Meet the Aussie mates that are helping refugees flee war-torn Ukraine
Two Australian friends have been praised online for travelling into war-torn Ukraine and helping families flee to Poland in their minivan.
Daniel Russell and Roger Scott, who have been living in Poland for the last eight years, have been doing regular trips to the Ukrainian border to drive families to safety, while documenting their efforts online.
Together the pair have made several trip into the dangerous war zone, and have helped over two dozen people to safety so far.
"Hectic day. Rejected at the border for the first time... Collected a lovely mum and two kids freezing in the bleak lines and drove them over [the border] in three hours to a better world," Mr Russell wrote on Facebook.
Daniel added that refugees can wait anywhere from six hours to 24 hours to find transport to another country, all while waiting out in the open of a harsh European winter.
"Gave the kids a ball which distracted them for a short moment and maybe they briefly forgot about this horrific scene kids should never have to witness," he said.
Daniel went on to say that after his last trip, the battery in his minivan died, and was anxious to make it back to help the next wave of refugees.
He said, "Trying to get back over the border tomorrow and drop all the fundraiser equipment to the needy and pick up a some weary refugees when Roger arrives with a new chariot in the morning to rescue my sorry a**."
The UNHCR estimates more than three million refugees have already fled Ukraine since Russia launched a brutal unprovoked invasion on February 24th.
Mr Russell and Mr Scott have launched a fundraising campaign to buy vital supplies for civilians in Lviv in Ukraine's west who are fleeing to the border.
"Our main purpose is to use the money gathered and deliver the needed items directly into the palms of the Ukrainians, we have total transparency and we have also delivered equipment to the Ukrainian Territorial Forces in Lviv."
Image credits: Facebook