Samar Atia, a Palestinian from Gaza, had been living in Ukraine for four years prior to the Russian invasion where she was an engineering student. “I was very happy with my life here in Kharkiv. It was a world away from the day-to-day effects of Israeli occupation, a reality I had experienced since my childhood. When I arrived in Ukraine, I discovered what freedom really was”, Samar told The New Arab. Regrettably this promised life didn’t last long. “Overnight life in Ukraine changed. As soon as Russia started its invasion, past fears from Gaza re-emerged. But being away from my family it felt…