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In the first week of the Russian attack, more than 1 million Ukrainians fled the country.
Voice of America correspondent Henrgy Ridgwell is located on the border between Ukraine and Poland, which is the main refugee destination.
Suitcases with clothes and any souvenirs is all that the Ukrainians escaped in the last hours of the panic of fleeing the Russian attack on their country.
The western Ukrainian city of Lviv has become a hotspot for Ukrainians fleeing Russian mortars and rockets.
Women and children leave behind their homes, as well as spouses, fathers, and sons. Men must stand to fight.
After tiring days and terror, the refugees travel by train to Poland in search of safety.
The first stop is Przemysl, from where they can change trains and travel to other places as well.
This family hopes to arrive in Lithuania.
“We will continue, we will succeed. I hope everything ends well and our Ukraine wins. “I want to go back, I want to go home.” says Anastasia, a Ukrainian refugee.
Every family has similar stories of loss and fear.
More than 1 million Ukrainians have fled the country, according to the United Nations. The highest number is located in Poland.
Most Ukrainian refugees have friends and family in Poland, or somewhere in Europe, where they can stay. But as the war escalates, the number of those crossing the border increases as does the pressure on Poland.
Not everyone has a place to stay. Caleb Poities from the Republic of Congo studied electrical engineering in Odessa. He fled with his Ukrainian girlfriend after the Russian attacks began.
“We slept at the border for a week, on the way to get here. We are fine now. So far we have been well received in Poland. “Now we are waiting for the bus to go to the rest of Europe, maybe to France.” he says.
Volunteers from dozens of countries have come to help – offering food, clothing, accommodation and car trips to various European destinations.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians leave the country both by car and on foot.
Within minutes, buses carrying Ukrainian refugees are being sent from the border in Medyka to reception centers further inland in Poland.
But the movements do not develop in one direction only. Many Ukrainians are returning home to fight. VOA spoke with three ex-soldiers who did not want to be identified.
“It is normal. We will defeat Putin and everything will be fine. “We will send Russian tanks and armored vehicles to hell.” says Victor, the retired soldier.
Ukrainians are determined to survive and win the war. But this is causing a high human cost.
Separated families. Shredded place. Children of Ukraine are forced to leave their country, towards an unknown future./ VOA
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