Desperate Ukrainian mums cling to kids inside abandoned shopping centre as they flee Putin’s bloody onslaught

TERRIFIED Ukrainian refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin’s onrushing army have been forced to hide inside an abandoned shopping centre on the Polish border. More than 500,000 refugees – mostly women and children – have already fled Ukraine to Poland. Dan CharityUkrainian refugees have been forced to leave their home by the invading Russians[/caption] Dan CharityMore than 1,000 beds have been put into a shopping centre-turned-refugee camp[/caption] Dan CharityThe mall mostly full of women and children is in Poland, less than a mile from Ukraine’s border[/caption] Up to 5 million people are feared to be made homeless by the war in what is expected to be the biggest movement of people since the Second World War. In less than a week, the thriving shopping mall in the Polish village of Korczowa, just a mile from the Ukrainian border, has been turned into a makeshift refugee camp for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. Glass-fronted units which once sold building supplies, baths, tools, and clothes, have been emptied to make room for thousands of beds. The white tiled floors of the aisles are covered in camp beds and brown checked blankets, and the human cost of war. Inside the cacophonous shopping centre, the former shops ring with the sound of screaming babies, tannoy announcements, and desperate phone calls for help. Stores have been piled high with all kinds of supplies, including cardboard boxes of dried food, crisps, biscuits, jars of baby food, and toiletries. Polish soldiers have been handing out emergency rations of nappies, toilet rolls, and bottled water, most of it donated by ordinary Poles. The makeshift camp has no showers to offer respite to the refugees, many of whom travelled at least 24 hours to the border before walking the last 20 miles through the freezing cold. Most read in News CRUSHED BY SANCTIONS Live updates on Ukraine war as Russia panics over freefalling economy SPEEDBOAT HORROR Thai star dies after falling from speedboat on restaurant trip with pals PUTIN BLITZ 'Dozens killed' as Putin begins carpet-bombing civilians after stalled invasion SINKING FEELING Ukrainian sailor sinks Russian boss's £5.8m luxury yacht in Spain 'SHOW THIS TO PUTIN' Horror pics show girl, 6, in unicorn pyjamas killed in Russian bombing KNIFE EDGE Ukraine faces 'crucial 24 hours' with Russia peace talks as Belarus warns of WW3 One woman was pictured on a camp bed clutching a packet of three toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste, and even shampoo – despite the lack of showers. A tiny girl, no more than two years old, was seen stuffing her teddy bears into a black bin liner before emptying them. She repeats the process over and over again. Nearby, a soldier was seen showing a mum a pair of tiny red boots for her toddler. Nadia Yanchuk, 51, fled the war with her son Max, 15, daughter-in-law Olga, 25, and two-year-old grandson, Oleksandr. They left their home in the mining city of Chervonohrad near Lviv in western Ukraine, some 60 miles northeast of Korczowa. I’m afraid for the future of Ukraine and for our people ZoryanaUkrainian refugee Relieved to be at the camp, Nadia says she is wracked with guilt for those they were forced to leave behind, including Olga’s husband and her son, 26, who stayed in Ukraine to fight. Nadia told The Sun: “We are exhausted mentally but physically we have rested and we’re ready to move again. “I’m relieved because we’re together. But it is difficult to think of those we have left behind. “We don’t know what will happen but we are strong and we’ll get through this.” Another mum, 37-year-old Zoryana, escaped with her two children, aged 12 and 14. Speaking from a cafe in the shopping centre serving hot drinks and food to refugees, she said: “I’m afraid for the future of Ukraine and for our people. “I want everything to be alright, I still have hope, but this is escalating every day that passes. No one knows what Putin will do next.” The temporary camp in Korczowa only opened two days ago but is already completely rammed. Vladyslav, a volunteer, said: “Everone here is disorientated. They have left everything behind. They’re shell-shocked.” It comes as fears grow Vladimir Putin is stepping up his indiscriminate bombing of Ukraine, after his efforts to quickly overwhelm the country’s defences were frustrated. Today, dozens are believed to have been killed in a carpet-bombing raid in Kharkiv, including a barrage of Grad rockets and Smerch missiles.