Ukraine Mariupol Falls USAGM
Metadata
- Ukraine Mariupol Falls USAGM
- May 18, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: UKRAINE MARIUPOL FALLS (TV) HEADLINE: Families Scattered as Mariupol Falls to Russian Forces TEASER: Aid workers say they don’t know how many civilians remain trapped in the city. PUBLISHED AT: 05/18/2022 at 11:40am BYLINE: Heather Murdock DATELINE: ZAPORIZHZHYA, Ukraine VIDEOGRAPHER: Yan Boechat, Reuters VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:16 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO:)) [[After months of siege, Russia is taking control of Ukraine’s strategic port city, Mariupol, and aid workers say they do not know how many civilians still are trapped inside. VOA’s Heather Murdock report’s from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, that in recent months, many risked everything to get out but even now, they still live in fear. ((NARRATOR:)) After months of bombardments, Russia and Ukraine finally agreed early this month on the evacuation of some civilians trapped underground in Mariupol, a key port city now in Russia’s control. UN officials said they evacuated hundreds of people, but it is unknown how many others remain inside and are trying to get out. ((Saviano Abreu, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)) ((Male, English)) “I cannot say, I cannot know how many people are there. But we know by the people who left that much more are there.” ((NARRATOR:)) Most people who fled Mariupol after the February invasion began left individually or in some groups, often flying white rags on their vehicles to show they are not combatants. Aid workers set up tents with food and other basics in a superstore parking lot here in Zaporizhzhya, a city not far from the war zones, but still firmly in Ukrainian control. By the time families arrived here to find their way to refugee shelters or housing with friends and families, they were exhausted and often emotionally devastated. At a nearby underground shelter, one father tells us even after they settle in a relatively safe place, families are still afraid. ((Maxim, Displaced Mariupol Resident)) ((Male, in Russian)) “Russians have all information about us listed in their databases. If you leave their areas, you go through ‘filtration’, and they take a print of every finger and your palm. They take all passport details.” ((NARRATOR:)) Despite this danger, he said, they had to leave because inside the war zone, life was unsustainable. He said bodies littered the ground. ((Maxim, Displaced Mariupol Resident)) ((Male, in Russian)) “My small daughter wanted to play outside, but it was impossible. Missiles were flying outside, and when they exploded, the damage was massive.” ((NARRATOR:)) Early this week, Ukrainian leaders said their battle for Mariupol was over, urging commanders on the ground to save the lives of remaining soldiers. Hundreds of soldiers were evacuated from Azovstal, a steel company with underground bunkers built for nuclear war. Many of the Ukrainian military evacuees are now in areas controlled by Russia. Ukrainian officials say they will negotiate for their release, as their families advocate for a safe return. ((Christina, Sister of Missing Ukrainian Fighter)) ((Female, English)) “We want to see our relations at home, but we don’t know how long time they [will be] there.” ((NARRATOR:)) As fears of Russian aggression grow, Sweden and Finland have applied for NATO membership. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brushed off the move, saying it won’t make a “big difference” to Russian security. ((NARRATOR:)) Millions of people have been displaced in nearly four months of war in Ukraine, and thousands have been killed. In some areas once occupied by Russia, but now back under Ukrainian control, officials are investigating mounting reports of war crimes. ((HEATHER MURDOCK VOA NEWS, ZAPORIZHZHYA, UKRAINE))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: UKRAINE MARIUPOL FALLS (TV) HEADLINE: Families Scattered as Mariupol Falls to Russian Forces TEASER: Aid workers say they don’t know how many civilians remain trapped in the city. PUBLISHED AT: 05/18/2022 at 11:40am BYLINE: Heather Murdock DATELINE: ZAPORIZHZHYA, Ukraine VIDEOGRAPHER: Yan Boechat, Reuters VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:16 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO:)) [[After months of siege, Russia is taking control of Ukraine’s strategic port city, Mariupol, and aid workers say they do not know how many civilians still are trapped inside. VOA’s Heather Murdock report’s from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, that in recent months, many risked everything to get out but even now, they still live in fear. ((NARRATOR:)) After months of bombardments, Russia and Ukraine finally agreed early this month on the evacuation of some civilians trapped underground in Mariupol, a key port city now in Russia’s control. UN officials said they evacuated hundreds of people, but it is unknown how many others remain inside and are trying to get out. ((Saviano Abreu, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)) ((Male, English)) “I cannot say, I cannot know how many people are there. But we know by the people who left that much more are there.” ((NARRATOR:)) Most people who fled Mariupol after the February invasion began left individually or in some groups, often flying white rags on their vehicles to show they are not combatants. Aid workers set up tents with food and other basics in a superstore parking lot here in Zaporizhzhya, a city not far from the war zones, but still firmly in Ukrainian control. By the time families arrived here to find their way to refugee shelters or housing with friends and families, they were exhausted and often emotionally devastated. At a nearby underground shelter, one father tells us even after they settle in a relatively safe place, families are still afraid. ((Maxim, Displaced Mariupol Resident)) ((Male, in Russian)) “Russians have all information about us listed in their databases. If you leave their areas, you go through ‘filtration’, and they take a print of every finger and your palm. They take all passport details.” ((NARRATOR:)) Despite this danger, he said, they had to leave because inside the war zone, life was unsustainable. He said bodies littered the ground. ((Maxim, Displaced Mariupol Resident)) ((Male, in Russian)) “My small daughter wanted to play outside, but it was impossible. Missiles were flying outside, and when they exploded, the damage was massive.” ((NARRATOR:)) Early this week, Ukrainian leaders said their battle for Mariupol was over, urging commanders on the ground to save the lives of remaining soldiers. Hundreds of soldiers were evacuated from Azovstal, a steel company with underground bunkers built for nuclear war. Many of the Ukrainian military evacuees are now in areas controlled by Russia. Ukrainian officials say they will negotiate for their release, as their families advocate for a safe return. ((Christina, Sister of Missing Ukrainian Fighter)) ((Female, English)) “We want to see our relations at home, but we don’t know how long time they [will be] there.” ((NARRATOR:)) As fears of Russian aggression grow, Sweden and Finland have applied for NATO membership. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brushed off the move, saying it won’t make a “big difference” to Russian security. ((NARRATOR:)) Millions of people have been displaced in nearly four months of war in Ukraine, and thousands have been killed. In some areas once occupied by Russia, but now back under Ukrainian control, officials are investigating mounting reports of war crimes. ((HEATHER MURDOCK VOA NEWS, ZAPORIZHZHYA, UKRAINE))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date May 18, 2022 13:10 EDT
- Byline Heather Murdock
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America