'A real hero': 11-year-old Ukrainian boy traveled over 600 miles by himself to escape war-torn country

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, there have been more than 2.3 million refugees who fled the war-torn country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. One of the most astonishing Ukrainian refugees is an 11-year-old boy who escaped the nation by traveling over 600 miles to neighboring Slovakia.

Last Friday, Russian forces seized the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia – which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. During the Russian capture of the nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine, a fire broke out near one of the station's six reactors.

With war waging in Ukraine, Yulia Pisetskaya wanted to get her 11-year-old son to safety. However, Pisetskaya's mother is sick and is unable to move on her own, according to a video posted on Facebook. In an effort to get her son out of harm's way, Pisetskaya put her 11-year-old son Hassan on a train in Zaporizhzhia.

Pisetskaya – who is a widow – wrote the phone number of relatives who live in Slovakia on his hand. The young boy had his passport and a small red backpack.

The boy traveled by himself for approximately 620 miles by train to the Slovakian border.

Once he arrived at the border of Slovakia, kind volunteers provided Hassan with food and drink. Border officials were able to contact Hassan's relatives living in the Slovak capital Bratislava and reunite him.

11-year-old Ukrainian boy escapes to Slovakia by himselfwww.youtube.com

Yulia Pisetskaya thanked everyone who assisted in her son's safe arrival in Slovakia, "I am grateful you have saved my child’s life."

"In your small country, there are people with big hearts ... Please save our Ukrainian children and give them a safe haven," the mother said, CBS News reported.

According to a Facebook post from the Slovak Embassy in the U.K., a Slovak interior ministry representative said of Hassan, "He conquered everyone with his smile, fearlessness, and determination of a real hero."

Roman Mikulec – Slovakia's interior minister – penned a touching tribute to the triumphant boy.

"Little Hassan is only 11 years old, but in his way he has shown huge determination, courage, and fearlessness that sometimes adults don't have," Mikulec wrote on Facebook. "I am really very sorry for him and all the other children and their families who have to flee their country because of what is happening in Ukraine."

Mikulec proclaimed that people in Slovakia are "ready to help" the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

"You will find security with us and if you ask for temporary protection, you will be provided with health care, social security, food, accommodation, education, and job opportunities," he said on social media.