The struggle for survival of the Ukrainian people is entering its third year.
Mystislav Chernov expressed in his documentary, “20 Days in Mariupol,” that he cannot shake off the sense of impending doom for this city.
A devastating event occurred in the city of Ukraine, and Chernov from the Associated Press was present to witness it. “I never imagined the bombing would be so intense,” he stated to CBS News.
During the initial 20 days of the Russian invasion, Chernov and his team were situated in Mariupol, capturing and sharing shocking images that garnered global attention. These images were later featured in an Oscar-nominated documentary. Chernov recalls the widespread suffering, starvation, and lack of water throughout the city, resulting in numerous deaths.
The full documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” by FRONTLINE and @AssociatedPress.FRONTLINE PBS | Official on
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Schools and civilian buildings were being targeted by bombs, including a maternity hospital. A woman named Irina, who was pregnant, was caught on camera but both she and her unborn child did not survive. Russia claimed that the scene was “staged” and the women were “actresses,” which was deemed absurd due to the unedited footage captured by Chernov’s camera. However, due to power and communication issues, only brief clips of the footage could be shared with the rest of the world.
A man speaking to Chernov’s camera states that Russian soldiers are committing war crimes and asks for assistance for the families, women, and children of Mariupol. He appeals for help from the international community.
Chernov needed to share his 30-hour video of the Russian actions in Mariupol with the rest of the world, so he had to leave the city. Ukrainian soldiers were sent to rescue him. He departed on the 20th day, and by the 86th day, Mariupol had been taken over. Chernov expressed, “It was hard to believe, but things somehow managed to become even more dire. It felt like it couldn’t get any worse, but it did.”
The conflict, which started two years ago, continues to this day.
Numerous Ukrainian military members have suffered the loss of limbs. Only a small percentage of them have been sent to the United States for the purpose of receiving state-of-the-art prosthetic devices.
Prior to the war, Oleksii Dernov had a passion for martial arts; Petro Kulyk was employed in the construction industry; Levgen Kaliuzhnyi worked as a lumberjack; and Serhii Volyk specialized in repairing cars.
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They recount being outnumbered and outmatched by the Russians.
When asked about the intensity of Russian artillery fire, Kaliuzhnyi stated, “Compared to our artillery, it is ten times greater.”
Dernov was unsure of the exact ratio of Russians to Ukrainians, but there were definitely many more Russians.
Kulyk stated, “They continuously arrive.”
The battle was extremely fierce, making it difficult to quickly retreat from the front lines. It took Kaliuzhnyi over 24 hours to reach a hospital, while Kulyk took around 20 hours.
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Last year, these soldiers were injured during Ukraine’s highly praised attempt to retake occupied land through a counter-offensive. The operation relied on American mine clearing equipment and armored vehicles to penetrate Russian defenses, but was ultimately unsuccessful due to the presence of mine fields and entrenched opponents.
Currently, the supply line from America that provided Ukraine with over three million artillery shells is dwindling, and efforts to secure additional military aid are hindered by the divisive politics in Washington.
President Joe Biden issued a statement directed towards those obstructing military support, stating that history will hold accountable any Republican in Congress who rejects funding for Ukraine.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Angus King of Maine (I) stated, “When future generations look back on this day, do you want to be remembered for siding with Vladimir Putin? All those in support of Putin, please say ‘aye’.”
King, who visited Ukraine and had a meeting with its leader, stated that the upcoming events will be pivotal. He expressed, “If we choose to abandon the situation, it will be the biggest strategic blunder our nation has seen in decades, and its consequences will linger for half a century.”
King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, presents a grim outlook on Ukraine’s future if the U.S. withholds aid: “There are two possible outcomes: either Russia will seize control and crush the aspirations of the Ukrainian people for liberty and democracy, or it will devolve into a guerrilla conflict with Ukrainians fighting from cover.”
King stated that it is inevitable that in approximately six months, the current front lines will crumble and the Russians will successfully penetrate through. He believes this is a likely scenario.
During his film “20 Days in Mariupol,” Chernov documents a harrowing moment of struggle for survival as a mother, injured in battle, gives birth.
The child was successfully rescued and remained quiet, according to the speaker. The atmosphere was intense and unlike anything he had experienced before. The thought of another child dying was unbearable for everyone. Suddenly, the child let out a scream, causing tears to flow from everyone’s eyes.
Chernov described it as the pivotal moment of the harrowing 20-day period. “A doctor informed me that all deaths were occurring in this room, and this was the first instance of a human being born here,” he recounted.
The infant we saw being born is about to turn two years old. The conflict is also approaching its second year. Numerous cities and towns have been captured since Mariupol, with many others currently under siege.
According to Chernov, Mariupol serves as a representation of the stories and histories of all the cities. It is a symbol that encompasses the present, rather than just the past.
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This story was created by Mary Walsh and edited by Joseph Frandino.
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Source: cbsnews.com