A now viral photo of strollers left by Poles for Ukrainian refugees arriving via train in Poland has captured the hearts and attention of people around the world, detailing the horrors of war and the compassion of strangers. More than a million people have fled the war-torn Eastern European nation and many have sought shelter in Poland from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military invasion of the country.
Snopes reported on Monday that the original photograph was taken by “Francesco Malavolta, a photojournalist covering the conflict in Ukraine. Malavolta posted this photo to his Twitter account on March 3,” alongside a caption which read, “Strollers left at the station for women arriving from Ukraine with babies.”
That original post can be seen here:
Passeggini lasciati in stazione per le donne in arrivo dall'Ucraina con neonati. ❤️
Foto copyright F.Malavolta#RussiaUkraineConflict #ukraine #WWIII #photojournalism pic.twitter.com/rlmXzqkIN0— Francesco Malavolta (@MalavoltaF) March 3, 2022
Snopes added that the photo appeared to be real, and offered some more background on the heart wrenching scene:
A picture showing a line of seven strollers at a train station was widely shared on social media with the caption: “Parents in Poland left their baby strollers in rail road stations for the Ukrainian moms that fled carrying their children.”
This appears to be a genuine photograph that truly depicts a set of strollers that were left for Ukrainian refugees.
On March 2, a Polish teacher and founder of a Polish translator group named Aleksander Szojda-Pallado tweeted that there were 300 strollers donated as the first wave of refugees streamed into the country:
Baby strollers ready for pickup at the Przemyśl train station. Over 300 of these were donated to Ukrainian parents fleeing the country. pic.twitter.com/oJWUapnsZB
— Aleksander Szojda-Pallado 🇪🇺 (@O_lek) March 2, 2022
On Sunday, The Daily Wire reported that “more than 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia’s invasion, creating the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.”
Poland has taken most of the individuals, but other European nations are bearing the cost, too, The Daily Wire added:
Neighboring Moldova reported on Sunday that more than 230,000 Ukrainians have fled into the nation since February 24. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Moldovan President Maia Sandu during his trip to eastern Europe on Sunday, offering support with refugee efforts.
In addition, a growing number of Ukrainian have fled farther west, with many reaching Germany. German Federal Police have registered 37,786 refugees as of Sunday, an interior ministry spokesperson told CNN.
“However, given the absence of border checks between Poland and Germany, the actual number of incoming people could be significantly higher, the ministry said,” according to the report.
The European Union has stepped in with a reported $547 million in humanitarian funds to help cover the costs of Ukrainian refugees living in EU nations.
The Daily Wire also reported on Monday on another viral sensation, documenting what life is like for those in Ukraine unable to escape the violence.
“A viral video has emerged of a young Ukrainian girl singing the hit song ‘Let it Go’ from the Disney movie ‘Frozen’ from an underground bomb shelter, inspiring even the famed performer of the song, Idina Menzel, to respond, ‘We see you. We really, really see you,'” The Daily Wire reported.
We see you. We really, really see you. 💙💛 https://t.co/Vhln1MjXpX
— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) March 7, 2022
“The video, which was reportedly shot in an underground bunker in Kyiv, was initially posted on Facebook by Marta Smekhova, who said she filmed Amelia, the young girl, with permission from her mother,” The Daily Wire added. “After Amelia finished, she was applauded by the people in the room.”
The United Nations has estimated than more than four million people could flee Ukraine if the violence continues.