Aid worker in Ukraine survives hotel missile strike
An aid worker said surviving a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Ukraine felt like an "apocalyptic movie".
Karol Swiacki, founder of Ukraine Relief in Bournemouth, said he and his team were just leaving dinner when they were caught in the attack on Kryvyi Rih overnight.
The strike has killed at least four people and 31 have been injured, according to the city's regional governor.
The city is Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky's hometown. He is currently attending an EU emergency summit where he has thanked European leaders for their "strong support".
Talking to BBC Radio Solent, Mr Swiacki explained he had travelled to Ukraine to deliver supplies to shelters, orphanages and schools.
He has previously won a BBC award for his work providing aid to refugee centres in Ukraine and sent footage of the hotel when the missile hit.
He told listeners: "We had a nice dinner together and were planning to go to a school in the morning.
"We were about to go to our rooms and the message of the rocket alarm arrived to our friends' Ukrainian phone numbers, 'Immediately go to the shelter, ballistic missile is coming'."
Karol Swiacki'We were in hell'
Mr Swiacki said they were about to leave and find safety, but continued.
"Big explosions arrived - in one second, the shortest second in my life, everything changed to the nightmare," he explained.
"We were running in this dust, we couldn't see, we couldn't breathe - absolute disaster, like the apocalyptic movie, I thought we were in dream.
"We got outside and we saw the fire all over people with blood, people dead on the street, we didn't know what to do. We were in hell."
The videos sent show Mr Swiacki discovering the van, filled with donations and supplies, crushed under rubble.
Karol Swiacki"It's a miracle we survived," Mr Swiacki said.
"We are all thinking this was the message to us not to stop and continue supporting Ukraine.
"I think it's our mission to continue and be even stronger than we are.
"This war is terrible, a complete nightmare for Ukraine.
"I am terrified but happy.
"I have experienced this because it will be a mission to the end of my life I think."
Mr Swiacki and his team still visited the school they were due to deliver sports equipment to in the morning.
"We couldn't give up, we slept for two hours, cleaned our shoes, our clothes - we can't let children be disappointed," he continued.
"We gave them hugs, we cannot show them we are weak, they need people from the West so they can stand strong."
Karol SwiackiYuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries, described the strike as an attack on "a civilian, peaceful hotel".
It has been reported the missile also damaged 13 apartment blocks and 12 shops - it is the second time this hotel has been targeted in five months.
Speaking at the EU emergency summit, President Zelensky told leaders: "During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us.
"We are not alone, and these are not just words, we feel it."
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