Ukraine: Helensburgh dad shares desperate updates from Russian attacks

Stuart McKenzie, 51, was an hour from leaving Kyiv earlier in February but changed his mind and stuck it out, arguing there was more fear and panic in the UK than Ukraine.

But when it became clear Russian president Vladimir Putin believed Ukraine never should have existed and his desire to wipe it from the map, Stuart took his wife Lena and sons Robert and Stuart to Poland.

Younger brother Robert, 43, is still trying to get to the border as hundreds of thousands of refugees seek safety away from the all-out assault by Russian forces.

Stuart said Robert had spent days moving towards the Polish border.

He told the Advertiser: "My brother is still stuck at the border - he is 17km away from the gate. He has been there 24 hours and he's only moved 7km so he may have another two days in front of him.

READ MORE: Stuart McKenzie on why he changed his mind and stayed in Kyiv

"He's with kids, he's with dogs, he's got his sister- and mother-in-law, there's two cars. So they're trying but it's taken five days already, very rough, sleeping in conditions and trying to have enough fuel.

"My business partner Mark is still very much in the city centre of Kyiv and bunkered down. It gets very noisy at night now and they're sleeping down in their basement as well.

"I've spoken to many others around the city centre and they've got neighbours living together in the safest places they can find.

"Civilian houses are being targeted so it's very terrifying but there's millions of people on the border and depending where you are there's no food, toilets or fuel.

"There's some getting through but certainly not enough for the millions at the border, and these poor women with children having to leave their husbands to go and fight.

"And they're coming into the country with very little money and support. But I can see some wonderful humanitarian support from everywhere."

Stuart also has plans to launch a GoFundMe appeal to help look after families still in Ukraine whose husbands and fathers have gone to the front line to defend the country against the Russian invading forces.

"What we'll be doing is supporting these women and children who are finding themselves in the country without their husbands and are fighting for their freedom," he continued.

"And we want the guys to know, don't worry about your family, we will get them accommodation, we will get them fed, we will get them secure and warm and they don't have to worry about them.

"We will look after their families for them until they come back."

Refugees at the Slovakian border wait to get to safety from Ukraine (Photo courtesy Stuart McKenzie)

Millions of Ukrainians have taken up arms against the Russians and signficantly slowed the advance, while the global community has largely united to isolate Putin economically, culturally and in sport.

In a recording shared by Stuart, a friend described hiking several kilometres to get guns.

During the recording, you can hear shots being fired nearby.

He said: "We didn't ask for this, but we're going to defend this city. There are thousands and thousands of people who are taking up arms.

"They rejected me yesterday actually - they don't have enough guns for everybody who wants to sign up, so only giving guns to those with military experience.

"I believe in the Ukrainian military and the international community and the territorial defence.

"And we will win this. Mark my f***ing words. We'll win this. And Putin is going f***ing down.

"He will not survive the body count that is coming back to Russia. I would never celebrate a person's death, but send them all to hell."

Stuart left Helensburgh in 1994 and has lived for the last 28 years in Ukraine, where he now runs a healthcare and natural products business with a base there and in Poland.

Ukrainians have spent days getting to borders with Poland, Slovakia (pictured) and Moldova to escape the Russian attacks (Photo courtesy Stuart McKenzie)