They and many other war refugees have found some sanctuary in the country.
New Zealander in Ukraine Michael Devoe left with family for Amsterdam, 2000km away, after heavy Russian bombardment in his adopted country. Photo / Supplied
They have to manage daily necessities of life in a new country with the added emotional toll of hearing about the war back in Ukraine.
War crimes have been alleged north of Kyiv in Bucha, a place Devoe said was a typical suburb before the war.
"Kyiv was expanding so there are lots of new builds in the area, and the big shopping centre that was blown up."
Devoe said apart from millions of refugees who left their homeland, many Ukrainians were forced to shift around the country due to the Russian onslaught.
"My ex-wife's father and nephews, they basically moved to our house in Kyiv. They're okay. Where they're living, the power and water got cut off for a few days."
In recent days more evidence of war crimes has emerged, with rapes, massacres and mass graves reported.
New Zealand has responded by expanding sanctions on wealthy and powerful people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.
Three dozen more oligarchs and their relatives, including Chelsea FC mogul Roman Abramovich, have been hit with asset freeze and travel ban orders, effective at midnight.
Soldiers walk amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 3. Photo / AP
Devoe said it was hard to tell what impact those sanctions would have.
"In Europe, a lot of the yachts have been seized. We'll see whether it's more of an annoyance for them or a really painful thing."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this afternoon was asked if New Zealand would provide lethal military aid to Ukraine but did not directly answer.
She said the wait lists for some military supplies ran to months, even years, partly because so many countries were sending supplies to Ukraine now.
