Differences of views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have not only split two nations, but also many families as well. The stories of Sasha and Daniil offer just two examples of how families have been split by toxic propaganda and war, with little chance for reconciliation.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, it brought much more than political and ideological discord. For thousands of Ukrainians, who had family connections in Russia, it was a turning point. The ground of common understanding that had been eroding since the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014, completely cracked in one night, when Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border in an attempt to take Kyiv. What had been thought of as western exaggeration prior to February 24th, became real, and the wall of misunderstanding split many friendships and family connections; some of them forever broken.

Since the new Verkhovna Rada began working, Ukrainian social media users have scrutinised and criticised every decision made by new MPs and the President’s appointees. Their behaviour on Facebook, Instagram and VK largely mirror real moods in society.

What is the destiny of Ukraine’s post-conflict society? This question belongs to the realm of Transitional Justice and is one of the main challenges for the newly elected parliament.