Ukrainian boy plays saxophone to thank Polish activists for helping refugees

Deputy head of Przemyśl city council Robert Bal, along with other activists, since Friday has been transporting material gifts for Ukrainian refugees at the border crossing in Medyka. "Customs officers have asked us to do it. Ukrainian citizens are waiting long hours for a bus that would take them to Przemyśl," Bal said.

The activists are offering migrants soup of their own making.

Robert Bal said he had met a pregnant woman there who walked 40 kilometres to Medyka, holding an 18-month baby in her hands. Another woman, a mother of three daughters aged 3-6, was shivering so hard she could not utter a single word. He also met a family with 11 children aged 3-14.

"They said that three were their own kids, and that eight were adopted. They were heading for Warsaw, from where they wanted to get to America. We gave them hot tea, candies, wafers, fruit puree, and covered them with blankets. They said they wanted to return the favour for helping and that they had a surprise for us. I thought to myself 'what surprise they could possible have?'" - he said.

One of the children, a boy aged 12 at a first glance, took out a saxophone and started to play. Bal said the family had only a few bags and that saxophone, which the boy carried on his back in a case.

Activists from Przemyśl have been collecting support gifts at the local railway station.

"With regards to clothes, we only need hats, scarves, and gloves. We're not taking anything more as we are completely stacked and refugees don't want it. We mainly need blankets, prams for children, diapers, napkins. As to food - juices, fruit puree for children, and fruits. Instant soups in cups so they could just add hot water to them. There are electric kettles at the border. Paper plates and plastic cutlery," Robert Bal said.