Photo: Pierre Crom/Getty
Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have fled their homes in the hours sinceRussia began invading the countryearly Thursday morning.
The conflict, which is still in its early stages, has led to more than 50,000 Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries such as Poland and Moldova, aUnited Nationsofficial said Friday. About3 million othersare in need of food and other necessities.
Those who have not yet fled the country have been left the mourn the destruction of their homes and the loss of loved ones.
“Yes, Mom’s gone, that’s all,” he was heard saying over a phone call, according to theAssociated Press. “That’s it, Mom’s gone.”
While speaking to theNew York Times, 80-year-old Svetlana Lisytsina said she fled her home with her daughter and cat.
Ukrainian soldiers take positions under a bridge during crossing fire inside the city of Kyiv, Ukraine.Emilio Morenatti/AP/Shutterstock
Lisytsina, who is Jewish, said some of her close relatives were killed during World War II, and the Russian invasion has now left her afraid for her family.
On Friday, Russian forces were closing in on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, where Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said “horrific Russian rocket strikes” were taking place,CBS Newsreported.
Ukraine’s president,Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video of himself outside of the presidential office on Thursday. Zelenskyy said he and other politicians remained in Kyiv to protect “our independence,” according to theTelegraph.
“We’re staying home. We don’t want to leave,” a 24-year-old man named Andrew told the outlet.
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The ban has left families separated amid the conflict.
“I’m shaking, I can’t calm down,” Vilma Sugar, 68, told theAPafter seeing her 47-year-old son stopped from leaving the country. “We crossed the border but they just didn’t let him come with us. We are trying to keep in touch with him on the phone but it’s hard because the line is bad.”
Some citizens who remained in Ukraine held on to hope the attack would somehow come to a quick end.
“I don’t want to die,” a young girl named Vlada, who appeared to pray in front of a monastery in the city of Mariupol, told theAP. “I want all of this to end as soon as possible.”
source: people.com
