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[[Early in Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine, its forces came near the capital, Kyiv, and committed some of the conflict’s worst massacres in the communities of Irpin and Bucha. Anna Chernikova recently returned to the scene and has this report. Please note this report contains images some may find disturbing.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUKR 1YR IRPIN BUCHA
HEADLINE: One Year after Kyiv Area Massacres, Hope Shines
TEASER: Residents have returned to the scene of the worst atrocities near the Ukrainian capital
PUBLISHED AT: 02/22/2023 at 3:35pm
BYLINE: Anna Chernikova
DATELINE: Kyiv Region, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Eugene Shynkar
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:47
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
NOTES: FOR PRODUCTION WEDNESDAY For questions and final review, Anna’s email is: achernikova@associates.voanews.com))
((INTRO))
[[Early in Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine, its forces came near the capital, Kyiv, and committed some of the conflict’s worst massacres in the communities of Irpin and Bucha. Anna Chernikova recently returned to the scene and has this report. Please note this report contains images some may find disturbing.]]
((cg: April 2022))
((NARRATOR))
It's been nearly one year since the world woke up to the first images of Russian atrocities in liberated areas of the Kyiv region.
We came back to Irpin and Bucha — the hardest-hit places that Russia once occupied in the Kyiv region,
((End cg from April 2022))
to see what life here looks like now.
((NARRATOR))
Olha and Slava Ovcharenko are residents of Irpin
((CG: April 2022))
whom we met last April when they decided to return after being evacuated.
((end April 2022 courtesy))
Today, they are back to a somewhat normal life — one that has been deeply transformed.
((Slava Ovcharenko, Irpin Resident)) ((MALE IN UKRAINIAN - VOA))
“A lot of buildings were rebuilt, and many people returned.
The mood is improving, and we are waiting for spring. In the spring, it will be even better when nature will cover what is still ruined, for now.
There is no fear, there is a clear plan of action. If there will be another offensive, then we already know everything clearly. We have already survived this situation.”
((Olha Ovcharenko, Irpin Resident)) ((FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN - VOA))
“When we returned, there was no one there at all. And now, more or less, almost the same volumes and desire to do something.”
((NARRATOR))
Irpin was one of the most destroyed places in the Kyiv region. Today it is full of life. But the scars of war remain fresh.
After a 10-minute drive, we enter the neighboring town of Bucha.
Yablunska Street in Bucha was the scene of one of the greatest tragedies in the Kyiv region in this war. The first image that millions of people around the world saw after Ukrainian forces liberated the Kyiv region from Russian occupation in March 2022, was this spot:
((Mandatory courtesy, Ronaldo Schemidt))
A long street full of dead bodies — an atrocity now known as the
Bucha massacre.
((NARRATOR))
Natalia Zelena lives on this street. She witnessed it all.
((Natalia Zelena, Bucha Resident)) ((FEMALE IN UKRAINIAN - VOA))
“This is the road of death. It's terrible what was happening here. //
Here the body of my child’s godfather was lying, by the pillar, shot dead. Here dead bodies were lying as well. And here, on the road.”
((NARRATOR))
Volodymyr Predko also survived the Russian occupation in Bucha.
((Volodymyr Predko, Bucha Resident)) ((MALE IN RUSSIAN/UKRAINIAN - VOA))
“Debris was all around here, bullet shots. It was scary to walk on the streets. On April 1, I went outside and saw our [Ukrainian] infantry fighting vehicles already on their way.
The soul rejoiced. People started to get outside.”
((NARRATOR))
Now, a year after that tragic event, people in this town continue to live and recover. One can see smiles on people’s faces — but still much pain in people’s eyes.
((ANNA CHERNIKOVA, FOR VOA NEWS, IN THE KYIV REGION, UKRAINE))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Kyiv Region, Ukraine
Embargo DateFebruary 22, 2023 19:23 EST
Byline((ANNA CHERNIKOVA, FOR VOA NEWS, IN THE KYIV REGION, UKRAINE))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
