Fear of the Russian invasion separated them. Now some couples and families in Kharkiv are finally reuniting as people begin to return to Ukraine's second-largest city.
At Kharkiv train station, husbands and fathers anxiously wait for the first sight of their loved ones as the train approaches. The first sight in weeks, for many a moment they've been dreaming of for three months.
As Russian forces tried to capture the northeastern city at the beginning of the invasion, Sasha and his wife endured the danger of shelling for almost a month. Then, his wife left for western Ukraine with one of her closest friends while Sasha stayed behind to keep his job at an internet company.
Emotions run high as they finally reunite.
Ukrainian forces managed to push back Russian troops from around Kharkiv more than two weeks ago.
Now that it feels safer, more and more people have been returning, but the occasional shelling can still be deadly.
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On Thursday, Russian artillery fire killed at least seven civilians, and injured 17 including a 9-year-old child, the regional governor said.
It was a reminder that war is not yet over.
The Kharkiv region's governor Oleh Synyehubov appealed to his fellow citizens not to be tricked into feeling safe. Russian troops might try again to attack the city.
"It is still dangerous but I wanted to come home," said 50-year-old Tatyana who was welcome by her husband Andriy.
Tatyana left Ukraine and went to Slovakia on March 5.
"Slovakians welcomed and treated us very well, but it is not the same as to be home," she said.