Reporting in from Kiev. Everything’s

Reporting in from Kiev. Everything’s okay here. We’re all in a bit of a state of shock, of course. I was working at the USAID Mission when the first news started to trickle in. Most of us thought it was another Orson Wells War of the Worlds hoax. It didn’t take long for someone to turn on CNN and the conference room quickly filled up with people. Everyone was numb, horrified and in a state of complete limbo.

All non-essential personnel were asked to leave the Mission and return home. I was directed to go to my hotel and stay put. There has been no specific threat made in Ukraine, but as a general security precaution folks in authority wanted the American community to be in known locations. We’re laying low, of course and are being somewhat more cautious.

This morning, everything opened as usual. I’ve postponed my morning meetings to attend a general meeting here at the Mission where, I assume, we will get an update on the situation.