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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been especially trying for people in the southern city of Mykolaiv, which serves as a base for Ukranian forces fighting to retake Kherson and defend the seaport of Odesa and from the Russians. Many of the battered city's residents have chosen to stay, defend and rebuild their city. From Kyiv, Anna Chernikova has that story.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUKRAINE – MYKOLAIV
HEADLINE: Besieged Ukrainian City of Mykolaiv Sees Hope in Fight to Survive
TEASER: Strategically located southern city has come under fierce attack, yet many of its residents are choosing to stay
PUBLISHED AT: 11/2/2022, 6:03p
BYLINE: Anna Chernikova
CONTRIBUTOR: Stephen Boitano
DATELINE: Kyiv
VIDEOGRAPHER: Stephen Boitano; Eugene Shynkar
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:33
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG NOTES: Anna’s email is: anna.pyatetska@gmail.com ; please do not send to Anna’s VOA address; Stephen Boitano in Mykolaiv contributed to the report; for production Wednesday))
((INTRO))
[[Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been especially trying for people in the southern city of Mykolaiv, which serves as a base for Ukranian forces fighting to retake Kherson and defend the seaport of Odesa and from the Russians. Many of the battered city's residents have chosen to stay, defend and rebuild their city. From Kyiv, Anna Chernikova has that story.]]
((NARRATOR))
The front lines of southern Ukraine have become the focus in this phase of the eight-month-old war, as Ukrainian forces advance toward Kherson.
The aim of Russia’s assault in the south was to take control of Ukraine’s main seaport at Odesa. However, Ukrainian forces in the city of Mykolaiv stopped the Russian advance.
Even as Ukrainian forces move the front line farther away from Mykolaiv, its residents continue to live through brutal shelling every day.
They bear the brunt of Russian attacks.
Olha lost her home during a recent Russian missile strike on one of the city’s residential areas. She and her family were rescued from under the rubble of their own house. She spoke to VOA hours after the attack.
((Olha, Mykolaiv Resident – FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN – VOA))
“I woke up as the neighbors were screaming that there was something flying in the direction of our house.
All the houses in our district have no windows, nothing. At some point, I felt cold in my soul. You realize that there is nothing left of what was so dear to you. It's just a terrible feeling.”
((NARRATOR))
This was once a bustling city of 500,000 people. Now, half of the population has fled to safer places.
Other residents, like Olha, continue their fight — staying to keep the city alive.
Seeing Russian forces retreat from the Kherson region gives them hope.
With that hope, they are repairing or rebuilding their homes and preparing to survive the difficult winter ahead.
Olha will not let fear of the attacks — or the cold — stop her.
((Olha, Mykolaiv Resident – FEMALE IN RUSSIAN – VOA))
“I will continue to support relatives in the reconstruction of the apartment. We will restore it all. We simply have nowhere to go. //cutaway shots// We will rebuild and fight on. I hope that we will survive. //cutaway shots// It's all so dear to me, even in this condition. I am ready to stay here and fight until the end.”
((NARRATOR))
Humanitarian organizations say they will be there for people as long as it’s necessary.
[[RADIO VERSION: Pavlo Buznik is a commander with the rapid response unit of the Ukrainian Red Cross.]]
((Pavlo Buznik, Ukrainian Red Cross – MALE IN UKRAINIAN – VOA))
“We are currently conducting a number of activities aimed at preparing for winter. This is the preparation of tents, the preparation of heating devices, and a number of other issues.”
((NARRATOR))
Mykolaiv is not the only city in Ukraine that is caught in the crossfire. Although it has been devastated, its people are standing strong, surviving and serving as an example for the rest of the besieged nation.
((ANNA CHERNIKOVA, FOR VOA NEWS, KYIV, UKRAINE))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Ukraine Kyiv
Embargo DateNovember 2, 2022 18:47 EDT
Byline
ANNA CHERNIKOVA, VOA NEWS,
KYIV, UKRAINE))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
