[ti:Ukrainians on Alert Ahead of Independence Day] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Tensions between Ukraine and Russia increased this week [00:04.68]ahead of both Ukraine's Independence Day [00:08.60]and the six-month anniversary of the start of Russia's invasion. [00:13.72]Ukrainians are concerned about a Russian attack [00:17.76]on civilian targets ahead of the nation's Independence Day. [00:22.28]Ukraine separated from the former Soviet Union in 1991. [00:29.28]It celebrates the holiday on August 24. [00:34.40]In the capital city of Kyiv, [00:36.88]military leaders banned large events [00:40.24]celebrating the holiday until Thursday. [00:44.20]They are concerned about an attack [00:46.64]during both the Independence Day holiday [00:49.96]and the six-month anniversary of Russia's invasion, [00:54.76]which is also August 24. [00:58.44]Vlad Mudrak is a 26-year-old living in Kyiv. [01:04.24]He said he understands the restrictions. [01:08.76]"Our country is having a very hard time," he said, [01:12.64]"and we need to be careful." [01:16.52]In addition to a ban on public events, Kyiv city leaders [01:22.80]have asked people to work from their homes when possible. [01:27.40]They are saying to take any attack warnings they hear seriously. [01:34.44]Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy [01:39.16]said any attacks by Russia during the holiday [01:43.12]would be met with a strong response. [01:47.24]He also said Ukraine would continue to push to reunify Crimea, [01:52.88]a region taken over by Russia in 2014. [01:57.84]In a conversation with leaders and international agencies [02:02.24]working in support of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, [02:06.52]"It is necessary to liberate Crimea." [02:10.84]The acting prime minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, [02:15.84]told the group that his country would continue to support Ukraine. [02:20.04]Draghi said, "We are with you in your fight [02:24.12]to resist Russia's invasion." [02:27.36]The United States has warned any American citizens [02:31.92]still in Ukraine to leave as soon as possible [02:36.08]due to concerns about an attack. [02:39.52]On Monday, the U.S. State Department said [02:43.08]it recently received information that Russia planned [02:46.72]to increase attacks on non-military targets. [02:52.36]Tensions between leaders in Moscow and Kyiv [02:57.16]are higher than usual this week for other reasons, as well. [03:01.80]Russia says Ukraine is responsible [03:04.52]for the death of Darya Dugina, [03:07.24]the daughter of an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [03:13.88]Dugina was killed by a car bomb last weekend. [03:18.72]Her father, Alexander Dugin, is a well-known political writer [03:24.72]who has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. [03:29.20]Hundreds of people gathered to remember Dugina on Tuesday [03:33.68]at a memorial service. [03:35.80]Observers say that she may have been killed by mistake [03:40.92]and that her father was the true target of the bomb. [03:45.36]Ukrainian leaders say they were not responsible for the attack. [03:51.44]As Russia's war in Ukraine reaches its sixth month, [03:55.84]the international community continues to keep an eye [04:00.24]on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine. [04:05.84]Leaders of the United States, France, Germany and Great Britain [04:10.96]recently met to discuss their concerns [04:14.24]about the nuclear energy production center [04:17.36]and the fighting going on nearby. [04:20.16]They urged United Nations officials to visit the plant. [04:25.40]The nearby fighting has many people worried [04:28.36]about a possible release of dangerous radiation. [04:33.00]The plant is under Russian control [04:35.64]but continues to be operated by Ukrainian workers. [04:39.12]One major concern is that nearby fighting [04:43.72]could result in electricity being cut, [04:46.64]which might prevent the nuclear plant from operating normally. [04:51.32]I'm Dan Friedell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM