It's been a traumatic month for the Ukrainian nation. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homeland because of an illegal invasion by a bloodthirsty despot. Thousands who stayed to fight the Russian army have been killed.
For the people who've fled Ukraine, they've had to face into the fear and uncertainty of living in a foreign country, relying on the kindness and hospitality of others.
In their new lands, they've had to experience the cultural quirks of their hosts and their neighbours.
Two young Ukrainian women had their first experience of Ireland's near-neighbours being 'at it' this morning.
This morning on Sky News Breakfast, Allada and Anasatasia, two refugees who have fled Kharkiv and are currently in Dublin, were interviewed by presenter Kay Burley.
(jump to 51.10 to watch the interview)
The young women spoke about their four-day journey from Kharkiv to Poland, where they seemed to be stranded, and then to Dublin.
When wrapping the interview, Burley made an unusual geographical sleight of hand.
Ukrainian refugee correcting Kay Burley this morning pic.twitter.com/ZQdZdJzLnm
— Uinsionn (@UinsionnMac) March 15, 2022
'Hopefully you can build a life in Dublin safe in the knowledge that the British people are completely behind you," Burley said.
Without missing a beat, Allada corrected the presenter.
"Thank you. And we want to tell Irish people we are so grateful to Irish people for all the kindness and hospitality that they treat us with."
Perhaps Burley merely misspoke - obviously British people are welcome to express their solidarity with Ukrainian refugees, wherever they're based - but the statement inevitably underlined the differences between Ireland and the EU's response to the crisis, and the UK's. Considering the UK's somewhat muted response to welcoming refugees fleeing Ukraine, one can wonder if she was trying to piggyback somewhat on Ireland's generosity.
Ireland has welcomed 5,500 Ukrainian refugees as of yesterday, while the UK had issued 4,000 visas to Ukrainian refugees as of yesterday.
The population of Ireland is around 5 million people while the population of the UK is around 67 million people.
