Ukrainian Americans watch the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold from afar

Ukrainian Americans watch the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold from afar

Transcript¹

New York City is home to one of the largest Ukrainian communities in the U.S. There's also a significant number of Russians. The Russian military attack on Ukraine sent shock waves across the city.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

New York City is home to one of the largest Ukrainian communities in the U.S. There's also a significant number of Russians there. So the war happening in Ukraine is personal for many of them. NPR's Jasmine Garsd has the story.

(CROSSTALK)

JASMINE GARSD, BYLINE²: In the early hours of a cold morning, Jason Birchard opened up shop in the East Village. Veselka is a landmark³ Ukrainian restaurant specializing in pierogies and borscht. But last Thursday was not like other dates, not for his Ukrainian employees.

JASON BIRCHARD: I have multiple staff members that have immediate⁴ family there. And they're saying, you know, why is nobody helping⁵ us?

GARSD: Birchard, himself a Ukrainian American, is worried.

BIRCHARD: I think this is an attack on the world and on democracy. I think we need to make a strong stand globally.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Singing in Ukrainian).

GARSD: Further up in Manhattan, in front of the permanent mission of the Russian Federation⁶ to the United Nations, a crowd of Ukrainians gathered in protest, singing the national anthem⁷.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Singing in Ukrainian).

GARSD: Igor Chernick (ph) is a first-generation American. He says he's also here to demand action from the American government.

IGOR CHERNICK: I think the U.S. has to really put diplomatic pressure at this point and really slam them with the sanctions. I think it's been done too late.

GARSD: Tara Scroll⁸ (ph) has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years. And he says he has many Russian friends. But he's heard that they haven't acknowledged the gravity of what's happening.

TARA SCROLL: Some of them silent. None feel responsible for what's happening. But in one way or another, they supported Russian chauvinists.

GARSD: It's a bit more complicated than this. Twenty-some miles south from here, Brighton Beach is a hub of Russian culture. Daria Martyshina (ph), a Russian living in New York, says she's horrified⁹ at the invasion of Ukraine. She says few will be untouched by this.

DARIA MARTYSHINA: It affects regular people who has regular life. And it's going to affect us, as Russians. It's going to affect Ukrainians. We're going to struggle a lot. It's like the politics has nothing to do with the people who live, actually, in Russia.

GARSD: But there's also many out here who didn't want to go on record for fear of political ramifications¹⁰. But they believe the attack was warranted. Ukraine, they say, has historically been part of Russia. Putin did the right thing. And that sentiment has created bitterness for some in the Ukrainian community. Tara Scrolls¹¹ says something in him snapped after the invasion.

SCROLL: First time in my life I felt hate, actually. Hate is the feeling right now.

GARSD: He clenches¹² his jaw¹³ and looks away. He's just never felt this way before.

Jasmine Garsd, NPR News, New York.

(SOUNDBITE OF PUKKS' "YEPPURS")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

7 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

8 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

9 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

10 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 scrolls   

n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕

参考例句：

• Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。 来自互联网
• Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。 来自辞典例句

12 clenches   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Michael clenches Westmoreland's hand, Give Anna her Poppa's love. Westmoreland紧握Michael的手，给Anna带去她父亲的问候。 来自互联网

13 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。