Odessa Prepares For Attack

ODESSA, Ukraine

By Robert Thomas

A couple of days ago a thick fog engulfed this southern Ukrainian city.

A fog brought on by a weather change but also at the same time the war is closing in on this otherwise tranquil city.

The war seems so close here but at the same time it seems far off.

People go on with their daily business. Some of the stores which were closed last week have been re-opened to the public.

But for the most part the majority of shops here are closed.

On Wednesday there was no real rush in the daytime to get onto a train but that all changed at night as there was a rush to get a coveted seat on one of the free evacuation trains.

By the evening though things changed.

Cabins designed for four people were filled with eight passengers. Take it or leave it.

At least one first class passenger violently protested their tickets had been cancelled and it was now pack in with seven others or you would not be going at all.

For some who have left they were begged by people to give their pets to others or at least free them. Sadly many people fled and left their pets locked up in their apartments to face a grim fate.

Fortunately though there are some people who are responding to a few of these calls.

In some of the more central areas of Odessa there is now graffiti artists quickly painting Putin needs to “go f××k himself.”

Prices in stores are multiplying rapidly.

The stores which are more expensive or profiteering from the war still have lots of stock.

I personally witnessed one woman complain that the price of a small bag of perogies read 16 hyrvinas (the local currency UAH) but the store now wanted 19 UAH.

The response was the price was wrong as the till said something else the clerk told the woman who handed the woman 1 UAH and then laughed at her calling her a “debil” idiot.

The woman visibly shaken saying she had no work and no money.

Transit is still operational with busses and trams not overflowing but nevertheless the system is vital.

The majority of ridership are the elderly and pensioners.

Many people saw Divine Providence this week as allegedly a major Russian amphibious landing here was thwarted when the weather turned cold and the Black Sea churned in a fury.

Meanwhile in Kyiv a Fellow says it was poor morale that thwarted the alleged potential attack.

It reminds me of Alicia Silverstone in a 1995 movie.

The lack of work and money has started to take over here on social media.

As anecdotally some of the unemployed are speaking about how their landlords are looking for money - for at least the utility bills - yes even in a time of war they keep coming.

There is no redemption on difficult times.

Other landlords are actually telling their tenants they want the rent in full - no excuses.

People, who have not been able to work since the war started, are now facing the potential of eviction.

To describe the mood here for many it has gone from dour, to anxiety, fear and not knowing the future all wrapped into one.

Street merchants are still working selling everything from carp, meat, trinkets, potatoes, herbs and even fresh flowers at their usual spot.

The local okrana (security guard) is still there making sure things continue to flow profitably.

Haggling goes on looking for an Odessa Bargain which is now slimmer and harder to find.

Private money exchanges still are taking advantage of Odessites but the banks are now working.

On a personal note I managed to do what I could for a friend in the east. It's a trip through hell itself. It’s something which will haunt me forever.⁹

I do not know if they got out or not but I bought them a chance before they were encircled. A chance to perhaps live in a world not huddled up cold and damp in their basements.

In Odessa friends told me I really need to leave as they worry about me.

My friends here tell me what I did in the east helped 100 percent. I don’t feel overly heroic.

I tell my Odessa friends I know I can get out of here until Sunday and if I use my Canadian passport they will let you on the evacuation train. This is why I am here to buy you time.

They tell me “we know. You must leave because we cannot help you any more and we worry.”

Canada can give you temporary safety.

They decline.

“I will not leave my city. This is my city. This is my country. We will lose everything but I stay to rebuild it.”

The guilt is overwhelming….