Two Ukrainians fleeing a Russian invasion stood in the cold with their bags at the Hungarian border on Thursday, waiting for relatives living in Hungary to arrive and take them to safety.

Csaba Bodnar, 27, and his younger brother Tamas, both from the large ethnic Hungarian minority in western Ukraine, woke to the news of the invasion and set off immediately, fearing conscription into Ukraine's military.

"No one wants to get conscripted, no one wants to die," said Tamas. "It's clear that those who can, they flee."

The pair were among small groups of people leaving Ukraine at the Beregsurany crossing into Hungary, some coming from as far as the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, more than 800 km (497 miles) to the east, after Russia invaded.

The brothers had planned to start work in Hungary from next week in the town of Komarom near the Slovakian border, but the attack accelerated their plans.

Tamas had worked as a driver with his brother in the Ukrainian town of Berehove/Beregszasz.

Some people could be seen entering Hungary by car, but many came on foot, dragging suitcases over the frontier by hand.

The new arrivals in Hungary gathered at a small kiosk just a few hundred meters from the border, discussing plans and warming their hands in the cold.

A woman in her 40s wearing a winter jacket stood by the road with her 15-year-old son and just one large bag. She said she had brought her son as she feared he could be conscripted into the army if authorities lowered the age limit.

"I am afraid they will take my son," she said.

The woman, from Ukraine's ethnic Hungarian minority, works as a pastor in a nearby village, which she did not want to identify. She declined to give her name as she said she had to go back, not wanting to leave her parish behind. She said relatives living in Hungary would come and collect the boy.

'I AM SCARED'

A couple, Dmitry and Ksenia, both 23, left Kyiv late on Wednesday night by car. They crossed on foot into Hungary and plan to take a train to Germany where Dmitry's sister lives.
Dmitry says he is not fleeing conscription as he has heart problems and so would be unsuitable for army service.

"I am very worried for my mother, she could not yet make it (out of Kyiv)," he adds.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians, many of them ethnic Hungarians, have worked in Hungary for years as wages are higher in Hungary. Among them is Eva, in her 40s, who works in the kiosk where those leaving Ukraine gathered on Thursday.

She told Reuters she had sent her two boys to the Czech Republic and her partner to Slovakia, afraid that they could be conscripted into the army.

"I am scared, I fear for my family ... for the men to be taken away into the army. I am a mother, how is it that I would have to send my child to die?" she said.

mike8804:
I see Ukrainians as traitors.... how can my neighbor decided to invite my enemy and still think he can still be my neighbor.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

You know nothing..
Who's the enemy?so Ukraine insisting to Join NATO willingly is what makes them an enemy to Russia?

Who is Putin to tell Ukraine a sovereign state what to do with their country?

Rollsnjaguar:
That guy behind those ladies should be arrested and given an AK47 to defend Ukraine. Where is he running to

Those guys are the keyboard warriors
They are the one saying, they will defend Ukraine but only from safe of EU

Rollsnjaguar:
That guy behind those ladies should be arrested and given an AK47 to defend Ukraine. Where is he running to

mike8804:
I see Ukrainians as traitors.... how can my neighbor decided to invite my enemy and still think he can still be my neighbor.

Zaggadhat:


Understand issues before giving a response.

This issues is as simple as the Fulani herdsmen crisis. When the government wanted to give them land in every state. And what was people's response No way!! It's the same as Russia and Ukraine. If Russia attempts to have a forward base in Canada or Mexico the US would do worse to them!!!

FERNANDEZISBACK:

You still know nothing..is the Fulani in your country a sovereign state?
This is a matter of what Ukraine chose for themselves...they chose to join NATO which is still pending tho..and you are here displaying your ignorance..

Go play baby boy cos you are clueless..

mumumugu:
This is not Ukraine vs Russia. This is Ukraine vs Ukraine sessionist which Russia support.


It is like Nigeria vs Biafra but England supporting Biafra.

Let us not hype this into third world war

Zaggadhat:


If you were bright you'd know the Fulani illustration IS a METAPHOR.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

You still know nothing..is the Fulani in your country a sovereign state?
This is a matter of what Ukraine chose for themselves...they chose to join NATO which is still pending tho..and you are here displaying your ignorance..

Go play baby boy cos you are clueless..

mike8804:
I see Ukrainians as traitors.... how can my neighbor decided to invite my enemy and still think he can still be my neighbor.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Boy you know nothing..I repeat is the Fulani in your country a sovereign country on its own?
Before you keep embarrassing yourself further..just slide off..

princeeze1:

You that know so much, go and read what led to the Cuban missile crisis. When Cuba willingly decided to host Soviet missiles. This same hipocritical US imposed a naval blockade on Cuba and threatened nuclear war unless the missiles were removed.

princeeze1:

You that know so much, go and read what led to the Cuban missile crisis. When Cuba willingly decided to host Soviet missiles. This same hipocritical US imposed a naval blockade on Cuba and threatened nuclear war unless the missiles were removed.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Boy you know nothing..I repeat is the Fulani in your country a sovereign country on its own?
Before you keep embarrassing yourself further..just slide off..

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Slide off if you can't prove me wrong..
Is the Fulani in your country a sovereign state?
Why compare an independent country with a tribe huh?
Nonsense...

mike8804:
I see Ukrainians as traitors.... how can my neighbor decided to invite my enemy and still think he can still be my neighbor.