Journalist Emotionally Details Events On Ukraine Frontline As She's Forced To Evacuate

Journalist Sara Firth has emotionally detailed her experience on the Ukraine frontline as she waits to evacuate.

The journalist took to Twitter to share her current situation while waiting for a security team to help evacuate her from Donetsk.

The news comes after Russia began to move troops in the separatist-held regions of Luhansk and Donetsk on Monday, February 21.

Firth begins the emotional video by explaining that she and her team have 'been on the front lines near occupied Donetsk and have seen the escalation first hand, and have reported on that', before praising her 'incredible, local Ukrainian team' and the 'colleagues who've been reporting here for the last eight years'.

However, the foreign correspondent added that she has been forced to evacuate from the area following safety concerns.

Firth noted her team were filming from an 'embedded location' and 'caught the escalation in hostilities', which is 'both sides firing on one another'.

While Firth notes this was 'done as safely and securely as possible', things took a turn the following night while filming from the location when the 'communications were down'.

She explained that although 'the shelling wasn't as heavy' the team 'were all up all night' and the escalation over the last few days has prompted her evacuation.

Firth noted tearfully that she 'obviously want[s] to stay' and that she and her team have been 'visiting some of the civilian locations that have been targeted by Russian-backed separatists in the fight', but that ultimately, she 'made the decision to have the security advisor withdraw me promptly tomorrow to Kyiv'.

Firth explained 'a lot of brave colleagues are staying' but that the developing situation has made her realise where 'we're going wrong with the job, or where I'm going wrong with the job'.

'You come in talk to them [civilians] when we feel it's safe. We have our flight jackets and our helmets', meanwhile the civilians 'have nowhere to go really, they'll evacuate if they can.'

'I think I've failed at my job, I know I've failed in my heart, I've failed at my job, which is not to come in before something bad happens, it's to stay and show the reality of what is going to happen to those civilians at a critical moment. I do think that's what being a conflict reporter's about.'

'Just think again the diplomatic lines, and our reports that have centered on journalists coming under fire and 'look at us in dangerous areas' has overtaken, totally, the reality for the civilians that are left behind here'.

As the situation escalates, Ukraine is poised to announce a state of emergency in the country, having urged parliament to impose controls such as curfews for the public.

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