Let's switch to first person. The night of February 23, the Russian Parliament formally recognized the independence of two already embattled eastern regions of Ukraine. We (Lena and Clinton) went to bed that night feeling like the war could start any moment. Troops had been building up along the eastern and northern borders for months and the US State Department had been warning Americans to leave since at least the previous November. We woke up the morning of February 24 to the news that the invasion had begun with intense bombing and fighting in Eastern Ukraine. We didn't know how quickly we would be affected. Our first phone call was to the court where our adoption hearing was scheduled the next day. They assured us that the hearing would occur as scheduled.

Posted by Shade For Children at 2023-02-15 08:00:01 UTC