The son’s teddy bear, a picture of their best friend or just their own clothes: many people in Ukraine only had minutes to pack their bags and flee from the Russian bombs.
︎ BILD met people from Ukraine who talk about their escape – and the favorite things they took with them from their homeland.
“My Baby’s Teddy”
Ira (28) fled Kyiv with baby Pavel (11 months), sat in the bus for ten hours – in constant fear of Russian shelling: “I have my son’s favorite teddy bear with me. I took almost nothing with me for myself,” says the tired mother shortly after arriving in Lemberg. “Everything stayed in Kyiv.”
“I only took what I was wearing”
Olga (41) plays in a Jewish refugee camp with her son Timur (1). “I only took what I was wearing,” says Olga. She speaks delirious, traumatized by the bombing of her home town of Irpin near Kyiv. When her house was hit, they were in the bunker – she couldn’t even put the little one’s shoes on. While fleeing, they were fired upon by the Russian Air Force, and Grad rockets landed next to the road. Olga: “I have nothing left.”
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/olga-41-und-sohn-timur-1-dca850d2c8b547f1a592a05cb1a4e8ba-79366494/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> Olga (41) and son Timur (1)Photo: To Biermann
“My Son’s Medical Record”
Margarita (42) fled Dnipro to Lviv and wants to continue to Poland: “When we heard the Russian fighter jets overhead, we left immediately. I only have what I have on my body. And my son’s medical record. He has lung disease.”
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/margarita-42-7a92b404c9fb41a0a98238e0d715c2f8-79366484/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> Margarita (42) Photo: To Biermann
“Best Friend’s Photo”
Margarita’s daughter Sascha (20) is happy to have escaped the war. “There was so much Ukrainian military equipment in front of our village. We knew: If the Russians attack, it will hit us.” She has a photo of her best friend with her: “This is Nenuka from Georgia.” It reminds her of better, more peaceful times.
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/sascha-20-ef87e629ee24488f9fd1762d123bcac9-79366486/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> Sascha (20) Photo: To Biermann
Photo: To Biermann
Photo: To Biermann