After fleeing the war, student and refugee Liiana Halahan travelled all the way to France with her mother. Together, they are creating a temporary life there. Learn about her experience in this instalment of Portraits from the War in Ukraine:

“What impressed me was how people are open and you can approach everyone, they will help you.”

She tells us about her experience being hosted in France, commencing studies, learning French and getting used to the university experience in Tours.

“I know this university has a lot of foreign students. That’s why I was not worried if I would be well accepted or not, because they are the same as me. The only difference was the reason I ended up here.”

Liiana is one of three refugees interviewed by Olga Konstantinova and Julien Couson, for the ‘Portraits from the war in Ukraine’ mini-series.

Meet the other refugees and see the full series of portraits here.