In the twilight zone of war uncertainty is your sworn enemy.
As a security correspondent in Kiev, I see how true this is right now.
The map of the great war in the heart of Europe seems so unreasonable, but also closer than ever at the same time.
And that feeling drives my head crazy.
More than 100,000 Russian troops are on the border with Ukraine.
This is the most serious crisis since the 2014 flare-up.
In recent weeks many Western countries have found themselves acting urgently in an attempt to stop the Kremlin.
As diplomacy has not yet yielded tangible results, shipments of advanced weapons to Kiev have begun.
Putin.
Will decide on invasion ?, Photo: IP
It seems that whether we like it or not, we are going through a process of going to war.
The Ukrainian media is bombarded with intelligence reports from the West that Russia intends to occupy a large part of Ukraine in early 2022. Even maps with war plans are reported.
Ukrainian President Zlansky, Photo: AFP
President Volodymyr Zlansky urges residents in his speeches to remain calm and not believe in the Kremlin's intimidation.
A few days ago one of the people close to the president noted that there was cautious optimism, but the tense atmosphere and sad face of the journalists said it all, and the briefing room looked more like a war room.
Shouts and pressure are being felt on social networks in Ukraine.
People are venting their anger over what Russia is doing to the country, arguing over what should be put in the pre-war survival kits.
They also find out where the nearest shelter is and wonder why it is actually a grocery store.
Journalist Ilya Ponomarenko,
Every piece of news information becomes a viral story, and many provide it with angular interpretations.
In an interview with CNN, President Zlansky said that one of the hypothetical scenarios is that Russia will occupy Kharkov to "protect the Russian-speaking population."
Within an hour of this interview, headlines in the Ukrainian media shouted: "Zalansky says Russia will occupy Kharkov."
Usually after such headlines people send me messages and ask, "Do you think there will be a war?"
The whispers of war and the sense of the end of the world can reach enormous distances at lightning speed, and sometimes this creates devastating consequences on the ground.
According to the stubborn rumors, the diplomatic missions of Canada and the United States are about to be evacuated, and airlines have also begun to change their flight schedules so that their crews will not have to stay overnight in Kiev.
The city is still bustling
But once you get your head out of the media shower, you find yourself in another world.
The streets of Kiev are bustling and noisy as usual.
People come and go quickly and engage in their own affairs.
The snowy town enjoys the nice winter weather.
Although we are at the end of January, but Kiev is still in the atmosphere of the Christian holidays that have just ended.
In one of the city's historic squares there is still a Christmas fair, with all the attractions, lights and music.
Every night when I return home from the office, after another day of writing about the threat of war, I see the people of Kiev enjoying a hot wine or dancing in the snow.
They're glad they do not know how heavy the sword of Democles is right now over our heads.
But the inner voice of reason tells me that Russia is incapable - militarily, economically and politically - of making a move in Blitzkrieg on a scale that was recognized in World War II in a way that would subdue Ukraine.
The price of such a move is so astronomical that it is unrealistic.
This voice tells me that what is happening right now is just a formidable intimidation campaign.
That's why I usually reply to messages from my friends in this way: "Everything is going to be fine, they're just trying to squeeze concessions from the West."
But what if I'm wrong?
What if human cruelty and thirst for power did not listen to reason, and as a result the Christmas Fair in Kiev will tomorrow become a scorched scene of destruction?
The uncertainty of the twilight zone can drive the head crazy.
The author is a security correspondent for the Kyiv Independent newspaper
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