Singaporean Ix Shen reaches Poland, moved by volunteer-run welfare stations

Singaporean Ix Shen, who left his home in Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Tuesday (March 8) as the war with the country's neighbour Russia continues, has reached Poland.

He is headed towards Poland's capital, Warsaw, on an overnight bus from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, and has reached the first pit stop in Poland, he said in an update on Instagram on Friday.

The border Poland shares with Ukraine is around 70km from Lviv.

Mr Shen said he drove about 550km from Kyiv to Lviv as a valet driver to deliver the car to its owner, who lives in Lviv, and posted a video in the city on Thursday.

Reassuring his followers that he was safe in Poland, he said he saw many welfare stations run by Polish volunteers providing free hot meals, drinks, clothing and toys for Ukrainians who have just crossed the border into the country.

"It's really very heartwarming," said the 50-year-old former actor, who had lived in Kyiv with his Ukrainian wife for four months.

His video shows tents set up by the road and manned by volunteers serving food and drinks to people.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ca9hpmlKWaK[/embed]

According to reports, nearly 1.5 million people have crossed into Poland as Russia continues to shell cities across Ukraine.

Since the war erupted on Feb 24, more than two million people have fled Ukraine, and around 1.8 million people have been displaced, according to estimates by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

ALSO READ: Singaporean Ix Shen, who escaped Ukraine's capital Kyiv, feels guilty for drinking a cappuccino as the war rages on

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.