Heartbreaking footage filmed today (March 6) shows the dire and precarious situation at Kyiv's overcrowded central train station, where thousands of people are attempting to escape the war after Russia's invasion.

Many were evacuated from the cities of Irpin and Chernigovka and are headed to safer destinations, west to Lviv, near the border with Poland. Others are trying to leave the capital, Kiyv, as Russian forces advance.

This exclusive footage opens with a wide shot of Ukrainians standing and listening to an announcer's voice for updates.

Elderly women, youths, children and mothers carrying bags are seen waiting in hope and despair for more trains that can carry them to safety. According to local sources, up to five trains a day are currently leaving the station of Kyiv, not enough to carry all people fleeing the war.

Video shows families comforting each other with tight hugs and children looking at them with a blank stare.

Large groups of people stand in front of the train doors, looking at those who have made it, and are packed inside. 

There is not enough room. Women cry in front of the carriages, and children hold their toys while they are waiting to depart.

The exhaustion of the war, the tiredness of uncertainty, and the fear of death trigger small arguments among those who have been waiting for hours to get on those trains.

At minute 1.24, a man says to a woman who is crying: "Go to other coaches! This is for the children, we are keeping this one for them."

Upsetting images also show desperate people saying goodbye to their friends or family members that have managed to get on the train. A woman in shock can be seen crying. Her hands are heavily shaking.

A young woman standing inside the train looks at the camera and shows the V symbol, which stands for victory and peace. She has made it.

Other shots show more people running towards further carriages, in an attempt to find a place, and passengers hugging each other inside the train, to find comfort and perhaps, not to lose balance before the train takes off.

Small arguments are caught on camera: people can be seen shoving each other, and a man tries to get on the train while holding a newborn baby. Railway and security personnel try to maintain calm among the people.

The footage also shows a woman saying goodbye to a man. The train door shuts, she looks at the window, her eyes full of tears.

The clip also features interviews with some Ukrainian people at the station:

At minute 5.50, Ludmila, who is carrying a newborn baby says: "We came with our suitcases. We didn't have time. Maybe we can get on the next train". 

At minute 5.17 a woman named Nastya, who is carrying a child says: "We have been on the road since 4 am. We are not from Kyiv and are still on the road. We are from the Brevuks. They didn’t bomb us, but they shot a lot. They bombed not too far from us. They say some people were killed". The interview is interrupted as a new train arrives and she tries to catch it.

At minute 5.57, a woman named Veronika who is carrying a dog inside a bag says: "We arrived here from another station. It’s just terrible there, there were no trains, but we couldn’t get on more than one".

Chaos at overcrowded Kiyv station: women in tears, arguments and shoving, heartful goodbyes