Divorce when kids are young?

Anyone go through a divorce or separation from their SO when their kids were small (1 year and 2.5 years old) or know of anyone who has?

My husband is very verbally abusive and I don’t want my children to be subjected to it. He loves them and I do want him to be able to have partial custody, but I don’t want him near me. It would be better for our children to not witness the fighting. They are still little and I feel it’s better to do it now.

Any advice? How did it affect your kids when they were small? I feel like its worse to “stay together for the kids” as they get older they are more aware of the problems