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'I need ammunition, not a ride'
As Russia's dictator continues his assault on Ukraine, the rest of the world is seeing courage from regular Ukrainian citizens, who are confronting armed Russian soldiers; who are fighting them in their own streets; to 13 defending Ziimny Island who used profane language to tell a Russian warship to get lost — and, notably, from Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. When word circulated NATO was willing to evacuate him, Zelensky — who is without doubt Putin's top target — famously remarked: "I need ammunition, not a ride."
Zelenksy, 46, was elected in 2019. His experience? He was a comedian. He promised to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Katharhynn from the newsroom, spending my Monday worried about Ukraine's president and its people, whose actions are not only impressive, but inspirational.
The United States has approved $1 billion in military assistance since last year, including $350 million in weapons and $200 million in drawdowns from U.S. arms stocks, reports the Washington Post.
Multiple sanctions have been imposed, including on Russian airlines, which are being denied access to the airspace in multiple cities worldwide; banking; sports, and even the European Union's list of sanctioned persons. Germany is sending anti-tank weapons and Stinger missles. And Sweden — yes, Sweden — has apparently pledged defensive equipment.
Meanwhile, Putin is apparently ordering his nuclear arms forces to be on alert. And he commands the world's third-largest army.
More than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes, going over the border to Poland, where they have been met with support. Could you do that? Here is just one story of what it takes, that of an American woman who fled Kyiv with her husband and days-old daughter.
Those staying in Kyiv hunker down at nights in subway stations to stay safer from shelling. Could you do that?
New parents whose babies are in intensive care saw the hospital set-up move to an abandoned bomb shelter. Could you do that?
All of these choices and situations are unspeakably hard; I respect that until I face them myself, I could not possibly know how I would react. But I hope it would be Zelensky-style.
In the meantime, the Washington Post has published a list of organizations you can donate to in order to help Ukraine, if so inclined. The list: Voices of Children, the Go Fund Me "Keep Ukraine's media going," Save the Children, Sunflower of Peace, World Central Kitchen and, to donate directly to the military, National Bank of Ukraine.
Below: Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine.
Is it Kyiv or Kiev?
It's Kyiv.
Simple reason: That is how it is rendered in the Ukrainian language. "Kiev" is a Russian transliteration.
Longer reason: The Ukrainian government prefers Kyiv. As the Associated Press style manual explains in its 2019 update: "To many Ukrainians, the former spelling Kiev appears outdated because it is associated with a time when Ukraine was part of the Russian and Soviet states, rather than an independent country."
Obviously, the AP style manual isn't the final word in the real world. But Ukraine's is. Ukraine says Kyiv.
The Montrose Daily Press is sad to report that a man has died in an avalanche in Gunnison County.
On Friday, Feb. 25, an avalanche came down onto four people near Marble Quarry Road. Nathaniel Smith, 27, of Colorado Springs did not survive.
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