I hope you don’t mind the impromptu live chat but a few of you expressed interest in learning more about the situation in Ukraine on my Facebook page recently, as I’m in Kiev at the moment. I’ve spent the last week in the city, visiting the heart of the protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (“Independence Square”), interviewing protestors, doctors who stitched up the wounded, and many others with very interesting stories to tell.
The chat now closed, thank you everyone for participating!
Next week I’ll be heading to Crimea but am happy that I’ve got a good Internet connection today to take your questions. I have photos plus video as well and if you ask nicely, I’ll be happy to share. Let’s do it, ask away!
Please share your videos…
My Questions:
1-How safe is Kiev? Do you feel safe?
2-Are there many foreign journalists in Kiev reporting? We see Anderson Cooper reporting on CNN. Any others from major networks?
3-How good is the internet connection in Ukraine?
4-Use of social media among protestors/youth? High numbers?
5-Are Ukrainians-people on the street willing to talk about their aspirations/thoughts/economic situation, etc.?
To answer your questions:
1-How safe is Kiev? Do you feel safe?
–Kiev feels pretty much normal and while the Maidan is intimidating visually, the atmosphere there is of a tense optimism.
2-Are there many foreign journalists in Kiev reporting? We see Anderson Cooper reporting on CNN. Any others from major networks?
I may have just missed some New York Times reporters yesterday in the Maidan Courthouse, based on what others there were saying. Other than them, I’m not sure, at least not that I’ve seen firsthand.
3-How good is the internet connection in Ukraine?
Very, very good in Kiev. I wish I had Internet speeds like this all over the world on my travels.
4-Use of social media among protestors/youth? High numbers?
I don’t know the statistics but based on how many people around the city are looking into smartphones and tablets, I’d assume it’s a good percentage.
5-Are Ukrainians-people on the street willing to talk about their aspirations/thoughts/economic situation, etc.?
Yes. People here are eager to talk about the ongoing situation, it’s an almost impossible topic to avoid!
On the video, I’ll work on uploading that now. Which shouldn’t take too long as the Internet here as I mentioned is quite fast!
Here is one video you were asking for. The ironic atmosphere in parts of Maidan, taken yesterday. I’ll be out and about focusing on getting much more video in the coming days and will continue posting here in posts and on my Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/aop1980
My wife wants to go back to her hometown of Mariupol to see her daughter and son-in-law and her elderly father. How safe is Donetsk region right now?
Hi Richard, it’s tense but there’s no violence on the streets or anything similar. It is safe but the political situation is unpredictable, being so close to the Russian border.
Have you come across anyone from the Crimean Tatar group (an ethnic Turkish minority) in Kiev? Having been badly treated by the Russians in history, they clearly want Crimea to stay within Ukraine. I wonder if they are strong enough to resist Russia’s steps to separate Crimea from Ukraine.
I haven’t, though I spoke with two people earlier who have contacts there with some Tatar friends. I would say they are really in a waiting game, along with the Ukrainian population, waiting to see a concrete takeover attempt of Crimea by Russia. I don’t think the Tatars or Ukraine on the whole have the power to win an open confrontation but everyone I’ve spoken with seems determined that if it comes to it, they’ll fight to the end to maintain the country’s integrity.
Here is a photo I took yesterday in Kiev of a Tatar demonstration protesting Russia’s actions in Crimea
Hi Anil: You say Ukranians are eager to talk – are you finding that many people there speak English? And though they are eager to talk, are they doing so openly or somewhat surreptitiously? In other words, do they feel they would be in danger if they were caught speaking to media?
I’ve been fortunate to do part of my exploring with a friend who is fluent in the language. Being able to translate has really opened up my perspective. On a general note, I’d say about half the people I’ve come across have a basic understanding of English.
If anything, I’d say they’re eager to speak with the media. People in Maidan want to talk about the revolution and tell their stories, hoping more of the world will hear. The one area that was off limits however was taking pictures of any people in the Courthouse, which is a de facto headquarters of the Euromaidan.
I hope my reply below helps:
http://foxnomad.com/2014/03/06/live-kiev-ask-anything-want-know-traveling-ukraine-euromaidan-turmoil-continue/comment-page-1/#comment-508694
Free to let me know if not and I’ll do my best to answer thoroughly.
Hi everyone, thanks for your questions and following along. I’ll try to catch up with any late questions later.
Take care and chat soon,
-Anil
Hey Anil,
Just curious if you chose to travel to Ukraine because of the current situation, or if you already had plans to be in the region.
Thanks!
Ashley
I was in western Europe, relatively close and decided to make Ukraine my next stop, in large part because I was interested to see it during this time.
Hi Anil,
I will meet my Ukrainian friend in Kiev next weekend and we´re planning to go to Crimea (Jalta) by train. Have you heard of any problems for western foreigners to enter Crimea and move freely there?
Thanks!!
Hi Chris,
Are you planning a trip to Crimea this coming weekend? It’s along my current route as well but with the referendum coming up on the 16th, I would recommend against a trip as the situation is highly volatile. I know that entry has been denied to some and it is changing constantly. After the vote it might be difficult to move around depending on what takes place.
Hi Anil, thanks for your reply!
Yes, the timing could be better! We have train tickets for Saturday evening, so we will arrive right when the referendum takes place…
We bought the tickets before all of this started. So far, we still plan to go there, but I have also heard rumors that they check passports and baggage at the train station in Simferopol (where we will arrive.
When will you go there? Or will you wait for the results of the referendum and then decide?
Several of my attempted flights there have been canceled this week and there’s a good chance your train will be searched at the Crimean border by soldiers not wearing insignia. Have your papers and documents with you but whether or not you’ll be let in is right now uncertain.
Several Turkish journalists I know have been turned away as recently as yesterday. Best of luck if you decide to go and hope you’ll keep in touch. I’ll make concrete plans tonight.
How safe is Kiev now? I have friends tehre and they say it’s kinda back to normal.
Outside of Maidan, things are back to normal. Inside the square, it’s safe but visually and viscerally transformed.