[앵커]
South Korean nationals are currently unable to enter Ukraine normally as the government has designated Ukraine as a travel ban.
However, in Article 17 of the Passport Act, it is possible to allow entry into the country as an exception in case of reporting or reporting for the public interest.
KBS applied for exceptional passport use on the 7th, and yesterday received permission to enter and dispatched reporters to Ukraine.
The reporter entered Chernivtsi in southwestern Ukraine, where the Korean temporary embassy is located.
We will connect with the correspondent Yoo Won-jung, who is interviewing here, to find out more about the situation.
Correspondent of Yuwon Middle School, let’s hear the immigration process first. What is the procedure?
[기자]
After applying for an exceptional passport on the 7th, I have been covering in Siret, Romania, which borders Ukraine.
This time yesterday morning, as soon as the entry permit was issued, I immediately crossed the border.
The way to escape from Ukraine to Romania and the opposite way to enter were relatively smooth.
I met a local interpreter and guide in front of the Ukrainian border checkpoint, and immediately started to investigate.
[앵커]
Above all, I hope you are safe.
Currently, the Russian army is continuing the offensive in all directions, how is the situation in the southwest?
[기자]
Away from the fiercely battled northern and eastern territories, it is quite peaceful here.
But if you look closely, there is a quiet war going on here too.
It is acting as a rear support center that takes care of refugees and sends relief supplies to war zones.
We will tell you about what we covered yesterday.
[리포트]
Chernivtsi is home to 50,000 refugees in a city of 250,000 people.
The support centers located throughout the city are filled with refugees from all over the country, so there is no room for footsteps.
Once you register as a refugee here, you can receive emergency aid and many other things you need to live.
[올레흐/피란민 지원센터 자원봉사자 : “저희에게 핫라인이 있어서 피란민이 전화를 걸면 숙소를 찾을 수 있게 도와주고 있습니다.”]
School closed due to war.
It has now been converted into temporary accommodation for refugees, and the principal and teachers are taking care of them.
[피란민/임시 숙소 거주자 : “지금 현재도 어머니와 아버지, 동생들이 키이우에 살고 있어요. 그들은 집을 떠나지 않겠다고 해서요.”]
Originally, this was a school.
It is now used by refugees who have no connection to this place.
There are about 300 people in all.
As you can see, there are strollers like this in every room.
A total of 118 children live here.
Inside the Municipal Gymnasium, which has been turned into a huge relief aid center.
Relief supplies from overseas through neighboring Romania are piled up.
500 volunteers work 24/7 to sort items.
Relief items gathered here are delivered to various parts of the country where citizens are using their vehicles to fight fiercely.
[알렉산드르/구호물품지원센터 관계자 : “운전자들은 진정한 영웅입니다. 그들은 2번, 3번, 4번 러시아군의 포격을 감수하고 필수품을 위험 지역에 보내고 있습니다.”]
The governor, who has changed his role from an administrative bureaucrat to a regional commander, is confident of victory in the war.
[세르기이 오사축/체르니우치 주지사 : “모든 우리 군인들이 이미 조국을 지킬 준비가 됐고, 시민들도 언제든지 참여할 준비가 돼 있습니다.”]
[앵커]
Citizens are directly supporting it.
In the past, the situation was reported from the Ukraine border side, but this time Correspondent Yu went directly into Ukraine and covered it.
What stood out the most?
[기자]
In the meantime, there have been many reports of refugees fleeing Ukraine.
I could see that many more refugees were leaving their hometowns and staying in relatively safe domestic areas.
It was impressive to see the people who were not shaken even though they were at war.
We were able to confirm that the local government’s administrative power as well as the volunteer groups were well organized and the national functions were functioning normally.
I have even seen cases where he generously lent his house to three families of refugees whom he did not know.
It was easy to find many restaurants voluntarily preparing food and providing it to the refugees.
I thought that the reason Ukraine is doing relatively well against the Russian army is because the people behind it are backing it with strong will and cooperation.
[앵커]
However, despite the protests of the citizens, the situation seems to be getting worse.
Are there any reports of Russia using hypersonic missiles?
[기자]
Yes, Russian media are reporting all at once.
It is said that the Russian military fired a hypersonic “Kinzal” missile that destroyed an ammunition storage facility in the Ivano-Frankiusk province, about a hundred kilometers from where I am.
He added that the use of hypersonic weapons was the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Kinzal has a range of 2,000 kilometers and is said to be a weapon that flies at 10 times the speed of sound and neutralizes air defense systems.
Meanwhile, more than 130 people have been rescued from the bombarded Mariopol’s theater despite signs that there are children, but more than 100 people are still under the rubble, President Zelensky said.
So far, I’m on KBS News Amusement Park in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
Cinematographer: Se-Jun Cho / Video Editing: Sam-Hyeon Seo / Graphics: Hyun-Gap Kim