Kyiv: A Series Of Normal Moments Within A Series Of Moments Anything But Normal…

8:56 pm UPDATE: The curfew in Kyiv that was from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am was changed to 5:00 pm to 8:00 am.  However, now curfew has been extended until Monday at 8:00 am.  Meaning that a high level of military activity is expected and there is concern that anyone absent a military uniform could be detained or shot by any of the parties involved in the war- and there are more than Russian and Ukrainian.  And, just received text message from government to disable location features on all electronic devices.  Second air raid siren has happened. 

Another railway journey of far more hours than anticipated concludes past midnight.  The sight of an Uber vehicle in the parking lot is reassuring, but then almost immediately out of place in a series of moments that have been out of place for several days. 

The train station is quiet- trains moving, people stationary.  No outward panic- though feelings are not always physically evident.  There suggests no complacency.  There must be an unwelcome acceptance that what the Russian Federation wants- the evaporation of the country that is Ukraine, may be forestalled, but not be prevented.  Thinking about how today a citizen of Ukraine would define the “new normal” phrase that has become commonplace during the last three years.   

For some Ukrainians, absorption by the Russian Federation would be likened to a sentence to a labor camp of the what-was-thought-to-have-been disemboweled U.S.S.R.   

A random thought…. If the Russian Federation obtains control of Ukraine and then decides to manage Ukraine, will the 43+ million citizens of Ukraine retain their Ukrainian passports, and will other countries accept those documents as valid for travel?  Will they become solely citizens of the Russian Federation and be required to obtain a Russian Federation passport?  Will there be an option for a citizen to retain and use for international travel passports (until expiration) issued by Ukraine?  Will countries accept a passport issued by the Russian Federation to citizen of Ukraine from 5:00 am on Thursday, 24 February 2022? 

Most people in and around the train station are looking at their wireless devices.  How would the scene unfold if this were prior to the advent of the wireless device?  Would there be lines in front of telephone booths? 

The lobby of the hotel is dark.  The elaborately embroidered curtains, twelve-foot high, are drawn closed.  Guests have been withdrawn from rooms on the high floors to the lower floors- as shelling might likely target the tops of buildings.  Opening the curtain in a guest room is followed quickly by a telephone call from reception to not open the curtains at night.

First email upon arrival is to the hotel in Kharkiv as the young man and young woman at the reception desk wanted to make certain of arrival to Kyiv and wanted to have insight about the journey.  Sadly, today Kharkiv is under attack. 

First air raid siren at 8:00 am arrives followed by an announcement from hotel management to assemble in the corridor to be escorted to a shelter- the underground garage.  An hour later, a second air raid siren.  Then the next- and far longer in shelter this time.  Two more follow.  Seven air raid alerts thus far today. 

Mid-morning… quiet.  Anticipation.  The Heinz Ketchup commercial jingle comes to mind- anticipation- eventually, it flows. 

The hotel is providing breakfast delivered to each room.  My breakfast is forgotten- arrives at 4:45 pm.  Fewer than thirty guests occupy a property designed for three times that number.  Beginning yesterday, those staff who did arrive to work are now too guests of the hotel.  Two at reception.  Five at security.  Two housekeepers.  One chef.  Two waiters.  For one young employee what is normally a daily thirty-minute commute is now two minutes.  The lobby is cold; an older male colleague brings her a jacket.  She would rather be home, “Today will be the most difficult day for Kyiv.” 

Further conversation with an employee, in early twenties, who shared that President Volodymyr Zelensky is suggesting that Ukraine would agree to remain neutral, and not be a member of NATO.

The employee offered that President Zelensky should do whatever is required to “make it stop.”  And then made this admission- “My generation reads little, not in depth, short articles.  We don’t care about politics.” 

The armed forces of the Russian Federation have control of the Chernobyl nuclear facility located in Prypyat, which due to a design flaw exploded in 1986.  There is irony that the primary technologies used and most importantly the decision-making authorities in the design and operation of the facility were ensconced in Moscow.    

Far too early for a complete outcome modeling analysis about the proposition that President Putin’s tenure in office may be in jeopardy should the attack on Ukraine not be deemed successful by those who matter among high level officials of the government of the Russian Federation and those who matter among wealthy individuals whose standing has depended upon the success of laws, regulations, and policies implemented by the government of the Russian Federation. 

Juxtaposition Of Realities 

Saturday is a sunny, 41 degrees, light breeze. 

The government-mandated curfew that was 10:00 pm to 7:00 am has been changed to 5:00 pm to 8:00 am.  That’s not good news.  

In Kontraktova Square, near the Dnieper River (which flows from Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea), the past days have been quiet- absent people whose activities gravitate to stores and restaurants- because stores and restaurants have been closed.   

The large white Ferris wheel which dominates the square remains motionless, absent of the children and young couples who would stand in line to enjoy the glass-enclosed rotation.   

There is graffiti on the barrier surrounding the Ferris wheel… “NO PUTIN, PUTGO” 

The daily and nightly scenes reminding of the 1959 motion picture, “On the Beach” with the actor Gregory Peck which showed images of Sydney, Australia, with each day fewer people- eventually devoid of people.  Remaining only were debris disturbed, spinning, by gusts of wind across empty streets.  The theme of the movie is what happens after a war. 

Today, Saturday, is different, though slightly so.  A supermarket is open- it’s upscale with bread baking and imported foods and beverages.  The line at check-out takes about ten minutes to traverse.  Customers offer to let those with fewer items go first; some who cut the line receive comments.  The female cashier is engaging with each customer rather than hurrying everyone along.  Fruit and vegetables are popular.  Outside at the near corner, a coffee (and alcohol beverage) shop has re-opened, albeit with one employee.  Every beverage cover includes a fresh small flower. 

A series of normal moments within a series of moments anything but normal…