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Olya Polyakova, Tonya Matviienko, Jamala and other Ukrainian celebrities left the country after the start of the full-scale invasion, taking themselves and their children away from Russian shelling. However, later the artists decided to return to Ukraine, and some refused life abroad after several years of emigration.
One reason named by the Ukrainian stars was the prolonged separation from husbands and other family members. For some artists, returning was also tied to the desire to raise their children in Ukraine and continue their creative work in their homeland.
Olya Polyakova
At the start of the full-scale war the singer left for France with her two daughters. While abroad, Polyakova continued to work and performed at charity concerts dedicated to supporting Ukraine.
Separation from home was hard for the artist. In June 2022 she tearfully spoke about wanting to return and named the planned date of her arrival. Already at the beginning of July the singer was in Kyiv.
After returning, Polyakova resumed performing in Ukraine, took part in charity events, and gave concerts for servicemembers.
She now continues to live and work both in Ukraine and abroad. In particular, in London she collaborates with an international music label.
MamaRika
During the first days of the large-scale war Anastasia Sereda, known by her stage name MamaRika, spent time in the Kyiv region with her husband Serhii Sereda and son David. The family was under fire, after which they decided to move to Odesa.
Later the singer went to Poland with her seven-month-old son. They lived in Warsaw for about a month and a half, but the artist could not stay away from her husband for long.
Already on 2 May 2022 MamaRika returned to Ukraine. She explained her decision by longing for her family and home.
Since then the performer has repeatedly traveled abroad for concerts, but her primary place of residence remained Ukraine.
Yula, wife of Anatolii Anatolich
The wife of TV host Anatolii Anatolich, Yuliia Yatsechko, known as Yula, left for France with three children after the Russian invasion began.
At that time the couple’s youngest son was only seven months old. Abroad, Yula stayed with her two daughters and son for about a year, while her husband remained in Ukraine and visited the family in France.
In March 2023 Yuliia returned to Kyiv with the children. She later said that she began to feel calmer at home.
The children quickly adapted to life after returning: the older ones resumed school, and the youngest son began attending kindergarten.
Tonya Matviienko
At the end of February 2022 Tonya Matviienko left Ukraine with her younger daughter Nina. The singer settled in the United Kingdom, where she spent more than a year.
In March 2023 the artist returned to her homeland. She explained that life apart from her husband Arsen Mirzoyan and other relatives had become too difficult.
Matviienko called the decision to return a conscious one. The singer even declined British social benefits, since she planned to stay home.
At the same time, her older daughter Uliana decided to move to Germany because of the ongoing Russian shelling. Now the 27-year-old girl lives in Berlin and is preparing for her wedding.
Ilona Hvozdiova
Ukrainian choreographer Ilona Hvozdiova went to Italy at the start of the full-scale invasion with her two children. Her husband stayed in Ukraine.
About two months later the dancer decided to return. In May 2022 she was already home and said that one of the main reasons was the long separation from her husband.
After arriving, Hvozdiova said she no longer planned to leave Ukraine. The family gradually returned to normal life, and the choreographer continued her professional work in Kyiv.
Later Ilona also obtained a second higher education and earned a degree in psychology.
Jamala
After the start of the full-scale war Jamala left Ukraine with her two sons. Initially the children stayed with relatives in Turkey, while the singer traveled around European countries performing at charity events and raising aid for Ukraine.
In August 2022 the artist returned to her homeland for the first time since the start of the large-scale war. She came to Kyiv and joined public efforts to support Ukrainian servicemembers.
In 2024 Jamala gave birth to her third son in Kyiv. Now the singer lives in the Ukrainian capital with her husband and children despite regular Russian shelling.
Nastia Korotka
Actress and blogger Nastia Korotka, the former wife of TV host Andrii Bedniakov, went to the United States with her daughter at the start of the full-scale invasion.
Later it became known that the couple was expecting a second child. In the United States the actress gave birth to a son, Ostap.
For a long time Korotka did not plan to return to Ukraine. As early as 2024 she said she was staying in the U.S. with the children.
However, in June 2025 the actress did come home with her daughter and son. She documented the trip to Ukraine and the family reunion, although by that time her divorce from Bedniakov had already become known.
In 2026 Korotka continues to live in Kyiv. Despite heavy shelling and the need to spend nights in shelters, the actress emphasized that the decision to return was important to her.
Alina Grosu
One of the most recent Ukrainian celebrities to announce her return home was Alina Grosu. The singer lived in the United States for several years, where she studied and worked on creative projects.
In September 2026 it became known that the artist returned to Ukraine with her husband, whose identity she still has not revealed.
Previously Grosu had long been in a relationship with Russian actor Roman Poliansky. In 2024 the singer married for the second time, but did not say who her chosen one was.
The singer links her return to Ukraine in part to the birth of her firstborn Mark-Gabriel. Grosu wanted her son to grow up near relatives and live in his homeland.
She clarified that she actually returned to Ukraine before the child was born. Her son Mark-Gabriel was born in April 2026.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Втекли від війни, але не змогли жити за кордоном: 8 українських зірок, які повернулися додому". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Expert.
