Darlington mum's terror as loved ones still in Kyiv in Ukraine

Mother-of-three Lena Rusa was fast asleep when she was awoken to a friend calling from Kyiv to a backdrop of explosions on Thursday morning (February 24).

Ms Rusa, who lives in Darlington along with her children Adele, 11, Kira, 17, and David, 18, and partner, Mel, had been aware of rising tensions but could not believe what she was hearing.

Read more: County Durham woman flees Ukraine just before Russian invasion

In the early hours of the morning, Russia launched its full scale invasion as they entered the country, both on the ground and in the air.

Social media footage shows an explosion in Ukraine Picture: PA

"It's started"

She told The Northern Echo: "It was just horrendous. I got woken up at 6.58am with my friend crying down the phone saying we are getting bombed - it's started."

The 44-year-old moved from Ukraine 20 years ago but had remained a constant visitor with her best friends, mother and brother still living in the country.

"I'd spoke to my mother, she had been up since 6am (on Thursday) and she heard explosions. She couldn't believe it," she said.

Earlier today (February 25), press in Kyiv reported that Russian forces had entered the outskirts of the capital with armoured vehicles moving their way in, explosions and gunshots. 

Ukrainian servicemen walk at fragments of a downed aircraft seen in in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday Picture: AP

Horror on the streets

Ms Rusa described how videos including a Russian tank running over a car had been circulating from Kyiv as she confirmed multiple tanks had now arrived.

Read more: Newcastle man's fear as wife remains in Ukraine despite Russia invasion

Explaining how life in the capital was completely different just 72 hours ago, she said the city had been "absolutely fine."

She said: "Nobody was panicking, nobody believed it, we had the news on and heard America delivering the messages that the Russians would invade and were preparing, but everyone laughed and were saying that they wouldn't.

"I think this is it"

"Nobody can believe he (Vladimir Putin) has done it - my fears now, deep down in my heart, I think this is it. 

"We are going into a second Cold War, that would be the best-case scenario, but I fear we'll lose Ukraine, even though we are still fighting.

"Nobody wants a third World War, but we can't do it on our own and we can't afford NATO."

Read more: Ukraine soldiers fight Russian forces on outskirts of Kyiv - updates

Fearing the safety of her family still in Ukraine and a rising death toll, she said the impact had been felt even closer to home especially with son, David who has his own friends in the country.

She said: "He's been very worried, he's 18-year-old and 18-year-olds don't spend a lot of time with their mums, but I've seen more of him than ever.

"But he's suffering, this is just another thing, he's got friends over there - and we've been all looking forward to going and visiting my mum in Kyiv."

Facing a potentially long period of uncertainty over the safety of her friends and family, Ms Rusa has been drawing on whatever positives she can bring.

She said: "I want to say thank you so much to the people in Darlington, everyone has been so supportive, I just want to say how I love living in this beautiful town.

"Everyone has made it feel like my second home, sometimes my first."

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