Elyna, aged 6, with her toy duck Luff Luff
Sergiy and Alyona Samkov, who have two young daughters, said they decided to leave a few days ago.
"When the Russian troops came closer to the Zaporizhzhia region, I decided it was better to get my family out (before) they entered the city itself," 30-year-old Sergiy said. "Because we know that in some cities, like Mariupol, evacuation is impossible. We don't want to wait until we have the same situation."
Knowing that she faced a long journey and may eventually have to cross the final stretch of the Polish border on foot, Alyona traveled light, bringing only a stroller and supplies of food and drinks for their two daughters, 6-year-old Elyna and 7-month-old Emilia. Elyna was also allowed to bring a single cuddly toy — a bright yellow duck called Luff Luff.
But despite their desperation to leave, the family have failed to get a place on a train for the past two days.
"People didn't let us in even though we had a baby," said Alyona, 35. "We lifted her up, but people were pushing each other and we couldn't make it."
Putin is wreaking carnage in Ukraine and no one can stop him
On Saturday, some of those waiting eventually gave up hope and turned around, dragging their wheeled suitcases back along the station platform.
Nearby, the men who said indefinite goodbyes to their wives and children are ashen-faced, dealing with the uncertainty of what could happen to their families on the long journey west, along with the looming threat of their city being invaded by Russian forces.
