I completely forgot to mention the Phosphorus spill which occured after a train derailed near Lviv about 2 weeks ago. 
 
I wasn't aware that you all were hearing news of the spill in the states. I know it did make it on the BBC but didn't know it got back to the USA. We actually have some students who are from this area and even have some live footage on a cell phone camera of the massive dark cloud above the villages in the region. One of our students took the footage as they were evacuating.
 
What we hear is that their is no immediate threat to us in Lviv.  It took place in the Lviv oblast (State) but some 70 kms from the city and the wind was blowing away from Lviv that week.  Of course some government official got his name in the news for calling it worse than Chernobyl but this was a huge exaggeration.  The word still isn't out yet on what harm has been done to the soil and water in the area. Residents are welcome to move back in, as is my student, but they honestly don't know who to trust in terms of safety - when one official says all is well, and others say it couldn't be worse.
 
As for our Student residing directly in the area, Vova Paskiv, he has gone home to pack up a few things and bring the back to Lviv. During the school year he lives in Lviv so he will just come back a little early.  He too is clueless as to who to trust regarding the safety of the area.

 

We have been advised not to eat products coming from this area so already we know the economic impact will be significant until this gets cleared up. The US Embassy also reports (unofficially) no immediate threat to the population of Lviv.

 

Ukraine, as always, needs your prayers.
Thanks for your interest. 

 
Be blessed,
Fred