Posted on Feb 18, 2022
Despite the threat of war, some Americans in Ukraine are staying put
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https://www.npr.org/2022/02/18/ [login to see] /despite-the-threat-of-war-some-americans-in-ukraine-are-staying-put
American James Berk is an optician from Montclair, N.J. He's now living in Ukraine's capital Kyiv with his Ukrainian wife Anna and their newborn daughter Sophie.
"My job right now is I'm raising raising our daughter. She's under four weeks old and she is, you know, doing what newborns do," said Berk, as his daughter fussed in the background.
So it's a bit hectic in their apartment. And, by the way, the Russians could invade any day.
The family got some good news this week when their daughter received her U.S. passport, allowing her to travel. But Anna has a Ukrainian passport, and doesn't have a visa to go to the U.S.
American James Berk is an optician from Montclair, N.J. He's now living in Ukraine's capital Kyiv with his Ukrainian wife Anna and their newborn daughter Sophie.
"My job right now is I'm raising raising our daughter. She's under four weeks old and she is, you know, doing what newborns do," said Berk, as his daughter fussed in the background.
So it's a bit hectic in their apartment. And, by the way, the Russians could invade any day.
The family got some good news this week when their daughter received her U.S. passport, allowing her to travel. But Anna has a Ukrainian passport, and doesn't have a visa to go to the U.S.
Despite the threat of war, some Americans in Ukraine are staying put
Posted from npr.org
Russia
Ukraine
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania allow entry up to 90 days with a Ukrainian passport and no visa. Same for a US passport.
Not sure I’d wait to start driving, though.
Not sure I’d wait to start driving, though.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""Even if we wanted to leave and go to the States, we couldn't do that because she has to get a visa, and with the embassy closed down. That's not an option for us, unfortunately," said Berk.
The U.S. has temporarily shut the embassy in Kyiv and is running a scaled-down operation in Lviv, a city 300 miles to the west. The embassy has urged all Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately.
Berk has rented a car in case the family needs to make a quick dash for the border. But for now, they're staying put.
"It's a difficult decision for us," said Berk. "It's one we're constantly reevaluating. We packed our bags so we can leave if they cut the power and we have to hit the road very quickly."
Some Americans plan to stay even if war breaks out
U.S. officials estimate 20,000 to 30,000 Americans were living in Ukraine, though the numbers are going down as U.S. citizens pull out.
Those remaining include Katherine Quinn-Judge, who's spent the past several years analyzing Ukraine's security situation for think tanks. She keeps close watch on the existing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
"For the last four years or so I've been kind of living and breathing this war," she said. "I would feel really horrible if I left, if I watch the city I've been living in being shelled and had to think about my neighbors and everything. I would much rather stay and just see what happens."...
...""Even if we wanted to leave and go to the States, we couldn't do that because she has to get a visa, and with the embassy closed down. That's not an option for us, unfortunately," said Berk.
The U.S. has temporarily shut the embassy in Kyiv and is running a scaled-down operation in Lviv, a city 300 miles to the west. The embassy has urged all Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately.
Berk has rented a car in case the family needs to make a quick dash for the border. But for now, they're staying put.
"It's a difficult decision for us," said Berk. "It's one we're constantly reevaluating. We packed our bags so we can leave if they cut the power and we have to hit the road very quickly."
Some Americans plan to stay even if war breaks out
U.S. officials estimate 20,000 to 30,000 Americans were living in Ukraine, though the numbers are going down as U.S. citizens pull out.
Those remaining include Katherine Quinn-Judge, who's spent the past several years analyzing Ukraine's security situation for think tanks. She keeps close watch on the existing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
"For the last four years or so I've been kind of living and breathing this war," she said. "I would feel really horrible if I left, if I watch the city I've been living in being shelled and had to think about my neighbors and everything. I would much rather stay and just see what happens."...
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