REPORTER’S RECORD
Journalist Mansur Myrovalev woke as much as loud bangs in Kyiv as Russia launched an enormous air strike on the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv, Ukraine – It was the longest and loudest shelling of Kyiv because the starting of the warfare. I woke as much as a loud bang that shook the home windows of my downtown condominium.
It was very shut, however the sound made me understand that it was a “good” air protection strike hitting drones or missiles within the air. Inside a few minutes, at the very least 10 extra explosions adopted, and brilliant spots of air protection missiles swept via the darkness.
I used to be too sleepy to depend them. This isn’t the sort of fireworks that makes you run to the window to benefit from the view, to not point out the video. I watched them via the blinds, nonetheless mendacity in my mattress.
What you really want to do in these conditions is to cowl your self with a blanket to guard your self from the glass being shattered by the shock wave.
After a brief break, new explosions adopted, and just a little farther from town heart. All of them sounded good. I did not get scared, I did not get away from bed. I did not even take a look at the clock and tried to return to sleep.
I’ve recognized for months that, in line with statistics, the probabilities of a drone or missile hitting my condominium are lots of of occasions decrease than the probabilities of me dying in a automotive crash. After all, every shelling fills you with adrenaline and irrational concern.
However worst of all, not like the ringing of church bells, the shelling does not really feel “completed.”
Silence falls, mirrored by the echo of the explosions. You might be ready for one more one, and your creativeness attracts it louder and stronger.
After nearly 15 months of warfare, my considering is just too rational. Solely in my goals do I see a serpentine missile minimize via the wall of my condominium and destroy my books and vinyl data. I by no means die in these goals.
What actually pissed me off? A couple of minutes after the final explosion, one other sound was heard – the buzzing of a mosquito. It appeared as weak and doomed as Russia’s makes an attempt to intimidate Ukraine into submission.
I obtained up, turned on the sunshine, killed a mosquito with a pillow, and went again to sleep. He by no means stung me, by no means tasted my blood. There will likely be no Russia.
