Kyiv

[Sorbonne]

Whether or not the invasion eventually happens, the threat is real, and I left Ukraine 2 weeks before the US government's recommendation for a southern European country.

A regular from Kyiv is now asking me to let her join me. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with her. I don't want her to necessarily join me, but if I refuse, it'll probably be the end of our relation.

Although I left Ukraine in early January, Putin's war has been affecting me in several different ways, one of which is:

The regular I talked about above is actually a former freebee, not a pro or semi-pro, who has been married in the last few years in Kyiv. So a few days after I left Ukraine when nobody was still not really serious about the possibility of invasion, she thought I was still in Ukraine and sent me a message, saying that she was about to get divorced and asked me if I wanted to go "crazy" with her. From her recent photos, she still appears to be in mid 20's. When I was hanging with her, she thought I was about 10 years older, whereas in fact I am more than 25 years older.

I was not sure if I wanted to get entangled with your divorce; therefore, I was not sure if I wanted her to join me. But I kept in touch with her on this matter. Then I sent her a message on Valentine's Day, saying that she should leave Kyiv to the western Ukraine at least for the next few weeks. At that time she still believed that there would be no war.

The last time I heard from her on March 2, she was still in Kyiv. Now I can no longer contact her.

[Jmsuttr]

From news reports, there were air alert sirens going off in the wee hours the last few nights. Whether those are only tests, they did not say.

As the city does not appear to be subject to bombng or missile strikes at the current time. But I believe Putin's goal now is to level the entire country and render it unlivable, and that includes Lviv. For a foreigner to stay in Ukraine now is pointless, unless you are a journalist or a relief worker or have a death wish.

He's the one in Kyiv, not me. But, for the record, I completely agree with you. Any non-Ukrainian who isn't actively involved in (or supporting) the defense effort is consuming resources that could be put to better use.

[Jmsuttr]

Reports of explosions from a possible Russian missile attack. Or the explosions could have been caused by Ukrainian anti-missile defenses. Either way, it's not good news for Lviv. Details sketchy at the moment but I'm sure more info will be released soon.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndep...CylbeQntspAAAA

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndep...C5hZKmpNspAAAA

Here are a couple of sources I've been following for breaking news:

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndep...C5hZKmpNspAAAA

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkrainianConflict/#sort=new.

[Tomasb]

From news reports, there were air alert sirens going off in the wee hours the last few nights. Whether those are only tests, they did not say.

As the city does not appear to be subject to bombíng or missile strikes at the current time. But I believe Putin's goal now is to level the entire country and render it unlivable, and that includes Lviv. For a foreigner to stay in Ukraine now is pointless, unless you are a journalist or a relief worker or have a death wish.

If you stay in Kyiv, there's a huge downside as taking that city is Putin's #1 priority. And, if he's unable to achieve that goal, there's a high probability of increased shelling, bombing, and street-fighting. As to what the upside of staying in Kyiv is, I literally have no clue as to what that could be. Only you can answer that question for yourself.

So, which would you regret more? Leaving Kyiv and missing out on whatever you perceive the possible benefits to be of staying? Or staying and possibly (probably, IMO) finding yourself in worsening conditions and likely unable to leave.

Only you can decide but, after all you've already experienced, if you decide to stay you'll assume full ownership of any negative consequences that may befall you or those in your group.

Relocating to Poland would appear to be the safest and most prudent option, as it's a NATO member and not likely to be under threat unless there's a major escalation. Lviv would be the compromise choice but you'd need to evaluate the pros and cons of remaining in what is still technically a war zone. Yes, Lviv is currently safer than Kyiv, but that doesn't preclude a missile or bomb strike if Putin decides to flex his muscles and wants to intimidate NATO without directly striking a NATO country.

[NRandom940]

We are deciding whether to stay or move to Poland for a bit. At least to Lviv and then the border. What a terrible trip and idea to come.

How you going to leave Kyiv?

[Jmsuttr]

We are deciding whether to stay or move to Poland for a bit. At least to Lviv and then the border. What a terrible trip and idea to come.

If you stay in Kyiv, there's a huge downside as taking that city is Putin's #1 priority. And, if he's unable to achieve that goal, there's a high probability of increased shelling, bombing, and street-fighting. As to what the upside of staying in Kyiv is, I literally have no clue as to what that could be. Only you can answer that question for yourself.

So, which would you regret more? Leaving Kyiv and missing out on whatever you perceive the possible benefits to be of staying? Or staying and possibly (probably, IMO) finding yourself in worsening conditions and likely unable to leave.

Only you can decide but, after all you've already experienced, if you decide to stay you'll assume full ownership of any negative consequences that may befall you or those in your group.

Relocating to Poland would appear to be the safest and most prudent option, as it's a NATO member and not likely to be under threat unless there's a major escalation. Lviv would be the compromise choice but you'd need to evaluate the pros and cons of remaining in what is still technically a war zone. Yes, Lviv is currently safer than Kyiv, but that doesn't preclude a missile or bomb strike if Putin decides to flex his muscles and wants to intimidate NATO without directly striking a NATO country.

[RacShack]

We are deciding whether to stay or move to Poland for a bit. At least to Lviv and then the border. What a terrible trip and idea to come.

Still zero pics of what's going on over their? Nothing? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[HulaHoops]

We are deciding whether to stay or move to Poland for a bit. At least to Lviv and then the border. What a terrible trip and idea to come.

[Paulie97]

Exactly, I did not want to say it. There is no way they can win, they never had a chance. I remember walking downtown and there was a military parade going. Both myself and my friend looked at each other and said, I hope this is not there military. Unfortunately, it was and they are getting destroyed, but as usually the media is lying, causing more unnecessary deaths.

As usual you opt for conspiracy theories rather than facts, first with Covid and now the war. Conservative and liberal medias in the states and Europe have been pretty much on the same page with this one. Ukraine has put up a much better fight than expected, and Russia has been frustrated. No one has been under the illusion that Ukraine can win in the short term, militarily, is why Zelensky has begged for NATO air support. However Russia has already lost in that all but a few nations are dead set against them. That will continue to carry heavy costs. They also may not have enough soldiers to occupy and win the peace, and thus will have to deal with NATO backed insurgents for a long time to come. They could amount to more loses.

[Desin]

If there would be that kind of a poll, I'd vote HulaHoops for the Person of the Year ISG-award.

Posthumous or not.

Hopefully you get a chance to get out of there. Contacting your embassies is a good idea. If even one of them have contacts to help you, maybe everyone can use the same way out.

[Tomasb]

I have seen some military analysis that suggests this corridor is being proposed only to get rid the citizens who might be part of active resistance fighters. Russia does not have a good track record in allowing citizens to safely pass thru a war zone.

I wouldn't necessarily count on this humanitarian corridor.

There are also some experts who are pessimistic about this. After all who can still believe what Russia promises?

Russia initially said they would not target civilians. Now a humanitarian corridor? Makes zero sense.

If this happens, that is for Russia to be able to raze the city to rubbles.

So my advise, if anything, is: be careful in what you believe under this unfortunate circumstance.

[Sorbonne]

They are going to have a cease fire to allow civilians to evacuate. So you want to pay attention to the news if you can.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ar-putin-news/

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/top-wrap-10-ukraine-seeks-ceasefire-humanitarian-corridors-talks-with-russia-2022-03-03/

https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/no-breakthrough-in-russia-ukraine-talks-but-agreement-on-humanitarian-corridors-1.10651124

I wouldn't necessarily count on this humanitarian corridor.

There are also some experts who are pessimistic about this. After all who can still believe what Russia promises?

Russia initially said they would not target civilians. Now a humanitarian corridor? Makes zero sense.

If this happens, that is for Russia to be able to raze the city to rubbles.

So my advise, if anything, is: be careful in what you believe under this unfortunate circumstance.

[DramaFree11]

Thank you for the real reports on the ground and stay safe! The media propaganda is very hard to avoid, when they all have a obvious bias.

Exactly, I did not want to say it. There is no way they can win, they never had a chance. I remember walking downtown and there was a military parade going. Both myself and my friend looked at each other and said, I hope this is not there military. Unfortunately, it was and they are getting destroyed, but as usually the media is lying, causing more unnecessary deaths.

[Rocko20]

To any foreign volunteer: do not believe the Ukrainian propaganda! The military situation in Ukraine is dire, the media will have you think that Ukraine is winning. That is not the case whatsoever! Please be careful.

Thank you for the real reports on the ground and stay safe! The media propaganda is very hard to avoid, when they all have a obvious bias.

[Mojo Bandit]

We have supplies and medication, we pay a local to get supplies for us.

.

They are going to have a cease fire to allow civilians to evacuate. So you want to pay attention to the news if you can.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ar-putin-news/

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/top-wrap-10-ukraine-seeks-ceasefire-humanitarian-corridors-talks-with-russia-2022-03-03/

https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/no-breakthrough-in-russia-ukraine-talks-but-agreement-on-humanitarian-corridors-1.10651124