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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV – Ukraine Mykolaiv Demining – Krotyk
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Deminers in Mykolaiv Work to Make Area Safe
TEASER: Fleeing Russian forces left behind all kinds of mines, booby traps and undetonated munitions in Ukraine.
PUBLISHED AT: 02/08/2023 AT 9:20AM
BYLINE: Yelyzaveta Krotyk
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Mykolaiv, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yelyzaveta Krotyk
VIDEO EDITOR: Yelyzaveta Krotyk
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Story Hunter
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: KE
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Russian troops occupied the village of Snihurivka for 9 months, when they retreated, they left behind a deadly legacy of booby-traps and landmines. A Ukrainian demining team is working to make the area safe again. Yelyzaveta Krotyk has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Guy on walkie-talkie))
“We’re ready!
((Second guy))
“Fire!”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: State Emergency Service of Ukraine))
In this video, members of a Ukrainian bomb disposal squad are deactivating mines in the Mykolaiv region of Southern
((End courtesy))
Ukraine.
((Andrey Shlykov, State Emergency Service of Ukraine)) ((UKR))
“A wide array of munitions – artillery shells, rocket-propelled grenades, cluster munitions and land mines…”
((NARRATION))
The village of Snihurivka in the Mykolaiv region was occupied by Russian troops for over nine months.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces liberated the village in November, but locals still couldn’t return. That’s because Russian forces left behind all kinds of mines, booby traps and undetonated munitions.
((Oleksandr Antko, State Emergency Service of Ukraine)) ((UKR))
“They were expecting an attack and made booby traps to be prepared. They wanted to protect themselves… But then they had to withdraw and just left things as is.”
((NARRATION))
Before anyone can move back, the minesweepers move in.
((Dmytro Kudin, State Emergency Service of Ukraine)) ((UKR))
“We don’t go in blind – we get some information first. Meaning, if we are told there are potential mines somewhere, that’s where we go. We start by inspecting the road because we’ll use it later to move around. Then we proceed with the rest of the area.”
((NARRATION))
Usually, one of the first areas minesweepers scrutinize is under power lines – the sooner that area is clear the sooner electricity can be restored.
The bomb disposal team never forgets their job can be a deadly one.
((Mykola Vynnytchuk, State Emergency Service of Ukraine)) ((UKR))
“In villages we would find grenades, mortar bombs, undetonated munitions. // These objects are especially dangerous because handling them incorrectly may lead to death or serious injuries of arms, hands and eyes. Non-experts should never even touch them.”
((NARRATION))
All the dangerous objects minesweepers find are then taken to a special facility used for storing undetonated munitions and later for defusing them.
((Oleksandr Antko, State Emergency Service of Ukraine)) ((UKR))
“Fear is a sign of common sense, people should be afraid to touch these objects, even minesweepers. If they have no fear, that’s a problem. It forces us to be more careful – because you know people will be back in this area after you leave.”
((NARRATION))
In December, three munitions' experts were killed while searching for mines in the Kherson region.
Officials with the emergency service unit say that since the start of Russia’s invasion, over 8000 undetonated munitions have been found and destroyed in the Mykolaiv region alone.
((For Yelyzaveta Krotyk in Mykolaiv region, Ukraine, Anna Rice, VOA News.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Mykolaiv, Ukraine
BylineYelyzaveta Krotyk
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
