyiv

at franceinfo

Valeria gets off the bus, happy to be back: “It was very hard to be away from him, from everyone, from my parents.” The young couple now hope never to be separated again.

Back to kyiv: report by Farida Nouar and Fabien Gosset

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