Shielded children with our bodies: Ukrainian parents flee Kyiv after Russian attacks

Russia-Ukraine war news latest updates: Ukrainian parents narrated the ordeal of protecting their children as bombs exploded outside their homes in Kyiv. Hundreds of mothers fled to Poland with their children as their husbands stayed behind to fight the Russians.

As Russia escalated attacks on key Ukrainian cities, hundreds of mothers travelled across the border to Poland with their children to escape the war zone, as the husbands stayed behind to fight.

"We fell to the ground when we heard a loud explosion. We shielded the children with our bodies as we rushed to the nearest shelter," a Ukrainian woman said. Even in the face of such military aggression she had a smile on her face. When asked why she was smiling, she told CNN, "We smile and pretend that everything is fine. When bombs exploded outside our homes, my youngest daughter cried throughout the night. But I smiled and cracked jokes as that keeps us alive and mentally strong."

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For millions, fleeing the war zone of Ukraine is the best option as the nation is faced with a grave humanitarian crisis, with major cities suffering without power supply and water.

The Russian forces had surrounded and escalated the bombardment of key Ukrainian cities as the invasion entered the second week. While world leaders pressed for negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war was going according to the plan.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also asked for urgent measures to stop the escalation and vowed to defend the country. Several Ukrainians, including leaders, have picked up arms to defend the country against the Russians.

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