By Mari Saito

PRZEMYSL in Poland (Reuters) – Ukrainian mother and her young child found shelter at Przemysl’s ornate theatre on Saturday. Here they could rest their tired bodies after a long journey.

Tanya (34-year-old) from Berdychiv, northern Ukraine felt relieved to be reunited with her children, after a long journey to Poland.

Tanya (who did not reveal her name) had lived in her house until the war was over.

“I did my best to keep them safe from everything. The alarm went off, so I covered all windows with blankets to block out the sound. “My small ones created a monster, The siren monster,” she explained.

She was surrounded by her children as they ran past the theatre. It is located in the city’s Ukrainian cultural centrum. About 50 refugee families slept side-by-side under borrowed blankets, on fold out cots inside the theatre. As their mother sat nearby, exhausted and in pain, children dressed in colorful costumes danced on the theatre stage.

Olga Pavlovska, a central Ukrainian woman from Kryvyi Rih said that she felt relieved to be in such a peaceful place.

“Here, at least we’re safe.” Pavlovska (28), said that her sons were safe from any air raids or turmoil as they chased one another around the table, and she also knocked over an assortment of toys.

“My son slept badly on the first night. “He woke up often and was very emotional the first night. But now, everything is great. He fell asleep very, very well. Right Vovka?” She asked one of her children.