Featured Image Credit: Polícia Slovenskej republiky/Facebook
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News
Hannah Smith
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News
Slovakian police have shared the heartbreaking story of an 11-year-old boy who arrived in the country as an unaccompanied refugee, with only a backpack and a phone number.
The boy, who is believed to have come from the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, travelled to the Slovakia-Ukraine border by himself, telling authorities that his parents had to stay in Ukraine.
In a Facebook post, Slovakia's police force wrote that he had arrived with nothing but a backpack, his passport and a phone number written on his hand.
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'Volunteers took care of him, kept him warm and provided him with food and drink, which they packed for the next trip,' the post read, sharing images of the boy, who is wrapped up warm in an adidas coat, new balance hat and scarf and carrying a red backpack, being spoken to by authorities at the border crossing.
In spite of his undoubtedly traumatic journey, the photos show the boy smiling with the volunteers, and even throwing up peace signs for the camera.
'He won them all with his smile, fearlessness and determination, worthy of a real hero,' the police wrote.
Thankfully, authorities in Slovakia were able to use the phone number written on his hand and a piece of paper in his pocket to contact 'loved ones' already outside of Ukraine who arrived to pick him up, saying 'the whole story ended well.'
The boy's journey is just one example of the horrific human cost of Russia's invasion, with over one million people estimated to have crossed from Ukraine into neighbouring European countries since war broke out on February 24.
The UN has warned that as many as five million people could become displaced as a result of Russia's invasion.
In Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova thousands of volunteers have sprung into action at the border as they work to process and support the thousands of Ukrainians that cross each day, with the EU announcing that all Ukrainian citizens would be allowed to stay in any EU country without a visa for the next three years.
In countries not immediately on the Ukraine border, residents have arrived at train stations to welcome refugees, with many offering up their own homes and spare rooms for free.
'Europe stands by those in need of protection,' European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said. 'All those fleeing Putin’s bombs are welcome in Europe.'
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information