Relying on strangers for help, we travel 14 hours across Ukraine and away from the fighting.
from the north, south and east, fleeing west in a 2012 Kia sedan seems fraught with problems.
Both medical students, they originally moved to Kyiv to study cosmetic surgery. When the bombs started falling, they sent their children ahead with their neighbours. As the fighting escalated, they followed in the borrowed Kia, agreeing to take me too. Their Kyiv apartment block is close to abandoned.
But then come roadblocks. Ukrainian troops are closing key roads and bridges to prevent sabotage by Russian troops. “Go around,” they tell us. Smashed car glass windows litter the ground.We stop to check a map. Ukrainians on the street ask us with great suspicion what we are doing. They take photos of the car and tell us to get going, now.We finally settle on a route through rural Ukraine to the city of Vinnytsia. For all the talk of gridlock traffic, the roads are oddly quiet.
With limited choices, forward momentum seems best. “We’ve just got to get to a border, bro,” one the medical students reasons, before adding that there’s no turning back.There’s near silence as we make our way along a very narrow road, full of potholes and surrounded by Ukrainian villages, open fields, tree trunks and scrub. We drive past a group of Ukrainian soldiers standing near a truck. I know they’re Ukrainian because of the colour of their fatigues.
After what seems like endless potholes and tension, we hit a highway and Lviv is near. We are through. Dmyitri pulls over for fuel, and I walk to shake his hand. He’s warmer now. Friendly. “You saved our lives, mate,” I tell him. He shrugs. “It’s war.” We discover a shelter is taking in people fleeing the fighting. I stay in the car, while the student negotiates in Polish. She’s driven 14 hours and still has energy.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine warns ‘next 24 hours will be crucial’ as fighters slow advance of Russians on capitalVladimir Putin has put Russia’s nuclear arsenal on standby, raising fears he could deploy weapons of mass destruction to avoid the humiliation of defeat in Ukraine in the face of fierce resistance. Russia Ukraine
Read more »
NSW, Queensland floods LIVE updates: SES issues evacuation orders for Northern Rivers residents; south-east Queensland situation worsensSES Commissioner Carlene York has refuted the Lismore mayor’s claims there were only two boats able to assist in this morning’s floods. Follow our live coverage:
Read more »
NSW, Queensland floods LIVE updates: SES issues evacuation orders for Northern Rivers residents; south-east Queensland situation worsensA man and his dog have been found dead in a submerged vehicle on the Gold Coast, marking the eighth Queensland death of the floods so far. Follow our live coverage:
Read more »
‘Not an adventure’: Legal fear over global call for Ukraine volunteersA call for international volunteers to join Ukraine’s armed forces has triggered talks in Canberra about Australian law and the possibility of Australians flying to Europe to take up arms against Russia. | CroweDM UkraineCrisis RussiaUkraineWar
Read more »
Photos from Ukraine show devastating impact of Russian invasionThe effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are becoming increasingly clear.
Read more »
How social media platforms are responding to Russia's invasion of UkraineSocial media platforms are scrambling to confront a growing list of challenges, some of which appear to be almost unheard of in their histories, as war unfolds in Europe. 9News
Read more »