The Kiev Riots - They're back on. View from my window this morning...

[MattSh]

Less than a mile away.

[Solly Mack]

1. That's close.

It's a funny feeling to be right in the middle of an event that is in the news to most everyone else.

[MattSh]

2. Now on our street, (not for the first time) but just passing through

The red and black flag is a symbol of the Right Sector group (generally considered of the Neo-Nazi persuasion), which were one of the leading forces of the riots 3 weeks ago. Also notice the hard hats and the shields. Just to the right (but out of the picture) is a police station, which one of the hotheads tried to firebomb. The blue and yellow flags are Ukrainian flags.

Got a call from our child's school today. Come and pick him up. I was in a better position to do that, so my wife asked me to go. I said "I have to pick up a 17 year-old from school?" Apparently they're not releasing anyone from his school on their own; a parent/grandparent must pick them up.

And here I thought the only memorable thing that would happen today, our wedding anniversary, would be ________________. (Thought better about putting our actual plans down on a bulletin board). A little paranoia goes a long way, it seems...

We've heard a lot of flash-bangs today, hundreds, and at least 40 ambulances and fire vehicles.

[Solly Mack]

3. Happy Anniversary!

[MattSh]

4. Thanks!

Definitely has a weird felling to it though...

[elleng]

5. Happy Anniversary, Good Luck,

and be safe.

[alfredo]

13. Being in the middle of history isn't always fun, isn't always safe.

[mnhtnbb]

6. Yikes! Scary stuff.

Be safe and Happy Anniversary.

I have a friend in Cairo and although she wasn't as close as you are to the trouble,
it was strange to be worried about going out.

[MattSh]

9. Have a friend in Cairo too...

Used to work together in NJ USA. Took some buckshot to the butt (while photographing) for his troubles.

[ohheckyeah]

7. Happy anniversary.

I hope things settle down around you. It looks scary.

[mnhtnbb]

8. Jeeze, MattSH, we're hearing things deteriorated very quickly.

Please check in that you're ok and getting messages from the US Embassy about staying safe.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4521703

[MysticHuman]

10. Be Safe MattSh!

Keep us posted on what you know and understand. My Daughter must live within a couple of miles of you. She has an apt only 2 or 3 blocks from the center of the protests.

She is safe at the moment and being allowed to work from home.

Peace be with you and all good Ukrainians!

MH

P.S. Loved your photos on your webpage of Kiev... it's such a beautiful city!

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Stay safe

[Mira]

12. I saw the news tonight - and it looks hellish.

I so very much hope you are OK and can manage to stay safe. Please report back! as soon as you can. Thanks.
Will be thinking of you MattSh.

[Solly Mack]

14. Check in soon!

[MattSh]

15. Last evening...

Made it to the Opera House for our wedding anniversary. Ballet "The Nutcracker." Funny, somehow I thought we were going to see Swan Lake. Seems that over here, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is never out of season.

Problem was, of course, how to get there. The Riots were directly between where we live and the Opera House. In calmer times, the Metro (subway) would have been a good option, but it was closed yesterday from 4 PM on. We knew there were streets closed in the downtown area, but yesterday they expanded the area closed to vehicular traffic so that protestors could not easily be resupplied with more tires to burn and more gas for Molotov cocktails.

Leaving 1 hour for a 15 minute trip was not nearly enough. After some negotiations with the traffic police, she got our car into an area closed to traffic, yet close enough to the police so nothing was likely to happen. Then we walked. Her and her fashionable boots (meaning not good for walking) and I walked the other half of the way, including the section .5 mile from the riots. Walking was a whole lot quicker than driving. Had to remind her not to talk anything political, because you never knew if the guys two steps behind you might take offense and whack me over the head. Not her; chivalry is not dead here.

Made it there about 15 minutes late, where our "best seats in the house" prices bought us a reduced cast, including a number of student dancers, no orchestra, only canned music, and a 75% empty theater. Oh well...

About a 2 minute walk from our house, (we were back in our car by now) we came across a group of about 150 people with clubs, but no idea if they were gov't paid thugs or groups of protesters seeking to create havoc further out from the center to pull police away from the central area.

Were serenaded to sleep by numerous blasts of flash-bangs, fireworks, and likely small arms fire as well (from 1.5 miles away).

[CC]

16. I'd been thinking about you

and the family. Happy Anniversary and think of the night as a future story for future grandkids and know at least you have each other. In the meantime stay safe and hopefully things will calm down soon. I look at the news, recall photos you've shared and my heart breaks for everyone there. Try to keep in touch so we know you & your family are alright and know our thoughts & prayers are with you.

[Solly Mack]

17. Keep us posted!