we've got some hot tips for your bucket list. ah, magic corner chat. hot spot for food and some great cultural memorials to boot d w, travel off we go. mm hm. ah ah, hundreds of thousands of ukrainians are fleeing the war into neighboring countries to the west, including romania, a handful of others are heading in the opposite direction. natalia and dema were on holiday when russia invaded ukraine. they're returning to be with their children in khaki, if a city under brutal attack back home that they will find themselves in a war zone. a living hell,

michigan for the summer when we were in the cellar now that's been planes of flying, iverson, dropping bombs. it's like this all day long. so maria and her grandchildren were able to escape this horror. it took them 2 days to make their way from odessa to romania, where they are now in safety. let's run them. why do we need these wars? when they put it? my parents went through one wonderful. now it's our turn at the bottom of the nozzle. i don't want my grandchildren to have to go through one if it is of i with the summer bags is kristela. mm. ah, and branch of the and youve river forms part of the border between romania and

ukraine. refugees who managed to pull this ferry have a dangerous journey behind them. they have waited for hours at the ukrainian border control. little damina and his dog spits are among them. damina his sister yara is latina and their 71 year old grandmother have just made their way from odessa hitchhiking to the border, crossing at olive co. 300 kilometers, without a break, without sleep. why all these people are hoping to find safety, but they don't know what really awaits them. joe's love not was just about to finish her history degree. now she's fleeing with her little brother damina and their grandmother. did they expect that flood of me putins threads would become a reality. yeah. shipping to bring him allergic to them,

but i forgot. i didn't take it seriously. i was them on the way my children wanted to get me out of here, but they're very worried. michelle her but as of, i'd say i have 2 daughters who work in germany. they're worried about their children in those of law. and i'm going with the thoughtful shouldn't change whom are your chevy ones worried about what's happening in the big cities coverage and what's happening nearby. you little dog. it looks on one of the odessa isn't far away. your pants make island has been destroyed. me in the austin, go to them when they will, but all the other people are being killed with the others just but i hope the world community will react to the russian president's actions and that there will be peace in ukraine. ukrainian boys are dying right now. stick in the stand in the west show him that grains clocked in odessa was attacked right at the start of the war. yes. levona and damira fled to their grandmother in the village,

but it was not safe there either. the 3 of them left as soon as they could get along a shuffle stalker yourselves. what are my plans and flung them? i'm just so tired, which i have no plans on you. my children make the plans for me. women, you 30, i'm not. well, they should have left neither high, thicker, but my children are worried about me and want us to be together. i wasn't. but as i told you should get a bla backwards. i don't know what will happen next. a gun at that in as we help with that, we don't have to stay away for too long. i don't have with that that much on this which i was in 20 minutes. the refugees reach mania and the safety of the a you. but some people are heading in the opposite direction like natalia and dema . they also didn't

believe the threats of war and went to istanbul for a short holiday break. then they heard that their home city of khaki was being shelled. now they're desperately trying to get home as fast as they can and it hurts so much that my children are in khaki has to pre clinical with that of a russians are trying to enter harker honey as i tanks are attacking the city. yes . and i have stops there shelling residential areas of st. louis at night. they bombed the airport very heavily, watching sina only till an inch didn't have stumble. we flew to is tumble for 4 days for a break and our children stayed with their grandmother and khaki. the dealer, but now they're stuck there. today they had to go to the cell a 3 times more to read to remove saddam more. we need to get home to you crying to defend ukraine. is this you read your good a know maria

and her grandchildren managed to escape the fighting, but steamer and natalia have a long journey ahead of them through a war zone. the very place that these people have fled, struck at us. we're afraid for our lives. we don't know what will happen to morrow . we need weapons give us weapons to defend our country. they cannot support us unless things people are fleeing because shows or exploding around us your whole yet what they're attacking us from the air and no one stopping them up. good. anyone in the cities, no one is safe, but mobile phone connections are still working. demarco's cock, give every hour. are you okay? you know what the, what are you in the apartment or the basement? thank god. oh, stay strong. were with you. i will be there soon. that my son you hugs and kisses. hello. yes, everything's okay. we have to stay strong. everything will be all right.

on that book on you, such as we don't have a plan yet. so we have let's, now we have to go back through odessa still and then we'll see what we hope the trains are still running in session of what we really hope. so that which if not, we'll hitchhike, it doesn't matter. we'll get there any way. we can coordinate. what, like a coordinate. you had to look, i would walk if need be maria and her grandchildren and now one romanian soil. the isaak cha crossing only open for tourists last summer. it's not equipped for such a flood with people with the refugees, we'll have to stand in line again until the board of police have checked every passport. remo ukrainians with

a new biometric passport pass through with no difficulties. but we have friends that are in there for some time just for some time. that's what everybody here is hoping. maria wants to go to her daughter's in germany as soon as possible. she has arthritis and is in constant pain. damina is being brave, at least he has his dog spits with him, and the only appointment i never thought about leaving my dog behind. who would look after her kamesha with the dogs, his best friend. oh we want there to be peace everywhere goin security shall millersville good how long will it take to get to germany meanwhile the fairy is returning to ukraine. natalia and demon don't know if and

when they'll see their children again. in 2014, the family fled from the separatists region in the far east of ukraine. so they've already experienced a war and lost a hun home at the shouts hopping, illinois name. so we know we're already in ukraine. it's our home, our country, the national. it's like going back to khaki if they hold russian president vladimir putin responsible for the war and the destruction of their homeland. could miss kazi says, waging a war of liberation to just liberation from wash that cover? i'm a russian speaking ukrainian field, but i have no idea what we need liberating from genuine. you my a german jasa which died they arrive in ukraine, still caught in their memories of fleeing the separatist region. years before the

recreation. he wasn't one of them. we won't run away again. wait, that's not what we know. what it's like, let you behold them. what people are fleeing, but we're going back to defend our country, messiah blue back to e soccer on the romanian side of the danube. after a 2 hour wait, maria and her grandchildren have finally reached the possible control. but there's a problem. the children's passports are fine, but maria doesn't even have a passport or just an old expired id card from. you may be required to pay them with the children could cross the border right away, but they don't want to leave their grandmother behind. it's not clear what will happen 1st, they send into attend for refugees with passport problems. they'll have to wait

again. years love now wants to join her mother who's been living in germany for the past few years. with vicky he goes at us more, i'm lucky, she's there and i can go to her lay many ukrainians. don't have anything like that . so they have to stay behind it at the moment. it's a big problem. it's of a couple of glad my friends in odessa have to hide in emergency shelters junior. they're afraid all the time. e for their city and their country west half the situation there is really horrible. as a fo, crane, i a certain of the refugees who have passed through passport control want to move on as fast as possible to relatives and friends scattered all over europe. romanians from the area have already organized help for the refugees.

father gabriel was one of the 1st to offer help. every day he goes to the border crossing at a sock shaw to ask the refugees what they need. either you have a place to stay and wish to speak to you about guardian. if you know any one who has nowhere to go, please let me know that these people are here to help you. while we need somebody just up the exact bus that the priest is the administrative head of 18 churches and for monasteries in the region that gives him the resources to help the refugees, not local to children. yet let's ask hear that story, but you never get a single somebody supposed to pick us up, but that if he doesn't come, we'll ask you for help with young. oh, good. let us know for to be fighting the ferry is waiting on the ukrainian side. it will take a while until it brings more refugees over that,

that over in oliva in ukraine. the ferry only sets off once was full, but things are more difficult over there that i call it that it will limit my grill . i'm up with them tomorrow though. first, they were about 30 refugees a day, so they stayed 2 or 3 days and moved on. j. r plus bethel. tell me what supplies you've collected and how much and we'll pick it up. j. oh, good night. but in the my poor father gabriel has called for donations in his parish. everything is collected here in this gymnasium, any sacha there's been an outpouring of help and solidarity here. the donations are so generous that the volunteers can hardly keep up and distribute them where they're most needed yet out. yesterday we could only send out one truck little claybrook on my we have to make sure that the donations keep moving. they will up. oh, they don't, they think the vols and for me for that are you here in the gymnasium?

there are diapers, water, food and clothing. many teachers and high school students of volunteering here. oh, my service i how did you end up here for the day? it was a teachers brought us out yet. they said to my, come along, join in joke, we want to help our neighbors. jacqueline, what grade are you in the 11th his or them? they're sorting the clothes for children. oh yes. the $1880.00 young people are waking up like when they encounter such a brutal reality lost and of course, it's a shock for them. she could order her that they a long shock with inexpensively these beds are ready and waiting for more refugees . this extended family has been here for a few days already. they belong to the romanian,

speaking minority in ukraine. did anyone stay at home? oh no. one of my sons. he wasn't allowed to come. he had to join the army. was sad and afraid he'll be sent to the front killed madison is a goddess good that he's 27 years old a little. and now where do you want to go to poland or do you have a place to stay? there is one day. look, we feature 5th, you are that i have 2 daughters there. um and i see father gabriel lives 10 kilometers away in the village of ne koolaid. so he's offered up his own kitchen to help the refugees. women from the village prepare hot meals here every day. they host the meals will help sustain the refugees and lift their spirits. anika and elena are worried about the war that has broken out just across the border, comma. we've never had

a situation like this and we hope nothing like this will ever happen to us. these poor people don't know where to go. god protect us. so those poor children, it breaks your heart. we are afraid to, it's very close to us to where we live. we worry to about our families and our children. look, we head to the city of constantia romania, his largest city on the black sea. professor emanuel puppy annu teaches history and politics here at the university. he's also observing the war with concern. on the very 1st day, gross and troops occupied snake island, which lies in the black sea. just across romania is maritime border. in bought on

saw it's felicia, florida. once in a scrubby importance of this island to call should not be underestimated. and gardening, p, my water alley it was occupied by russia in the 1st hours of the military conflict, or for story event. if you got areas that are important on the battery, important oil and gas reserves have been found near snake island yacht. us which are especially important for the russian federation, battiata and also for romania. if you don't front all maniachi, they could help reduce the gas dependency of the european union. her she broke out a board. ah, when you would open it company more than the the conflict is coming closer to the romanian border. not all she does offer russia is demanding that nieto troops leave romania. she argues, thought you are really thought and that their military bases and the weapon station there be destroyed ok chip law but at raja but the idea that romania would leave

nato is not even a hypothetical possibility. horses that are in new york, our law on velo. he bought it back to natalia and dema. they hitch hiked to odessa and managed to reach their children in khaki after just a day's journey by train. didn't build many lives in their reporting on their situation. making video calls and sending videos by cell phone. war is on their doorstep. seriously, yesterday our day goes on in the cellar on the one that was sitting here. planes above us, we hear the sirens live that everything will be okay with ukraine will. when i know it should or should greene good it? yes. i am in the local militia. no 11. yeah. oh not here in. hark. every other term were volunteers. i've collected supplies as

best they could for yesterday, a missile hit, the regional administrator building and our temp was destroyed. oh, my god. i'm sure you as well. after that we were all in tears tried to contact our leaders, but got no reply or not. you got back into action after an interruption of 24 hours, but only in small groups. happy, not wanting to your back. this is what it looks like. we're living in the cellar for the one that does a bit. natalia police hide. it's not good. what you're doing plains from belgrade are dropping bombs. but we're at our cornerstone. this is how we live. the streets are empty lives in from time to time. you see somebody but not often would have to finish the 9 books. you know in yet though i did hear the day coming i'm. he is sweet out in the plane to coming closer to bomb us. as you know,

back in romania, at the south church border crossing, a steady stream of refugees from ukraine keeps coming. more tense will put up for people whose travel documents don't made. e regulations. i saw was maria's passport problem still hasn't been solved. i thought we'd have, we have to go to the container over there. that's where we take the fingerprints. maria has no travel document that meets the e u requirements. she'll have to apply for asylum here in romania. otherwise, under the law, she would have to go back to ukraine. taking fingerprints is part of the asylum application process. officially she's still not allowed to enter romania and it's unclear how long she'll have to wait at 71. she's become frail and the weight is hard to endure. forbes toys by in the

morning, i'll stay awake, but i can't sleep before i was always alone in peace and quiet. now i have no choice but to sit and wait. what else can i do? if there is no other way? i'm here anyhow. what else can i do? nobody at the border crossing has explained much to maria. she doesn't realize the situation she finds herself in class, but when you're sitting lawyers over and even when my passport problem's been solved, that will have to wait here for someone to come and pick us up. ok, so jacqueline and her, i am so grateful to everybody who's taking care of us at him. but he did. my mama's at us have given up. my mother is in europe, but my father is in ukraine. his annual and very worried about him. louis as a shift and all the people who couldn't flee and had to stay to fight for ukraine.

you know, it's a huge problem for ukraine that the russian aggression is taking over all our city's church on this. i'm really worried. yeah, those are finish of i'm not on them. why don't we need these wars? my parents went through one. now it's our turn. you don't want to pull at alice earth. i don't want my grandchildren to have to go through one milk. it's a much lee. if it is, oh, it's a summer bagley priscilla. it's unclear how many nights maria will have to spend in this tent with her grandchildren waiting in a kind of limbo. the remaining authorities aren't permitted to send her on to germany. we go back to the parish rooms in the romanian village of nicu late so winter has returned to the danube region close to the border. father gabriel brings the soup

that alena and anica have made it normally this building hosts meetings for local clergy members. now it's a place of shelter for refugees. 12 people arrived here last night. in even in my we see the terror in their eyes. it's always see of terror and fear of the unknown. they've left their home in and have no idea where they'll end up. like raw sewage, nasty when there's lunch elena and anake is vegetable soup is welcome here. for many, it's their 1st war meal in days. most of them come from the odessa region, including valerie or alexandrovna. i retired doctor didn't tell us who brought all this is. so local people volunteers,

they come and bring things here. the refugees enjoy the soup, but their fear remains. the last, i believe that putin is threatening the world with nuclear weapons, unfortunately would be to me, we don't want to die. civil. we want to live in may thir 15 my son told me anyway, i'll house my life. we mustn't mall the loss of our house. it is for the funeral. i deal with nobody knows whether the refugees will ever be able to return home at the moment. all that counts is a quiet night away from the bombs and missiles santa marina arrived with her brother and her young son last night like that for that. and he will not this, my son has no idea what's happening in our country. but he thinks we're on holiday

that we want them to feel at home here, that they can feel warm from their souls, thought the quantity and the warmth of these rooms. kudos that they can rest he and live in dignity. here. supposed her were minister, father gabriel can only come to rest once every one's been tended to, many more refugees are going to need his help. when of most of the people who have arrived here so far, it's not new where they were heading next to be not now the poorer people are starting to come in. people who have nowhere else to go. now the more difficult part is coming because they won't just stay one or 2 night you they'll have to stay here much longer. god, be our strength. be the shield and defender of the humble devout people of the

ukrainian nation. diane, oh, ah, back in khaki is natalia and dina i trying to hold out in a city under siege. food and other necessities are in desperately short supply. rella basement not far from our house. like you know, if you could call it an air raid shelter. it's covered with earth, a relic from soviet times c o. it's terrifying their bombing civilian facilities. today they had to city center a children's hospital. it's barbara b this. you have shout grocery stores to buy new. there are 2 supermarkets here on our street. you know what you last night they were targeted, embalmed in their cut off from electricity. water and heating. bombing just keeps going. other grocery stores to. they're doing it on purpose. our transportation

system has collapsed. there are no taxes. are public transport is no longer working . any one who wants to travel has to wait in line for a long time. the same goes for food, water, and medicines, co ops. some we know when to line up at 6 a. m. m was already number 120 on line to the shops are only open for 2 hours a day. people are desperate. there will be a humanitarian catastrophe. scheme you, this would traverse. this is what russian pace looks like. miss, now we're in the basement. it though, so maturity fighter jets flying over us and dropping bombs all day. so every day with kaiser i stumbled over explosions. he hadn't really received his id door as a communion. you and what will become of us?

6 days of war she was still hiding. in me. one look see dim. who? ah, back in romania we had should the city of to cha about an hour away from the ukrainian border. this is where the regional office in charge of migrants and refugees is located. maria and her grandchildren, jeriso love not, and damina have been brought here. they may have escaped the war suffering and death back home, but the end of their journey is no way in sight. ah ah, he's you clean fertilizer in russia.

it's a global problem. both ensure security in many countries around the world. but the war is stopping that for now. our standards now in and what are the solutions? 3000 in 30 minutes on d w. ah ah

ah ah, this is d w. news ally from berlin law to ms. lewinsky says he's willing to consider neutral status for ukraine with the russian invasion in its 2nd month ukraine's president says negotiators are carefully studying the issue, a central one to russia, security demands. israel host a historic summit with the u. s. in for arab states. israel says it's deepening alliance with its arab neighbors can help counter the threat posed by iraq. and coda winds the best pick.