Culture

Russian WWII veteran raises money amid pandemic

Moscow, May 10 (EFE).- At the age of 97, Russian World War II veteran Zinaida Korneva has taken to her blog to raise money for the families of medical staff who have died from coronavirus.“Dear friends! I’m back with you like every day. Today I’m going to tell you a story about…,” the Red Army veteran tells her thousands of subscribers from around the world.Sat on a wooden bench with her medals proudly displayed on her chest, Korneva doesn’t hear well but she stares straight into the camera with confidence and delivers her tales.Born in the Urals in 1922, she took part in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II at the age of 19 and even made it as far as Berlin.SOUNDBITES OF RUSSIAN WORLD WAR II VETERAN ZINAIDA KORNEVA:"My granddaughter Yelena is always with me. She helps me to formulate the sentences better and is in charge of recording the videos. And in Moscow, my great-granddaughter and her husband edit them.""My relatives showed me the video (from the English veteran) Tom Moore. I liked the idea. And I decided to do the same in Russia. My daughter and granddaughter are doctors. I know their work. Also, due to my age, I have had many operations and diseases. And I had a lot of relationship with doctors who treated me very well. And because of my age, I feel very sorry for the doctors who fight this disease, which can infect and kill them."At first I did not expect to raise that much money. And now I am very grateful for that and for how people have reacted. For all that, I thank them.""I want young people to know the horrors of war so they can take care of the world and never again permit a new war.""Doctors face an even tougher war, as the virus is invisible and unpredictable."“Together we defeated fascism in 1945 and now we are fighting the virus"