Two Tasmanian teachers who fled Ukraine's capital Kyiv as Russian forces started closing in around them have made it safely across the border into Romania — all the while clutching their beloved cats.
Rachel Lehmann-Ware and her husband Duncan Ware spent time with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs officials in Bucharest, before being dropped off at the home of friends, with whom they will be staying.
"We are very lucky internationals. Thank God for the European Union and Australia for going above and beyond," Ms Lehmann-Ware said.
The couple from Huonville in southern Tasmania — who have been living in Ukraine since July 2021 — crossed into Romania on foot yesterday with a few possessions and their three cats in a carry case.
"It was like something out of World War II," Ms Lehmann-Ware said.
"There were people, mainly woman and children, lined up everywhere and it started to snow.
"This is 2022 not 1922."
Ms Lehmann-Ware and her husband had been unable to leave Ukraine in the weeks leading up to the conflict after they were diagnosed with COVID-19 and were not allowed on any commercial flights.
The couple then stayed on for a few extra days to help Ukrainian students and families in need, before they were told it was too dangerous to leave.
The couple used the basement of an international school they worked at in Kyiv as a makeshift home, but were told they needed to flee the capital about five days ago as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified.
The couple were given 30 minutes to pack up everything and get on a train from Kyiv to Chernivtsi in western Ukraine, a journey which had been organised by a colleague, because travelling by road was far too dangerous.
"By the time we arrived at the station we literally had 30 seconds to get on the train before our tickets would have been given away to someone else".
Ms Lehmann-Ware said several Ukrainian men helped her carry her luggage but she would never forget seeing the hundreds of people holding up wads of cash, trying to buy a place on the trains leaving Kyiv.
The couple travelled 18 hours by train to Chernivtsi, in western Ukraine, which was a temporary safe haven for Ukrainians and expats.
But the couple could not escape a sound they had become all too familiar with.
In a video to friends and family, Lehmann-Ware described hearing air raid sirens at night, once two or three times, which meant she and her husband had to go into the basement until it was deemed safe.
"It was a bit of a scary moment," she said.
"I didn't expect that to happen here".
While Ms Lehmann-Ware was relieved to be safe, she decribed having survivor's guilt and being worried for the people suffering in the country, including 173 Ukrainian staff at the school where she worked.
"There are so many others and their safety is not guaranteed," she said.
Family 'overwhelmed' by help
Confirming the news on Saturday night in Tasmania, Ms Lehmann-Ware's father, Paul, told the ABC: "They're through."
"On the bus to Bucharest in the safe hands of DFAT. Woo hoo".
Today, speaking at home in Tasmania, Paul Lehmann said he could "hear the relief and relaxation" in his daughter's voice "for the first time in a few weeks".
"There are 40 million Ukrainians who still aren't safe, and that continues to be Rachel and Duncan's concern, and now that they are both safe, the Ukrainian people are now our concern," he said.
"Sue and I have friends who are Ukrainian because we worked there for a number of years, and it's distressing to know that good friends and colleagues are in a very difficult situation and probably in the firing line," he said.
"They (Rachel and Duncan) will need to spend some weeks and months just chilling and relaxing once they're home before they decide what their next move will be.
"Please continue to pray for Ukraine and have open and generous hearts," he asked.
Rachel's mother Sue said she was "overwhelmed by the helped Rachel received" from locals.
"The generosity and kindness of Ukrainian people going through such a hard time, I'm just overwhelmed.
"I'm going to hug her (Rachel) and cry when I see her. It's been nearly three years since we've seen her."
While Ms Lehmann-Ware and her husband have plans to come back to Australia to be reunited with their daughter and family, they want to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so.
"I so look forward to going home and seeing my family, but at the same time I want to go back to Kyiv and help the Ukrainian people".
"When [the war] is over we are going to go back and help to build Ukraine up again," she said.
