“Mykolaiv…. We have received information from the Circular Defense team… 12 tanks have broken through from the Kakhovka side, and enemy forces are following them.”
It’s Saturday 26 February 2022, shortly after midday. Vitalii Kim, governor of Mykolaiv Oblast in southeastern Ukraine, talks into his phone camera from his office. His voice is steady, flat, seemingly unfazed by what’s about to happen. The only things giving him away are frustrated, subtle hand taps on his desk and the odd audible exhale. It’s understandable: Kim has just been told that Russian forces are rapidly descending on his city.
“Barricades need to be built in the city so that [military] equipment cannot enter specific areas. We are mobilizing everyone to provide everything necessary for the perimeter where our military is standing. I ask those who have the desire and strength to go out…”
Urgency creeps into his delivery as his words speed up and he looks directly into the camera.
“We have around five hours. The main thing is to hold out until nightfall.”
He begins tapping his desk harder.
“No one is running away, all emergency services, police, everyone is on the ground. Our task is to protect the city.”
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