An Irish medical student has managed to escape a hostel on the Ukrainian-Russian border and is making a 17 hour journey to Poland.
Racheal Diyaolu, 19, from Co Carlow was picked up by two Scottish men who are volunteering to rescue people who are struggling to flee war-torn Ukraine.
They 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.”
Racheal 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.
She is travelling to Poland with two male friends who have also been rescued.
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 Lviv.
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.”
