British couple trapped in Ukraine wait on emergency travel documents for baby son

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Although many marches carried banners warning Vladimir Putin not to go to war, the atmosphere was calm and there was little talk amongst those attending of an imminent attack.

Nadya Vasina, a prominent Ukrainian gymnast who attended the protest with the flag of a Ukrainian army airborne unit, said she had come to “stand up for her country” and expected Russia to launch “some kind of provocation” in the coming weeks.

But she said she had made no plans whatsoever to leave Kyiv and shorted predictions of a large-scale invasion.

“Ah yes, Wednesday. At 12:00. I have to fit in a coffee before that,” she said, in mock alarm, when asked if she was worried by reports of an expected attack on the capital.

“I think we are dealing with a psychopath, so we can’t expect something understandable from him,” she said, referring to Mr Putin. “But at the same time even he should understand that if he chooses full scale war it would be a huge catastrophe for the world, not just for Russia and Ukraine.”

KLM, the Dutch airline, announced on Saturday night that it was ending all flights to Ukraine due to the deteriorating security situation.

‘It already seems too late’

Some Britons have vowed to remain in the country, saying they would do so in a gesture of solidarity with Ukrainians.

In response to a Facebook post on the British Embassy’s Facebook page urging Britons to leave, expat David Mann wrote: “Well call me foolish if you like, but I will stay here in solidarity with my Ukrainian friends.”

Dylan Carter, a Kyiv-based British journalist from Sheffield, said that, if he remains in the country, he plans to take cover in an underground car park near his home raids begin.

“We’re being told to leave, but it already seems too late,” he said. “It is completely bizarre to see the disconnect between local media and international panic.”

“Most foreigners I know are now leaving, against a backdrop of perfectly calm locals. I am still unsure whether I will leave or not,” he added.

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