Ukrainian refugee in Sydney reflects on fleeing Kyiv a year after the start of Russia's invasion

A Ukrainian refugee who fled to Sydney with her two children has shared what it was like escaping the war a year on from Putin's invasion. 

Alla Storozhuk describes February 25, 2022 - the day Russia's military arrived in her home, Kyiv - as 'the worst day of my life'.

She said while Ukrainians had heard warnings an invasion could be on the way, her family had made no plans to leave their home.

'I woke up at five o'clock in the morning to bombs exploding outside my window,' Ms Storozhuk said.

'My husband told me that the war had begun and we had 20 minutes to collect our things and the children. We took one backpack each and bottles for water.

'A siren was roaring on the street, it permeated my whole body and brain with terrible fear. There were huge queues at gas stations and there was no gasoline, there was no money in ATMs.'

Alla Storozhuk (pictured with her two children) fled Kyiv on February 25, 2022, after Russian military arrived in the city

The family had just 20 minutes to gather their things and flee Kyiv after Russia's military arrived in the city on February 25, 2022 (pictured, a military cargo truck in Kyiv on February 24, 2022)

The mother-of-two described waiting three days in a 20km-long queue to cross the Polish border (pictured, the outskirts of Ukraine in April, 2022)

Ms Storozhuk, her husband and their children got in their car and hurried towards Ukraine's border with Poland, who was taking in citizens as war refugees.

She said her family was shocked to see Russian military was already in their beloved city.  

'A short way towards the Hostomel Airport we saw Russian helicopters, they were trying to capture the airport. There were military men with weapons and military equipment everywhere,' she said.

'We were delirious, it felt as if everything was in a fog and I will never forget the horrible fear in my children's eyes. As parents, this was the worst thing.'

The Storozhuks drove all day until they finally reached the Polish border and joined a 20km-long queue to reach safety. 

'We managed to leave that terrible place and drove all day to the Polish border without stopping,' Ms Storozhuk said.

'By the end of the second day our food had run out. Polish volunteers brought food, blankets and diapers to support the Ukrainians.'

This was where Ms Storozhuk last saw her husband before he left to join the army and help in the war.

The car in front of them also had to say painful goodbyes.

Ms Storozhuk explained: 'The father was taking his children to the border in order to somehow transfer them to his sister in Poland. 

'Both he and his wife are military, so the children had to cross the border by themselves - he asked me to take them over for him.'

On the third day, Ms Storozhuk and the four children reached the front of the line to cross into Poland.

Ms Storozhuk (pictured with her daughter) said she and her two children first fled to Poland before Australia opened its Ukrainian refugee visa program

The mum and her two children were separated from her husband (above) at Ukraine's border with Poland so he could go serve in Ukraine's military

Ms Storozhuk (pictured with her daughter in their Sydney home) also helped a stranger's two children cross the border with her family after hearing both their parents were staying behind to fight in Ukraine

'I said goodbye to my husband and moved alone with four children, my two and the two I was carrying for the stranger we met in line,' she said.

'As soon as I and the children crossed the border to Poland, I handed over the other people's children to their aunt.

'(My children and I) went to Wroclaw, to my cousin, where I volunteered until Australia opened visas for Ukrainian refugees.'

Ms Storozhuk had a sister already living in Australia and said she was able to obtain a refugee visa with her help.  

'I flew with my children to Australia and we arrived in March last year,' she said.

'When we first arrived we lived with my sister's family. I felt a deep depression and anxiety. Crying, crying all the time.

'But thanks to my children - who I have to take care of, my sister, the Ukrainian community, Australians and kind people, I have been able to recover and return to a somewhat normal life and appreciate how important it is to be safe.'

Since arriving in Australia, Ms Storozhuk has worked hard to ensure life is as normal as possible for her children and help them to make the most of their new life in Australia.

Ms Storozkuk and her family posed for photos with Getty Images photographer Lisa Williams to show the peace they had found since fleeing the war-torn nation.

'I feel life goes on,' she said. 

'There are many opportunities in Australia if you don't give up and just keep moving forward.

'I am finishing my third level of English at TAFE, my children are studying in Australian schools, my daughter is also studying in a Ukrainian school.

'I often volunteer. I graduated from an entrepreneurship course and presented my business idea at a pitch night, I also found partners that I'm hoping to start a business with for the production of healthy sausages. 

'I also plan to get a local education.'

Since moving to Sydney, Ms Storozhuk has began taking English and business courses at her local TAFE and volunteers (pictured, Ms Storozhuk volunteering at St Andrews Ukrainian School in Lidcombe)

Ms Storozhuk said her family are embracing Australian life (pictured, Ms Storozhuk's daughter learning to swim at Bondi Icebergs Swim School)

As for her future, Ms Storozhuk only hopes to see her family together again.

'Now that we are safe, my main hopes for the future are to see an end to the war in Ukraine and the reunion of our family,' she said.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 7,155 Ukrainian civilians deaths from the conflict so far.

However, US intelligence believes the figure is much higher and in November estimated the civilian death toll could be as high as 40,000, the BBC reports.

On top of that, it believes up to 200,000 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have died.

Ms Storozhuk (pictured with her daughter) said she hopes the war will end soon so her family can be reunited

US intelligence believes as many as 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the conflict since last February (pictured, aftermath of the war in Ukraine)