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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((TITLE: TV US Ukraine Veterans – Lisunova
HEAD: Families of US Volunteers Killed in Ukraine Address Congress
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 02/xx/2024
BYLINE: Kateryna Lisunova
CONTRIBUTOR: Iryna Shynkarenko
DATELINE: Washington
CAMERA: Oleksii Osyka
VIDEO EDITOR: Oleksii Osyka
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; sb
VIDEO FROM: VOA, agencies TBD
COURTESIES NEEDED:
TYPE: VPKGN
TRT: 3:49
VIDEO APPROVER'S INITIALS: KE
UPDATE: All Zoom interviews are cleared for use))
((INTRO))
[[Families of a number of American veterans killed or wounded in Ukraine met with US Congress members in late January to appeal to lawmakers to continue providing assistance to Ukraine. Katerina Lisunova and Irina Shynkarenko have the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Karla Webber))
Andrew Webber was a professional soldier who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2016, he retired as captain.
He got a law degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and started working as an international corporate lawyer. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, he decided to go there and fight for Ukraine.
He was killed in July 2023 in the Donetsk region, aged 40.
((End courtesy))
((Karla Webber, Andrew Webber’s Mother))
“Andrew despised Putin and his regime, he called it the regime, and he believed this invasion was the largest threat to democracy here and abroad. And he felt compelled to go.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Terry Lawrence))
Lance Lawrence was killed in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. He was a 28-year-old machine gunner. Lawrence served in the US Marine Corps for three years and received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and other awards.
((Terry Lawrence, Lance Lawrence’s Mother))
“He loved Ukraine, he wanted to
((End courtesy))
be a citizen after the war was over, he did not want to come home.”
((NARRATION))
Hundreds of Americans signed up to fight in Ukraine, and at least 30 have been killed, according to the aid group Safe Passage 4 Ukraine. Others have been wounded and flew home to be treated, but plan to go back to fighting, including this soldier. For security reasons, they asked that we don’t show his face.
((American Volunteer))
“In Afghanistan, we had air support. And there were a lot of logistics teams that were ready to jump in and give us everything we needed. And in Ukraine, so many people are doing so much more than we did in Afghanistan – with a lot less. And it was very impressive.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: R.T. Weatherman Foundation))
Today, these fighters are all members of a delegation that came to the US Congress to urge lawmakers to
((End courtesy))
continue their aid to Ukraine.
Willow Andrews’s son
((Mandatory courtesy: Willow Andrews))
Cooper, a former Marine, was killed fighting in Ukraine in April 2023.
((End courtesy))
((Willow Andrews, Cooper Andrews’ Mother))
“If a 24-year-old can see what's going on in Ukraine and decide to make an ultimate sacrifice at the age of 24, what's going on with the rest of the leadership in this country?
((NARRATION))
The delegation’s visit to Washington was organized by the charity
((Mandatory courtesy: R.T. Weatherman Foundation))
R.T. Weatherman Foundation.
((End courtesy))
((David Bramlette, R.T. Weatherman Foundation))
“We wanted to bring all these people together. First, just to lean on each other and kind of create a sense of community for these people. Just so they don't feel so isolated. But then second, nobody has brought a delegation to Washington, DC that's composed of Americans who served in Ukraine, whether they were wounded or killed.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: R.T. Weatherman Foundation + Instagram Logo))
Deputy Director of Operations and military veteran David Bramlette says the foundation has been engaged in evacuating wounded volunteers from Ukraine, as well as the repatriation of the dead.
((End courtesy))
((David Bramlette, R.T. Weatherman Foundation))
“I spent 2022 fighting in the Foreign Legion in Ukraine in Kharkiv. In September 2022, one of my teammates was wounded. // The foundation stepped in at that time to get him to treatment in Poland. I was eternally grateful for that.”
((NARRATION))
The foundation and the veterans’ families were happy to learn the $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan was passed in the Senate, early on February 13. But they say they will keep fighting to see it pass in the House of Representatives as well.
((For Kateryna Lisunova and Iryna Shynkarenko in Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 16, 2024 09:03 EST
BylineKateryna Lisunova
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
