Tim MakDec 17, 2022
Good morning to readers. Hello from Ukraine.
Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands, but a barrage of missile strikes plunged much of the city into darkness over the last twenty four hours.
Forecast calls for a low of 24 degrees F in the capital tonight.
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
The Ukrainian government said that it shot down 60/72 missiles.
10/24 regions reported blasts.
But three strikes occurred in Kyiv, leading the mayor to warn about the city's water, power and internet supplies.
https://t.co/pBb7BajKsW
Russia launches new wave of air attacks across Ukraine

Regional military administrators across the country say Russia launched more than 70 missiles targeting at least 10 of Ukraine's 24 regions.

NPR
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
Last evening it was raining/snowing in Kyiv as gridlock paralyzed the city.
Buses were packed and traffic was heavy as many traffic lights did not work and the metro was hindered by power issues.
Continued uncertainty about whether power and heat will hold out
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
I came back into the country by crossing the Polish border, and you can very easily see the difference in the condition of the roads.
Here's the Polish side...
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
And these are the roads on the Ukrainian side, heading into Lviv
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
I had dinner in Lviv with my friend Taras, who has trying to look at the bright side of the power outages.
He noticed his children are much calmer due to the blackouts killing their electronic devices and internet access… doing their homework under candlelight.
The power outages have brought a weird serenity to his children, he said.
Of course there are much larger downsides… but this is a strange upside.
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
How do you know when air strikes are incoming when you have no power?
I saw for the first time the mobile air alarm siren, which drives through neighborhoods to tell those without electricity to take shelter
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
What does Lviv look like now?
At night it is much darker than I remember, with street lights off.
But during the day there is a lot of activity and bustling streets
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022

When I was in Lviv there were scheduled, cycling power outages.

This is what that looks like, from a restaurant in the city, when the power abruptly goes out.

Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022

We took the train from Lviv into Kyiv.

Interesting fact: every inch of steel for the railway tracks in Ukraine was manufactured in Azovstal, the famous steel plant where Ukrainian forces held out in Mariupol.

Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022

Lights off in the railway station as you arrive in Kyiv.

This is the darkness that greets you:

Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022
And as you drive through the city you realize that much of the city — particularly after yesterday’s strikes — is without power.
Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022

Met with a source shortly after the missiles came into Kyiv (and much of the rest of the country).

“Don’t worry about the missiles,” he joked, “we are covered by these here.”

He pointed to a model on the table, grinning.

Show threadTim MakDec 17, 2022

I’ll be in Ukraine through the holidays and hope to give you a little slice of how Christmas and New Years is observed in a time of war.

I’m sure there will be some shivering but I’ve also already tracked down a small bowl of pho

Show threadAndrew C.A. Elliott

@timkmak
Thank you for this reporting, and for bringing it to Mastodon.

I assure you, it is much appreciated.

Dec 17, 2022 at 5:08pmWeb