Inside makeshift theatre shelter where Ukrainian kids cling to the only toys they could save as they fled war

TERRIFIED schoolgirl Arina Muzytchuk fled her home in Kyiv carrying just a backpack containing her favourite cuddly toy. Her frantic mum told the nine-year-old she only had space for one plaything, so she grabbed Milka, her duck. Chris EadesArina’s little sister Katya, 4, smiles beside her toy duck Milka after escaping the bombing in Kyiv[/caption] Chris EadesKatya, 4, and Arina, 9, take shelter in a theatre basement in Lviv, West Ukraine after fleeing the capital with their mum[/caption] APArina’s mum Anna, 31, decided to flee the capital after filming Russian bombs raining down from their living room window (file photo of the aftermath of a bomb attack on Kyiv from Friday)[/caption] Arina said: “I have only had her for one month and she is my favourite, so when my mum said I could only take one toy I was definitely going to take her.” Arina’s mum Anna, 31, decided to flee the capital after filming Russian bombs raining down from their living room window. She told Arina and sister Katya, four, to grab a rucksack each and, together with their gran Larisa, 49, they fled to the railway station. Devastated Arina had to leave her pet hamster Homer behind. Speaking slowly to stop herself crying, she said: “Someone is feeding him so hopefully he is OK.” Mum Anna, who left mechanic husband Alexey, 29, in Kyiv to fight, said: “I knew it was time to leave when I filmed the bombs. “It was so scary and all I could think is that we had to leave. “Like any mother I just had to make sure my children were safe. It is awful having to travel all the way across the country but I had to protect them. “And I want to keep them from being psychologically scarred. I cannot believe a country in Europe is under attack like this in 2022.” Most read in The Sun LEGEND LOST Shane Warne dies of 'heart attack' aged 52 after being found in Thai villa 'IT'S SO HARD' Alison Hammond breaks down on This Morning and is consoled by co-stars AISLE HORROR Aldi shoppers evacuated after 'BOMB' found in supermarket NUKE WARNING Damage to Europe's biggest nuclear plant 'could trigger record radiation leak' VLAD GENERAL DEAD Top Russian general shot dead by sniper in major blow to Putin war plan IT'S A HABIT The body part you first wash in the shower says a lot about you –what's yours? They are now living in temporarily in a theatre in Lviv, West Ukraine, and feel only a little safer. As The Sun interviewed little Arina, the air raid siren sounded and the family rushed to a shelter in the basement props room.  Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates Sitting opposite them in the refuge was marketing executive Jeanne Chupis, 34, who tearfully said of her plight: “I don’t want this s***”. Putin is a demon. What he’s doing to my country is evil.” She said of her escape from Kharkiv: “Children were screaming and women were crying. People waved goodbye to the men. Many had brought cats and dogs, but there was no space on the train so they had to let them run off.”  Over 1.2million refugees have now fled Ukraine — with an average of 115,000 pouring into Europe every day, 200,000 on Tuesday.  Mostly women and children, they grabbed what they could and made their way across the country by road, rail and by miles on foot. All you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine Everything you need to know about Russia's invasion of Ukraine... Why is Russia invading Ukraine? Will the UK go to war? How can I join the Ukraine foreign legion? What can I do to help Ukraine? Who is Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy? How much gas does the UK get from Russia? Is Russia a part of Nato? Does Russia have nuclear weapons? Why is Ukraine not in Nato? How big is the Russian army? What is Article 5 of the Nato treaty? What is the Minsk agreement? Which countries were in the Soviet Union? Some ditched their cars on the border roads and walked the remaining 25 miles before enduring 60-hour waits to cross into safety. In Kharkiv, amid the sound of gunfire and explosions, residents crowded into the city’s train station and pressed into carriages. Those who reached the Polish border at Korczowa smiled as they were driven by coach to safety.  They are among nearly 650,000 who have reached Poland since last Thursday and are being met by a colossal humanitarian aid effort.  Refugee camps have been set up in shopping malls and warehouses and tents are pitched in retail parks. Most spend a few hours here to recover before accepting rides further into Poland, to Germany and even Italy. UN spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo warned the evacuation was rapidly becoming “the biggest refugee crisis this century”.  UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi appealed for the “guns to fall silent”, adding: “In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.” They fear as many as four million will be forced to leave their homes by July — the biggest single movement of people since World War Two. In the Lviv theatre’s bomb shelter, Little Arina is praying for peace so she can go back home and play with her friends. She said: “My best friend is Kira. She has also left Kyiv. I hope I will see her again one day but I am not sure if I ever will.” Twenty minutes later, after the all-clear, Arina and Milka are back up onstage. A life upended by Putin’s savage war machine. Chris EadesThe children’s father Alexey, 29, remained in Kyiv to fight[/caption] Refugee girl back with dad From PAUL SIMS on the Poland-Ukraine border A THRILLED Ukrainian girl races to her dad at the end of a gruelling, 60-hour journey to safety. ReutersThe beaming Ukrainian girl races to her dad at the end of a gruelling, 60-hour journey to safety[/caption] ReutersThe girl had spotted her father in the distance and ran as fast as she could into his arms for a hug[/caption] The joyous reunion at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland, was a brief moment of light following days of bloodshed, fear and panic in their homeland. The girl had spotted her father in the distance and ran as fast as she could into his arms for a hug. Like most of the 1.2million who have fled Ukraine they are now refugees — and looking to Europe to offer them shelter from the war. Their plans may change but for now, at least, they are together at last.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.