美国国家公共电台 NPR--Russian authorities reported several drone attacks on the capital Moscow

Russian authorities reported several drone attacks on the capital Moscow

Transcript¹

Russia launched a pre-dawn air raid on Ukraine's capital Tuesday, killing² at least one person while Moscow authorities said the Russian capital was attacked by drones.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Some developing news overnight in Russia where officials there say Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

The defense³ ministry⁴ says eight drones were fired at the capital in what it called a terrorist attack by what it called the Kyiv regime, and that all eight were intercepted⁵. Meanwhile, Russia carried out another wave of air attacks on the Ukrainian capital this morning after launching some of its biggest strikes of the war yesterday and over the weekend.

FADEL: Joining us now from Moscow with the latest is NPR's Charles Maynes. Hi, Charles.

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE⁶: Good morning.

FADEL: Good morning. So what do we know about these drone attacks?

MAYNES: Well, you know, as you noted⁷, the defense ministry says eight drones were spotted⁸ over the city and its surrounding areas earlier this morning, even as media reports have that number much higher - nearly three times as high. Whatever the case, it seems some drones were intercepted by air defense systems. There's online witness video that NPR can't confirm but appear to show a Russian anti-aircraft fire destroying two drones mid-flight. Several other drones apparently⁹ got caught in trees and telephone wires as they approached the city. And then Moscow officials say at least three hit residential¹⁰ buildings. Now, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin says no one was seriously injured and - although, he's evacuated¹¹ the buildings in question and cleanup crews are picking up debris¹² and assessing what appears to be fairly minor¹³ damage. Meanwhile, Russia's investigative committee says its investigators¹⁴ are also out collecting evidence.

FADEL: Now, let's talk about the timing¹⁵ here. It does come a day after massive Russian strikes against Kyiv, right?

MAYNES: Yeah, that's right. You know, Kyiv has denied any direct involvement in the attack, but many here, of course, will obviously blame Ukraine. That's already the conclusion of Russia's defense ministry. As you've noted, they say this is a terrorist attack by Ukraine. Now, keep in mind, this follows weeks of renewed Russian air strikes on Ukraine's capital, including a Russian drone attack on Kyiv early this morning that Ukrainian officials say left at least one person dead. And finally, let's remember, this isn't the first attack on Moscow. Earlier this month, the Kremlin was targeted by a drone attack in what U.S. intelligence later assessed was likely carried out by Ukraine, even if Kyiv denies it.

FADEL: And has Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, weighed in on these attacks?

MAYNES: Not yet. You know, we'll see what President Putin or his spokesman has to say later today, I assume. But in general, you know, Putin's been relatively¹⁶ quiet of late when it comes to the war in Ukraine. There was a statement to the Kremlin website earlier this month where he paid tribute to Russian fighters involved in what Moscow says was an important victory in the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut. But Putin said nothing, for example, about a large-scale incursion by Ukrainian-aligned fighters into the Belgorod region of Russia that borders Ukraine. That happened last week.

And that incident, along with a series of unexplained attacks on Russian infrastructure¹⁷ - oil refineries¹⁸, railway lines - you know, that's all created this growing sense of uncertainty¹⁹, I think, over the government's ability to protect the homeland, particularly as Ukraine prepares for its long-rumored counteroffensive. You know, and while those drones at the capital this morning, whoever was responsible will play to those same fears, I'm sure some here may also see it as an opportunity - you know, an opportunity to gin up Russian anger and possibly, through that anger, support to continue the war at all costs.

FADEL: NPR's Charles Maynes in Moscow reporting on the drone attacks over Moscow there. Thank you so much for your time.

MAYNES: 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 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 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。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

6 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。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

9 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

10 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

11 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

12 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

13 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

14 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

16 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

17 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。

18 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

19 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。