A Ukrainian refugee shares the story of his fraught escape from Russian-occupied Kherson. ~ A strategically important port in the south of Ukraine near the Black Sea, Kherson was the first major city to fall into Russian hands in the early days of the war. But last week, after more than eight months of occupation, Russia withdrew its forces and Ukrainian soldiers entered the city, greeted by cheering locals. It’s a triumphant moment for Ukraine, but along with the celebrations, there’s a long road ahead to restoring normalcy. Around 300,000 people lived there before the invasion, but Ukrainian authorities estimate that more than half have now fled. As they share their stories, we’re beginning to get a fuller picture of what life looks like for the Ukrainians trapped behind Russian lines. In this interview, Alex, a Ukrainian refugee, speaks with producers Susie Armitage and Alex Gendler about his experience under occupation, and what it took to escape. Thanks for listening. You can find “Resistance: Stories From Ukraine” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to Brazen Presents for more – and, as always, you can follow our latest reporting in our newsletter, Whale Hunting. www.projectbrazen.com