NBC News reporter Allison Barber was briefly interrupted by a cute Ukrainian child while filming a story about life in the refugee camps.
Barber, who is in Poland, spoke about the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Her Sunday focus The segment highlighted the 1.5 million refugees who left their loved ones behind after fleeing to neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania in search of safety.
“We were talking to some people today who told us they left now because they were really trying to wait until the very last minute,” Barber said in the clip, which also aired on MSNBC. “They didn’t want to go.”
She explained: “But then when they spoke to their family members, friends outside of Ukraine, they convinced them to take their children and go to a safe place in Poland until they could return.”
The camera then moved to the refugees picking up essentials from the tents. Also on the ground were boxes of food and other supplies. Barber said the Polish government has organized some support, but many volunteers are responsible for helping the refugees.
When she said that the Polish government asked for volunteers to send, a young girl got into the camera frame. “He’s one of our friends who we’ve been playing football with all morning,” Barber shared as he patted the baby’s head.
The child tossed the ball into the air several times and smiled at the camera.
As Barber continued to walk around the camp with the girl, she added: “Try to find organized groups, volunteer helpers and send money in this way, because at the moment they are trying not just to have immediate things, but to kind of have more information.” . an organized, structured approach to where things are going.”
Barber pointed to the child and explained that many families, including women and children, were seeking help in the camps and were “desperately hoping that they could return home.”
When the girl was last shown, MSNBC’s Chris Jensing said, “Amid all this desperation, it’s nice to see a kid smiling and at least having some fun.”
Jensing told Barber, “I’ll let you come back and play some more football.”
Barber posted a video of the adorable interaction on Twitter and called it “the best live shot interrupt I’ve ever had.”
“And play more football, we did it!” Hairdressing caption to continue tweet her games with the child.
She said, “I don’t date war victims – I date survivors.”
Along with Poland, other European countries, such as Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia, also accept Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainians are fleeing escalating violence in the region as Russian troops attempt to take over the capital Kyiv. There were several airstrikes in Ukraine, and some of those who did not leave the country were forced to retreat underground to seek shelter.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: