It's been three years of sleepless nights for Ukrainians 

Sleepless nights due to air-raids and schooldays spent in windowless bomb shelters are now the norm for Ukraine's children. Europe must act to bring Ukraine into the fold, writes Thomas Byrne

Kyiv residents shelter in subway amid a Russian drone-and-missile strike on June 29 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Growing up, many of us were instilled with the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep, as we know, is essential for our overall health. Yet, on the continent of Europe today, a nation has gone without sleep for many years. But amid the restlessness, Ukrainians remain resilient and determined for change.

When I unlock my phone, I am met by a home screen filled with apps. Apps for communicating, apps for news, apps for social media, and so on. But when I travelled to Ukraine in April, a new app was added to this cluster. An app for air raid alerts.