Twice a day for a couple of week, CNN producer Mayumi Maruyama has been attempting to telephone a pair she calls “Tato” and “Mama” — Ukrainian for dad and mother.
They dwell in a small village outdoors Chernihiv, a metropolis in northern Ukraine now encircled by Russian troops who’ve lowered main landmarks to rubble.
Just a few years in the past, in peaceable instances, Tato and Mama welcomed Maruyama into their lives, treating her like a daughter as they shared meals and swapped tales about their very totally different lives.
Then battle got here.
The final time Maruyama spoke to Tato, from her new residence in Tokyo, was on March 9.
The connection was shaky, and we had been solely capable of discuss for a couple of minute, Maruyamawrote for CNN. “We do not have mild,” are the one phrases I may make out from our stilted dialog as the road lower out and in.
Right here she picks up the story: On Friday evening, I had a little bit hope. The telephone switched from voicemail to busy. Then the subsequent day, after my relations took me on a visit to assist get my thoughts off the battle, I obtained a message from a neighbor with information.
Tato and Mama had been alive.
My buddy’s mom was capable of come up with somebody of their village. Tato and Mama had been sheltering in a basement with different folks, she mentioned. And Mama’s mom, 91-year-old Babusya, was with them.
“From time to time, somebody brings them bread,” the buddy mentioned. “Their home remains to be intact.”
I keep in mind the basement they’re sheltering in. It was chilly however spacious and there are not any partitions between the bogs.
Final week, 10 folks had been killed by Russian troops in Chernihiv as they tried to purchase bread outdoors the Epicenter Okay — Ukraine’s model of House Depot — a warehouse-style constructing that had already been destroyed by shelling.
It’s nonetheless dangerous to try to flee the village.
However I’m relieved that Tato and Mamo are alive, whilst combating rages round them.
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