Hundreds of Ukrainians have begun crossing the country's western border into neighboring Poland just hours after Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine early Thursday morning.
Scenes from train stations and bus stops show crowds of travelers donning winter coats and carrying suitcases — many with young children in tow — marking the first wave of what European officials are warning could be an impending refugee crisis.
Ukrainian citizens fleeing the newfound war are flocking to Poland, whose inclusion in both the European Union and NATO offer an extra layer of security and support from military allies throughout Europe.