Since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, over 700 Ukrainians have evacuated to Japan. For many, initial concerns about arrival and settling in are giving way to longer-term considerations, such as where to find work and support — especially with no fixed date for their return home.
One of them is Lilia Tiazhka, a journalist and blogger who runs a news site aimed at tackling Russian disinformation and propaganda, as well as a website on Japanese culture.
After crossing the border into Poland in early March, Tiazhka expected a long wait before her documents were processed. But she received her temporary visa from the Japanese Embassy within days, and arrived safely in Tokyo shortly afterward.