The New Reality: February 25

The men and women of Ukraine’s rail system have kept trains running for the 12 months since the Russian invasion—despite being a target. On this week’s episode, The New Reality got extraordinary access across Ukraine to the conductors, drivers, repair workers, and executives keeping the country connected. As Mike Armstrong found out, the rail lines in Ukraine have in many ways become lifelines. Plus, there’s one community in Ukraine that is unable to defend itself against relentless Russian attacks. The small city of Marhanets sits in the shadow of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – currently controlled by Russians, who are using it as a base from which to launch attacks on nearby communities like Marhanets, knowing that if Ukrainians pushed back – it could be suicidal. So, they’ve asked for help, and as Jeff Semple reports, a Canadian veteran is answering the call.