Hello family and friends,
Sveta and I are safe in our home.
This update is to inform you of our safety and what has happened in our city in the last two days. We are 7 hours ahead of the east coast time in the US.
I’m sure that you have seen the maps on Facebook of where Putin is attacking. 820 military infrastructure facilities have been attacked by Russia.
We are a couple of miles outside of the city proper, but are within the city limits.
Thursday morning, the first bombs hit an air strip close to Mykolaiv. The rest of the day was calm.
Friday was uneventful until afternoon. Our daughter and her family were going to visit us. They saw a drone flying overhead, so they decided not to come. It was unsuccessful at being shot down. If it was a Russian controlled drone, I imagine that it was finding the locations for the next explosion.
Mykolaiv had a lights out from dusk on. Around 10 PM, we felt and heard the house rattle from shock waves.
The train station was hit. Not far away from the train station, an oil tank farm was hit. These are located about 10 miles from us.
This picture was taken for our area, looking toward the train station.
I believe this picture is closer, in our district heading in the same direction.
There was conflict at the main bridge to the city. Mykolaiv held control of it.
About 60 men, 30 years and older, filled a big hospital in the main part of our city.
Today, our daughter again wanted to come visit us. She heard gunfire in her neighborhood, so they remained at home. They are on the first floor of a five floor walk up.
This picture is of a bread factory on the outer fringe of our city, not sure of the location.
Our daughter-in-law, Ira, and granddaughter live on the 10th floor of a high-rise in our district. Many seek safety in the basements of building like this one. They stayed there the night, and will do the same tonight.
Ira, our manager in Chornomorsk, said, “Mark, you are a true Ukrainian. You stayed.”
I decided to stay for many reasons. One good reason is that I can encourage my team, family, and friends with more meaning.
As for Sveta and I, there is a shock, a numbness. We find our strength in the Power of Jesus Christ Who lives within us.
Blessings of love and healing,
Mark and Sveta
