Russian military forces and Russian-backed separatists strike targets in Ukraine

Russian military forces and Russian-backed separatists strike targets in Ukraine

Transcript¹

Russia continued its assault on Ukraine from multiple directions, including bombings areas of Ukraine's capital city Kyiv.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Russia has begun an attack on Ukraine. We're going to get some perspective on what's happening in Ukraine from NPR's Tim Mak, who's outside the capital, Kyiv. Tim, you spent the last couple hours there at the capital, which came under bombardment before dawn broke. Can you tell us what happened, what's been targeted, and is the attack still happening?

TIM MAK, BYLINE²: So the residents of Kyiv and cities all across Ukraine were woken up overnight by bombing. And where we were in central Kyiv, we heard explosions in the early morning hours, and more since then have been reported. And what we're seeing is reports all over the country of military installations and airports being targeted by these attacks. And the situation is obviously very fluid, but what seems obvious is that the country appears to be under assault from multiple directions, and Putin's objective appears in these initial hours to degrade the Ukrainian military's capabilities³.

MARTINEZ: What's the reaction been in Ukraine that you've been able to see? How are Ukrainians responding to this aggression⁴?

MAK: Well, I think one of the initial reactions is that of shock. I actually arrived on one of the last commercial flights into Kyiv last evening, and Ukrainians were pointing out almost immediately that this was a city that was not panicking despite the threat of an invasion. And the situation has obviously changed drastically overnight. Many residents of Kyiv are trying to evacuate⁵ towards the west. There are lines at ATMs, gas stations, supermarkets. And traffic is at a standstill, leaving it really very difficult for people to leave town.

MARTINEZ: Ukraine's president, Zelenskyy, spoke⁶ with President Biden. What did they talk about?

MAK: Well, they spoke about what Biden called the, quote, "flagrant aggression" of Russia's president, Putin. Biden also said he condemned⁷ the attack by the Russian military and would be taking steps to rally international condemnation⁸ against the Russian government. The U.S. president also said that America would continue to provide help to Ukraine.

MARTINEZ: I know that Zelenskyy spoke a little while ago. What did he have to say?

MAK: Well, he's been updating the public at a somewhat regular interval⁹. He said that they're handing out weapons and that they'll do so continuously to protect their country. Zelenskyy basically said that the best asset that the country had was its national unity¹⁰. He imposed martial¹¹ law on Ukraine, and he urged his citizens not to panic. He said, quote, "we are strong," adding "glory to Ukraine."

MARTINEZ: That's NPR's Tim Mak outside the capital, Kyiv. Tim, thank you very much.

MAK: 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 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 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

5 evacuate   

v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便

参考例句：

• We must evacuate those soldiers at once!我们必须立即撤出这些士兵！
• They were planning to evacuate the seventy American officials still in the country.他们正计划转移仍滞留在该国的70名美国官员。

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 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

9 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

10 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

11 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。