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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Ukrainian siblings break down in tears after leaving parents behind to fight

A teen evacuee broke down in tears as she described leaving her parents behind in Ukraine to "defend our country ".

Kateryna, 18, and her 12-year-old brother Vadym arrived in Poland by train after their parents told them to leave Ukraine.

Like countless other Ukrainian adults, their mum and dad have stayed behind to resist the Russian invasion.

Speaking to Sky News, Kateryna said: "They stay there to defend our country.

"They wanted us to come there [to Poland] and now we are here."

Breaking down in tears, Kateryna added: "It's really bad. I must say that we have war in our country.

Kateryna, 18, (pictured with her 12-year-old brother Vadym) broke down in tears as she described leaving their parents behind in Ukraine to fight against the Russian invasion (sky)

"Children can't do anything, so I really beg adults to protest in any way to stop this war.

"To stop this really bad thing in our country."

The pair later confirmed they had arrived in Slovakia where they are now being looked after by friends and family, Sky News reports.

It comes shortly after Ukrainian authorities announced another two children had lost their lives in the conflict.

Two wounded children died when ambulances were unable to break through Russian fire to evacuate them from Bucha to Kyiv.

The pair eventually made it to Slovakia where they are being looked after by friends and family (sky)

And just yesterday another three children died in the shelling of village south of Kyiv yesterday.

Meanwhile, around a dozen desperately sick Ukrainian children managed to make it out of the country after being transported to Poland in a makeshift hospital ward on board a train.

A series of heartbreaking images show mothers sitting with their chronically-ill kids in the train wagon, which was adapted for medical transport.

They were being treated at a Kharkiv hospital prior to the Russian invasion - which has been targeted for heavy shelling by Vladimir Putin's military.

A blast is seen in the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 1, 2022 (REUTERS)

As the bombs dropped, they were whisked away via Mosciska, on the war-torn country's western border, to Przemysl in neighbouring Poland on Thursday.

The remarkable operation has helped ensure the extremely vulnerable patients don't miss out on much-needed treatment.

Earlier today, the evacuation of under-siege Mariupol was called to a halt as Russian forces continued to shell along routes out of the city.

Citizens have been trying to flee the city today, but many are now returning due to fighting.

"It's not safe to go by this road because of these fights," the city's deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC.

A five hour ceasefire agreement had been in place.

Residents have instead been urged to find shelter and wait for information.

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