{"id":1714,"date":"2024-04-27T19:53:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-27T19:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/ukraine-lawmaker-34-fights-for-kharkiv-in-the-public-square\/"},"modified":"2024-04-27T19:53:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-27T19:53:16","slug":"ukraine-lawmaker-34-fights-for-kharkiv-in-the-public-square","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/ukraine-lawmaker-34-fights-for-kharkiv-in-the-public-square\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine lawmaker, 34, fights for Kharkiv in the public square"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Mariia Mezentseva is a face of the war in Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At just 34 years old and a member of Ukraine\u2019s parliament, her formal tasks include looking into ways Ukraine can integrate into the rest of Europe\u2019s institutions.<\/p>\n

But, what really has gotten her attention are her posts about her hometown, Kharkiv. It has a population of 1.3 million people, just 20 miles from the northeast border with Russia<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

From the beginning, Putin has<\/a> wanted to take it over.\u00a0In 2022, Ukrainians pushed them back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, in recent months, Russian attacks have grown furious, knocking out residential areas, power infrastructure, even the city\u2019s huge TV tower.<\/p>\n

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Ukrainian parliament member Mariia Mezentseva in Kharkiv.<\/span> (Mariia Mezentseva)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

KEY NATO ALLY SHOCKS WITH ITS ‘SINGLE LARGEST’ PLEDGE TO UKRAINE: ‘THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Moscow, in fact, made clear it has wanted to turn Kharkiv into a demilitarized zone so it would not threaten Russia.<\/p>\n

Critics said Moscow has tried to turn Kharkiv into Aleppo, the Syrian rebel stronghold Russia flattened in its support of Assad in Damascus.<\/p>\n

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\"Mariia<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
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Ukrainian parliament member Mariia Mezentseva has taken her fight to social media.<\/span> (Mariia Mezentseva)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mezentseva regularly has posted shots of damage, rescue and relief efforts in Kharkiv, branding Russian efforts “genocidal actions.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

She generally has exuded hope, especially for the recent package of U.S. military aid<\/a> for Ukraine which would benefit her home area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Ukrainian parliament member Mariia Mezentseva standing in front of a military vehicle.<\/span> (Mariia Mezentseva)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The package, Mezentseva said, “will serve the purpose for sure.”<\/p>\n

Basically, for the time being at least, it\u00a0will keep the city alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Greg Palkot currently serves as a London-based senior foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in 1998 as a correspondent. Follow him on Twitter@GregPalkot<\/a>.<\/i> \n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n