Mariupol refugees escape via Russia and Estonia

News report for Channel 4 News about the flight of refugees from occupied areas of Ukraine.

Since the war started in February, the world’s focus has been on refugees from Ukraine heading west.

But the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than 600,000 Ukrainians are now in Russia. Some went there by choice, but many others had no other safe option.

Those coming from occupied areas of Ukraine pass through a series of so-called ‘filtration camps’ where they are screened by Russian authorities. Once in Russia, many are relocated to the far East with promises of housing and cash incentives that don’t materialise

We report on the journey of one young couple who then fled Russia with the help of a network of volunteers.

Reported by Paraic O’Brien, filmed by Flavian Charuel, translation and additional field producing by Ruslan Mustafaev