It’s an Exodus.
All night it was a movement of people frantically trying to leave Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, under threat from invading Russian forces.
Russia’s 69-year-old President Vladimir Putin has issued a lengthy statement in which he justifies his “special military operation” in Ukraine.
In Ukraine, loud explosions on Friday terrified Kiev residents and removed whatever doubt they may have had that Russia was on the attack.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is only 44 years old, had warned of a possible overnight shelling of the capital.
Zelenskyy has ordered marshall law and issued a decree preventing young adult men and older ones from leaving the capital.
They have been urged to take up arms and defend their country.
Fearing the worst men, women and children have sought shelter in underground train stations.
It has been tense and freezing cold.
During the night thousands left the capital in cars, trains, and on foot.
Many headed for Poland, where they were welcomed with free hot drinks at the border.
Saturday could not come fast enough.
At dawn there was relief that the feared overnight shelling of the capital did not occur.
Instead, Ukraine said its forces had shot down “a large Russian airplane” carrying soldiers.
The UN, US, EU and Nato have all condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions against Russia.
During a late-night meeting, Friday, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that denounces its invasion of Ukraine
However, they have stopped short of committing troops to help Ukraine to repel advancing Russian troops.
For now, fighting continues around Kiev.
Other nationalities have also evacuated their citizens.
Poor nations like Zimbabwe, which has a few students studying in Ukraine, have had to piggyback onto South Africa’s evacuation operation.
