‘I’m still hoping for a peaceful sky’: catching up with a Ukrainian teen after 3 years of war

Bogdan Hofbauer

Three years ago, Ali Velshi traveled to Eastern Europe to cover the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While talking to Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, Ali met then 15-year-old Nastya Shpot. She and her family were forced to flee their hometown, leaving behind Nastya’s father, a military chaplain who stayed to fight for their country. Ali kept in touch with Nastya and her family over the years and now, just one day before the 3rd anniversary of the start of Russia’s full scale invasion of