The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to tens of thousands of deaths. And it’s estimated around 8 million Ukrainians left the country to find sanctuary.

Each of those numbers represents an individual – a son or daughter, mother or father – and personal stories of escape or the loss of a loved one. Throughout the year we have been hearing from people affected by the war and this time we feature conversations with Ukrainian women and girls who are taking refuge across Europe.

In one of those conversations, three women tell us about finding comfort in shared experiences of grief, after losing their husbands in a missile attack. “One part of my brain understands that I will never see him my whole life,” Viktoria tells us. “Another part of my brain has this hope and I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

Host James Reynolds meets mothers and their daughters who share their experiences of escaping the war and the challenges of making a new life for themselves in the UK. We also hear from three young Ukrainian women, currently living in London. They express the guilt they feel about leaving friends and family behind, while also offering observations on some quirks of British culture. Show less