Tons of of 1000’s of refugees are leaving Ukraine amid the Russian invasion that started Thursday, however some Ukrainian women and men are returning house from throughout Europe to assist defend their homeland.
Poland’s Border Guard stated Sunday that some 22,000 individuals have crossed into Ukraine since Thursday, when the invasion began.
On the checkpoint in Medyka, in southeastern Poland, many individuals have been standing in a line early Sunday to cross into Ukraine.
“We now have to defend our homeland. Who else if not us,” stated a person in entrance of a gaggle of some 20 Ukrainian truck drivers strolling to the checkpoint to enter Ukraine. They spoke to The Related Press in Ukrainian and in Russian.
One other man within the group stated: “The Russians needs to be afraid. We’re not afraid.”
Members of the group declined to provide their names, or solely gave their first names, citing their safety and that of their households.
‘It is scary however I’ve to’
Denis, 28, who has spent six months working at building websites in Poland, stated he was returning to Ukraine the place his “the whole lot” is.
“I am alone right here in Poland. Why ought to I be right here? So I am going, for the homeland,” stated Denis, with a small Ukrainian blue-and-yellow nationwide flag on his winter jacket.
“I wish to return to affix the military, to battle. We’ll see. We hope we’ll win. I wish to return, that is all.”
Earlier than the current exodus, an estimated a million Ukrainians have been in Poland, working or learning.
Lesa, 36, from Lviv, spoke to The Related Press simply earlier than getting into the checkpoint constructing, following her brother into Ukraine.
“I’m afraid, however I’m a mom and wish to be with my youngsters. What are you able to do? It is scary however I’ve to,” she stated.
One other younger girl, Alina, stated she was returning to take her youngsters out of Ukraine.
“We now have to, we Ukrainians must take our kids away … to permit our boys to battle.”
On Ukraine’s aspect of the border, a person was directing these arriving to a spot the place automobiles and buses have been ready to take them onward.
Bonuses for males becoming a member of the military
The Czech Republic, which borders Poland to the southwest, plans assist Ukrainian households dwelling within the nation whose males resolve to return house to battle.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is making ready bonuses to households who would lose earnings if “the boys want to affix the [Ukrainian] military,” Minister Marian Jurecka stated.
There are about 200,000 Ukrainian staff within the Czech Republic, the vast majority of them males.
Czech railways say Ukrainian males touring again to Ukraine can take any practice freed from cost. They should journey by way of Poland or Slovakia to succeed in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stayed within the capital of Kyiv, boosting the morale of Ukrainian fighters as Russian troops have been closing in on town and large explosions lit up the sky early Sunday.
Zelenskyy has banned males of navy age, 18 to 60, from leaving the nation. Ukrainian authorities have additionally known as on international volunteers to return and battle in Ukraine’s defence.
At the very least 368,000 individuals have fled Ukraine into Poland and different neighbouring nations within the wake of the Russian invasion, the UN refugee company, the UNHCR, stated Sunday.
Poland’s Border Guard stated some 156,000 individuals have entered from Ukraine since Thursday.
