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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Abigail O'Leary

Ukrainian boy and girl fight for life after sister, 10, killed by Russian troops

The lives of the brother and sister of ten-year-old Polina - killed by Russian troops - are hanging in the balance as they lie critically wounded in hospital.

Polina was one of three family members murdered in their car by Putin's sabotage thugs operating within Kyiv on Saturday.

Dad Anton and wife Svetlana Zapadynskaya died, along with their middle daughter.

Their eldest daughter Sofia and youngest son Semyon were critically wounded and are now fighting for their lives.

Heartbreaking images show Semyon laying in a hospital bed on a ventilator, unaware his family were killed when Russian troops opened fire on a car fleeing Ukraine.

Pink-haired, Harry Potter-mad Polina was in her final year of primary school when she was killed.

A picture of the smiling schoolgirl was shared by deputy mayor of Kyiv, Vladimir Bondarenko.

He said: "Her name was Polina. She studied in the 4th grade of school in Kyiv. Her and her parents were shot by Russian DRG."

Sixteen children have died and 45 wounded since last Thursday, with the death toll expected to rise further.

Seven-year-old Alisa Hlans was killed when her kindergarten was hit on Friday, while a six-year-old girl called Sofia Fedko and her brother Ivan, who was only a few weeks old, died when five members of the same family came under fire.

Polina's younger brother Semyon Kudrin in hospital on a ventilator (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Russian Armoured personnel carrier (APC) burning during fight with the Ukrainian armed forces in Kharkiv (AFP via Getty Images)

It comes as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) updated its estimate on the number of refugees that have left Ukraine, saying the total stands at more than 500,000 a figure that continues to rise.

The UNHCR said humanitarian needs are “multiplying and spreading by the hour”.

The agency said it is sending stock of core relief items to Moldova, including blankets, sleeping mats, family tents, winterisation kits, sleeping bags, water jerrycans, baby kits, solar lamps and other items for at least 10,000 people.

A girl is pictured inside a bus after fleeing from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the border crossing in Siret, Romania (REUTERS)

“UNHCR has launched a Ukraine Emergency Appeal to help with relief efforts, because our relief work relies on donations and the needs on the ground are immense,” it said.

“All donations can be made through our UK charity partner – UK for UNHCR.

“We are receiving many calls from the UK public offering support and we are hugely grateful to those who have already donated or have already been in contact with us here in the UK offering to host refugees in their home.”

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