Morning to readers, from Ukraine to wherever you are seeing this.
Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
But deadly news overnight: at least 35 have been killed, 135 injured, at the Yavoriv military base near the Polish border, an upwards estimate from initial reports.
Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
But deadly news overnight: at least 35 have been killed, 135 injured, at the Yavoriv military base near the Polish border, an upwards estimate from initial reports.
Eight Russian rockets were launched from the Black Sea, per the governor of the Lviv Oblast.
It's a shocking development, and fractures the relative safety that those felt in western Ukraine, away from the front lines.
It's a shocking development, and fractures the relative safety that those felt in western Ukraine, away from the front lines.
It's another wake-up call for Poland.
The Ukrainian military facility is only 22 miles from the border.
And it is in the Lviv Oblast, an area with strong Polish ties and roots.
And then there's the relative proximity to the rest of Europe:
The Ukrainian military facility is only 22 miles from the border.
And it is in the Lviv Oblast, an area with strong Polish ties and roots.
And then there's the relative proximity to the rest of Europe:
https://twitter.com/n_roettgen/status/1502944543087415296
American forces have trained Ukrainian troops at the facility that was hit overnight, known as the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.
Florida National Guard troops, under 'Task Force Gator,' were there as recently as a month ago:
stripes.com/branches/army/…
Florida National Guard troops, under 'Task Force Gator,' were there as recently as a month ago:
stripes.com/branches/army/…
Russian fighters also fired on the airport in Ivano-Frankivsk, another city in western Ukraine, within driving distance of Ukraine's border w/Hungary and Slovakia:
npr.org/2022/03/13/108…
npr.org/2022/03/13/108…
One of my traveling companions was worried about a friend in Lviv Oblast, who might have been on the base.
The friend was not answering messages immediately...
And then, a sign of relief.
"My homie sent me a '+,'" he said.
Similar feelings across country as friends check in.
The friend was not answering messages immediately...
And then, a sign of relief.
"My homie sent me a '+,'" he said.
Similar feelings across country as friends check in.
Air raid sirens have been ubiquitous throughout Ukraine over the past two and a half weeks.
It's the sort of hum that reverberates in your mind long after it's over, making you wonder if you're still hearing it.
It does not help that a friend has a ring tone of horns...
It's the sort of hum that reverberates in your mind long after it's over, making you wonder if you're still hearing it.
It does not help that a friend has a ring tone of horns...
And of course, I think of the many children I've seen fleeing, and their thoughts and feelings about what has transpired...
...and how those air sirens might reverberate for them too.
...and how those air sirens might reverberate for them too.
https://twitter.com/avalaina/status/1502892392000675843?s=21
"The Russian invaders cannot conquer us.
They do not have such strength.
They do not have such spirit.
They are holding only on violence.
Only on terror," Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said overnight.
instagram.com/p/CbBg9l6oXqL/
They do not have such strength.
They do not have such spirit.
They are holding only on violence.
Only on terror," Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said overnight.
instagram.com/p/CbBg9l6oXqL/
Part of that spirit is through the spontaneous humanitarian relief efforts that have sprung up.
Vlad, a resident of Rivne, began brainstorming with 13 friends the day the Russian invasion occurred.
Within two weeks, they had nearly 6,000 volunteers.
npr.org/2022/03/11/108…
Vlad, a resident of Rivne, began brainstorming with 13 friends the day the Russian invasion occurred.
Within two weeks, they had nearly 6,000 volunteers.
npr.org/2022/03/11/108…
W/o any intl help/formal structure, volunteers in Rivne arranged for a warehouse in Poland, then in Rivne, then started taking requests.
They're receiving aid driven in from Sicily the day I visited; + a plane in from as far as Brazil.
Listen along here:
npr.org/2022/03/11/108…
They're receiving aid driven in from Sicily the day I visited; + a plane in from as far as Brazil.
Listen along here:
npr.org/2022/03/11/108…
I saw an old lady standing in a hotel lobby this morning.
She was confused and scared.
She, like so many, is fleeing the violence in central and eastern Ukraine, and had driven to the city I'm in.
But she doesn't know how to use Google Maps or apps or anything like that.
She was confused and scared.
She, like so many, is fleeing the violence in central and eastern Ukraine, and had driven to the city I'm in.
But she doesn't know how to use Google Maps or apps or anything like that.
I saw someone generously helping her, telling her the exact highways and routes.
Telling her not to worry about checkpoints in that direction, they were fine.
In response she had this happy sort of half-bow of thanks.
Kind of a bobbing motion... it was a rare sweet moment.
Telling her not to worry about checkpoints in that direction, they were fine.
In response she had this happy sort of half-bow of thanks.
Kind of a bobbing motion... it was a rare sweet moment.
That moment is just that -- rare. The news is often more violent and bloody.
Overnight the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs released a video that kept me up thinking about it.
It shows civilians run over by a tank in Central Ukraine, according to them.
Overnight the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs released a video that kept me up thinking about it.
It shows civilians run over by a tank in Central Ukraine, according to them.
I will not post the video, but it shows a body split open with organs splayed across the ground.
Ukrainian govt published license plate, and said two adult men were killed, "and a minor who [was] burned in the car."
They left open the possibility the minor survived evacuation.
Ukrainian govt published license plate, and said two adult men were killed, "and a minor who [was] burned in the car."
They left open the possibility the minor survived evacuation.
The news today has been especially bad.
It does not feel appropriate to post a war dog photo today.
More news to come.
We will keep reporting.
It does not feel appropriate to post a war dog photo today.
More news to come.
We will keep reporting.
I wanted to let a few hours pass before posting about the death of Brent Renaud, the talented American journalist killed today near Kyiv, in the suburb of Irpin.
https://twitter.com/AMLwhere/status/1503015707100987394
The initial Ukrainian government repots were coming out while I was writing this thread, and it was a shock to read.
nytimes.com/2022/03/13/wor…
nytimes.com/2022/03/13/wor…
Various authorities have released photos of his passport, press badge and his body.
I only want to note the detail that his press badge holder was inscribed w/ the word 'PEACEKEEPER' and the American flag.
I only want to note the detail that his press badge holder was inscribed w/ the word 'PEACEKEEPER' and the American flag.
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