Refugees from Ukraine have been stepping off trains at Przemyśl railway station. TVN24 reporter spoke to a number of people who arrived in a train from Odessa. A reception point for migrants from Ukraine has been opened at the station in Przemyśl.
This train was supposed to arrive at Przemyśl railway station on Friday, around 9 a.m. It came late around 1 p.m. "A lot has changed since yesterday when Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that all males aged 18-60 have been banned from leaving the country (...). Whole families often board the trains. It later turns out that husbands and fathers cannot go any further. That's why only 300 people stepped off the train from Odessa today, eben though as much as 600 were on board back in Lviv," said TVN24 reporter Bartłomiej Ślak.
Refugees at Przemyśl station
Our reporter spoke to a woman who arrived to Przemyśl from Kharkiv. Her husband stayed in Ukraine, as he is a policeman and could not leave. She said she wanted to wait out the worst time in Poland. She has a family here, so it would be a bit easier for her, she said. "I was afraid to stay back there," she added.
Another woman, a Ukrainian living in Poland, came to pick up her relatives who have escaped from war-torn eastern regions. She said they were in danger there. "We live in Warsaw and we are hosting our friends and family from Ukraine," she said.
Reception point opened
Some 1,500 Ukrainian citizens visited the reception point at Przemyśl railway station on Thursday, Daniel Dryniak from Rzeszów Fire Service informed on Friday.
"The (reception) point has been opened yesterday. We direct people who come here to the places of destination. Many people receive support," Dryniak added.
Podkarpackie Voivodeship authorities have opened four reception points for Ukrainian refugees, and an additional, temporary one at the railway station in Przemyśl for train traffic service. There, the Ukrainian citizens can receive first help in our country.
Przemyśl Mayor Wojciech Bakun said that the city "plays a specific role". "It's not that we just accept refugees, as much as we support them upon their first contact with Poland, in the first place where they are safe. It's a very important role. We provide warm meals, place to rest, and some food to go if necessary," he explained.
Reception points have been also opened in Lubelskie Voivodeship, including Dorohusk.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24