Any update as to how you're faring?
Well, things are currently even worse than they were yesterday, unfortunately. Full mobilisation was declared as of today, even I had a meeting with authorities regarding the draft that spent a while deciding what to do with me before literally telling me "You're obviously useless, go home", and I'm a disabled woman. At the same time most people, even those in the first order military reserve are still sitting at home confused and unsure what to do as far as I know. It's a miracle we still have functioning infrastructure and even internet, considering that active warfare is happening very close to the city. We had air raid alerts yesterday and now I know where the nearest public bomb shelter is and what it's like. As far as I know, nothing close to where I live was hit though, thankfully. But I did hear explosions further away. I received instructions on what to do during bomb shelling and if there's gunfire in close proximity (god I'm usually totally fluent in English but now I'm stubling over words not sure if I'm explaining it right because I never learned all these military-related terms. Never thought I will need to use them), and on first aid, I promptly forgot everything but I have leaflets somewhere around. I'm getting conflicting reports on whether the city is surrounded, whether the transportation is paralyzed and whether it is possible to escape the area. I probably wouldn't try it for now, unless there is official evacuation. Not sure if it's not too late for it though.
I have cards in two banks and both ceased operations at the moment. I've heard there is some chance to get access to your money if you actually visit the bank, but the lines are insane and I'm too physically unwell. Everyone beyond critical patients were discharged from hospitals, they are currently only working on helping the military and civilian war casualties. It was not possible to buy prescription medication, even with cash, and over the counter stuff is running out. Food situation is not as bad as I expected though. The supermarkets were restocked today (now that I think about it, this means we're not totally surrounded), and the lines are huge and panicky, but not "insane looter mode" lines and chaos in grocery stores that I've seen yesterday. People discovered odd loopholes that let you transfer money from your screwed up non-operational bank to a payment system and from there - to a card of a different bank and are helping each other out in stores so that everyone can shop, since accessing cash is next to impossible for everyone - all ATMs I've seen were either emptied out or are non-operational and i've spent a while looking for a one that works since I only have about 80$ in cash and my cards are useless. All non-essential businesses seem closed, I wanted to buy a flashlight somewhere in case we don't have electricity, but didn't find one in a supermarket and I'm not sure where else I can look.
It's very scary. Very quiet and every little sound makes you mind immediately jump to the possibility of being bombed. I am also very scared about the fact Russians actually went to Chernobyl and took control of the plant. Their officials deny their intentions to blow it up but what the hell else you would need it for and why else would you go there?! That's the one thing that I'd be pretty scared about living anywhere in Europe, not just here. Sorry if I'm scaring anyone, but I think some people might want to know what's up as it is.
may the people of Ukraine 
