This is the Guardian.

Today, as the Ukrainian capital is encircled,

a family story of getting out, and those they left behind.

Before we start, a heads up.

This episode contains strong language and descriptions of war.

Ilya, when you went to bed on Wednesday evening, what were you expecting?

Your Thursday would look like. What was the plan?

Every Tuesday and every Thursday at 7 a.m., we go to the swimming pool with kids.

We've got two kids, two boys, four years and nine months old.

Until just a few days ago, Ilya's 30-year lived in Kiev with his wife Natalia and their family.

I woke up as usual and I had an alarm at 5 a.m.

When I woke up, I didn't first realize was it the distant,

bombed sound where like a big boom or was it an alarm?

So it happened simultaneously.

When you heard that boom at 5 a.m. in the morning, what crossed your mind?

What did you initially think might be happening?

Can I use F words here?

Oh, you're most welcome to.

Oh, so, fuck no, that can't happen, you know.

Bloody hell, I thought, oh, really, did it actually happen?

Did it actually start it?

He learned Kiev's international airport was in flames.

...