Thirteen-year-old Nika Selivanova made a heart shape with both hands, waving goodbye to her best friend Anna, who was pressed against the glass partition that divided the entrance hall of Kherson’s train station from the waiting room.
Moments ago, they had embraced, tears welling up in their eyes. Anna had kissed Asia, a tan dachshund wrapped in a warm blanket, that Nika carried in her arms.
The girls didn’t know when they would see each other again.
Nika’s family was leaving Kherson, not sure where they would eventually go. For now, he was heading to the western city of Khmelnytskyi, hoping to find some help there.
The last few days in Kherson have been overwhelming for Nika’s mother Elena.
“Before, they [Russian forces] were shelling us 7-10 times a day, now it’s 70-80 times, throughout the day. It’s very scary.” Elena said. “I love Ukraine and my beloved city. But we have to go.”
Elena and her three daughters are among more than 400 people who have fled Kherson since Christmas Day after the Russian military’s bombardment of the city sharply increased.
A hospital’s maternity ward was shelled on Tuesday. There was no loss of life but this has increased the fear among the people.
Elena left by train, in an evacuation facilitated by the Ukrainian government.
