last week we introduced you to a group of orphans in
Ukraine and the man watching over them. They're in a
city that has been taken over by Russian forces and
they're just trying to make it through. Jason Bellini
did reconnect with them and tells us how they've been
surviving in the first days of the war. Newsy talked
with Vladimir Vladimir Sagaidak the 50 young orphans. He's
helping survive with communicat going in and out in
Kherson, the first Ukrainian city controlled and
occupied by the Russians. It's been hard to get in
touch, but finally, Newsy reached him again. Hello Good
to see you guys. They've been sheltering all 50 of them,
sometimes in the basement for two weeks now. It must be
difficult. Vladimir asks them my question. How are they
coping after two weeks locked inside, windows closed,
shades drawn. He has them speak one at a time. Hot,
bored bored are the words they choose. Hello, what is
your name A 16 year old named Denis, one of the older
boys here speaks for the group. What's happening the
in your city What can you tell me Currently We are
occupied by Russians. He says. We see how airplanes fly
over our heads. We hear explosions. Usually at night or
early morning helicopters and fighter aircraft fly
really close to us. We also saw tanks and armored
vehicles but we haven't seen Russian soldiers
personally. How are the younger Children doing during
this. It must be very difficult for all of you, but for
the really young ones who may not understand what's
happening What's it like for them, Denis says the
older Children help the younger ones, they try to focus
their attention on Activities games cartoons. But all
of them, he says including the younger ones, know what
is happening in their country. Is there anything that
you'd like to say to americans and other people arou
the world who are watching this right now Anythin
you'd like to say, Dennis. First of all, he says, I
would like to thank the U.S. For supporting Ukraine
The states already gave weapons financial support,
humanitarian aid. Right now we really need humanitarian
aid and I asked for all who could help us. We need a
green corridor were blocked, we're surrounded. We can't
get food or medicine. We hope that the U.S. Could find
diplomatic ways to provide a humanitarian corridor to
curse on all the roads in and out of Kherson are now
blocked with nothing coming in or out. The people of
the city and these orphans are running out of food.
There are reports that there's only one week of food
left in your city. Do you guys have enough food We have
food for 10-14 days. Vladimir says uh Kirsten is
surrounded and there's no way to bring into the city
food or medicine, but without a way out. He does not
know how they'll survive. Vladimir says that charities
from several countries have offered to send busses to
get the orphans out while they wait for a way out. And
with no parents to look out for them, they're relying
on Vladimir and each other trying to keep busy trying
to keep their spirits up. Jason Bellini joins us from
the ground tonight in Ukraine, Jason, why are there so
many orphans in Ukraine and their chances of being
adopted I'm sure each and every one of them just wants,
you know, a family, they want love. What are the
chances of that happening Great question, chance. Well
Vladimir in the piece, he's the head of the orphanage,
he said that several families have reached out and
they've I wanted to adopt since the situation start
there's been all this international interest, but he
says one, you can't get them out right now because it's
just too unsafe. They need that green corridor that he
talked about. And to, he says that the laws of Ukraine,
there's just a lot of red tape that make it very
difficult for foreigners to adopt Children. Now, as far
as why there are so many orphans. I asked him that and
what he said was that really it's economic reasons th
since the collapse of the soviet Union, there's been a
real upending of many people's lives and he says
there's also a lack of government support for famil
who are lower class families. And so that's why so many
young people fall through the cracks. And now some of
the young people are really at the center of what's
going on right now, trapped. And each of them deserves
a family, whether it is in Ukraine or internationall
and you just want the best for each and every one of
them, Jason Bellini. I'm glad you're telling their
story. Thank you.