<Anchor>
Tension is increasing in Ukraine, saying that Russia has even used hypersonic missiles.
Already on the 24th day of the invasion, our reporters were the first Korean media to cross the border into Ukraine.
Ukraine is currently a travel ban country, but it has received government permission for the purpose of reporting for the public interest, and we are conducting local coverage while paying attention to safety.
I'll link you to a correspondent who is out of Ukraine.
Correspondent Kwak Sang-eun, first, explain where you are now.
<Reporter>
The place where I am now is Chernivtsi, a city located in the southwestern part of Ukraine.
Yesterday (18th), about a fortnight after delivering the Ukraine coverage plan and route to the government, the Korean embassy was issued a permit to conduct coverage for up to two nights and three days in the area where the temporary office is located. It was the first time I set foot on Ukrainian soil.
From now on, I will tell you about the immigration process.
As we crossed the border on the Romanian side, we came into view of the Ukrainian border checkpoint guarded by armed soldiers.
[Correspondent Kwak Sang-eun: We are now passing through the Ukrainian Foruvne border checkpoint facing Syret, Romania.]
As we have entered a travel-banned country, an automatic message from the government to evacuate immediately arrives.
Finally, the Ukrainian territory and the media are transferred to a local vehicle and headed for the city.
Cerniv, adjacent to NATO member Romania, is still commercially active in Ukraine due to the relatively low risk of bombing.
But if you look closely, everyone's life is different from before.
As fears of leaking military secrets through cell phones increase, you must present an ID each time you purchase a SIM, and you can only put 20 liters of oil at a time.
Above all, the Russian military has recently poured missiles into cities to the southwest, such as Lviv and Ivanofrankiusk, raising concerns that there is no longer a safe zone in Ukraine.
[Vaseryu/Cherniuchi residents, Ukraine: Every time the air raid siren sounds, they hide in an underground shelter, but the siren has sounded almost every day for the past week.]
The number of armed soldiers on the street has increased, and barricades have been installed in front of government offices.
As the sun goes down, shops close quickly, and when the 10 p.m. curfew hits, the city goes into complete darkness with street lights turned off to avoid bombing.
<Anchor>
It seems that the reality of the war we face inside the border is a little different from what we reported outside the border of Ukraine.
Were there many heartbreaking stories?
<Reporter> The
city of Chernivtsi has a population of about 250,000, and more than 45,000 refugees, or 20% of the current population, are staying here after leaving fighting areas such as Kiiu and Kharkiv.
Let's listen to the story of a young couple who met on the street.
[Alexander / Kharkiv refugees in Ukraine: The Kharkiv where our house is located is bombed every day.]
The couple, who were hiding in the basement, eventually decided to evacuate when a rocket fell in the yard of their house.
She managed to escape the explosion and arrived here, but her husband received a letter of conscription to enlist two days later.
[Alexander / Kharkiv refugees, Ukraine: I am not afraid to go to the army and fight.
But I'm worried about her wife, who is left alone.]
Her wife is now full term, and she has to give birth to a baby left alone in an unfamiliar city.
[Olga / Kharkiv refugee in Ukraine: When her husband leaves, there is no one here to help me.
The war has completely changed my life.] The
couple, who tried to continue the interview calmly, finally hugged each other in front of the reporters and cried.
<Anchor>
Continue to tell us about the relief work.
<Reporter>
Since Chernivtsi is a border city, important relief items from foreign countries are being delivered to areas where fighting is fierce.
About 500 volunteers a day, working 24 hours a day, went to a place to sort and pack relief supplies to be delivered to various parts of the country.
[Bohdenne Kobaluk/Cerniucci Vice Governor: We are storing medicines, supplies to be sent to refugees, and supplies to the military.] Both the
native Chernivchi and refugees are of one accord.
[Mikita/Refugee Volunteer: We are at war now, and we must all come together to do something that helps our country.]
Governor Chernivuchi gave us a more detailed explanation.
[Governor Sergii Osachuk / Chernivtsi: Russia uses a tactic of killing citizens by besieging the city and then bombarding it with concentrated bombardment.
Delivery of essential aid is important to prevent this Russian tactic from succeeding.]
I will continue to deliver to you the lives of Ukrainians in war in this city tomorrow as well.
(Video coverage: Kim Yong-woo, video editing: Lee Seung-hee)