Wojciech Bakun admits he was ill-prepared to become a front-line humanitarian worker dealing with the rush of refugees from Ukraine. And some onlookers have been surprised by his response too.

The economic restriction, one of several announced in recent weeks, is meant to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin and further hobble Russia's finances as it invades Ukraine.

"We don't even know that they are alive," two sisters with family in Mariupol are among the over 2 million people who have fled the Russian war in Ukraine. Many are passing through Lviv on their way.

During a summit in France, European Union leaders issued a statement backing Ukraine's bid for membership but stopped short of an immediate welcome. The application process typically takes years.