An Irish medical student has managed to escape a hostel on the Ukrainian-Russian border and is now planning to make her way to Moldova.
Racheal Diyaolu, 19, from Co Carlow had planned to make the 17-hour journey to Poland after being picked up by two Scottish men who are volunteering to rescue people who are struggling to flee war-torn Ukraine.
However, in a video posted to Twitter this evening, she explained: "When we look at the logistics of where we are and where the men are trying to go next, the closest border to us, the most convenient and probably the quickest border to get to is Moldova."
They have safely made it to a resting point for the night and Rachael said: "We will be setting off pretty early in the morning and hopefully we will be able to get to the border and find our way through and hopefully get back home soon."
Racheal’s sister Christiana posted an update earlier today on Twitter in a video message that Racheal sent to her.
She explained her sister, who is also travelling with two friends have been stopped at several checkpoints but have been allowed to pass safely.
She said they are heading to a safe stopover location due to the curfew in Ukraine.
She said: “It is unsafe to travel past certain times.”
In the video message, Racheal said they had another hour and a half before they reached a stop point for the night before resuming their previously planned journey to the Polish border on Tuesday.
She said she is “doing well” and was travelling in a van with two friends, Roycee Iloelunachi and Anolajuwon Folarin.
The Scottish drivers known as Joe and Gary attempted to rescue international students, including Racheal on Sunday but Russian troops shot at their vehicle and the mission was abandoned.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Racheal said: “I’m doing well and we’re just delighted the men were able to come and help us out.”
Ms Diyaolu was studying medicine at the State University in Sumy, Ukraine and has been taking shelter in a bunker at a hostel.
She said “conditions have worsened” over the weekend as Vladimir Putin presses on with the war in Ukraine.
The two men who have rescued the Carlow student have been documenting some of their travels in Ukraine on their TikTok page ‘ready2rocklandscaping.’
Speaking to RTÉ, Racheal’s sister, Christiana Diyaolu explained: “They attempted to do it yesterday and unfortunately on their way to Sumy they met some Russian soldiers who were not very happy with their travel, and they fired at them and basically halted the entire mission.
“Luckily they were able to find an alternative route into Sumy and stayed there overnight and then continued their mission this morning.”
She said it was her understanding that the men are travelling towards the western city of Liviv.
Racheal said the journey takes 17 hours normally, but they expect it will take at least 20 hours given the current circumstances.
She said she was forced to leave behind her belongings and also some of her friends.
She said: “I’m fine, just trying to stay in high spirits that we’ll make it to Poland.
“It hasn’t been possible for me to even attempt to leave in the last week or so.
“There have been no avenues that I knew of that would safely get me out of the city and into a border.
“This is my second attempt at moving in the last two days.”
Christiana said “everything is up in the air” right now on whether her family will get to travel to Poland to hopefully meet her sister.
She said: “It’s unreal how social media has helped us so much.
“We’re so, so happy, and just hoping for the best - fingers crossed.”
