War in Ukraine: 500,000 exiles fled the country in five days

A Ukrainian bus arrives in Isaccea (Romania), Monday, February 28, with about twenty women and children inside. They drove all night, leaving Odessa, the great port on the Black Sea, to which the Russian army is getting closer and closer. “At each warning siren, we ran to take refuge in the underground anti-bombing shelters, (…) but it became too dangerous”, explains a young Ukrainian woman. Many exiles do not want to stay in Romania, and seek to join relatives elsewhere in Europe, such as Italy, France or Germany.

Evguenia Olentshuk leaves with her son for Munich, where she has an acquaintance. “I can’t believe it. It’s like going to bed one night in peace, and the next day when you wake up, it’s war”, she says. Her husband remained in Ukraine to fight. The authorities have found a volunteer driver for her, who will take her to the train. “It’s really a big help for us. We didn’t expect it at all”, he explains. 10% of people who leave Ukraine pass through Romania or Moldova. The most important entry point remains Poland, where tens of thousands of people arrive every day. 500,000 people have fled Ukraine in five days, according to the United Nations. It is the largest exodus movement ever seen in Europe.