Brothers in arms: Estonians, Latvians, Poles and Georgians travel to border crossings to join Ukrainians in the fight against Putin’s army, writes NICK PISA on the Poland-Ukraine border
- Volunteers from Baltic states and Poland travelling to Ukraine to fight Russians
- Poles, Estonians, Georgians and Latvians are all arriving at Polish border to fight
- President Volodymr Zelensky had directly appealed for combat veterans help
- Zelensky had said joining the fight in Ukraine was ‘necessary’ to defend Europe
Foreigners are joining brave Ukrainians heading into the heat of battle to take on the might of the Russian army.
Estonians, Latvians, Poles and Georgians were all traveling to border crossings following an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky.
He had called for Europeans with ‘combat experience’ to help in the bitter struggle against despot Vladimir Putin’s forces.
In a video he said: ‘If you have combat experience in Europe and do not want to look at the indecision of politicians, you can come to our country and join us in defending Europe, where it is necessary now.’
Among those responding at the Medyka border crossing was Jedrzej Bien, 42, from Braniewo, northern Poland, who made a 16 hour journey and was in a queue waiting to cross into Ukraine.
Dressed in army fatigues he had picked up from an army surplus store, he said: ‘I feel I have a sense of duty. I heard Zelensky asking for European help and now here I am.
‘The Ukrainian people need us now to fight off the Russian aggression – history provides a valuable lesson to us and we must not let 1939 happen again.’
Europeans with ‘combat experience’ have been called on to help in the bitter struggle against despot Vladimir Putin’s forces. Pictured: A man in olive-coloured military regalia is seen at the Polish/Ukraine border
Estonians, Latvians, Poles and Georgians were all traveling to border crossings following an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky. Pictured: A man shows his support for Ukraine (left) while another man smokes a cigarette (right) in Medyka on the Poland-Ukraine border on Saturday
Families, people both young and old and pets have all been picturing fleeing war and trying to enter Poland on Saturday
Thousands of people have gathered at the Poland-Ukraine border after fleeing from Russian invaders
Russian troops are now encircling Ukraine, and meeting stiff resistance. Top Russian targets likely include the Presidential Palace at the heart of the city, and one of the remaining airports after Antonov Airport’s runways were intentionally destroyed
Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility as two cars burn, in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday. Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out
When asked if he had any military experience he told MailOnline: ‘It’s complicated but I know how to fight. It has taken me 16 hours to get here and I am ready to go to Kyiv and help.’
With him was Ukrainian labourer Volodymyr Bozychok, 23, who he had met on the bus journey to the border crossing.
Volodymyr, from Shehyni, a Ukrainian town that borders Poland said: ‘I have to go and f*** up the Russians. Putin is a second Hitler and he needs to be stopped.
‘I have no military experience but I am willing to learn and fight. I will learn how to use a gun. My parents and sisters are all in Shehyni, they feel safe because they are just inside the border.
‘The Ukranian army is doing it’s best and I have to think of those brave soldiers who died on Snake Island who told the Russians to “go f*** themselves” and gave their lives for my country.
‘On Facebook I have seen that Georgians, Estonians, Latvians and Poles are coming in to help us – we also have our British and American friends supplying us with weapons.’
Human rights groups have estimated that thousands of refugees will pass through the Polish border in the coming days
A mother and two young girls share lunch as they wait outside a foreign currency exchange in Medyka on the Polish-Ukrainian border
Ukrainian service members are seen after defeating a Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday morning, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. Ukrainian soldiers repulsed a Russian attack in the capital
Also in the long queue waiting to get back into Ukraine from Poland was driver Jaroslawa Krilyshyn, 58, who was heading back to Lviv, 50 miles over the border.
He said: ‘I have some military experience from when I did my National Service in Ukraine more than 30 years ago but I am willing to fight and do my bit.
‘Putin is a bandit and an evil person, he will feel the might of the Ukrainian people and will regret he invaded us.
‘I’ve heard from friends and family in Lviv who say the situation is calm at the moment but they have heard the occasional explosion.
‘If true, then that is worrying as it means Putin’s forces are pushing west towards the heart of Europe. It is time for us all to stand together.’
Elsewhere on Saturday, Polish border force chief Tomasz Praga said more than 100,000 people had entered the country from Ukraine since Thursday but United Nations officials fear as many as five million could be uprooted.
Nine reception centres have been set up along the 300 mile border shared between Poland and the Ukraine.
Volunteers were manning stands offering clothes, hot drinks and food to those that were crossing over with many having waiting for more than 24 hours to get in.
A truck carrying more than a dozen Portaloos also arrived.
At one stage an ambulance battled through the traffic to get to the no man’s land in between Ukraine and Poland after reports of some refugees being taken ill.
Ruslana Maxim, 26, who was among those wo managed to get across had travelled from Lviv and said: ‘The traffic from the border back into Ukraine stretches almost 20km.
‘Lots of people are dumping their cars and just walking to the border. My heart is bleeding for my country and my people.’
People carry their last-remaining possessions in black bin bags as they walk through checkpoints at the Polish-Ukrainian border in Medyka on Saturday
A young boy and a woman overlook piles of clothes and bags that have been dumped at Medkya on the Polish-Ukrainian border
Her account was confirmed by a Danish Embassy official who was at Medyka crossing and who told MailOnline: ‘We have been here all morning waiting for a Danish citizen who is coming on foot.’
Polish officials had also lined up a fleet buses to ferry refugees back to the town of Przemysl where a reception centre had been set up in the train station and a school.
Polish TV reported one train had arrived from Odessa in southern Ukraine more than fours late after being stopped enroute and having all males aged between 18-60 were taken off.
Officials had been expecting 600 people to arrive but only half that number arrived and were solely women and children.
One passenger said: ‘A lot of men were taken off before we reached Poland but some whole families also refused to get off and said they would carry on without their husbands and fathers.’
Przemysl president Wojciech Bakun said: ‘Our city is carrying out a very specific role. We are not only accepting refugees but providing a safe and secure first point of contact with Poland.
‘This is extremely important. We are providing them with a hot meal, advice and if needed supplies for their future journey.’
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