Five days after the Russian invasion into Ukraine began, texts have been received by local members of the Sunshine Coast Oriana choir from a family in Kyiv they met during a choir tour in Rome in 2019.
Now living in an underground shelter in the country’s capital, the family has limited internet or access to media reports but have provided a glimpse into their war-affected lives and the information they are receiving of events unfolding above them.
A couple of days ago a fourth-grade girl named Polina and her parents were shot dead by Russian saboteurs, they said.
The saboteurs shot the whole family. Polina and her parents died while her sister and brother are in ICU.
“It happened on Olena Teliga Street, near Babyn Yar, where 80 years ago Nazi villains also killed entire families, including young children,“ they said.
“The whole world should know this. Putin and his orcs are not interested in our views, age or gender. They are killing us because we are a free country of free people. This is a war for our lives and freedom.“
In their underground community, that also contains an underground hospital, information circulates about the invasion.
They have heard media reports of Russian civilians opposing the war but have also been told of acts of opposition by Russian soldiers.
Russian soldiers fled into the forest after their armoured vehicles became stuck in mud and Ukrainians have cheered on the roadside as Russian tanks were turned back.
While there have been reports of Urainian casualties, the family said a Ukranian tally shows more than 4300 Russian soldiers had been killed and 200 taken prisoner.
In their underground bunker the family had not heard negotiations were taking place between Russian and Ukrainian officials on the northern border with Belarus.
