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From Our Own Correspondent

Ukraine: A War of Nerves

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The past week has been one of contrasting emotions in Ukraine. The country celebrated a dramatic and unexpected development: an attack on a key bridge linking Russia with Crimea was seen as a major strategic blow to Vladimir Putin. But days later, Russia launched some of the most widespread missile attacks of the war. Paul Adams, says there is a lingering unease in Ukraine about Putin’s next move. Last month, a bold counter-offensive by Ukraine’s military in the country’s east led to a retreat by Russian forces. But as the Russians left behind cities they occupied for months, allegations of atrocities they committed began to emerge. Sofia Bettiza met some Sri Lankans held captive in the city of Kharkiv. A shocking attack on a nursery in Thailand’s north-east stunned the country. Jonathan Head was in the village of Uthai Sawan, and reflects on the part that the hardship of life may have played in the tragedy. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Tajikistan slid into a 5 year civil war which cost 100,000 lives and forced a million people from their homes. Among the pursuits of daily life that has suffered amid the violence is bee-keeping. But, thanks to a conservation initiative, it's seeing a revival says Antonia Bolingbroke Kent. A dream inspires a visit to a fishing village in Romania across the Danube from Ukraine. Its name is Periprava – once the site of a Communist-prison camp, now razed to the ground. Nick Thorpe was given a tour of the secluded, small community, much transformed. But despite its charm, the sound of sirens can still be heard across the waters – and a colder reality breaks the spell.

Presenter: Kate Adie Producers: Serena Tarling and Ellie House Editor: Bridget Harney Production Coordinator: Iona Hammond

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts

0:04.9

Today, as Thailand mourns the loss of those killed in a brutal attack on a nursery, we hear

0:11.5

about the impact of poverty and drugs on one community.

0:16.0

In Ukraine, life under Russian occupation, we hear from a group of Sri Lankans who speak

0:22.1

of their time in captivity.

0:25.0

Here in Tajikistan, where locals are being encouraged to forego their hunting expeditions

0:30.7

in favour of beekeeping as a way of making a living.

0:35.5

And in Romania, we visit a fishing village on the eastern outpost of the EU, a tranquil

0:41.3

spot for some, but it belies a darker past.

0:45.4

First, the last week has been one of contrasting emotions in Ukraine, as the country has come

0:52.2

under Russian attack, but also celebrated a dramatic and unexpected development in the

0:58.1

Crimean Peninsula.

1:00.4

An attack on a key bridge linking Russia with Crimea was seen as a major strategic blow

1:06.2

to Vladimir Putin.

1:09.0

Russia blamed Ukrainian intelligence for the explosion.

1:12.8

The precise circumstances remain unclear, and Ukraine hasn't claimed responsibility.

1:19.1

And any celebrations in Ukraine proved short-lived, as two days later Russia launched some

1:25.1

of the most widespread missile and drone attacks of the war.

1:29.4

And our correspondent Paul Adams says that, despite significant gains by Ukraine on the battlefield,

1:36.0

there's a lingering unease in cities across the country about Vladimir Putin's next move.

1:43.3

Last Saturday, on a blissfully sunny autumn day, we left the southern city of Zaporizia

1:48.3

and headed north to the capital, crossing the mighty Denepro River a couple of times

...

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