Migration experiences and adaptation strategies of transnational refugee Ukrainian families in Cyprus

This study explores the experiences of Ukrainian refugee families in Cyprus, focusing on their migration challenges and adaptation strategies. It examines how they navigate daily obstacles, maintain well-being, and preserve cultural and linguistic identities amid displacement caused by war and instability. Despite their diversity, the research highlights their shared efforts to sustain family ties across borders despite separation and mobility constraints. The study examines how these families adapt their social and linguistic practices in the host country while considering options for return and reunification. Special attention is given to attitudes toward Ukrainian and Russian, reflecting their symbolic and pragmatic significance amidst geopolitical tensions. Methodologically, the research combines quantitative and qualitative data analysis within a theoretical framework rooted in family and migration studies, and sociolinguistics. The findings reveal how migration trajectories impact family cohesion, cultural preservation, and integration processes under conditions of uncertainty. The paper discusses the implications for policy and support services for transnational refugee families in Cyprus and, more broadly, in Europe, highlighting their resilience, needs, and complex identities in a temporary host environment. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted experiences of forced migration and the dynamics of transnational family paths in contemporary conflict contexts.