Ukrainian Father Says Goodbye to Daughter as She Leaves for a Safe Zone and He Stays Behind to Fight

Trigger Warning: This story contains graphic details and footage of war that readers may find disturbing

Panic reigns in Ukraine as residents brace themselves for the impact of a full-scale invasion after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war early Thursday. As Russian troops continue attacking the country from all three sides, stinging stills and clips of families and young children fleeing the area continue to emerge.

In one such video, an emotional Ukrainian father can be seen bidding a tearful goodbye to his daughter before he sends her off to a safe zone while he stays behind to fight in the war, reports 7News. The Father weeps and places a hat on his daughter's head. He then hugs her goodbye before watching her get onto a bus. 

This depressing scenario comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed troops to invade Ukraine after announcing his intentions in a pre-dawn televised address on Thursday. Early that morning, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout Kyiv, a city with three million residents. 

In a solemn address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy subsequently noted that 137 civilians and military personnel have been killed so far as the Russian invasion of his country ensues. While Putin claimed that only Ukrainian military sites will be targeted and populous places would be spared, Zelenskyy noted that civilian sites have also been struck.

"They’re killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. Its foul and will never be forgiven," he said. By Friday morning, "horrific Russian rocket strikes," as described by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, were heard in the capital. Officials in Moscow denied airstrikes on Kyiv, but videos that surfaced online said another story. Residents said Russian tanks were being driven through the city as loud gunfire echoed in the capital. 

On Thursday, Ukrainian officials noted that they were fighting on all fronts to prevent a "full-scale invasion" and President Joe Biden held Putin responsible for choosing to carry out "a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering." As the fight continues, CBS News' Haley Ott revealed how Ukrainians had been rushing to support their country's military forces in the hopes of saving their country's freedom. 

Ott noted how people had created a makeshift recruitment center in Kyiv on Friday, where people claimed they were ready to die in order to defend their city. One of the commanders said that thousands of residents had reported for duty despite only a few of them having any actual military experience. People who showed up were handed guns but the commander revealed that they were quickly grinning out. 

Meanwhile, the State Border Guard Service has since announced that it has banned all male citizens aged 18 to 60 years old from leaving the country. "In particular, it is forbidden for men aged 18-60, Ukraine citizens, to leave the borders of Ukraine. This regulation will remain in effect for the period of the legal regime of martial law. We ask the citizens to take this information into consideration." The war continues to unfold.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a developing story, and we’ll update as we learn more. Information is swiftly changing and Shared is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication.