美国国家公共电台 NPR--Ukrainian men, manning a checkpoint for six hours, talk about the war and their lives

Ukrainian men, manning a checkpoint for six hours, talk about the war and their lives

Transcript¹

Ukrainians across the country are contributing to the war effort in different ways, including manning checkpoints far from the front lines.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Russia's full-scale invasion on Ukraine continues to upend lives. Ukrainians across the country are contributing to the war effort in different ways, including manning checkpoints far from the front lines. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports from one in western Ukraine.

RYAN LUCAS, BYLINE²: Bundled up against the cold and wind, the men huddle³ around a rusted⁴ oil drum fashioned into a wood-burning stove. There's smoke billowing from a crooked⁵ pipe jutting⁶ from the top.

(SOUNDBITE OF METAL CLANGING)

LUCAS: This, for now, is their war, manning a checkpoint on a road outside the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, hundreds of miles from the battles raging to the east. One of the men is Oleh Pokrovsky (ph).

OLEH POKROVSKY: (Through interpreter) This was the immediate⁷ response on the part of the villagers the night of the bombing, to defend their village. They said it was entirely⁸ self-organized. And it came from an emotional need to feel defended.

LUCAS: That's my colleague and interpreter Julian Hayda. Pokrovsky is one of a half-dozen men here who have agreed to let us join them for their six-hour shift. There are sandbags piled on top of concrete blocks. A blue and yellow Ukrainian flag tied to a stick flutters in the wind. The men don't have guns. But there is a wooden crate⁹ of pre-made Molotov cocktails¹⁰.

POKROVSKY: (Through interpreter) The privilege that we have of sitting here at this checkpoint is thanks directly to those who are enlisted¹¹ in the military and are defending Ukraine's borders. If it weren't for them, then this would be under Russian occupation right now.

LUCAS: There are thousands of checkpoints like this dotted across Ukraine. When the war started, rumors¹² were rife¹³ of Russian saboteurs running amok. Those concerns have eased a bit as the country has settled into the new rhythms of life. And this checkpoint isn't exactly on high alert anymore.

(SOUNDBITE OF VEHICLE WHIRRING)

LUCAS: Some of the men here are in their 20s, some in their 60s. The younger ones have registered with the Ukrainian military or the territorial¹⁴ defense¹⁵ forces. And if called upon to head east to fight, they say they will. One of them is Volodymyr Kovalyshen (ph). He's 37. And he has a 5-month-old son. And he moved with his family to this village when the war began. Like everyone here, he's watched the videos of the destruction Russia has wrought¹⁶ on cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, where a maternity¹⁷ hospital was recently bombed.

It's got to be hard having a little kid right now. And just being...

VOLODYMYR KOVALYSHEN: Yes, very hard. When I see in TV a little child died in the capital, in Mariupol, in Kharkiv. It's very hard seeing this child.

LUCAS: For now, he says, his wife and son have moved with him to a nearby village. His sister just arrived, too, from a town that was recently hit by Russian forces.

(SOUNDBITE OF CELLPHONE RINGING)

KOVALYSHEN: (Non-English language spoken).

LUCAS: His cellphone rings. And he wanders off for a bit. And conversations are like that here, all a jumble¹⁸ - snippets of lives turned upside down. When Kovalyshen returns, he tells me that if the war escalates¹⁹ and the situation in Lviv gets bad, he'll take his family to Poland. But he'll come back to Ukraine.

KOVALYSHEN: (Non-English language spoken)

JULIAN HAYDA: And once that's taken care of, he would then be free to travel east to fight. But of course, after everybody leaves, one feels pretty lonely in the country.

(SOUNDBITE OF KNOCKING)

LUCAS: One man chops logs down to kindling²⁰ to feed the oil drum stove. Another, Bohdan Kulik (ph), puts a tea kettle on the lid of the oil drum.

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

LUCAS: "Tea, coffee", they ask. Definitely.

LUCAS: Kulik is 62. His mustache is gray. He's a pensioner²¹, fancies himself a bit of a handyman. He says he likes to invent things. And the stove, with its crooked smokestack, is his creation. He starts to explain how he's tinkered with it over time. But one of the other men cuts in.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Elon Musk²².

(LAUGHTER)

HAYDA: He's the village Elon Musk.

(LAUGHTER)

LUCAS: Kulik served in the Soviet²³ military in the early 1980s in Moscow. He's done a bunch of odd jobs over the years since. But in essence, he's a carpenter. He loves to make staircases. I ask whether he's worried about the war.

BOHDAN KULIK: (Non-English language spoken).

HAYDA: He says, you don't understand what goes into building a staircase in a house. You have to first stain the stairs.

LUCAS: This is the response to my question about the war?

HAYDA: Yes (laughter).

LUCAS: OK.

HAYDA: Well, he says, of course he's worried. But then he said, you have to understand what goes into making a staircase.

LUCAS: This was not some grand metaphor²⁴. He was legitimately²⁵ angry about being torn away from his everyday life. He pulls out his phone and shows us pictures of the staircases he's made. And they're beautiful. In many respects, the atmosphere at this checkpoint seems closer to ice fishing than a white-knuckle wartime experience. These villagers get together out in the cold and talk to pass the time. They munch²⁶ on thick slices of brown bread. Sure, they're checking cars. They even have a handwritten list of license²⁷ plates of vehicles they say belong to known saboteurs.

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

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Non-English language spoken)

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO STATIC)

LUCAS: They haven't had any problems because most of the cars passing through belong to the local villagers, including a white sedan that slows to a crawl. The driver rolls down his window and yells something.

HAYDA: He says, I don't have to. And then they said not to sweat.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Non-English language spoken).

HAYDA: And he has a Javelin²⁸ as well.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Laughter).

LUCAS: Javelins²⁹ are the American anti-tank missiles that the U.S. has been supplying Ukraine for years. And for what it's worth, this villager doesn't have any in his trunk. But the country's military has put them to good use in this war. The gallows³⁰ humor, the laughter, they help pass the time. But the war does hang over everything. Cellphones constantly buzz with calls from friends and family - who's safe, who's not? - discussions about whether to stay in Ukraine or head to Poland. None of these men know how long this war with Russia will last. But they view it through the longer lens of Ukrainian history, one they've read about in books and heard from stories told by grandparents who survived the Ukrainian famine of the 1930s and decades of Soviet repression³¹. One man, Nazar (ph), speaks up. He doesn't give his last name. But he's 28, one of the younger guys on this shift.

NAZAR: (Through interpreter) But one does not forget an experience of ethnic³² cleansing³³. And when grandparents have to leave their homes in a matter of minutes before they're set on fire by Soviet officials, when their cows and horses are taken away, when they're left to starve, these are traumas³⁴ that are remembered across generations.

LUCAS: Russia, they say, wants to pretend that none of that ever happened. Russia, they say, wanted to wipe out Ukraine before. And it wants to do so again now. They view this war as their generation's chapter in Ukraine's struggle.

Ryan Lucas, NPR News, outside Lviv, Ukraine.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE NATIONAL SONG, "NOBODY ELSE WILL BE THERE")

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 huddle   

vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人

参考例句：

• They like living in a huddle.他们喜欢杂居在一起。
• The cold wind made the boy huddle inside his coat.寒风使这个男孩卷缩在他的外衣里。

4 rusted   

v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I can't get these screws out; they've rusted in. 我无法取出这些螺丝，它们都锈住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My bike has rusted and needs oil. 我的自行车生锈了，需要上油。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 crooked   

adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
• You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

6 jutting   

v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出

参考例句：

• The climbers rested on a sheltered ledge jutting out from the cliff. 登山者在悬崖的岩棚上休息。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldier saw a gun jutting out of some bushes. 那士兵看见丛林中有一枝枪伸出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 crate   

vt.(up)把…装入箱中；n.板条箱，装货箱

参考例句：

• We broke open the crate with a blow from the chopper.我们用斧头一敲就打开了板条箱。
• The workers tightly packed the goods in the crate.工人们把货物严紧地包装在箱子里。

10 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句

11 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

14 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。

15 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。

16 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

17 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

18 jumble   

vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆

参考例句：

• Even the furniture remained the same jumble that it had always been.甚至家具还是象过去一样杂乱无章。
• The things in the drawer were all in a jumble.抽屉里的东西很杂乱。

19 escalates   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的第三人称单数 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates. 面临的挑战越大，越需要团队协同合作。 来自互联网
• I cannot understand why a minor disagreement escalates into a fist-fight. 我真不明白为什么一点意见不合就变成了拳头相见。 来自互联网

20 kindling   

n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
• "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤，劈柴，都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

21 pensioner   

n.领养老金的人

参考例句：

• The tax threshold for a single pensioner is$ 445.单身领退休年金者的纳税起点为445英镑。
• It was the pensioner's vote late in the day that influenced the election of Mr.Sweet.最后是领取养老金者的选票影响了斯威特先生的当选。

22 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

23 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

24 metaphor   

n.隐喻，暗喻

参考例句：

• Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
• In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。

25 legitimately   

ad.合法地；正当地，合理地

参考例句：

• The radio is legitimately owned by the company. 该电台为这家公司所合法拥有。
• She looked for nothing save what might come legitimately and without the appearance of special favour. 她要的并不是男人们的额外恩赐，而是合法正当地得到的工作。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

26 munch   

v.用力嚼，大声咀嚼

参考例句：

• We watched her munch through two packets of peanuts.我们看她津津有味地嚼了两包花生米。
• Getting them to munch on vegetable dishes was more difficult.使他们吃素菜就比较困难了。

27 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

28 javelin   

n.标枪，投枪

参考例句：

• She achieved a throw of sixty metres in the javelin event.在掷标枪项目中，她掷了60米远。
• The coach taught us how to launch a javelin.教练教我们投标枪。

29 javelins   

n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The heavy infantry blocks moved forward, throwing javelins just before the clash. 在正面交火之前，庞大的兵团会整体向前移动并投掷标枪。 来自互联网
• Elite mercenaries, originally from Aragon, armed with javelins and light armour. 加泰罗尼亚标枪兵为精锐雇佣部队，最初来自阿拉贡，装备标枪和轻甲。 来自互联网

30 gallows   

n.绞刑架，绞台

参考例句：

• The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
• Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。

31 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

32 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

33 cleansing   

n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词

参考例句：

• medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
• Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

34 traumas   

n.心灵创伤( trauma的名词复数 )；损伤；痛苦经历；挫折

参考例句：

• She felt exhausted after the traumas of recent weeks. 她经受了最近几个星期的痛苦之后感到精疲力竭。
• Conclusion: Safety lens of spectacles can protect the occurrence of ocular traumas. 结论：安全镜片可以预防眼镜碎片所致的眼外伤。 来自互联网