PERSONAL: ‘Life turned out differently’: Ukrainians in Istanbul uncertain about future after four years of war

Record ID: 2342469

  • Title: PERSONAL: ‘Life turned out differently’: Ukrainians in Istanbul uncertain about future after four years of war
  • Date: 20th February 2026
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) UKRAINIAN EXPAT, IRYNA KUSHNIR, SAYING: “Before the war, I never thought of leaving Kharkiv but I had to.” VARIOUS OF KUSHNIR AND YERMOLENKO ON SHORE NEAR BOSPHORUS (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN EXPAT, IRYNA KUSHNIR, SAYING: “Of course, we visit Ukraine from time to time, but for the most part we try
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: ANNIVERSARY ISTANBUL KHARKIV MIGRANTS RUSSIA TURKEY UKRAINE WAR
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Europe,Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Middle East,Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA003677719022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Additional story on Ukrainian refugees living in Poland to be found in edit 6438-UKRAINE-CRISIS/ANNIVERSARY-EXPATS-POLAND -- PERSONAL: Sitting on packed suitcases, Ukrainian refugee in Poland weighs return home after four years of war
    When Iryna Kushnir and Olga Yermolenko moved to Istanbul after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they thought they would return to their hometown, Kharkiv, within a few months.
    Four years later, Kushnir, 42, says she will not move back, after getting married to a Turkish man in Istanbul and building a new life in Istanbul.
    “Like all Ukrainians, I planned to return home, but life turned out differently,” she said.
    Yermolenko, 43, who is Kushnir’s friend from high school, has stopped waiting for the war to come to an end anytime soon and would rather not think about what she will do once peace returns to her country. For now, she remains in limbo.
    “This is a bit strange feeling to be between your previous life and your maybe future life,” she said.
    Despite having moved to Turkey, both Yermolenko and Kushnir have family in Ukraine, about whose safety they are concerned amidst the war.
    “Those are horrific moments, for example, (when) I open the news  and I see a missile flying toward my home,” Yermolenko said, adding that she immediately calls to check on her mother.
    Up to 5 million people fled Ukraine to Europe on top of 4 million who have been displaced within Ukraine, as the war grinds into its fifth year next week. Many of them fear they will not see their homes, or loved ones, again.
    Located 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, Kharkiv withstood Russian advances in the early weeks of Russia's February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.
    With Russia's forces focused since on capturing eastern regions of the country, the city has been a frequent target of aerial attacks.
    (Production: Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Ali Kucukgocmen)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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