Linzer in Kiev

“Will defend the country to the last man”

David Königshofer got into his car at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Around 15 hours of driving lay ahead of him - the journey took the native of Linz via Hungary to Kiev. The former "Mister Austria" has lived and worked there as a managing director since 2006. Until two years ago, when he packed his wife and child into his car in a cloak-and-dagger operation to flee the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

"Krone": Mr. Königshofer, how does it feel today when you think about that day?
David Königshofer: We had already prepared two bags and then, when we heard the first bomb detonations, we quickly stuffed the most important things into some garbage bags. Then I went to the embassy and we were able to flee via Poland in a convoy with the ambassador himself and some of the staff. That caused fear, panic and, of course, deep sadness among us.