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...
Get the latest global news, breaking stories, and trending updates from around the world. Covering politics, business, technology, science, entertainment, and more — all in one place.