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Photos: Calls for war crime investigation intensify as Russia targets western Ukraine

NPR

By Nicole Werbeck,

Marco Storel

Published March 7, 2022 at 9:43 AM EST

<strong>March 6:</strong> People arrive by train to Lviv, Ukraine. — March 6: People arrive by train to Lviv, Ukraine.

The United Nations refugee agency says Russia's invasion of Ukraine has already prompted more than 1.5 million people to flee the war. This is the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

Just 11 days into the war, Ukrainians continue to flow into Poland and other neighboring countries.

The majority, more than 800,000, have crossed into Poland.

Take a look.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

A family leaves for Poland while the father stays in Ukraine. Men between the ages of 18-60 are not permitted to leave Ukraine.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. — March 5: Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Ukrainian paramedics cover with the National flag the grave of their colleague Valentyna Pushych killed by Russian troops in a cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine. — March 5: Ukrainian paramedics cover with the National flag the grave of their colleague Valentyna Pushych killed by Russian troops in a cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A Ukrainian soldier and a militia man help a fleeing family crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. — March 5: A Ukrainian soldier and a militia man help a fleeing family crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Ukrainian servicemen walk through a destroyed bridge towards the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing. — March 5: Ukrainian servicemen walk through a destroyed bridge towards the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin river on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, while assisting people fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. — March 5: A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin river on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, while assisting people fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine.

<strong>March 4:</strong> People take cover from shelling in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv. — March 4: People take cover from shelling in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A Ukrainian serviceman carries a child while helping people to cross a destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv. — March 5: A Ukrainian serviceman carries a child while helping people to cross a destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A man lies on a camp bed in a refugee reception center at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Korczowa. — March 5: A man lies on a camp bed in a refugee reception center at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Korczowa.

A Polish soldier helps elderly people coming from Ukraine, as they cross the Ukrainian-Polish border in Korczowa, Poland.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Children play inside a shelter for refugees at the Lviv Regional Academic Puppet Theatre in western Ukraine. — March 5: Children play inside a shelter for refugees at the Lviv Regional Academic Puppet Theatre in western Ukraine.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A woman sits while people cross a nearby destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv. — March 5: A woman sits while people cross a nearby destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.

<strong>March 5:</strong> People sit in a car as as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing. — March 5: People sit in a car as as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces prepare their equipment to repel a tank attack on a position in the Lugansk region. — March 5: Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces prepare their equipment to repel a tank attack on a position in the Lugansk region.

<strong>March 5:</strong> People wait to board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station. — March 5: People wait to board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station.

<strong>March 5:</strong> A woman is visible through the condensation on a window of an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station. — March 5: A woman is visible through the condensation on a window of an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station.

<strong>March 5:</strong> Civilians and aid organizations help arriving refugees at the Western Railway Station after crossing the border at Zahony-Csap as they flee Ukraine in Budapest, Hungary. — March 5: Civilians and aid organizations help arriving refugees at the Western Railway Station after crossing the border at Zahony-Csap as they flee Ukraine in Budapest, Hungary.

<strong>March 4:</strong> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a video message to the people gathered for a rally in Romerberg Square in Frankfurt, Germany. — March 4: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a video message to the people gathered for a rally in Romerberg Square in Frankfurt, Germany.

<strong>March 4:</strong> People lie on the floor of a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, Ukraine. — March 4: People lie on the floor of a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, Ukraine.

<strong>March 4:</strong> This general view shows destroyed Russian armored vehicles in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv. — March 4: This general view shows destroyed Russian armored vehicles in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv.

<strong>March 4:</strong> Smoke rises from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv. — March 4: Smoke rises from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv.

Nicole Werbeck

See stories by Nicole Werbeck

Marco Storel