New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, an 11-year-old boy arrived in Slovakia from Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine all by himself.
According to Slovakia’s police force, the boy arrived with nothing except a backpack, his passport and a phone number written on his hand.
In a statement issued by the Slovakian Ministry of Interior, thankfully the boy had a number written on his hand and information on a paper that was folded inside his passport, that helped the officials at the border get in touch with his relatives in the country who later connected with him, as per CNN report.
"He came all alone because his parents had to stay in Ukraine. Volunteers took care of him, took him to a warm place and gave him food and drink… He won over everyone with his smile, fearlessness and determination worthy of a real hero,” news agency IANS quoted the statement.
However, it is not yet clear why the boy crossed the border unaccompanied.
The boy’s journey once again highlights the heart-breaking side of the Russian invasion of Ukraine where over one million people are estimated to have fled to the neighbouring European countries.
Meanwhile, the volunteers have sprung into action at the border of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the wake of thousands of Ukrainians crossing over to the countries each day.