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((TITLE: TV Puzzles for Ukraine – Prus
HEAD: Sales of Ukrainian Puzzles to Help Rebuild Country, Piece by Piece
TEASER: Company makes puzzles that show Ukrainian buildings and monuments before they were damaged or destroyed in the Russian invasion
PUBLISHED: 05/15/2023 at 9:15am
BYLINE: Mariia Prus
CONTRIBUTOR: Iryna Shynkarenko
DATELINE: Washington
CAMERA: Oleksii Osyka
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO FROM: VOA, Agencies, Zoom
COURTESIES NEEDED:
TYPE: VPKGN
TRT: 2:27
VIDEO APPROVER'S INITIALS: KE
UPDATE: All Zoom interviews are cleared for use))
((INTRO))
[[Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, people all over the world have come up with innovative ways to raise money for the eventual rebuilding of the country. One woman is selling puzzles of Ukrainian buildings and monuments that have since been damaged or destroyed — scenes from the past to help Ukraine piece together what was lost. Mariia Prus has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
Piece by piece, slowly but surely, Ukrainian historical buildings and cultural monuments are coming together in these unique puzzles.
A company called Ukrainian Puzzles is selling them. Its founder, Yaryna Zhurba, says any profits go to Ukrainian reconstruction foundations.
((Yaryna Zhurba, Ukrainian Puzzles)) ((UKR))
“The puzzles are all produced in Ukraine, and we export most of them to North America. This is not just some goods we produce — this is a means of communication, us showing the world what’s happening in Ukraine, what monuments are being destroyed.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Puzzles + YouTube logo))
The company recently added new puzzles depicting subjects like the AN-225 Mriya plane,
((End courtesy))
Mariupol theatre, Kharkiv University and Kyiv TV tower. Each puzzle costs about
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Puzzles))
$25.
So far, her company has sold over a thousand puzzles, and a thousand more are in production.
((End courtesy))
((Yaryna Zhurba, Ukrainian Puzzles)) ((UKR))
“Our puzzles are available all over the world — except for Russia and Belarus, of course.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Puzzles + YouTube Logo))
One of Zhurba's most loyal customers is Bunny Drueke,
((End courtesy))
the mother of U.S. volunteer Alex Drueke, who joined Ukraine’s Armed Forces after the Russian invasion. He was taken prisoner by the Russians and came back to the U.S. in September after a prisoner swap.
Bunny Drueke says she is doing what she can to spread information about the war among Americans and help Ukraine.
((Bunny Drueke, Ukraine Supporter)) ((Zoom)) ((ENG))
“I have been buying the Ukrainian puzzles, which I absolutely love. They are beautiful! And it breaks my heart to look at the picture inside and see how those beautiful buildings look now.”
((NARRATION))
Drueke is also encouraging her friends to donate money to help Ukraine.
((Bunny Drueke, Ukraine Supporter)) ((Zoom)) ((ENG))
“There was an enormous tornado that came through my town about twelve years ago. And we are still trying to rebuild from that! So, I have an idea of how difficult it’s going to be to rebuild Ukraine.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Puzzles + YouTube Logo))
Zhurba hopes her company becomes a successful Ukrainian brand, and she is already planning puzzles dedicated to Ukrainian art
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: Ukrainian Puzzles))
and scenic spots throughout the country.
((Mariia Prus, VOA News))
((End courtesy))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
