【Text/Observer Network Zhou Yibo】
The situation in Russia and Ukraine is complicated and unpredictable, and many Western countries, led by the United States, have announced the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel in Ukraine on security grounds. In response, the Ukrainian side said that Kiev is safer than any city in the United States and there is "no reason to panic."
So, what is the current situation in Ukraine? In this regard, German media reported on January 31 that a number of foreign expatriates living in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, said that they were very surprised that the embassy contacted whether they would evacuate, "I think this place is safer than Australia."
Respondents also said ukrainians have long been accustomed to the pressure that Russia may bring, and foreigners are often more worried about current developments than locals, "the more you pay attention to the news in Germany or the United States, the more you will be afraid", and the best thing to do is to "turn a deaf ear".
On January 24, the Independence Square in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, was taken Picture source: Visual China
According to German media reports, many foreign expatriates living in the Ukrainian capital have received greetings from friends and relatives and concerns about the situation in Russia and Ukraine, but most are not in a hurry.
At present, Australia has announced the withdrawal of some diplomats from Kiev, and Ken Herbert, who came to Kiev from Sydney two years ago, said he was surprised to receive a call from the embassy asking whether he had decided to leave Ukraine.
"Overall, I feel safer here than In Australia. In Sydney, I didn't dare to enter any alleys with black lights at night. And in Kiev, he didn't have to worry. Herbert said he would remain in Kiev because it was indeed safe and there would be no worries like in Sydney.
Herbert said his family is still very worried about him, "I usually talk to my parents once a month, and now I have it every two days." ”
German media pointed out that most of the respondents' attitude was similar to Herbert's - their families were very concerned about safety, but they still chose to stay in Ukraine.
"When the situation changed, the first thing that affected people outside Ukraine suddenly understood what was happening here." American Shipko Oldman said he moved to Kiev with her husband and children in 2018 and after years of living, she found that Ukrainians had become "somehow accustomed" to the pressure that Russia might exert, which is why outsiders tend to worry more about current developments than locals.
Oldman noted that she learned from her children's schools that there are also some foreign families who choose to leave Kiev, especially immigrants who would otherwise be able to work from home, preferring to return to Ukraine in distant homes waiting for the situation to ease.
Although the Western media has repeatedly claimed that Russia has deployed a large number of troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border, the German Jens Dassler said that in Kiev, people can see neither soldiers nor fighter planes, and there is no sign of war or danger coming.
Dassler said that although there is a lot of information on social media about the situation on the border, the pace of life in Kiev is still normal, but the pictures of the situation in Kiev in some international media reports make him almost unrecognizable.
"(Kiev) the sun is shining, there's pizza, there's sushi – everything." "The more you pay attention to the news in Germany or the United States, the more you'll be afraid," Dassler said, and the best thing to do is to "turn a deaf ear."
Ukrainian media and forums are giving advice on how to stock up on emergency supplies, from vodka and wound sanitizers to Bengali fireworks, which can attract attention in emergencies.
However, not every foreigner in Kiev has such a plan, and some have no intention of stockpiling supplies. Dassler said the parties handled this differently.
On the streets of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, on January 24, Image source: Visual China
The "perhaps contradictory message" from ukrainian authorities has contributed to tension in Ukraine to some extent.
In a video address, Ukrainian President Selenskiy downplayed the risk of escalating tensions and called on citizens to remain calm and not to rob them of money.
But the next day, Zelenskiy told the Washington Post that Charkiw, Ukraine's second-largest city, 40 kilometers from the eastern border, was likely to be the target of a Russian invasion.
At the same time, Zelenskiy's top aides told the press that the mobilization of Russian troops was a political bluff.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy Image source: Visual China
At present, a number of Western countries, led by the United States, have announced the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel in Ukraine on security grounds.
On January 23, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning against Ukraine, saying the U.S. Embassy in Kiev would begin evacuating non-essential staff and their families this week and urging U.S. citizens in Ukraine to leave the country. Subsequently, the United Kingdom announced on January 24 to follow suit, and Germany, Australia and Japan also joined the withdrawal team, but the EU was not moved this time.
According to a previous report by Russia Today (RT), an anonymous official close to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said that the United States was the first country to announce the "withdrawal of personnel", which made the Ukrainian side feel very disappointed. The official even put it bluntly: "These Americans in Kiev than in Los Angeles ... Or any other crime-ridden city in the United States is safer. ”
On Jan. 24, Zelenskiy said after attending a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) that there was "no reason to panic." Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal similarly said that "the most important thing is not to panic."
"I ask everyone to stay calm." Alexei Danilov, secretary of ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said kiev believed that there was no basis for the current statement that (Russia) was "about to invade in full force". He also revealed that there is currently no "voluntary withdrawal" of foreign diplomats from Ukraine.
On the same day, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter that Ukraine respects the right of other countries to ensure the safety of its diplomats, but the DECISION of the US State Department to authorize the evacuation of embassy personnel in Ukraine is "premature" and a sign of "excessive caution".
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