Thousands who left Russia after the 2022 invasion say travel bans, cost and security fears have stopped them from attending funerals. Psychologists warn the act of leaving can start a hidden grief that makes bereavement harder, and suggest practical ways to find closure. Many Russians who fled the country after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine are facing a second loss: they cannot return to say goodbye when relatives die. Between an estimated 650,000 and 1 million people left Russia after early 2022, and halted flights, steep travel costs and fears of detention often make trips home impossible. Those barriers hit people fast. One man using a pseudonym, Pyotr Trofimov, learned his father had died just three weeks after arriving in Germany. Direct flights were no longer available and a round trip would have cost thousands of euros. He turned to a psychologist to cope with the shock and says grief has been s...
Nigeria's military says troops freed 31 worshippers seized during an attack on churches in Ariko village, Kaduna state. Local leaders report multiple deaths and missing people as authorities blame armed bandits for rising violence in the region. Nigeria's army said it rescued 31 people who were taken hostage during an attack on churches in Ariko village, Kaduna state, on Sunday. In a statement the military said troops engaged the attackers in a firefight and forced them to abandon the hostages. Local media and church leaders said a Catholic and an evangelical church were targeted. Caleb Maaji, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna, said seven people were killed and others taken. The military, however, said five bodies were found at the scene. The attack occurred about 100 kilometres north of Abuja and came despite a police chief’s order for a “massive security deployment” at pla...