Victoria, 27, who managed to escape from the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, tells 5 Live Breakfast how she left family behind as she fled to a village about 20km (12.5 miles) away.
“My city is absolutely destroyed,” she says, her voice trembling as she describes hearing the daily shelling of Russian attacks.
“People stay in the basement, but that isn’t safe. They are bombing so hard basements are being destroyed.”
She says many people don’t have access to food and water.
“Three children I know died of dehydration. It is the 21st Century and children are dying from dehydration in my city. They are starving now.”
Victoria adds that she was unable to help other family members leave Mariupol and is desperate to “take them out”.
“I will stay in Ukraine and try and save my family in Mariupol. Mariupol is my life, I don’t understand why I should leave my city, my country because of Russia.”
BBC