As Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine from the north and south of the country last year and rockets rained down across the county, hundreds of thousands of people made for the borders to escape.
Many had just hours of notice and left with a handful of belongings as they boarded crowded trains or joined massive convoys of citizens headed for safety.
Few likely expected to be away from their homes for more than a year, but some are now considering the prospect of putting down roots elsewhere.
