NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — An estimated 100,000 Ukrainians are believed to have fled in less than 48 hours as Russia continues to invade Ukraine and family members from around the world are worried as their loved ones scatter all over Ukraine in hopes of finding a safe place.
Tanya Kaushal, a Columbia University student in New York City, called her uncle and his family in Kyiv, Ukraine, as soon as she heard about the attacks.
“He could hear the shelling happening about 30 kilometers away from his apartment,” Kaushal said. “Initially, he was not worried because he had been waiting for this to happen for the past eight years. But yesterday, an hour later, I get a call from my mom saying they're leaving Kyiv.”
Kaushal's uncle and family were originally headed for Chernobyl, but changed paths as Ukraine officials announced that they had lost control of the decommissioned nuclear power plant.
"It was about a one-hour journey out of Kyiv, but it took them over four hours because of all the traffic and everybody trying to get out,” Kaushal said.
After a day of fighting between Russia and Ukraine, there were more than 100 Ukrainians dead. Kaushal's uncle wanted to leave Ukraine but his son didn’t.
“I don't want to leave because it's my home," Kaushal's cousin said.
The family decided to head to rural areas of Western Ukraine. There are now those who want to leave for safety reasons and those who want to stay and fight.
“Their own mayor of Kyiv and the president is out fighting and instructions are being given about how to make Molotov cocktails so there is a sense of duty to stay and fight,” Kaushal said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, declared martial law and pledged his government would arm every Ukrainian willing to defend Ukraine. For those leaving the country, the United Nations refugee agency said that they expect tens of thousands to be displaced as Russia invades Ukraine.
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