Illia Ponomarenko's memoir opens up about covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Jun 3, 2024
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Journalist Illia Ponomarenko discusses his memoir about covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting Ukrainians' determination to fight for their country, life in Bucha, and a touching encounter with his girlfriend's parents.
Ukrainians showed determination and surprised experts by effectively countering the initial Russian strike within 24 hours.
During the war, ordinary citizens displayed heroism by supporting the military, volunteering, and symbolizing resilience in the face of tragedy.
Deep dives
Unpreparedness for War in Ukraine
Many Ukrainians, including government officials, did not initially take the threat of war seriously due to hope and disbelief in the aggressor's intentions. Despite expert predictions of Ukraine's imminent fall, the Ukrainian military surprised by countering the initial strike effectively within 24 hours, showcasing their determination and ability to defend the country.
Resilience and Unity in War
During the war in Ukraine, countless ordinary citizens and artists displayed acts of heroism and unity by supporting the military, volunteering in war-affected areas, and even changing their lives to assist in the conflict. Weddings became a symbol of seizing the moment in uncertainty, while Butcha, despite experiencing a tragic massacre, exemplified resilience and the triumph of life over death, highlighting the spirit of the Ukrainian people in the face of adversity.
There's a lot of tragedy that goes into watching your home erupt into a battlefield. But journalist Illia Ponomarenko says as the Russian military seized city after city in their latest invasion of Ukraine, people also came together in beautiful ways. His new memoir, I Will Show You How It Was, recounts what living – and covering – the war has been like so far. In today's episode, The Kyiv Independent co-founder speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about Ukrainians' willingness to fight for their country, what life is like in Bucha today and the unexpected way he met his girlfriend's parents.
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