Tears filled his eyes at the simple mention of Mariupol. 

Oleksandr Fedorov left his home city and his family two years ago to work in the Czech Republic. Today he can be found at the Medyka border crossing in Poland, the first point of entry for hundreds of thousands fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

Fedorov welcomes everyone passing the green border fence with a big smile. He is there to answer any of their questions and offer them free SIM cards.

He trembled as he told CGTN: "My city is being bombed. Our families, our children are there. We are waiting for them here.”

Fedorov's motivation to help volunteer was the hope that it would be his family he would soon we welcoming into the safety of Poland.

"We want to take them away, but they cannot leave. We are all very worried. My soul is there, but I have to be here," he said.

Hundreds of different aid organisations have set up at the Medyka border crossing where the vast majority of those fleeing the conflict have come through.

Pedro from Portugal was standing nearby with cups full of a warm drink.

"It's warm chocolate so they can keep warm, and some sugar. It could be nice for them," he said.

Olena Dzrahovska, a newly arrived refugee from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, took a few cups and handed them to three of her children with whom she traveled.

"The journey was scary when you don't know where you are going," she told CGTN "It's scary what's happening in our country right now. And it's scary that our children see all this." She pulled her young daughter standing with her a little closer.

Dzrahovska left her mother, her sister and her husband, back in the besieged capital city. 

"We didn't believe that Russia could do this to us. We are escaping and hoping here somebody will protect us," she said, traumatized.

Poland's crisis

Poland has offered to protect the 2 million Ukrainians who have sought safety on its soil. Yet Polish President Andrzej Duda has acknowledged that it is becoming a "huge challenge" for his country.

"We can safely say that today we have a refugee crisis in our country. If we do not receive international support, we will be in a very difficult situation," said Duda.

Thousands of individuals and non profit organisations have been doing what they can to help. A near kilometer-long line of international volunteer tents and stands have been set up at Medyka to greet those arriving and offer them whatever they may need, from food to hygiene products.

"We have to help them," said Gabrysia, a young Polish volunteer with the country's scouts organisation. "Most people ask for things like toothbrushes, shampoo. The deodorants are almost gone."

COVID-19 

Yet masks are noticeably absent. Very few arriving Ukrainians are wearing them: Perhaps understandably, they are not a priority when you are fleeing bombardment.

"No no, COVID is the last problem we have here," said Cervera. "COVID doesn't dare to come here. What a crazy thing."

Yet the World Health Organization has warned that a stressed, war-weary population, with no access to testing or vaccinations and with a low vaccination rate, will "without a doubt" spark a rise in COVID-19 cases in Ukraine.

However, that is not a priority for now. Most countries bordering Ukraine have largely suspended their once mandatory COVID-19 travel regulations for fleeing refugees.

Some, such as Romania, are also offering free inoculations once they arrive. Yet other European Union countries are remaining more vigilant, adding to the pressures some exhausted Ukrainians may face when determining their next moves.