The women of Ukraine

Most of the people crossing the borders into Ukraine’s neighbouring countries are women and children. They are often driven to the border crossings by husbands, fathers and brothers – before they are forced to say goodbye, and the men return. The women and the children are then left to build new lives for themselves in a foreign country.

Meet some of them.

21 year old Julia (pictured above) says that she escaped Ukraine with her mother, who is ill. Just hours before fleeing bombs and attacks in their neighbourhood, her mother had undergone surgery.

“We don’t have a plan. We just left as quickly as we could,” she says.

Julia’s aunt and five cousins have remained in Ukraine. Julia is worried about what will happen to them.

Before the conflict started, just a few days ago, Julia lived her life like most people her age. She was a student and studied psychology. Now she has to find work. “I am the only breadwinner in the family, and I have to get a job somehow”, she says.

Valeria with her daughter Agata. Photo: Becky Bakr Abdulla/NRC

Valeria, 35, and her daughter Agata, 5, fled the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Like many others, they had to say goodbye to their loved ones at the border. Valeria’s husband drove them to the crossing, before returning to a country in crisis.

A worried husband and father keeps texting Valeria to check up on his young family, who are now waiting for Valeria’s brother-in-law to come and pick them up in Poland.

Little Agata, aged five, waits for her uncle to come and pick up her and mother Valeria. Photo: Becky Bakr Abdulla/NRC

Valeria cries as she tells of the escape.

"They need food inside Ukraine. People there have no access to food or medicines. The situation is very difficult," she says.

Daweel, 13, and his little brother Ilya, 4. Photo: Becky Bakr Abdulla/NRC

Children are caught up in the chaos

Many of the women who are fleeing are doing so with young children.

At Przemysl train station, 13-year-old Daweel and his younger brother Ilya, aged four, are waiting with their mother, aunt and grandmother, and the family’s pets, a dog named Bobby and a cat named Katy. They have stayed in Poland for four days and are planning to travel on to Spain.

"I heard the bombs falling before we left," Daweel says.

Their grandmother. Photo: Becky Bakr Abdulla/NRC

Now that the family has reached safety, it is up to the women to rebuild their lives after leaving everything all behind.

Women and children that have just crossed the border into Poland. Photo: Becky Bakr Abdulla/NRC

Support our emergency response in Ukraine

Every single second, a new person flees Ukraine. In addition, many are displaced within the country. Not since World War II has Europe seen such an influx of refugees. All over Ukraine, people are trapped in bomb shelters without basic necessities.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been present in Ukraine since 2014, and we have already restarted our operations inside the country. We are also working to provide emergency aid in neighbouring countries and cross-border support to the relief effort. Needs in Ukraine are enourmous, and people need help.