Identity and Return Migration among Young Adult Armenian Women from Russia in Times of War.

This article examines the return migration of second-generation Armenian women from the Russian Federation to Armenia following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, focusing on their experiences of reintegration and identity negotiation. Based on interviews conducted between 2022 and 2023, it highlights how these women often face linguistic barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and gender norm differences in Armenia, despite strong emotional ties and a desire to contribute to the country. Their identities are shaped by experiences of xenophobia in Russia, family migration histories, and the impact of recent wars in Armenia and Ukraine, resulting in hybrid, transnational identities that complicate straightforward integration. The study suggests that repatriation is a fluid process marked by ongoing mobility, with many returnees viewing Armenia as a significant but not always permanent home, underscoring the need for policies that recognize their transnational experiences and potential contributions.