Dreams in darkness aboard the Kyiv ExpressーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
This may look like any other train, but the Kev Express has come to represent hope for the entire nation of Ukraine. The overnight sleeper connects the 800 kilometers between Keev and the Polish capital Warsaw, the largest destination for people fleeing the war. It’s also a lifeline reuniting friends and loved ones separated by the conflict. The journey for people seeking restbite from the war starts here at Kev Central Station. With flying no longer an option, demand for train tickets has soared. The headlines are dominated by American calls for an early ceasefire. I don’t believe in any of it. Nothing will change until Putin is dead. If we surrender, all the lives we have lost will have been for nothing. The Kev Express leaves right on time at 8:21 [Music] p.m. The journey to Warsaw takes around 15 hours. With Ukrainian men under 60 generally restricted from leaving the country, the passengers are mainly women, children, and the elderly. Some are looking to escape the shadow of war for a while. Others are visiting family members who fled abroad. We’re visiting friends in Warso. We need a break. The last two months of attacks have left us exhausted. The conductor checks for any air raid alerts along the route. Russian troops destroyed railways and bridges in the early days of the invasion when they closed in on the capital, but they didn’t stop the Kev Express. [Music] Materials are in short supply and the train company has struggled to repair damaged rails. Metal for the tracks used to come from a single iron and steel plant in the eastern city of Marupople. But a 3-month battle there with the Russians left the plant in ruins, and the rail network lost its only track supplier. But help was at hand. We’ve installed rails from Japan. The Kev Express runs along this stretch of track. Japan donated about 190 km of rails last year. We appreciate the support very much. We can’t operate without the rails provided by Japan and Europe. [Applause] [Music] With international support, the Kev Express is able to keep rolling every day. [Music] 10:11 a.m. and we finally reach Warsaw. [Music] Bringing together the visitors from Ukraine with their families [Music] there. To me, it represents love and reunion and it saves lives. It’s time for the train to head back. Despite the dangers back in Ukraine, people still hold on to hope. We’ve been in Miami, where our son lives, for 3 years. We’re worried about returning to Ukraine, but still we’re heading home. Everyone aboard the Kev Express has a story, including the tireless crew. Ina Kohut has been a conductor for more than two decades. Her husband signed up to fight in the war. He fought in a Donk region for a year and a half and now he’s missing. The conscription office could declare him dead as early as August. It’s so hard to accept it. I just feel like that moment is getting closer. [Music] Enough finds purpose and a reason to keep going on the Kev [Music] [Music] Express. [Music] Her colleagues understand. [Music] Dawn breaks in Ukraine. [Music] 10:45 a.m. and we’re back at Kev Central Station. [Music] One of many reunions long overdue. Bye-bye. [Music] [Applause] The Kev Express sets off once more, carrying not just its passengers, but also their hopes for a better world. The Kev Express continues to offer Ukrainians a way out thanks to the dedicated crew who keep the train running. And there’s more on the train on NHK World’s Documentary 360. Here’s the QR code on the
The Kyiv Express is more than just a night train linking Ukraine’s capital with Warsaw – it has become a powerful symbol of hope and resilience. It reconnects lives torn apart by conflict thanks to international support and the dedication of its crew. #ukraine #warinukraine #europe #russia #asia #poland #politics #warsaw #kyiv
More stories on war in Ukraine: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/tags/110/
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