Ukrainian in Switzerland: ‘I loved Russia…but they threw me out’
A Ukrainian voice for peace. Natalia lost her home for refusing war. Now she’s trying to hold her family together across borders, permits, and time zones.
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Listening: Ukrainian in Switzerland: ‘I loved Russia…but they threw me out’
Stopped by Russian security guards, Moscow resident Natalia said she was for “peace in the world”. The response: a 20-year ban on re-entering the country.
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I cover international relations with a focus on Switzerland, lead journalistic investigations, and conduct deeply personal interviews on challenging topics.
Over 25 years in journalism. Graduated from Moscow State University's Faculty of Journalism and the French Press Institute in Paris. Former TV/radio host in France and Russia. I am a published author and documentary filmmaker who has interviewed presidents and rock stars.
I am an experienced video journalist passionate about making complex topics accessible and engaging through compelling multimedia storytelling. Focused on social and environmental issues, I produce various video formats on a wide range of topics, specialising in impactful explainer videos with motion graphics and stop-motion animation.
During my studies in cinema, English literature and journalism, I’ve gained experience in radio, television, and print across Switzerland. After working with the Locarno Film Festival’s image & sound team, I joined SWI swissinfo.ch in 2018 to produce local and international reportages.
Natalia, a 40-year-old Ukrainian who had lived in Moscow for over 15 years, was stopped at the Russian border, interrogated by federal security officers about her loyalty, and exiled for refusing to support the war. Her response – “I am for peace in the world” – was enough to trigger an entry ban until 2044.
This story is part of сloseUp – SWI swissinfo.ch’s new first-person mini-documentary format.Watch the full version on YouTube:
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Trapped between two difficult situations – she can’t re-enter Russia and she can’t get Switzerland’s S protection status, reserved for Ukrainians who fled directly from Ukraine – Natalia now lives in Switzerland with an F permit, a limited form of temporary admission.
Separated from her husband, who remains in Russia, Natalia must navigate a long-distance relationship across national borders – while also living apart from her parents, who reside in a different region of Switzerland. But she continues to fight to keep her family together, across countries and cantons.
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