美国国家公共电台 NPR--The war in Ukraine has dramatically affected businesses — big and small

The war in Ukraine has dramatically affected¹ businesses — big and small

Transcript²

Businesses in Ukraine face numerous challenges in the midst of the war. Some have shutdown entirely³, while others are scrambling⁴ to find new ways to operate.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

In Ukraine, businesses face a lot of challenges in the midst of this war. Some have had to shut down entirely. Others are scrambling to find new ways to operate. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports from Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv.

JASON BEAUBIEN, BYLINE⁵: When Russia first started to attack Kharkiv in late February, the initial onslaught was fierce. Buildings all over the city were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people fled. Almost everything shut down. Now, Ukrainian troops have pushed Moscow's forces back from the edge of the city. But the Russians continue to lob missiles and mortars⁶. Industrial areas have been particularly hard hit, which has made reopening manufacturing plants difficult. For instance, Nestle used to run a large factory, making a very popular brand of instant noodles in Kharkiv.

VOLODYMYR SPIVAK: This is unbelievable situation. You can try to be ready to the war, but it's not possible to be ready to the war.

BEAUBIEN: Volodymyr Spivak is the head of communications with Nestle in Ukraine. While Nestle has restarted two other factories in the west of the country, he says for safety reasons, the Kharkiv noodle plant remains⁷ shut. And they're not the only ones. Numerous factories and offices in Kharkiv remain shut down. Some smaller businesses, however, are attempting to restart.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking non-English language).

BEAUBIEN: Slowly, the BRICKS Coffee & Desserts cafes have reopened across the country.

YAROSLAV RODCHENKO: (Speaking non-English language).

BEAUBIEN: Yaroslav Rodchenko (ph) is the owner of the chain. Like just about everybody else in Kharkiv, Rodchenko shut down when the Russians initially⁸ invaded, and he decamped to a city further west. Five of his 18 cafes that are based here in Kharkiv are now serving espresso again, but Rodchenko faces numerous challenges, including staff shortages.

RODCHENKO: (Through interpreter) Part of our staff leaving the areas under constant shelling or missile attacks. So because of these reasons or they have small children, they can't come back.

BEAUBIEN: Some of the baristas have left the country entirely. Also, the city has changed, Rodchenko says. Much of downtown Kharkiv was heavily bombed, and it doesn't make sense yet to reopen his cafes there.

RODCHENKO: (Through interpreter) Before war in the city center, there were a lot of offices, universities. The activity was higher there rather than residential⁹ areas. Now it has changed, and in residential areas there are more people.

BEAUBIEN: According to the World Bank, Ukraine's economy could shrink by 45% this year due to the war. Dmytro Symovonyk, managing director of Citadel¹⁰ Capital Ukraine in Lviv, says the contraction¹¹ could be even worse for industrial businesses in the east that have had their facilities destroyed. In addition...

DMYTRO SYMOVONYK: The whole logistics system has been basically destroyed, and it takes time to rebuild one.

BEAUBIEN: And at any moment, Russian airstrikes could blow up a factory or business anywhere in the country. The fate of Ukraine's huge agricultural sector¹² is also uncertain, he says, because of a lack of access to the major seaports¹³ of Mariupol and Odesa. But some parts of the economy, like Ukrainian IT companies, Symovonyk says, have managed to adapt and even expand during the war. Over-the-counter cappuccino sales are small beans compared to grain and IT, but Rodchenko at BRICKS Coffee shops views reopening his cafes as a patriotic¹⁴ act. Rodchenko started BRICKS Coffee after fleeing from Luhansk in 2014 when Russian-backed separatists took over the region. He says it would take a lot for him to close down again.

RODCHENKO: (Through interpreter) For example, Kharkiv would be taken and would not be under Ukrainian control. That would make me leave - but only this.

BEAUBIEN: Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

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 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。

4 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 mortars   

n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵

参考例句：

• They could not move their heavy mortars over the swampy ground. 他们无法把重型迫击炮移过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Where the hell are his mortars? 他有迫击炮吗？ 来自教父部分

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

9 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。

10 citadel   

n.城堡；堡垒；避难所

参考例句：

• The citadel was solid.城堡是坚固的。
• This citadel is built on high ground for protecting the city.这座城堡建于高处是为保护城市。

11 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

13 seaports   

n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
• Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网

14 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。