Ukraine: The Handoff

6 snips

Feb 3, 2023

In this episode, reporter Katz Laszlo shares his on-the-ground experiences in Ukraine, focusing on the dangerous covert operations to supply abortion pills amidst the chaos of war. He highlights personal stories from women like Evgenia, navigating life-threatening situations to secure essential healthcare. Laszlo also explores the emotional struggles of four pregnant women and the ethical dilemmas surrounding abortion rights in a conflict zone. With resilience shining through, the episode reveals the grim realities and profound choices faced daily in Ukraine.

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ANECDOTE

Smuggling Pills

Evgenia smuggled abortion pills into Ukraine, storing thousands in her Lviv apartment.
She questioned how to distribute them and if they would reach women in need.

INSIGHT

Pill Shortage

Despite increased demand for abortion pills due to the war, supply chains were disrupted.
International organizations were slow to respond to the shortage, leaving Ukrainian doctors worried.

ANECDOTE

Coffee Bag Pills

Evgenia's smuggled pills, packaged in coffee bags, were distributed to doctors across Ukraine.
This small act was crucial in addressing the shortage and providing essential care.

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We continue the story of a covert smuggling operation to bring abortion pills into Ukraine, shortly after the Russian invasion. In this episode, reporters Katz Laszlo and Gregory Warner go to Ukraine, landing on a fall night during a citywide blackout, to pick up the trail of the pills and find out about the doctors and patients who needed them. But as they follow the pills around the country, what they learn changes their understanding of how we talk about these pills, and how we talk about choice, in a war.

This episode is the second of two done in collaboration with NPR’s Rough Translation. You can find the first episode here (https://zpr.io/CnmNVFQ6X5gc).

Special thanks to the Rough Translation team for reporting help. Thanks also to Liana Simstrom, Irene Noguchi, and Eleana Tworek. Thanks to the ears of Valeria Fokina, Andrii Degeler, Noel King, Robert Krulwich and Sana Krasikov. And to our interpreters, Kira Leonova and Tetyana Yurinetz. Thanks to Drs Natalia, Irna & Diana. To Yulia Mytsko, Yulia Babych, Maria Hlazunova, Nika Bielska, Yvette Mrova, Lauren Ramires, Jane Newnham, Olena Shevchenko, Marta Chumako, Jamie Nadal, Jonathan Bearak, and the many others who we spoke with for this story. Thank you to NPR’s International Desk and the team at the Ukraine bureau. Translations from Eugene Alper and Dennis Tkachivsky. Voice over from Lizzie Marchenko and Yuliia Serbenenko. Archival from the Heal Foundation.

Legal guidance provided by Micah Ratner, Lauren Cooperman, and Dentons.

Ethical guidance from Tony Cavin.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Guest hosted by - Gregory Warner and Molly Webster

Reported by - Katz Laszlo, Gregory Warner

Produced by - Tessa Paoli, Daniel Girma, Adelina Lancianese

w/ production help from - Nic M. Neves

Mixer - James Willetts and Robert Rodriguez

w/ mixing help from - Jeremy Bloom

Fact-checking by - Marisa Robertson-Textor

and Edited by - Brenna Farrell

Music:

John Ellis composed the Rough Translation theme music.

Original music from Dylan Keefe.

Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions and FirstCom Music.

CITATIONSPhotos -

on Twitter

https://zpr.io/egzpZZw7xPKk

Podcasts -

competitive comedy

https://zpr.io/ympqrikgCkE3

Rough Translation

No-Touch Abortion

https://zpr.io/5SB6bpNzUs6r

Radiolab

Articles -

Further reading: a study on medical abortion (https://zpr.io/f8h5WNfKaMtk) by Galina Maistruck, one of the main sources in our piece

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