As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, members of a Tampa-based non-profit group are planning American rescue operations.
Project Dynamo, which consists mainly of military veterans, got its start earlier last year when it from Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrew and Kabul fell under Taliban control.
Project co-founder Brian Stern said members from his group arrived in Kabul in the middle of chaos and attacks; this time, they arrived 鈥渆arly鈥� in Ukraine 鈥� before full-scale hostilities break out.
READ MORE:
Speaking from Ukraine鈥檚 capital of Kyiv, the retired combat veteran said they are trying to start preparations early to avoid hysteria.
Stern explained that Poland and Romania are the only feasible countries that Ukraine borders that people could escape to during an evacuation.
鈥淭o the north is Belarus, which is the bad guys; and to the east is Russia, which are the bad guys; and to the south is the Russian navy, which are the bad guys,鈥� he said 鈥淭here's only one direction.鈥�
Project Dynamo鈥檚 efforts come following the Biden administration鈥檚 repeated requests for American citizens to and the
Stern said his group is spreading information about the operation by encouraging Americans still there to meet at large monuments, like churches.
He added that they鈥檙e trying to work strategically.
鈥淭he Polish and the Romanians have said, 鈥榃e can't afford a refugee crisis and if you're Ukrainian, no vacancy,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淪o in the middle of all that is going to be a group of Americans trying to get through that mob scene, and it's going to be terrible.鈥�
One issue Stern said he鈥檚 anticipating is more cyberattacks.
鈥淩ussia has superior soft skills 鈥� meaning GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, taking down power grids, and misinformation,鈥� he said, adding that they鈥檙e anticipating having to operate in a 鈥渃ommunication-denied environment.鈥�
Stern is adamant that if American citizens in Kyiv are scared, they should leave now if they are able to.
鈥淒on't wait for Dynamo to rescue you, because I'm not gonna be able to rescue everybody,鈥� he said.
For people looking to help, Stern encourages them to visit the Project Dynamo website, where they can or fill out a for any friends or family they know who need help evacuating.
Copyright 2022 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. To see more, visit .
