Five planes from Egyptian resorts returned to Boryspil airport yesterday, picked up new passengers and flew again. A aircraft additionally flew in from the Cuban resort of Varadero, the place my good friend, the writer Anetta Antonenko, just lately had 10 days relaxation. Ukrainians are already used to warming up and sunbathing in Egypt in winter.
I have no idea how they really feel now, flying to hotter climes. Do they take with them paperwork for his or her property and all the pieces that the Ukrainian authorities suggested its residents to place in a single “emergency suitcase”, together with a provide of meals for 2 days, a change of underwear and private paperwork?
Truly, I checked the departures/arrivals web site as a result of the British embassy despatched an e mail to my English spouse with a warning that she and the kids should go away whereas there are business flights. In the event that they keep, they need to not rely on the assistance of the embassy. I'm not British, I'm a citizen of Ukraine. No one sends me emails demanding I go away as quickly as attainable. My spouse determined to remain. As did our sons Theo and Anton, who don't need to go anyplace. The elder, Theo, works at an animation movie studio and just lately signed a contract till the top of Might. Anton is nineteen and ready for spring to repair a 1974 Soviet Moskvich automobile he purchased a yr in the past for $800.
Up to now two days, there have been many statements from the USA, Canada, Japan and different nations asserting that the majority diplomats are leaving Ukraine, as there's data that lively hostilities, together with metropolis bombing, might start within the subsequent 48 hours.
However so long as the planes are flying, I'm calm. Not solely that, my spouse and I are going to dinner with the ambassador of Brazil tonight. Brazil has not but made any bulletins.
My good friend mentioned that we must always really keep watch over the Chinese language embassy. As quickly because it publicizes the evacuation of its staff, then the specter of warfare should be taken critically. Russia will certainly warn China earlier than bombing Kyiv. They're now strategic companions.
The Chinese language embassy is silent for now.
Our shut mates, an aged Japanese-French couple, are at a loss. They've been residing in Kyiv for a very long time, they purchased two giant flats within the centre. One is for hire, the opposite is for residing, as is the case with lots of the foreigners who moved to Ukraine. They too don’t need to go anyplace.
The warfare barometer in Kyiv is change charges and statements by the president, Volodymyr Zelensky. If the greenback and the euro rise sharply towards the hryvnia, then the warfare has change into even nearer. Immediately, the greenback and the euro have risen in worth greater than common. However, in reality, in latest weeks they've already been at this stage and much more costly. Petrol has already risen noticeably in worth too, however it's nonetheless cheaper than within the UK.
Zelensky once more reassured Ukrainians and mentioned that all the pieces was beneath management. He has repeatedly accused western politicians of exaggerating the hazard of a Russian assault, although after his speeches, I really feel as if he’s downplayed the risk.
I'm one among many Ukrainians who has to alter euros and dollars repeatedly to pay for residing and utility payments. My foremost earnings comes from promoting books overseas. Per week in the past, I went to the change workplace, the place the speed is normally superb. A younger man was standing on the window of the change workplace and altering a number of packs of $100 payments for hryvnias.
An worker approached me and mentioned: “This consumer has a really great amount, the cashier will likely be busy for a very long time. How a lot do you need to change?”
“100 dollars,” I replied.
“Tanya, give me small change, for 100 dollars!”
Placing the hryvnias in my pocket, I went exterior and for the primary time thought of the truth that $100 not means a lot in Ukraine. Costs within the nation have lengthy since change into European, whereas extraordinary salaries and pensions have largely remained post-Soviet.
Most of my neighbours within the village obtain a pension of simply over $100 a month. However they normally have giant shares of greens and canned meals within the cellar. Nonetheless, civil servants in Kyiv obtain salaries of hundreds of dollars a month. They stay in a unique actuality. Now each of those realities are beneath risk. Below the specter of warfare.
Yesterday, I observed that the change workplace the place I modified cash the opposite day had already closed. Disappeared. It's no extra. However there are a number of different exchanges close by. So long as banks and change workplaces are open, you could be comparatively calm.
Immediately, my good friend invited my spouse and me to among the finest eating places in Kyiv for his birthday. Subsequent Saturday, 19 February. Does this imply that there will likely be no warfare till 19 February? I actually hope so. I’ve misplaced loads due to the pandemic – journeys overseas, guide festivals and exhibitions and likewise, for we'd like pleasure, dinners in good eating places. I wouldn’t need to lose all the pieces once more, this time due to the warfare.
It’s so unusual to assume that the entire world now depends upon what can occur within the head of a single, ageing man.
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