An Edinburgh man left most of his possessions behind after fleeing Ukraine with his young family as the country slides closer to war with Russia.
Stuart McKenzie packed suitcases and bags with as much as his car could take before embarking on the six-hour drive to Poland alongside wife Lena and their two sons.
The 51-year-old told the Sunday Mail how he “refused to take any chances” as war with Russia looks just days away following the amassing of more than 100,000 Russian troops on the border.
READ MORE: Edinburgh dad stranded in Ukraine with wife and newborn son in hospital amid Russia tension
The couple, alongside sons Robert, 15, and Stuart Jnr, 12, will be joined in convoy by staff from Stuart’s factory as they, like thousands of others, make a bid for freedom before conflict breaks out.
The United States evacuated its embassy on Saturday after the latest round of talks between US president Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin ended with American warning they will “respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if an invasion goes ahead.
Stuart told the paper: “It is a crazy situation that we have to leave our own home because of threats from another country.
“We are packing the suitcases as we speak. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of any evacuation chaos. Hopefully we have not left it too late.”
It is believed many of the 6,000 Brits living in Ukraine have already fled the country while some have stayed, stocking up on food and fuel in case war does break out after the foreign office issued an appeal for all British passport holders to evacuate immediately.
The international school where his sons are students has closed its doors, while thousands took to the streets in the capital Kyiv on Saturday to protest against military action.
Edinburgh-born Stuart emigrated from Helensburgh, Argyll in 1994 and first worked importing Scottish products like whisky, oatcakes and shortbread.
He now runs a healthcare and natural products business and sells his goods around the world.
Wife Lena, 49, does not have an up-to-date UK visa, while most of his business interests are in Krakow.
He added that it could be chaos if they decide to leave at the same time and worries the numbers could rise to a million if they are joined by fleeing Ukranians.
He said: “The threat has been notched up a few levels in the last 24 hours, that is for sure.
“When we were told by our embassy to leave, we really had no option. I will be a lot happier once we get to the border.
“Our one hope is that it is over quickly and we can then drive back to Kyiv and return to our home.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said an invasion could come “at any time”, while US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said an attack before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 is a “credible prospect”.
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Western leaders have threatened Moscow with a damaging package of sanctions in the event of a further incursion into Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine is not a Nato member and allies in the defence alliance have said they would not join fighting in Ukraine but have bolstered forces in neighbouring nations and are threatening widespread sanctions.
Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine eight years ago after being unhappy at the former Soviet State plans to get closer to the West.
More than 5,000 people marched in Kyiv yesterday in defiance against Russia and carrying banners vowing “Ukraine will resist.”
Traffic in the city ground to a halt as the anti-war rally snaked its way from Shevchenko Park to the historic Maidan Square - birthplace of the 2014 revolution - according to reports.
Protesters of all ages draped in yellow and blue Ukrainian flags chanted “Ukraine, united, will never be defeated” and one banner described Russian leader Putin as a “mass murderer” and a “war criminal”.
Another said simply “#sayNOtoPutin”.
