A six-year-old Ukrainian girl received the best birthday surprise as her dad showed up at her school and they were reunited for the first time since April.
Sofiia Badrak and her mum Yuliia fled Ukraine due to the ongoing war and took shelter in Ireland, while her dad remained in the country to fight against Vladimir Putin's troops.
Yesterday, the girl's father, Stanislav, surprised her by showing up at Brooklodge School in Glanmire, Co Cork, at lunchtime, the Irish Mirror reports.
Before the war, Yuliia was employed by the National Orchestra of Ukraine prior to the war, while Stanislav worked as a singer, pianist and composer with the National Academic Choir of Ukraine.
The mum said Sofiia - who is celebrating her sixth birthday tomorrow - was very excited to see her dad after being forced apart for six months.
She explained Stanislav flew into Cork Airport to see his family for a week before returning to Ukraine.
The woman said: "It is sad but it is our life. For Sofiia it is a surprise. We only have Sofiia. She is six on Saturday. It (him coming) is her present. We are so happy."
Yuliia, who is from Kyiv, said that her daughter likes school and is adjusting as well as can be expected to life in Ireland.
She is grateful for the support of the local community and her fluency in English is improving by the day.
School principal at Brooklodge NS, Joe Nolan, said that it was nice to have a "real feel good" story in these troubling times.
He said: "It is lovely. Sofiia is here since April. It is her birthday in two days so he (Stan) has been able to come over for a short period and they are going to have a birthday party for her.
"Her mother Yuliia is a musician with the National Orchestra of Ukraine prior to all of this. It has been tough. She is one of four families within the one complex in Glanmire. It is 21 people in the building including adults and children.
"They are about a twenty-minute walk from here so at the moment they have free transport to school from Bus Eireann. We are delighted for them today. It has been very tough for them. "
Mr Nolan says the children who have come to the school from Ukraine have shown extraordinary resilience.
He explained: "We have eight Ukrainian children in the school. They are settling in as well as could be expected given all the circumstances. They are very resilient.
"We have a great staff and community behind them. Between parents and the other kids they have all helped the new pupils to settle in very well in fairness."
