Thread by @timkmak

Morning to everyone who finds this.

Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

However troubling signs overnight at the Chernobyl nuclear site, which lost power at 11:22 a.m. local time in Ukraine. The decommissioned site is controlled by Russian forces.

Before we get deep into the details, I want to pump the brakes a little about what this could mean.

A second meltdown/Chernobyl-sized disaster 2.0 is not in the cards. An emergency would likely take some time to develop, if it happens at all.

https://twitter.com/gbrumfiel/status/1501536855011086343

Emergency generators are continuing to provide power to critical systems at the Chernobyl site, reports NPR's Geoff Brumfiel, but repair to local transmission lines is made impossible by combat in the area.

Generators have 48 hours of fuel.

https://twitter.com/gbrumfiel/status/1501521951533281283

The IAEA has warned it's concerned about Chernobyl, where hundreds of personnel have been forced to work for two weeks straight without relief.

The IAEA also said that it had lost radiation monitoring data from the site.

“It’s inching towards a crisis, but there’s time to intervene,” Ed Lyman, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Brumfiel. “It’s a troubling development.”

The situation reminds me of what Pavlo Pavlyshyn, director of the largest nuclear plant under Ukrainian control, told me this week at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant:

That during peacetime he can guarantee the safety of his plant. But during wartime, he can't make such guarantees

"If more sophisticated weapons will be used against us, I think no one can assure the safety," he told NPR.

"Everything is uncertain because any military actions near nuclear power plants are very dangerous."

npr.org/2022/03/08/108…

The conversations I've heard in Ukraine feature staccato delivery -- urgent and quick: the safe routes, the difficult checkpoints, the latest news from the battlefield.

It may be hard to imagine, but of course there is quite a lot of dark humor and joking and laughter as well.

A friend reports from across the border in Poland: "Hell, last night I ate with two Germans, a Czech and about a dozen refugees at a hotel bar and despite the circumstances one might have called it a convention or fun get-together where everyone was determined to help Ukrainians"

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs is calling for a ceasefire near Chernobyl in order to repair damaged power supply.

https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1501531157510426625

Elsewhere, there are some signs that humanitarian corridors are holding -- for now, with a local ceasefire.

Some evacuees have left Sumy, and officials in Kyiv hope to evacuate people from Irpin, Bucha and Hostomel, per Reuters and the Guardian

theguardian.com/world/live/202…

I shook the hand of an elderly Ukrainian man today, and his grip strength blew me away. I asked him how his hands were so strong, and he told me that it's "leftover from his youth."

A friend with expertise remarked that Ukrainian boxers have very heavy hands, incredibly strong grip strength.

Some train by swinging hammers and kettlebells, or even carrying buckets.

My hand is still sore these few hours later.

No i did not cry watching this @npr video of a charity worker giving ukrainian refugee women flowers in poland why do you sniff ask

instagram.com/p/Ca3ErG9pplP/

Anyone who knows me knows I love noodle soup.

Been trying to find some since day one. finally found ramen. Slurped it all down within 45 seconds.

Though, I was wondering if there was a local noodle shortage because it was a giant bowl of soup and like 15 strands of noodles.

I've noticed how common sushi and pizza are featured together here.

They were kind of lumped together when they arrived on the scene in Ukraine in the 2000s

Foreigners here "probably noticed the inclusion of a sushi menu at seemingly random restaurants"
jetsettogether.com/sushi-in-ukrai…

One Ukrainian friend writes: "Sushi+pizza is something which was a thing in early 2000s. And no longer popular in big cities. But In smaller ones still exists. Me being an awful snob"

I will eat almost anything but I’m not sure I could scarf this down

We passed through Ternopil a little while ago, and wanted to share some of the quirks of that city now that I’m nowhere near it

McDonalds knockoffs, a plumbers memorial, and a Yoda statue

Plus I know @swin24 is obsessed with Boss Baby

Today's thread hasn't been a particularly happy one.

And, today's war dog is not a happy story.

If you don't want to see a dog with a cut on his/her head, don't continue to scroll.

Per an aide to the Ukrainian internal affairs ministry, an animal shelter in Kharkiv, which is under heavy bombardment, was hit by the Russian military.

They say five dogs were killed, and several more injured, and sent along this photo.

In the area of Ukraine I'm in, most are closed.

But there are still a few that are open, albeit with reduced opening hours (in part due to curfews).

My broad sense is that some food supplies are stretched, but they are still serving.

https://twitter.com/LifesTo36582679/status/1501550483621691398

From Washington, D.C., my friend @cgrisales reports Dem House and Senate leaders have reached an agreement on $13.6 billion of spending for Ukrainian security and humanitarian needs.

Part of a larger appropriations agreement that also includes $15.6 billion for COVID spending

Amazing story here with a cross-border collaboration from the NPR team

https://twitter.com/ArezouRezvani/status/1501309808519131142