A local journalist in Ukraine is determined to keep reporting on the situation in the country under Russian attack in order to show the rest of the world what is happening to displaced people there, especially children.

Terajima Asami, a journalist for the Kyiv Independent, an English-language media outlet in Ukraine, is now in the western city of Lviv. NHK World spoke to her about her mission.

NHK World:
Can you tell us what you have been seeing and hearing from people who had to evacuate, just like you?

Terajima:
There is a contrast between what you see here in Lviv and what is happening in cities under attack like Mariupol in the east.

Lviv so far is one of the few urban centers that has not faced any direct attacks from Russia, and there are a lot of refugees here.

They are very concerned about what is happening back home because a lot of them had to leave their families behind. Many mothers had to escape with just their children, abandoning the fathers, as well as grandparents who refused to leave.

The city is full of people, and they are very upset about the fact that they had to leave their homes. They are very worried because they don't know when they can return.

NHK World:
What is most concerning is that more than half of the refugees are thought to be children. Many of them lost their lives. What do you make of the situation?

Terajima:
It's very sad because these children are going through very traumatic experiences, especially those living near the front line of the war. They hear constant explosions, gunshots and air-raid sirens.

Imagine living in such an environment. In the city of Mariupol, which is in the east, the humanitarian crisis is critical.

It's devastating because about 400 thousand people in Mariupol are hiding in their basements amid Russian bombardments and they are cut off from water, heat and electricity. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said there are about 3,000 newborns who don't have access to medicine or food.

So food and water is running out in the city as well, and the exact death toll is unclear, according to the president.

NHK World:
What do you want the world to know about the situation across Ukraine? As a journalist, how are you planning to cover the story on the ground?

Terajima:
I will continue to cover the story on the ground because we need to make sure that everyone in the world witnesses what is happening here and what the Russian military is doing here.

They are hurting civilians and destroying Ukrainian cities and towns.

I want the world to know the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Their strength is spectacular and beautiful. They are in such difficult situations, and obviously they are worried about the safety of their families and what their country will go through in the next few weeks.

But they are doing their best to stay strong and resilient and not panic. They are supporting each other and telling each other everything is going to be okay and that they will get through this. I believe Ukraine will prevail, because the country will never, ever surrender.