Thousands of Ukrainian refugees arrive in Moldova, fleeing hostilities as a result of the Russian invasion. Many of them are older people. Whether they are going to settle in Moldova or move on, they need support. Learn about their experience.
Lyubov, 56, from Kiev
We are very worried about our men who remain in the defence, it is very difficult.
My daughter barely left Kyiv. They rode at night under shelling on an evacuation train.
It was very scary, the train stopped all the time. We were very worried.
They got from Kyiv to Dnipro normally, thank God.
We have everything in one suitcase. All life remained there, everything is abandoned.
Everything we could, we put in a small suitcase. My daughter left with her husband and their child.
Alexander, 63, from Kiev
It’s a nightmare. When shells fall in the yard, when no one knows what will happen in the next minute, it is very scary.
When children die, it’s the worst thing.
Tamara, 72, from Kremenchuk
The children were left under the rubble. There are rockets. Women in labour give birth in the Kiev metro.
We are scared. There is a curfew, you can’t go out.
They persuade us to hide so that we don’t get hit.
Luybov, 83, from Odessa
I came here with my granddaughter and great-granddaughter. She is 3 years old.
We came here by car, there were very big traffic jams on the way. But that’s all right, we arrived safely.
We arrived here and were greeted very warmly. The people here are very kind and attentive.
My soul rejoices that there are such people. Such good people are known in trouble.
I wish these people that everything is fine with them, that they never know war.
Lyubov, 62, from Odessa
My nephews are at the frontline. My sister went out of town to build fortifications, and she told me “save your granddaughter, save your great-grandson, if only for the sake of their future.”
Nothing awaits us in our country. But still, I want to go back. I have everything there.
If possible, I would like to get a tracksuit. I only have this robe, and we need to move on.
My granddaughter is dressed in a tracksuit and vest. If possible, she needs a sweater, jeans.
Lydia, 56, from Odessa
Now we are provided with almost everything we need, everything is fine. But my husband has a herniated disc, and we couldn’t find some of the medicines we needed.
Here we felt what peace and security are. People accept us very well.
We did not know that we would meet such a humane attitude in Moldova.
But we want to move on, now we are solving the issue with documents.
We want to go through Romania to Germany, our relatives are waiting for us there.
Valentina, 56, from Kherson
At 5:00 in the morning we were told that the war has begun. We had our suitcases and documents ready and we left.
Our journey was long, we drove for 12 hours. We were with small children, and we tried to avoid the dangerous bombed areas.
I felt confusion and astonishment. We still can’t understand why this happened. What has Ukraine done wrong?
I have diabetes and they offered me medicine. They gave me insulin, which I ran out of. I am moved to tears by the care shown by Moldovan people.
We want the minimum, no more than that. I want my grandchildren to be fed and kept warm, to be able to buy food.
We hope to return to Kherson, and it will be ours, it will be Ukrainian. I hope that I will be able to take my grandchildren and return home soon.