Heavy fighting was going on northwest of Kyiv and films show how civilians are fleeing in panic from, among other places, the city of Irpin on Sunday.

Ukrainian authorities say the fighting just outside the capital is a Russian preparation for an offensive.

Dasha Synelnikova wanted to stay in Kyiv.

But her friends persuaded her that the best thing for everyone is if she is safe.

She packed a few things and took her cat with her.

When she left Kyiv on Sunday, she sat in a car for 13 hours and then had to sleep with friends of friends.

On Monday, when SVT talks to her, she is standing at a gas station between Kyiv and the Romanian border.

She finds it difficult to put her feelings into words.

- I just want to cry all the time, she says.

Video diary from war Ukraine

  • Day Eleven - Vitalina: "Have not heard from my family in five days"

    1 minute

  • Day ten - Svitlana: "The tanks do not come here"

    51 sec

  • Day nine - Pavlo: "We have packed our bags"

    50 sec

  • Day eight - Irina: "We are nervous"

    1 minute

  • Day eight - Olena: "War for the second time"

    56 sec

  • Day Seven - Dasha: "Going out with a heavy heart"

    49 sec

  • Day six - Dasha: The house shakes with explosion

    41 sec

  • Day Five - Pavlo: Curfew lifted

    1 minute

  • Day four - Elena: From inside the shelter

    1 minute

  • Day Three - Dasha: "The nights are the worst"

    2 min

  • Day two - Dasha: The flight alarm goes off

    2 min

  • Day one - Pavlo: "Taped windows"

    1 minute