PRZEMYSL, POLAND -- Some 40,000 Ukrainian refugees escaped Ukraine on Thursday through temporary humanitarian corridors meant to get them to safety.
The corridors were only open briefly, meaning anyone wishing to escape had to move quickly.
鈥淲e heard bombs, so we decided it was not safe in Kyiv, but we believe in our army and we hope that everything will be alright,鈥� Katarina Krozska, a Ukrainian refugee, told CTV National News.
In a corridor leading to Poland, refugees were met with a warm meal, a ride to their destination and even toys for the children.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know people who are not crying, that鈥檚 the hardest thing, if you see young people, usually with [a] mother, [but] no father,鈥� said Wojciech Bakun, mayor of Przemysl, Poland, one of the end destinations in the corridor.
鈥淲e try to do something for our neighbours.鈥�
Poland is taking in 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees and some cities are running out of room to house them.
