Ex-Ukrainian government official leaves his family to fight against Russia

Ex-Ukrainian government official leaves his family to fight against Russia

Transcript¹

In the hours since Russia invaded its neighbor, Ukrainians have mobilized. NPR's A Martinez talks to Volodymyr Omelyan, a Ukrainian politician, who has joined the ground fight against Russia.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

In the hours since Russia invaded its neighbor, Ukrainians have mobilized with more civilians² joining territorial³ defense⁴ brigades. Volodymyr Omelyan is among them. We first met in Ukraine a few weeks ago at his political party's offices. Omelyan served as Ukraine's infrastructure⁵ minister from 2016 to 2019. And when we spoke⁶, he talked of past Russian aggressions and how Ukraine has survived it. We reached him again yesterday after he had just signed up to defend Ukraine's capital.

VOLODYMYR OMELYAN: I'm not natural born killer⁷. And I never dreamed to be that type of guy. But I see that my motherland is in danger, my kids and the direct impact of Russian invasion. And the only ability to stop all of them is to unite and to fight back. And we do understand that Putin will never stop. And he's ready to go farther. But somebody should stop those Russians, and let it be us.

MARTINEZ: Do you know any others who have done exactly as you are planning to do, to join the armed forces? And how much experience do all of you have in these type of situations?

OMELYAN: You know, I was admired today to see military stations open for all people to join the army or to join the militia⁸, because I was at three stations and they were overcrowded. Different types of people, different age came to the military stations with one request, give us weapon. We are ready to fight. And we are ready to kill.

MARTINEZ: How close are you to all of the Russian aerial assaults that appear to be happening across Ukraine? We saw some really disturbing images on television all day long.

OMELYAN: It happened over my head today in the morning. So I woke up with the sound of missile blast close to my house. So I immediately woke up my family. We got packed, having our IDs, money, pocket money and some small belongings⁹ with us. And we survived this day. Those missile strikes took all day long. So it was happening every one or three hours for 24 hours of this day. The same is happening all over Ukraine these days. And it will continue for another couple of days the most, I hope. Therefore, we also urge for fast support from West - but those deadly sanctions, which were promised to Russia if they break the border of Ukraine, the financial support for Ukraine and especially military support because we cannot hit this armory¹⁰ with only words or good statements or good commitments.

MARTINEZ: What part of Ukraine, if it's safe for you to say, are you in right now? And what are you seeing and experiencing around you right now?

OMELYAN: It's Kyiv.

MARTINEZ: It's Kyiv? OK.

OMELYAN: It's Kyiv. Yeah, yeah. And it's also a funny story for me because I was born in Lviv, it's western part of Ukraine, which is really nice to be, the safest part of Ukraine. And I was called by many friends of mine telling me that, look; drop this thing. Don't risk your life. Don't risk the life of your family. Come back to Lviv. You are Lviv boy (ph). And, you know, this is the very day when I understood that I belong to Kyiv. And if we lose capital of Ukraine, there will be no Ukraine. But we believe that we will fight, and we will win.

MARTINEZ: And your family, how does your family feel about what you're doing?

OMELYAN: Definitely, they are not feeling good, especially after this - today's experience. But still, I hope that this war will come to short end and we will try to forget it as nightmare. But we will always remember that those were Russians who did this to us.

MARTINEZ: Stay safe, and all the best. Thank you for joining us.

OMELYAN: Thank you a lot. We will win. Thank you.

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 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

8 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

9 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

10 armory   

n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Nuclear weapons will play a less prominent part in NATO's armory in the future.核武器将来在北约的军械中会起较次要的作用。
• Every March the Armory Show sets up shop in New York.每年三月，军械博览会都会在纽约设置展场。