The last remaining families in Donetsk region have been warned to evacuate as Russia slowly advances into territory that is already largely controlled by Moscow’s military, the BBC reports.

Olena, a resident of the city of Bakhmut district, tried to protect her four-year-old daughter from the harsh realities of the war in Ukraine.

“Last night when there were bombings, I turned on the TV so he wouldn’t hear. Two weeks ago, when the city was heavily bombed, he woke up twice a night. He is afraid, wakes up, does not understand what is happening. I don’t even know if something bad will happen. I will not recover if something happens to my loved ones.

Creating a family is extremely difficult. Children’s safety is critical. I will do everything that depends on me. Children have no future here,” says Olena.

Afraid of injuring the child, the woman refuses to tell him that there is a war and invents all kinds of stories to explain what is happening around her.

“I try to be resourceful so they don’t understand.”