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Hofstra journalism professor covers war in Ukraine up close

Hofstra University journalism professor Doualy Xaykaothao covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine from the front lines.

Since the Russian army invaded Feb. 24, Ukraine has become a war zone as it defends itself against Europe’s largest nation. While the international impacts of the war have received much attention, there are thousands of stories of everyday Ukrainians fighting their own battles to survive and maintain their country’s autonomy. Hofstra University professor Doualy Xaykaothao, a National Public Radio reporter, is telling those stories through her audio reports and photography.

WRHU’s Danny DeCrescenzo interviewing Doualy Xaykaothao in the radio station’s studio earlier this week.

Xaykaothao returned from the front lines for a brief period this week and sat down with Danny DeCrescenzo, of WRHU’s “Hofstra Morning Wake-Up Call,” to discuss her time in Ukraine before returning there. Xaykaothao has been covering the war’s effects on the country’s people for an audio series that involves several veteran NPR reporters who are documenting food insecurity among the Ukrainian people.

DeCrescenzo interviews Xaykaothao about her recent time covering war in Ukraine.

Professor “X,” as her students call her, has been documenting food insecurity within the war zone in Ukraine through her audio reports and photography. // Photo by Doualy Xaykaothao
A woman in front of her shattered apartment building in Eastern Ukraine. Her exact location is not being revealed for security reasons. // Photo by Doualy Xaykaothao
Burned-out Russian tanks. // Photo by Doualy Xaykaothao