An Australian woman and her partner who recently returned to Ukraine's capital despite the threat of war has spoken of her heartbreak as they fled the country in the wake of the Russian invasion.
Sydneysider Pixie Shmigel, whose grandparents fled Ukraine after World War II, returned to live in the capital Kiev six months ago with her partner, Blake, because she missed life in the eastern European country.
Ms Shmigel had only just returned to Ukraine after three weeks in Montenegro when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his assault on the country on Thursday.
She and Blake have now fled the the Russian invasion, escaping to Poland via Medyka on the border with Ukraine, where she was interviewed by Reuters.
'Just shattered. Shattered not for myself, I don't care about my own safety, I just ... I care about Ukraine and Ukrainians,' Ms Shmigel told a reporter as she fought back tears.
'I'm of Ukrainian heritage, and seeing this happening to the country is just devastating. I just can't believe someone could be so evil.
'But the Ukrainians stay strong. They need to. But they're stronger than me. The world gets behind them.'
Sydneysider Pixie Shmigel (right) fought back tears as she told a reporter she was 'shattered not for myself, I don't care about my own safety, I just ... I care about Ukraine and Ukrainians'
Ms Shmigel (left) and her partner Blake (right) are seen leaving Ukraine by crossing into Poland at Medyka as the Russians advance on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev
Ms Shmigel (right), whose grandparents fled Ukraine after World War II, returned to live in the capital Kiev six months ago with Blake because she missed life in the eastern European country
Traffic jams are seen as people leave the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev on Thursday
Blake said the two had not slept for the past two nights as reports filtered in about the encroachment of the Russians.
'I just called it when I saw it. I think there were reports of ... Kharkiv and Mariupol getting approached on so then I just knew we had to get out,' he said.
'And this was always our plan, to come here.'
Ms Shmigel thanked the United States for its assistance in helping her and Blake leave the country via the border crossing.
'[We'll] get to the U.S. assistance centre down the line and then ask them where to go and what to do, what they think is
