We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptTV Ukraine Border- Sumy Region - Adamenko
HEAD: Ukrainians Near Russia Border Craft Plans Should War Break Out
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 02/09/2022 at 8:30am
BYLINE: Olena Adamenko
DATELINE: Sumy Region, Ukraine
CAMERA: Mykhailo Zaika
VIDEO EDITOR: Anna Rice
PRODUCER: Barry Unger
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st); MAS
VIDEO FROM: VOA
TYPE: TVPKG
TRT: 2:48
VIDEO APPROVER'S INITIALS: MAS
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
As efforts to calm tensions between Moscow and Kyiv continue, civilians along the border are planning what they will do if Russia invades Ukraine. For VOA, Olena Adamenko spoke to residents in the Sumy region of northeast Ukraine in this story narrated by Anna Rice.
((NARRATION))
40-year old Yulia VitkOvska is a nurse and reservist for territorial defense forces in northeastern Ukraine
((Yulia Vitkovska, Territorial Defense Forces Reservist)) ((IN UKRAINIAN))
“Being some 50 kilometers from the Russian border is not far. One full salvo from a BM-21 "Grad" – and the city of Sumy is in ruins. What should I do – sit in these ruins and wait for someone to come and save us? No, no… If there is a need, I’ll do my best to get my family
out of here. My mom is elderly and she’s sick, my son is a student… I’ll make sure they leave, but I’ll stay, I don’t want to leave my home for some occupant to live here.”
((NARRATION))
Activist Andriy Bukin says she’s not alone.
((Andriy Bukin, Sumy Region Activist)) ((IN UKRAINIAN))
“Two-thirds of my friends if not more will protect our Sumy region and the city through either official or volunteer organizations. The issue is especially acute if the “little green men” show up – just like in 2014 in Crimea.”
((NARRATION))
This is Kostyantynivka – one of about 30 cities in the Sumy region near the Russian border.
((Mykola Torianyk, Khotyn Amalgamated Territorial Community)) ((IN UKR))
“Over there on the other side, you can see where the vegetable patches end, there’s Russia. People’s vegetable patches stretch right up to the border!”
((NARRATION))
Mykola ToriAnyk is chairman of the Khotyn Amalgamated Territorial Community, which includes 10 local villages. So far, he says, there hasn’t been much activity.
((Mykola Torianyk, Khotyn Amalgamated Territorial Community)) ((IN UKR))
“Sometimes we see planes pass by, small ones, maybe border forces. At times, I can see our planes, as well as theirs. It’s been quiet.”
((NARRATION))
Still people are anxious.
((Mykola Torianyk, Chairman, Khotyn Amalgamated Territorial Community)) ((IN UKR))
“People are not leaving, but you can feel the tension. They used to talk about gas, rising food prices, politics, and today whenever people meet – by a store or anywhere else, they always say, “Well, have you heard anything? Is there going to be war or not?””
((NARRATION))
Local officials say there is talk about increasing the number of military forces in the Sumy region.
((Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, Sumy Region State Administration)) ((IN UKRAINIAN))
“Together with the Ministry of Defense we’re discussing the possibility of having one or two more brigades here. Over February, we’ll hold drills for the Territorial Defense Forces. It’ll be a full-scale drill.”
((NARRATION))
But Yulia Vitkovska says they aren’t as prepared as they should be.
((Yulia Vitkovska, Reservist, Territorial Defense)) ((IN UKRAINIAN))
“I don’t see the appropriate response from the structures that need to deal with this in such a difficult time. It’s impossible to learn during one or two drills!”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Yulia Vitkovska))
Vitkovska now plans to start civil defense courses together with some of her friends, as
((End courtesy))
they continue to prepare for an uncertain future.
((For Olena Adamenko in the Sumy Region, Ukraine, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsBorder
Ukraine
Sumy
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 9, 2022 15:16 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
