The brave Ukrainian doctor abandons her three children to join the army while her country goes to war against Russia.
Dr. Marta Yuzkiv joined UkraineRussia’s army as a reservist in April last year, when smoldering tensions with Russia began to escalate, and underwent weekly training in the event of war.
After bombs and rockets rained down on her nation on Thursday, the mother, who is based in the capital Kiev, is now preparing to leave her home and defend Ukraine on the front lines.
‘I have to go [start serving]”Dr. Yuzkiv told Australia’s A Current Affair.
“I will not allow them (Russia) to take our land and our freedom. They do not believe in our right to exist. We must defend ourselves and we will win.
Ordinary Ukrainian citizens such as Dr. Yuzkiv have undergone military training in preparation for such an invasion by Russia (pictured showing civilians learning shooting skills in Lviv, Ukraine, on Thursday)
A Ukrainian military tank caught fire after a Russian air strike in Mariupol on Thursday
Dr Yuzkiv said he was packing to head to a base in Kiev and would leave his children at home with the family’s pets.
Her mother, friends and eldest son – who no longer lives at home – will move to help while she is away.
She is one of many ordinary Ukrainians who have heeded President Vladimir Zelensky’s call for arms, who has asked anyone with military experience to provide.
The Ukrainian leader said the weapons would be distributed to anyone who asked.
After Dr. Yuzkiv arrived at the military base, she said the commanders would instruct her and the other reservists where they would be sent.
While studying territorial defense, Dr. Yuzkiv takes lessons on how to defend his country every Saturday for the past 11 months.
In addition to the weekly sessions, she also took additional weapons courses and completed training in tactical medicine.
Although training has prepared her, she still feels nervous.
“I’m really nervous because you still can’t believe you’re still here. It is unbelievable – the 21st century – we live somewhere in the middle of Europe and we are under attack, “she said.
Explosions erupted over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday morning after Russian rockets, shots and bombs were dropped on the country’s eastern, northern and southern parts.
Dr. Marta Yuzkiv (pictured) joins the armed forces to fight the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Dr Yuzkiv said about 53 per cent of Ukrainians were ready to take up arms to defend their country, with shelves nationwide devoid of weapons and ammunition before the invasion.
She said many civilians have attended courses on how to shoot and how to support others as paramedics.
Morally united, Dr Yuzkiv said the Ukrainians would resist until the last Russian troops left the country, although she acknowledged that this could take a long time due to their aggressor’s superior military power.
Rockets and bombs rained down from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on Thursday.
Soldiers are seen riding a Russian military tank in the city of Armyansk, Crimea, on Thursday
Simultaneous attacks on the south, east and north by land and air were carried out, with one Ukrainian official saying “hundreds” had been killed at the start of the fighting, while another named 40 dead.
Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD missiles are destroying targets from east to west – aimed at airports, military bases, ammunition depots and command posts, including in the capital. Six Russian planes were shot down from the skies over the Eastern Donbass region, killing 50 Russian soldiers, Ukraine claims.
Ukrainian border guards said they were attacked by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus, while Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw up his forces in the battle – although he refused to take part. Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in eastern Ukraine were also attacked.
Dr Yuzkiv said many Ukrainians were ready to take up arms and join the battle to defend their country. Pictured: Ukrainian tanks move into the city after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorizes a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol
Explosions have also been reported in the west, in Zhytomyr and Lviv, near the Polish border. Extraordinary videos showed what looked like a Kalibur cruise missile hitting Ivano-Frankivsk airport. A block of flats in Kharkov was also hit, leading to civilian casualties, including a young boy.
A video has also surfaced confirming that the cruise missiles were fired by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the “brutal” and “unprovoked” Russian invasion of Ukraine and announced a new tranche of sanctions.
Another 25 Russians, including army commanders, deputy defense ministers and mercenaries responsible for the attacks, will be sanctioned, as well as four additional financial institutions.
“We need to ensure that this violent, unacceptable and rude behavior comes at a price,” Mr Morrison said.
Footage shared on social media from Odessa appears to indicate a landing attack
“There will be further waves of sanctions as we identify those responsible for these heinous acts, including the relocation of more than 300 members of the Russian parliament.”
The prime minister condemned the Kremlin’s “unilateral, hostile actions” when he addressed reporters in Sydney hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine’s Donbass region.
“The Russian government has launched a brutal invasion – unprovoked – in Ukraine,” he said.
Russia has chosen war.
Mr Morrison again declined to say what technical military support Australia would provide after excluding troops on the ground.
“We are involved with our partners in these types of activities, but it would not be appropriate for me to go into details.”
He said there was no change in the decision not to expel the Russian ambassador.
“But you can’t doubt the very harsh messages sent to the ambassador on behalf of the Australian government,” he said.
Explosions could be heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and Russia’s defense ministry has since said it uses “high-precision weapons” to target military infrastructure and air defense without risking civilians.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemns “brutal” and “unprovoked” Russian invasion of Ukraine
There have been reports of rocket attacks in the capital and military planes targeting the outskirts of the city, with hundreds of victims from the initial strike.
Ukraine called the movement a full-scale invasion.
In an online video, President Zelensky declared martial law and said Russia was targeting military sites across the country.
It is reported that Belarusian troops have joined the Russian troops with clashes on the northern border of Ukraine with Belarus.
Earlier in the day, Mr Morrison officially signed the first tranche of sanctions against Russia.
Sanctions against Russian banks and people of strategic and economic importance will become law on Friday and take effect in late March.
Mr Morrison said the sanctions would send a message about the cost of Russian aggression.
“It is important that all countries commit to these sanctions against these people,” he said.
“It simply came to our notice then. You sanction, support, benefit from this kind of violence, then you will be isolated, you will be the target.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says Putin’s decision marks a major moment for humanity and joins in condemning the government.
The attack has reached Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles hitting targets across the country, ground forces targeting Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers throwing over Kharkiv
A huge explosion is observed at the Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine as the country comes under widespread attack from Russia.
“This attack is completely unprovoked and without justification. “All Australians are with the people of Ukraine and are united in condemning the shameful act of Russian aggression,” he said.
“This is not just an attack on Ukraine, this is a contemptuous attack on one of the basic principles of order after World War II. Australia must unite with our allies in holding Russia accountable.
Russia’s ambassador responded to the sanctions, accusing Australia of being indifferent to the discrimination faced by Russian-speakers.
In a statement, the embassy said the decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk districts for humanitarian reasons was taken to “protect” civilians, including hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens.
But Mr Morrison said any suggestion by Russian Ambassador Alexei Pavlovsky that Russian troops in Ukraine were peacekeepers was an “offensive” for legitimate peacekeepers.
“They are not peacekeepers, they are invaders. That’s how we see him and we’ll call him. If they don’t like it, it’s hard.
More than 180 Australians in Ukraine have asked for help to leave the country, and approximately 1,400 Australians remain there.
To the right of the image, tanks can be seen crossing a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday.