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((INTRO:))
[[A series of prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia — the latest of which came on October 17 — are bringing relief and joy to the families of the released. But human rights activists say that an unknown number of Ukrainians — including some who were captured at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol — are still being held in Russia and Russian-occupied territories. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUkraine Prisoner Swap – Oshchudlyak
HEADLINE: Families of Ukrainian Fighters Describe Ordeal of Not Knowing
TEASER: An unknown number of soldiers remain in Russian captivity, human rights groups say
PUBLISHED AT: 11/2/2022 at 4:15pm
BYLINE: Omelyan Oshchudlyak
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Lviv, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yuriy Dankevych
VIDEO EDITOR: Yuriy Dankevych
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA (Story Hunter)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:07
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO:))
[[A series of prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia — the latest of which came on October 17 — are bringing relief and joy to the families of the released. But human rights activists say that an unknown number of Ukrainians — including some who were captured at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol — are still being held in Russia and Russian-occupied territories. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
((COURTESY: Iryna Novosyadlo))
Iryna Novosyadlo has waited for six months to see her son again.
((Iryna Novosyadlo, Azovstal Plant Defender's Mother)) ((IN UKR))
“He lived for this moment for the last six months, to hug us.”
NARRATION:
((courtesy: Iryna Novosyadlo))
Lviv native Yuriy Novosyadlo turned 24 while in Russian captivity. One of the Azovstal plant defenders in Mariupol, he lost 30 kilograms after being taken prisoner by the Russians in May. Relatives met him in Kyiv a week after his release.
((Iryna Novosyadlo, Azovstal Plant Defender's Mother)) ((IN UKR))
“He was the first to tell me he was free. He called and said he was in Ukraine. It was the happiest moment. I couldn't believe it for a few days.”
((NARRATION))
Iryna Novosyadlo’s son is safe, but she says she will continue to organize rallies in Lviv for those still being held prisoner. She does it because of the other stories she hears, she says. One of these stories is Anastasia's.
((Anastasia, Wife of Mariupol Defender)) ((IN UKR))
“My husband called and said he was alive and that we will meet soon because he thought they were being evacuated. They believed and left the plant, obeying an order.”
((NARRATOR))
Anastasia's husband is still missing.
((Tetyana, Mariupol Defender's Mother)) ((IN UKR))
“We waited for Azovstal defenders to come out because we thought our son was at Azovstal. Then we discovered he was not on the lists there, and the horror of searching began. Sometimes his name appeared on the list of the dead, then on the list of the missing. Finally, he was confirmed as a war prisoner and, thank God, alive.”
((NARRATION))
On February 24, when Russia invaded, Vladyslav’s mother, Valeria — a member of Ukraine’s armed forces who was using the Azovstal plant as a shelter — was supposed to return to her hometown, Lviv, from a rotation in the Donbas.
((Vladyslav, Soldier's Son)) ((IN UKR))
“On July 7, I received a call from an unknown number in the afternoon. The country code was not Ukrainian. I heard a woman's voice. She said, ‘Vlad, hello. It's me. Your mother.’ I didn't recognize her at first. This conversation lasted for two minutes.”
((NARRATION))
With his friend Maksym, he made a banner that attracted the attention of the international delegations during the U.N. secretary-general and Turkish president's visit to Lviv in mid-August.
((Vladyslav, Soldier’s Son)) ((IN UKR))
“When the delegations arrived, we displayed our posters. Mine said, ‘Save my mother if she is steel alive." Steel as in Azovstal steel plant. It turns out a play on words attracted more attention."
((NARRATION))
One hundred and eight women from Azovstal were released from Russian captivity on October 17 in a war prisoner swap.
Vladyslav's mother was in this group.
Omelyan Oshchudlyak, for VOA News, Lviv, Ukraine.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Lviv, Ukraine
Embargo DateNovember 2, 2022 18:10 EDT
Byline
Omelyan Oshchudlyak, for VOA News, Lviv, Ukraine.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English