A woman named Ruslana, who had been living in Germany for the past two years, unexpectedly decided to return to Ukraine to personally congratulate her mother on her birthday and see her hometown of Chernihiv, which she had been separated from since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
A Challenging Journey for a Family Celebration
Ruslana shared a video on her TikTok account showing how she made her way back to her homeland. She purchased a ticket from Germany to Warsaw by plane, and then transferred to a bus heading to Kyiv. The woman admitted that the first thing she wanted to do upon arrival was to taste her favorite Ukrainian hot dog. Upon crossing the border, she felt overwhelming emotions from reuniting with her native land.
“We returned to Ukraine. I hadn’t been home for two years, and one day I decided: I can’t wait any longer, I don’t want to wait, that’s it. So I bought a ticket home. A flight to Warsaw, then a bus transfer to Kyiv. My first desire was to eat our hot dog. At the border, we meet our Ukrainian sunshine, and my soul is so happy. I’m just driving and crying,” the video creator shared.
The journey to Chernihiv was long but eagerly awaited. Ruslana decided to surprise her mother by not informing her of her arrival. When she entered the house with her children, her mother was stunned by the sudden reunion, and emotions overwhelmed both women.
Emotions and Reactions from Ukrainians
Ruslana noted that although she and her mother often communicated via video calls, the feeling of physical presence and warmth from their meeting could not be compared to any long-distance conversation. Despite the touching reunion, the woman plans to return to Germany in the near future.
Followers on social media actively commented on this story, expressing support and sharing their own experiences of brief visits to their homeland. Some noted that it felt more like a vacation at home rather than a permanent return, emphasizing the temporary nature of such visits. Others shared warm words about Chernihiv and the importance of family ties for every Ukrainian.