Ukrainians six months on since the start of war

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2022

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

August 24 is always a significant date for Ukraine, as it marks official independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. This year, however, it also marked six months since Russia invaded the country. Russian officials initially predicted a short campaign but the fighting shows no sign of ending soon. The human cost has been immense – thousands of lives have been lost on both sides. Three women share what it is like to have family members involved directly in the war. We also hear messages from a Ukrainian military sniper, a 20-year-old volunteer military interpreter and a former US marine who is now one of thousands of volunteer fighters in the country. Meanwhile, a Russian woman in Riga describes the impact of the war on her family and a Russian man living in Moscow is calling for truce.

Transcript

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0:00.0	On the podium, the podcast where Olympic and Paralympic athletes share their remarkable personal journeys.
0:07.0	We make you proud to have believed until the end.
0:11.0	Search for on the podium.
0:13.0	We're ready to go, we're ready to have fun, we're ready to party.
0:15.0	Wherever you found this podcast.
0:21.0	Hello, I'm James Reynolds, on the BBC World Service.
0:24.0	And this is BBC Earth Conversations on Ukrainians, six months on.
0:34.0	Millions of lives have been overturned since the Russian invasion in late February.
0:38.0	We hear from those who are waiting for news of the return of loved ones, the front line,
0:43.0	and from women who escape the country at the start of the war with their children.
0:48.0	I wanted to go home one month ago, but my town was bombed and my colleague from my home.
0:53.0	My colleague from my work died.
0:56.0	And that is why we didn't go home and still waiting.
1:04.0	Since 1991, Ukraine has been marking the anniversary of its official independence from the Soviet Union every year on August the 24th.
1:13.0	But this year's anniversary also marked six months of the Russian invasion.
1:18.0	The human cost is immense. As ever in war there are conflicting claims and accounts,
1:24.0	but we know that thousands of lives have been lost on both sides.
1:29.0	During this week, we've been hearing discussions among Ukrainians in different situations.
1:34.0	We'll play you those in a moment.
1:36.0	Firstly, let me share some messages from those involved on the front line, including a foreign voluntary fighter,
1:42.0	a 20-year-old interpreter for the military, and firstly a Ukrainian sniper.
1:47.0	My name is Olaina Biluzorska. I'm an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
	...

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