'MOM, DAD, WE LOVE YOU'
Ukrainian tennis star Dayana Yastremska’s heartbreaking post while forced to flee with sister & leave parents behind
A UKRAINIAN tennis star has shared a heartbreaking post after she was forced to flee her country.
Dayana Yastremska, 21, who is ranked as the number 21 women’s tennis player in the world, has joined thousands of people in fleeing the country following Russia's invasion.
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Putin declared war on Ukraine at 3am on Thursday by unleashing his terrifying arsenal with a full scale assault on the country.
The tyrant declared a “special military operation” after months of massing his forces on the border and lying about his plans to invade.
Now Dayana has told of her and her family’s experience of being forced to flee the war torn country.
The tennis champ posted a photo of herself and her sister on Instagram, as well as four videos of them leaving Odessa.
Along with the photo of the pair crying she wrote: “After spending two nights in the underground parking, my parents made a decision at any cost to send me and my little sister out of Ukraine!
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“Mom, Dad, we love you very much, take care of yourself!!! I love you and my country! Ukrainians take care of your lives.”
Meanwhile videos show Dayana and her sister waving goodbye to their family from a boat.
Three-time Women's Tennis Association winner Dayana played her last match this year on February 17 in the quarter-final of the Dubai draw against Marketa Vondrousova.
It comes as least 100,000 Ukrainians have fled the country with many heading towards bordering Eastern European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.
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.
A who walked to the Polish border alongside hundreds of Ukrainians, including toddlers, said many abandoned their cars as they rushed away from danger.
He also reported that soldiers would stop cars and buses to recruit any Ukrainians aged 18-60 to "fight the Russian invader”.
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.
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