Polish families are taking in Ukrainian strangers. We went to find out why.

More than 60 percent of the 3.5 million Ukrainians who have fled their country are landing in Poland, according to the United Nations. With Polish train stations and other central hubs full of refugees, local families have continually volunteered their own homes as shelter.

The Andrzejewski family in Warsaw said it connected with Ukrainians Luda and Viktoriya Naumec by word-of-mouth.

“It might not be about Ukrainians, per se,” Serge Andrzejewski said. “It’s more about the fact that it’s a nation under attack. It’s a nation under attack by Russia, who are dangerous. And they are not exactly pleasant. So, based on our history, we could empathize.”

Viktoriya Neumec and her mother fled Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. First, they traveled to Romania, and then to Poland, where they met the Andrzejewskis.

“We feel at home, like there’s a family atmosphere and that stories are shared about the family,” Viktoriya said. “There’s a warmth.”