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Hello. I’m worried about my mother-in-law in Chernihiv (if she survives this disgusting attack) for the same reasons. If Russians take the city, the same block

Hello. I’m worried about my mother-in-law in Chernihiv (if she survives this disgusting attack) for the same reasons. If Russians take the city, the same block will obstruct her too. I gave her our emails and telephone numbers. I assume she will be able to call someone who can email us. Otherwise she can make an international call to us. It is very scary. My wife almost has a breakdown unless she can check on her mum through the day. This blockade will ruin peoples lives.

filoleg 5y ago
I am very sorry to hear about your situation, it sounds significantly more stressful and awful than mine. I hope your family gets through this successfully. I cannot even imagine how to deal with having someone close to you being directly in the action zone there. My dad is in mainland Russia, but given recent laws that Russia passed in regards to "fake news" and protestors, we seriously were concerned about our calls being tapped. And not in a "oh man, that's not cool for someone to tap our communications", but more like "15 years of russian prison and/or much worse consequences feel a bit too close right now" type of way. > she can make an international call to us. One question about this, if you don't mind. What's the best way to do place international calls there in terms of convenience/cost/quality and just as an overall package? My mind jumped first to Google Voice, because that's something I've used with success before. But I don't have much of an idea about alternatives, so I wouldn't know if there was something much better suited for the purpose.
- iudqnolq 5y ago
  Many people use WhatsApp or Telegram. Both let you make free calls given internet access. The first is more secure, but the second is much more commonly used in Russia - it'll be more innocuous looking and less likely to be blocked. [Not an expert]
iudqnolq 5y ago
I'm not at all an expert, but I'd suggest setting up Telegram. Anecdotally the Russian govt seems pretty dependent on it for their own communication. They've backed down from banning it in the past, albeit in less serious situations. As long as you neither of you ever send anything political on telegram or join any political channels that might be your safest communication option.

filoleg 5y ago

I am very sorry to hear about your situation, it sounds significantly more stressful and awful than mine. I hope your family gets through this successfully. I cannot even imagine how to deal with having someone close to you being directly in the action zone there. My dad is in mainland Russia, but given recent laws that Russia passed in regards to "fake news" and protestors, we seriously were concerned about our calls being tapped. And not in a "oh man, that's not cool for someone to tap our communications", but more like "15 years of russian prison and/or much worse consequences feel a bit too close right now" type of way. > she can make an international call to us. One question about this, if you don't mind. What's the best way to do place international calls there in terms of convenience/cost/quality and just as an overall package? My mind jumped first to Google Voice, because that's something I've used with success before. But I don't have much of an idea about alternatives, so I wouldn't know if there was something much better suited for the purpose.

iudqnolq 5y ago
Many people use WhatsApp or Telegram. Both let you make free calls given internet access. The first is more secure, but the second is much more commonly used in Russia - it'll be more innocuous looking and less likely to be blocked. [Not an expert]

iudqnolq 5y ago

I'm not at all an expert, but I'd suggest setting up Telegram. Anecdotally the Russian govt seems pretty dependent on it for their own communication. They've backed down from banning it in the past, albeit in less serious situations. As long as you neither of you ever send anything political on telegram or join any political channels that might be your safest communication option.