“When it became apparent it had become extremely dangerous, we left,” said Kristina.

“We’ve got no plans now, we’re just waiting for the situation to change,” said Karina, as she held her sister’s hand.

“We just want to come back home,” said Kristina, finishing her sister’s thought.

Evacuations are slowing now, as many of those willing to leave have already departed, and those who remain are mostly those too elderly, vulnerable or stubborn to flee, aid organisations say.

Nearly 14,000 people fled their homes near the eastern warzone in the past week, but evacuations were paused on Sunday after Ukraine failed to reach terms with Russian forces.

“As of this morning, April 17, we have not been able to agree with the occupiers on a ceasefire on the evacuation routes. That is why, unfortunately, we are not opening humanitarian corridors today,” Iryna Vereshchuk wrote in a statement on social media, referring to Moscow’s forces.

Serhiy Gaidai, Luhansk regional governor, has warned that further evacuations will be almost impossible once Russia launches its major anticipated offensive.

“Don’t hesitate and leave while that possibility remains,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Friday. 

“Choose life, buses are waiting for you at the pick-up points. As are trains, of which there are enough.”