Ukraine's military is fortifying its defenses around the city of Odesa

Ukraine's military is fortifying¹ its defenses around the city of Odesa

　　Transcript²

　　Since the start of Russia's invasion, there have been persistent³ fears that Russian troops would land at Ukraine's largest port Odesa. It hasn't happened yet, but the city is preparing for the worst.

　　STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

　　Civilians⁴ in many Ukrainian cities are watching the fate of Mariupol. It's surrounded by Russian military forces. And Ukrainian officials have refused to surrender, even though residents who remain in the city face dwindling⁵ supplies of food and water, even a lack of heat. One city that's watching especially closely would be another port city, Odesa, which hopes it will not be the next Mariupol. Already, Russian forces have shelled areas around the city. And NPR's Tim Mak is there.

　　TIM MAK, BYLINE⁶: During prewar times, Odesa residents and tourists from all over the globe have flocked here for its bustling⁷ bars and crowded clubs. It's renowned⁸ for its 19th century architecture and its world-famous opera house and has a very highly regarded local jazz club.

　　EUGENE: You should visit here in the peaceful time to talk with people, to see its atmosphere, this culture, because Odesa is a big port. And it always been a mix of different cultures. It was very multicultural⁹ city. We have the Jews. We have Greeks, Georgians, British, French - everyone, basically.

　　MAK: Eugene (ph) is a spokesperson for the military governor of Odesa. It's the policy of his combat brigade not to provide last names. He's part of a military force that has helped transform the city in a time of war. Now, many of the city's restaurants and its opera house are behind military checkpoints. The streets are lined with barbed wire, sandbags and anti-tank obstacles. And Russian warships¹⁰ and amphibious landing vessels¹¹ have been seen on satellite images in the Black Sea just off the coast. Here's Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　GENNADIY TRUKHANOV: (Through interpreter) We regularly see the force of the warships of armed forces of Russian Federation¹² maneuvering¹³ or emerging near Odesa.

　　MAK: While there have been no firefights in the city, there have been reports of shelling throughout the region. Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire could be heard as I walked near the city's opera house. Eugene said they've been firing at enemy reconnaissance drones.

　　Can you tell me how many drones have been shot down?

　　EUGENE: Yesterday, we shot one. And before yesterday, we shot one.

　　MAK: Since the war began, Ukrainian forces in this region have sought to prepare the city for the possibility of a Russian amphibious landing nearby. On the third night of the war, Eugene says, Ukrainian forces around Odesa stopped six boats from landing on the city's beaches.

　　EUGENE: The biggest problem for us was the fighting with sabotage¹⁴ groups, which were landing on small boats and trying to mark the places for landing in Odesa to the main forces. But we managed to stop them all.

　　MAK: Earlier this week, NPR was permitted by Ukrainian forces to review some of their preparations for a Russian attack. All along the Black Sea coast, usually a hub for beachgoers, the Ukrainian military has set up artillery¹⁵ firing positions and pre-staged their armored vehicles.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF MACHINE WHIRRING)

　　MAK: We saw where Ukrainian soldiers slept and showered - in a Mitsubishi pickup¹⁶ truck. They had placed a large machine gun in the back. At one point during our trip to a Ukrainian military position, we stopped near a gate with an alarming-looking sign. It had an image of a skull¹⁷ and crossbones on it. And it read in Ukrainian, danger, mines.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF WAVES SPLASHING)

　　MAK: The Ukrainian military had placed mines along the Black Sea beaches to disrupt a potential Russian advance. It wasn't just a warning to the Russian military or to Ukrainian civilians nearby. It was a warning of what the war had done to this sunny, seaside resort and how difficult it would be to one day unwind this all if and when this war ends.

　　Tim Mak, NPR News, Odesa.

1 fortifying   

筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品）

参考例句：

• Fortifying executive function and restraining impulsivity are possible with active interventions. 积极干预可能有助加强执行功能和抑制冲动性。
• Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face, fortifying himself against still another disappointment. 文戈不再张望，他绷紧脸，仿佛正在鼓足勇气准备迎接另一次失望似的。

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 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

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 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

8 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

9 multicultural   

adj.融合多种文化的，多种文化的

参考例句：

• Children growing up in a multicultural society.在多元文化社会中长大的孩子们。
• The school has been attempting to bring a multicultural perspective to its curriculum.这所学校已经在尝试将一种多元文化视角引入其课程。

10 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

11 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

13 maneuvering   

v.移动，用策略( maneuver的现在分词 )；操纵

参考例句：

• This Manstein did, with some brilliant maneuvering under the worse winter conditions. 曼施坦因在最恶劣的严冬条件下，出色地施展了灵活机动的战术，终于完成了任务。 来自辞典例句
• In short, large goals required farsighted policies, not tactical maneuvering. 一句话，大的目标需要有高瞻远瞩的政策，玩弄策略是不行的。 来自辞典例句

14 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。

15 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

16 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

17 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。