On Ukraine s bleak front line, US aid saves lives скачать в хорошем качестве

On Ukraine s bleak front line, US aid saves lives

(21 Nov 2019) THE ATMOSPHERE IS GRIM HERE IN AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE, AT THE FRONT LINE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS. UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS SPEND THEIR DAYS IN WORLD-WAR-1-STYLE TRENCHES, USING MOSTLY AGING, SOVIET-ERA WEAPONS AND LACKING ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES. THE PRESENCE OF U-S AID - OR LACK OF IT - WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THE MINDS OF THESE FIGHTERS. UPSOUND (Ukrainian) Rostyslav Pokotylo, Ukrainian soldier: "We have night-vision devices from the US. This device saved my life in 2017..." SO WHEN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FROZE $400 MILLION IN U-S MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE, TO ALLEGEDLY PRESSURE THE COUNTRY'S LEADER FOR A PERSONAL POLITICAL FAVOR, UKRAINIANS GOT NERVOUS.   NATS (trenches) U-S AID TO THE COUNTRY WAS LATER RELEASED, BUT THE EFFECT ON MORALE HERE IN THE TRENCHES WAS PALPABLE, AS THIS BAREBONES MILITARY STANDS UP TO THE POWERFUL KREMLIN AND ITS BACKERS. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Rostyslav Pokotylo, Ukrainian soldier: "What is Ukraine and what is Russia? We can't go against this country on our own. We need support, and without the support of our allies we won't win this war." NATS (explosions) AVDIIVKA WAS SEIZED BY SEPARATISTS AT THE OUTSET OF THE UPRISING IN 2014, BUT TAKEN BACK BY UKRAINIAN FORCES MONTHS LATER. FIVE YEARS INTO A CONFLICT THAT HAS CLAIMED 13-THOUSAND LIVES, THERE'S NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT... NATS (gunfire) SPORADIC GUNFIRE STILL THREATENS DAILY LIFE HERE. UPSOUND (Russian): "It's unclear where they are shooting and what at – this or that direction. Most likely, from there." EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED BY ARTILLERY FIRE AS THEY UNLOADED FIREWOOD FROM THEIR TRUCK. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Kyrylo, (surname not given), (aka Knyaz), Ukrainian soldier: "I want all my comrades to survive. Many (soldiers) die." NATS (truck driving in front of tents) BESIDES WEAPONRY, U-S MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IS ESPECIALLY PRIZED HERE. DOCTORS USE AMERICAN MACHINES TO MONITOR AND TREAT THEIR PATIENTS, AND U-S FIRST AID KITS HOLD VITAL SUPPLIES FOR SOLDIERS. NATS (impeachment hearing) WHILE THE U-S HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS PLAYING OUT IN WASHINGTON, UKRAINIANS FEAR THEIR WEAKENED LEADERSHIP WILL CEDE TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Dmytro, surname not given (aka Pokemon), Ukrainian soldier: "Our guys died in droves– what was that for? In order to pull back afterwards? No." NATS (trenches) DOUBT IN THE U-S-UKRAINE RELATIONSHIP HAS BEGUN TO FESTER AMONG THESE SOLDIERS, AS THEY REMAIN DEDICATED TO A FIGHT THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THEIR LIVES IN THE TRENCHES. NOREEN NASIR, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...