Ukrainians are on alert for Russian saboteurs trying to infiltrate their towns

Ukrainians are on alert for Russian saboteurs trying to infiltrate¹ their towns

Transcript²

Ukraine's government is releasing video confessions³ from Russians who have been detained so far. Civilian-run checkpoints have been set up to keep an eye out for suspicious people.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

And I'm Leila Fadel in Lviv, Ukraine, where a heightened sense of solidarity⁴ and suspicion is palpable, even in this safer part of the country. Ukrainian officials here in Lviv and across the country are urging citizens to watch for the enemy within, to be on the lookout⁵ for, quote, "saboteurs." In recent days, the Security Services of Ukraine, which is an agency kind of like the FBI, has released several video confessions on a messaging service and Facebook.

(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).

FADEL: In one video, a man looks into the camera and takes deep breaths as he recounts spying for the Russian forces for over a decade. His arms are restrained behind his back.

(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).

FADEL: "I admit my guilt," he says. "I apologize to the Ukrainian people."

The parliament is quickly moving to intensify⁶ punishment for alleged⁷ treason and sabotage⁸. It could carry a sentence of up to life, and the state will seize property. The videos serve not only as a warning but also as reassurance⁹.

(CROSSTALK)

FADEL: And neighborhoods are taking it upon themselves to set up checkpoints to search for what they see as suspicious people. In the first days of the war, they did this on their own, and now they're working with local authorities.

At a traffic circle on the outskirts¹⁰ of Lviv, men are filling sandbags, and fires burn in two empty oil drums to keep people warm.

(CROSSTALK)

FADEL: Ivan Kondiukh is leading the effort. He agrees to talk, but he says no pictures. He wears a camouflage¹¹ jacket. A walkie-talkie hangs from his coat.

And how did you end up building a checkpoint here? Is this part of the territorial¹² defense¹³? Or is it just neighborhood guys?

IVAN KONDIUKH: (Through interpreter) I'm just a regular citizen here. I live not far away. And this is my neighbor. And we started it from the very beginning. From the first day, we were just regulating the traffic with our own hands. And then when there were more people, they have chosen us since - they said, since you started this, be the leader.

FADEL: In normal times, Kondiukh is a welder¹⁴, a construction worker. He also makes sausages. Now he's the eyes and ears of his district.

I'm assuming that you also stop and talk to people and check people. What are you looking for? What are you watching for? What are you worried about?

KONDIUKH: (Through interpreter) So we are trying not to let guns inside of the city and not to let saboteurs to - inside this area, where they can kill our families.

FADEL: Yeah. How do you find the saboteur? Like, what do you look for?

KONDIUKH: (Through interpreter) Car plates, nationality, the way they speak and their behavior.

FADEL: Like, what behavior? I'm just interested. I'm just interested because everybody I've talked to has been very concerned about saboteurs. So I'm just interested in, like, what you're looking for. But aren't there - what if there's somebody who lives here who is a citizen?

KONDIUKH: (Through interpreter) Yes, because even people who are living here - they are - sell themselves for money and can turn into saboteurs.

FADEL: Oh, really?

KONDIUKH: (Through interpreter) That's why we're checking everything. For example, if the car is coming from different region, for example, from Donetsk or Lugansk region, and they're sitting - three men with the beard, et cetera, we need to be suspicious about that. And we're checking.

FADEL: Yeah. So have you found saboteurs? Have you found guns? I mean, you don't have to tell us specifics.

ZHENIA AFANASIEV: He said, "We found someone, but I'm not going to say who is that."

FADEL: Oh, interesting.

All Kondiukh will say is the man was in the neighborhood, marking a building. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russian collaborators are marking targets for future Russian bombardment. As we speak, a crane adds concrete slabs¹⁵ to reinforce the barricades¹⁶. This is a scene playing out around the city and across the country. This road - it's key, they say. In one direction, it leads to Kyiv, where Russian forces are shelling the city, and in the other to the safety of Poland.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).

FADEL: Oksana Huk-Skrynkovska and Janna Cherkoon (ph) are standing¹⁷ in a makeshift tent, passing out...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Java, chai, cappuccino...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Through interpreter) Everybody's bringing something. For example, they prepared some salad. They brought it here. Some restaurants are bringing food. Everybody wants to help - even butter if they have it.

FADEL: This is a country that has had a history of war with Russia. When is it over? When is it over?

AFANASIEV: (Non-English language spoken).

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2 AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Through interpreter) We think very soon. We will not let them to make us slaves. There is no worse than Putin.

FADEL: For now, they're vigilant¹⁸. But when this is over...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2 AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Through interpreter) So we have this trust that we will win, and then we will put long table on this road, and we will be drinking.

FADEL: She flicks¹⁹ her neck, the Ukrainian gesture to invite someone for a drink. And as we say goodbye, a man stuffs an apple in one of my pockets, and a woman slips a heart-shaped cookie in the other. Amid the heightened vigilance, there is also heightened generosity²⁰.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2 AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Through interpreter) Glory to Ukraine. And glory to God. God is with us.

FADEL: Some Ukrainians we've talked to who say they know their government probably isn't being fully²¹ straight with them. Maybe Russian losses are exaggerated, maybe their own underestimated. The news is filled with patriotic²² videos of Ukrainian victories, burning Russian tanks and prisoners of war.

(SOUNDBITE OF NEWS BROADCAST)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: (Non-English language spoken).

FADEL: And it's not uncommon²³ to hear obscenities on the news hurled²⁴ at the Russians. Under martial²⁵ law, censorship is also permissible²⁶. Ukrainians say it's needed for morale²⁷ as Russia attacks. In times of war, they say, civil liberties must take a backseat to sovereignty and safety.

This historic city is now filled with new billboards²⁸ and banners hyping up the war effort, praising the Ukrainian army and cursing the Russians. And the only music that we hear in the city center is patriotic music.

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing in non-English language).

FADEL: A song floats out of an elegant restaurant and into the cobblestone-paved square.

AFANASIEV: Yes, this is very famous song of a very famous singer of band called Okean Elzy, and he's from Lviv.

FADEL: Our interpreter, Zhenia Afanasiev (ph).

AFANASIEV: So basically, he's saying, mother, who did we pray for? How many more children this war will take? Your children, not your war.

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing in non-English language spoken).

FADEL: The song was written about Russia's war on Ukraine eight years ago. And now it plays again in this new one.

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing in non-English language).

(SOUNDBITE OF FOLLOWED BY GHOSTS' "BEARDS OF THE PATRIARCH")

1 infiltrate   

vt./vi.渗入，透过；浸润

参考例句：

• The teacher tried to infiltrate her ideas into the children's minds.老师设法把她的思想渗透到孩子们的心中。
• It can infiltrate as much as 100 kilometers into enemy territory at night.可以在夜间深入敌领土100千米。

2 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。

3 confessions   

n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔

参考例句：

• It is strictly forbidden to obtain confessions and to give them credence. 严禁逼供信。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Neither trickery nor coercion is used to secure confessions. 既不诱供也不逼供。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

5 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

6 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

9 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

10 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

11 camouflage   

n./v.掩饰，伪装

参考例句：

• The white fur of the polar bear is a natural camouflage.北极熊身上的白色的浓密软毛是一种天然的伪装。
• The animal's markings provide effective camouflage.这种动物身上的斑纹是很有效的伪装。

12 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。

13 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。

14 welder   

n电焊工

参考例句：

• He left school at 15 to become an apprentice to a welder.他15岁离开了中学成为一个焊接工人的学徒。
• Welder done at least once a month when the dust handling.焊机时每月至少做一次除尘处理。

15 slabs   

n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片

参考例句：

• The patio was made of stone slabs. 这天井是用石板铺砌而成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The slabs of standing stone point roughly toward the invisible notch. 这些矗立的石块，大致指向那个看不见的缺口。 来自辞典例句

16 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。

17 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

18 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

19 flicks   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的第三人称单数 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• 'I shall see it on the flicks, I suppose.' “电影上总归看得见。” 来自英汉文学
• Last night to the flicks. 昨晚看了场电影。 来自英汉文学

20 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

21 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

22 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

23 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

24 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 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。

26 permissible   

adj.可允许的，许可的

参考例句：

• Is smoking permissible in the theatre?在剧院里允许吸烟吗？
• Delay is not permissible,even for a single day.不得延误，即使一日亦不可。

27 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

28 billboards   

n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
• Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上，却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号