GET OUT NOW
Desperate Ukrainians flee across the border clutching their children as Putin unleashes fresh onslaught on Kyiv
DESPERATE Ukrainians are fleeing across the border clutching their children in a bid to escape their wartorn nation.
Thousands of Ukrainians are dashing to neighbouring countries after the Russians bombarded capital city Kyiv with a fresh attack overnight.
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At least 100,000 Ukrainians have fled the country with many heading towards bordering Eastern European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.
One witness said: “Families are being forced to take the agonising decision to split up. Women and children are heading to the safe zones while the men stay behind to fight to protect their homes.
“People didn’t really evacuate before the invasion as no one believed Putin would actually go through with it.
“But now they are finding whatever form of transport they can to get out — even going to neighbouring countries such as Moldova.”
UN refugee agency spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said that it is estimated the invasion could cause up to five million people to flee abroad, with the vast majority fleeing to Poland.
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Shocking images showed hundreds of cars near the border with Poland as Ukrainians tried to flee as fast as possible.
A who walked to the Polish border alongside hundreds of Ukrainians, including toddlers, said many abandoned their cars as they rushed away from danger.
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He also reported that soldiers would stop cars and buses to recruit any Ukrainians aged 18-60 to "fight the Russian invader”.
The US has warned that Putin could invade NATO countries if he seizes Ukraine.
Russia has launched an all-out war on Ukraine, with simultaneous attacks coming from the south, east, and north, by land and by air.
At least 137 Ukrainians have been killed across the country, the country's health minister said.
Groups of people fled into Hungary via the Beregsurany and Tiszabecs crossings, some coming from as far as Kyiv, an eyewitness said.
Some arrived by car but many pedestrians were also hauling suitcases across.
"No one wants to get conscripted, no one wants to die," said Tamas Bodnar at the border with Hungary.
"It's clear that those who can, they flee."
At the usually quiet border crossing at Medyka in southern Poland, dozens arrived from Ukraine on foot on Thursday morning, carrying luggage.
A line of cars waiting for passage grew longer during the course of the day.
A Polish woman, Olena Bogucka, 39, said she had been waiting for four hours while her Ukrainian husband and child were stuck on the other side.
"You can't get through," she said. "I can't reach them on the phone... I don't how to get my child out... I don't know what to do."
Poland lifted the quarantine rules on Thursday for those arriving from outside the EU without a Covid test, to facilitate border crossings.
It is estimated there are around one million Ukrainians in the country, the area's largest community.
Poland is also the easiest EU country to reach from Kyiv.
World leaders have all condemned Russia's actions yesterday with Warsaw calling for the "fiercest possible sanctions" against Russia.
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Czech President Milos Zeman, called Putin a "madman" while Prague stopped issuing visas to Russians and ordered the closure of two Russian consulates.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the country would prepare humanitarian aid for Ukraine and was ready to receive refugees.
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