Smiling children clutch their toys in a rare picture of hope amid the carnage unleashed on Ukraine.
Refugees Sacha, Anne and Philomena spoke of their innocent dreams as Putin launched hypersonic missiles across their homeland.
Russian bombs may have forced them from their homes, yet an astonishing bond has united these refugee children.
Parted from loved ones, they have no idea when – or if – they will be allowed to return.
But they keep their spirits up through a combination of blissful innocence and indefatigability – epitomised by their elders refusing to cave in to Vladimir Putin.
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The Sunday Mirror met Ukraine’s next generation after they crossed the border with their families into Korczowa in south-east Poland.
Playing, smiling and showing off their toys, 10 brave youngsters told us of their dreams. It was humbling, and at times tear-jerking.
Anna, 11, wants to be a designer. Sacha, four, hopes to join the police.
And, as Formula 1 returns today, Lewis Hamilton fan Roman Burko, eight, reveals he wants to be a racing driver.
Here are their stories...
Roman
Brave Roman Burko, eight, fled with his mum Ivanna, 28, after missiles landed at a military base in Yavoriv, just 18 miles from the border with Poland.
The family had hoped they lived far enough west to evade Russia ’s attacks. Ivanna said she was devastated that Roman had to hear “rockets and explosions” in the place he is meant to feel safe.
Roman told us he wants to be a racing driver when he grows up – and he loves watching the Grand Prix.
“He likes Lewis Hamilton,” Ivanna added, with a grin.
Anna
Lively Anna Klimova showed us a collection of toys including Peppa Pig.
The 11-year-old, with her mum Tania, 32, said: “I want to be a designer.”
Anna told us she also loves indoor climbing.
Her family travelled 500 miles from Mykolaiv, where schools and homes have been flattened.
Tim
Young Tim Gajdajenko wants to be a policeman.
His family is headed to Warsaw after fleeing Svitlovodsk.
Tim, eight, heard bombs explode as his family hid in a basement.
He endured a grim 500-mile journey to Poland, yet still greeted us with a cheery wave and shouting “hello” in Ukrainian.
Yakiv
Beaming Yakiv Hrytsai, six, clutched Fred the bear and told us he wants to be a chemistry scientist.
He and mum Olga, 40, hid in a basement in Poltava, central Ukraine, as rocket fire echoed outside.
They are heading for Germany – while dad Roman, 42, remains back home.
Eseniya
Toddlr Eseniya Verzhakouskaya is destined to be an artist, her mum Kseniya, 30, told us.
She said the three-year-old, who playfully scooted around on a toy car, loves drawing.
The pair were boarding a coach to Krakow after a 600-mile journey from Kharkiv, blitzed in Russian attacks.
Roman
Computer fan Roman Samborak, 10, wants to work in IT.
He is heading to Switzerland with relatives.
Devastated mum Oxana, 37, had to say farewell to Roman as she was returning to Ukraine, where her husband is fighting.
The family live in Yavoriv – where 35 died in a military base blast.
Philomena
Philomena Krevan is only three but already knows she wants to be – a therapist, just like her gran Kaisa.
The tot had to say goodbye to her parents, who are in the military and have stayed in Yavoriv.
Kaisa, 47, is taking Philomena and her brother Damien, six, to Krosno, south-east Poland.
Sacha
Bombs exploded near Sacha Kushenov’s home in Svitlovodsk, central Ukraine, just days before we met him.
Yet the four-year-old was full of energy as he and mum Oksana, 39, waited for a bus to Warsaw.
Sacha raced around with a toy monkey and told us he wants to be a policeman.
Mateus
Mateus Karpinski, 10, wants to be a gardener and has been anxious about his plants since leaving Lviv 14 days ago.
Russia has hit an aircraft repair base nearby.
But Mateus, mum Svitlana, 40, and brother Arsen, 17, will return.
Svitlana said: “It is home. My sister is there, we have to go back.”
Anne
Smiley Anne Novikova showed off the teddy she packed in Donetsk, before she and her two siblings made it to Poland with mum Irine, 35.
Anne, six, told us she wants to be a doctor.
Separatists have declared her home an independent republic, though fierce fighting continues.
Safe... thanks to you
These exhausted children are some of the 52 orphans evacuated from war- torn Ukraine with the help of Sunday Mirror readers.
You raised an amazing £50,000 last week – £25,000 of it on Sunday alone – which went towards rescuing children from their orphanage in Dnipro as Russian bombs rained down.
Today they are recovering in the safety of the Romainian city of Lasi after a gruelling two-day ordeal to escape Russian invaders.
The plan by charity Hope and Homes for Children is to keep them as near to their home country as possible so they can be reunited with extended family who survive.
In the meantime they will be carefully tracked and placed with families in Romania so they cannot fall into the hands of evil people traffickers.
These children aged from just six months to 12 years left Dnipro in eastern Ukraine by train at 8.30 on Wednesday night to make the hazardous journey towards the Romanian border and sanctuary.
The 52, including seven babies, and 11 carers, charity workers and their families, arrived at Vynnytsk at midnight Thursday, a three-hour bus ride from the border where they had to disembark.
Other refugee families helped them cross on foot into Romania and the Blue Dot UN processing centre – and then it was another exhausting 10-hour drive before they reached lasi by coach.
Sunday Mirror readers gave generously to our orphan appeal backed by Labour leader Keir Starmer after we featured other children cowering in the basement of a baby home in Kyiv last week. Their fate is unknown.
Charity patron General Lord Dannatt, former chief of the defence staff said: “Readers of the Sunday Mirror have been incredibly generous. I hope this continues.”
To donate to ourOrphan Appeal: Text HOPE 5, HOPE10, HOPE 15 or HOPE 20 to 70300 to donate £5, £10, £15 or £20 to Hope and Homes for Children. Or go to www.hopeandhomes.org
We win fight to unite family
- Exclusive by Laura Connor and Geraldine McKelvie
This is the moment a family of Ukrainian refugees were brought together in the UK thanks to the Sunday Mirror.
British citizen Victoria Perebeynis, 53, has spent a month trying to bring her four relatives to her home near Oxford.
Her cousin Valentina, 75, has been left broken after fleeing with daughter-in-law Maiia Magda, 46, and grandson Glib, 12. Maiia’s mum Ekaterina Pergat, also 75 and disabled, fled too.
Two weeks ago, we told how officials ruled the group could not come here.
But visas were finally granted and fast-tracked late on Thursday after we raised their case with the Home Office.
And they arrived at St Pancras where Victoria played the Ukranian national anthem on a piano to welcome them.
