‘My dad’s words make my eyes water and my heart sink, but I hope I’ve hidden it well’: a Ukrainian refugee’s return to her city scarred by warFour years ago this month, Ksenia Samotiy, then age 19, fled Lviv for Ireland as the threat of war loomed. Her father remained. Last week, she returned for an emotional visitUkrainian refugee's emotional return to home city after four years in IrelandKsenia Samotiy Today at 06:30There’s a weird ­comfort in ­knowing you can survive something you’ve been ­terrified of, even when in a ­better world you would ­never have to ­experience it at all.

Source: Irish Independent February 22, 2026 05:39 UTC