Irish medical student Racheal Diyaolu is on her way out of the Ukrainian city of Sumy after rescuers reached her this morning.

An attempt to evacuate the 19-year-old appeared to fail yesterday after two British volunteers who were trying to reach her were shot at by Russian soldiers.

On social media, her sister said the operation had “backfired” with the rescuers just 80km away from her sister.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Racheal said the rescuers had reached her via backroads overnight – noting that they are now attempting to get to Poland.

“I am actually currently on my way out of the city,” she said.

“The rescue attempt that failed yesterday, they managed to get in through the back roads.

“They have gotten us this morning and we are currently heading to Poland and we are just hoping we don’t come across too many obstacles on the way down.”

Rescue

The rescuers were attempting to reach a mother and her child in the area – but offered to evacuate Racheal and two other students while they were there.

“They were coming initially to rescue a mother and her child and, seeing as we were there and they had access to a van, they said it would be possible for me and two other students to come along with them,” she said.

“The plan was for us to be picked up tomorrow; however, the Russian army stopped them when they were around 80km outside of the city and basically fired warning shots and told them they would not be allowed to advance further.

“It was pretty heartbreaking.”

"Scary"

Racheal said the last few days have been very scary, but she is thankful she now has a chance to get out.

“I am doing OK all things considered,” she said.

“It has been a bit difficult over the past few days due to a recent bombing that cut off electricity and water supplies.

“A sub-station was bombed so we were left without electricity and water in my hostel for a few days. Thankfully I was able to go to a friend’s hostel where their water and electricity came back a few hours later, but in my hostel, it only came back last night.”

Students

She said she has stayed in contact with her family throughout the ordeal – noting that their hopes were “crushed” when the rescue attempt appeared to fail yesterday.

She said there are around 1,600 students in the city of Sumi who are “just trying to get home with very little means to do so”.

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