Ukrainians in Greater Manchester fear for friends and family as Russia launches invasion of Kyiv
Report by Granada Reports correspondent Amy Welch
Ukrainians living across the North West say they are worried about their friends and family as Russian troops close in on Kyiv.
Olga Asma left Ukraine 18 years ago. Her mum left the country last week.
Olga said: "My mum flew here with a small RyanAir bag. It's an absolutely hopeless, helpless and horrible situation. She's very worried about her friends who are still there."
"Our friends don't know what to do, they don't know where to go, they have no cars and don't know where to run to.
"Some of them are just thinking we're not going anywhere. This is our home and our country."
Ukrainian soldiers took defensive positions in Kyiv on Friday after citizens awoke to more sirens and Russian missile attacks, as at least 33 civilian sites were reportedly struck across the country
At least 137 Ukrainians are believed to have died so far.
Security camera footage also shows Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea as thousands of people fled Kyiv with the roads packed.
Jeremy Myers, known as Jez, is from Manchester and is traveling west with his Ukrainian partner.
Jez said: "We woke up to loads of message and lots of news. We knew absolutely nothing about anything that had gone on through the night.
"It was a case of right, let's go. We already had everything packed and contingency plans in place."
His partner Maria Romanenko said: "I am worried for my family, I'm worried about what's going on. I really don't want things to escalate quickly."
It's been very stressful. We don't know what to do. We know we need to get to the border, but we don't know what support is available. It's very tough for us."
Jez is providing live updates of their journey on Twitter. In his last update, he was in a queue at the Polish border.
At the Ukrainian social club in Stockport parents who watched with pride as their children took to the stage earlier this week, today had their worst fears confirmed.
Orlena Koropisz, who is from Lviv and now lives in Stockport, visited her sister and nephews in Ukraine only last week.
Her sister and her two children remain in Ukraine. Her sister is a nurse and because of conscription, cannot go home. Her nephew is 20 and is about to be called up to fight. Only women and children are allowed to leave Ukraine.
Orlena said: "Ukrainians are suffering because of a man with little man syndrome.
"I am really worried about my family. It is making me really upset. I don't know how to help.
"I think if I was still in Ukraine now, I would go to war to defend my country."
Orlena says that her family are finding food shortages and high petrol prices at home in Ukraine.
Orlena offered to look after her sister's children in the UK but they cannot come over because the borders are closed.
She urges people to pray for Ukraine.
The UK government insists it will stand by Ukraine but sanctions so far have proved ineffective and there are calls for harsher measures.
Petro Rewko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians said: "We were disappointed with the first stage of sanctions.
"We felt they were far too weak and we now hope the UK government, with the support of all the political parties, will put the sanctions that need to be in place and anything else that is open to the UK to isolate Russia from the rest of the world".
Vladimir Putin says anyone who tries to stop him will face the consequences but the people of Ukraine remain defiant. The worry is what happens next.