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Transcript/ScriptAmerican Volunteers Ukraine -- USAGM
HEAD: American, Canadian Volunteers Respond to Ukraine’s Plea For Help
PUBLISHED AT: 03/07/2022 AT 4:15PM
BYLINE: Maxim Moskalkov
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Anatolie Casenco
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP, Reuters
PLATFORMS: TV only
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st), MAS
TRT: 3:17
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: Zoom interviews done on a personal PC and cleared for use))
((INTRO:))
[[Americans and Canadians are among the thousands of volunteers responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's for help fighting a Russian invasion. VOA’s Maxim Moskalkov reports.]]
((NARRATION))
On March 3rd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 16,000 international volunteers are making their way into Ukraine to help the country fight the Russian invasion. Volunteers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Israel were among the first ones to arrive in Ukraine.
British media reports about 150 UK volunteers have joined Ukraine’s milita ry. And volunteers from Georgia, Croatia, France and other countries are also joining the fight against Russia.
Some U.S. and Canadian volunteers they are disappointed their countries have not sent troops.
((Jonathan, American Volunteer)) ((Mandatory Zoom))
“They have left Ukraine completely alone. Over the past few days, I’ve been doing my best to provide volunteers who are planning to go to Ukraine to fight or perform humanitarian work with as much information and advice as possible.”
((NARRATION))
Mike Nute is a research scientist at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He decided to help pay for two volunteers to get to Ukraine.
((Mike Nute, American Volunteer)) ((Mandatory Zoom))
Someone said they were coordinating volunteers and donors and I reached out to them. // I felt that buying plane tickets for those two people that I’ve been in touch with was a way to bring two extra people to the fight and the next best thing to be able to go myself.”
((NARRATION))
The volunteers include a 28-year-old paramedic from Rhode Island and a US Army Veteran from Tennessee.
33-year-old Canadian cook Bryson Wools is responding to Zelenskyy’s plea for help. He plans to volunteer even though he has no military experience.
((Bryson Woolsey, Canadian Volunteer)) ((Mandatory Zoom))
“The only real experience I have is cooking, so if they need a cook, I’m more than happy to do that. If they need me on the frontline, I’ll do that. If they want me to dig trenches and fill sandbags, you know, I’ll do that too. I just want to be able to help in whatever way I can.”
((NARRATION))
But there are risks. Last week, the spokesman for Russia’s Ministry of Defense warned that foreign fighters would be considered mercenaries and may not be protected under humanitarian guidelines that protect prisoners of war.
U.S. officials have also been cautious and continue to urge all U.S. citizens to leave or stay out of Ukraine. Instead, State Department officials are urging Americans to support humanitarian organizations providing aid and relief to the Ukrainian people.
And millions of people around the world are doing supporting the Ukrainian people by donating to foundations and charity organizations – like CARE International.
((Andrea Barschdorf-Hager, Spokesperson for Care International Austria)) ((ZOOM))
“Care is famous for the care packages that were delivered by the US in the aftermath of WWII. For example, my grandparents were receivers of CARE packages, and also my parents – and these were in some cases lifesaving.”
((NARRATION))
Barschdorf-Hager says that the organization’s goal at the moment is to offer emergency assistance to at least four million people.
Maxim Moskalkov for VOA News, Washington
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsAmerican, Canadian Volunteers Respond to Ukraine’s Plea For Help
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateMarch 7, 2022 16:12 EST
BylineMaxim Moskalkov
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
