| The Post has eight correspondents on the ground in Ukraine, including two videographers and a photographer, with another journalist on the way. Two of them (one amid air raid sirens) joined other Post staffers in Eastern Europe to answer reader questions yesterday in a live Q&A. Below, they expand in more detail about what it's like to cover this war so far. What is it like in Ukraine right now? Can you describe the tone?Isabelle (foreign correspondent usually based in Moscow): My colleagues and I are staying safe and taking precautions while trying to comprehensively cover this story. The millions of Ukrainians who did not sign up for this are in a much worse position. People here are really shocked. Despite the United States and other Western countries' attempts to warn that this was coming, a lot of Ukrainians didn't really believe it would until those first strikes on Thursday morning. Those who prepared emergency bags with cash, nonperishable food and other essentials were in the minority. Especially where I am in Kharkiv, a city with more familial ties to Russia because it's just 25 miles from the border, people also expressed feeling betrayed. The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to Ukraine as a "brotherly nation." But we witnessed hundreds of people huddling together in fear of airstrikes in the underground metro. They don't have a lot of brotherly love for the country that forced them to shelter there. How often are you hearing explosions — a sustained barrage, more sporadic? What about air sirens?Isabelle: Where I am in Kharkiv, most of the shelling to this point has been distant. But it's pretty consistent. I used to think that it was bizarre that people who live along the front line in the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region hardly react to the sounds of artillery fire unless it's really close. But now I've gotten used to it, too. You start to get a better feel for what's nearby and what's not. There have been a few times when it has sounded much closer — and we've had to take underground shelter then. Both of those times were Friday afternoon. Some rocket mortars landed less than three miles from us and in civilian areas. What is the sentiment you see in the Ukrainian people? Is there a will to fight it out and likely die or to seek peace through capitulation?Whitney (video journalist on assignment in Ukraine): Ukrainians across the country have told us that they are willing to take up arms to protect their country and the government has offered to provide guns to any citizen with a passport. It is very likely we will see ordinary citizens take to the streets to defend their country. Isabelle: It's hard to say how many people exactly are defending Ukraine right now because President Volodymyr Zelensky has said anyone can take up arms. Post photographer Salwan Georges said he saw Ukrainian military trucks full of guns and ammo driving through the streets here in Kharkiv earlier. Ukraine also has something called the Territorial Defense that has been training civilians for combat on weekends for months now. So there's expected to be a significant insurgency, but the concern of course is that it will lead to a lot of civilian casualties against a trained Russian military with modern weapons. Dive into this Q&A for answers to more than 20 other questions about Russia's invasion, then read some of our key stories on Ukraine below. You can find all of our coverage here. If you want to support this essential reporting, become a Washington Post subscriber today.  (Heidi Levine for The Post) As Russian troops move closer to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, here's what the situation on the ground looks like in photos, videos and maps of the region. By Washington Post Staff ● Read more » |    | | | | The Russian president risks isolating himself and his country as he violently reorders security in Europe. By Robyn Dixon and Paul Sonne ● Read more » | | | | | | A pair of urgent Situation Room meetings and the days that followed provide a revealing window into the Biden administration's unsuccessful scramble to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching a full-scale invasion. By Ashley Parker, Shane Harris, Michael Birnbaum and John Hudson ● Read more » | | | | | Biden's Supreme Court nominee was a "child of the '70s" who overcame obstacles by finding middle ground. By Marc Fisher, Ann E. Marimow and Lori Rozsa ● Read more » | | | | The prevalence of such symptoms has experts projecting a "tidal wave" of cardiovascular cases related directly and indirectly to the coronavirus. By Ariana Eunjung Cha ● Read more » | | | | |  (Nora Krug/The Washington Post) Laurie Zaleski, who lives with 600 rescue animals, talks about her work, her life and her new book, "Funny Farm." By Nora Krug ● Read more » | | | | | | Andy Parker is fighting to get copyright over video of Alison Parker's shooting in a bid to remove it from social media By Cristiano Lima ● Read more » | | | | | | This may not even be the Big One. We must prepare for doomsday, act faster and respect evolution. From the Magazine ● By Joel Achenbach ● Read more » | | | | |  (Harry Stevens/The Washington Post) The Justice Department and civil rights groups say after redistricting, Texas's new congressional map does not reflect the past decade's Latino population boom. Primaries are going ahead anyway. By Harry Stevens ● Read more » | | | | | A selection of some of our best work from the past year, in honor of "Twosday" this week. By Washington Post Staff ● Read more » | | | |
Photo of the week  (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) | After Russian troops launched their attack on Ukraine this week, tens of thousands of Ukrainians began to flee the country as their lives were suddenly upended by missiles and shelling. Across the nation, long lines built up at ATMs, gas stations and grocery stores, traffic jammed the streets and people were seen carrying suitcases as they waited at bus stations to leave. Above, Diana Kostro,18, and Nikolay Sychygov embrace on Thursday as they wait for a bus to escape Kyiv for Poland. Post photographers are capturing the scene across Ukraine and you can find their latest work here. |
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