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U.S. Intel: Russia Preparing Operation To Justify Ukraine Invasion; Cyberattack Shuts Down Ukraine Government Web Sites; Average Daily Case Rate More Than Double In Past Two Weeks; Families Plead For U.S. Government To Help Find Missing Women After Plane Crash. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired January 14, 2022 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[14:33:30]
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: U.S. intelligence has information indicating Russia is prepositioning a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine.
An official tells CNN this is likely an attempt to create a pretext to justify a Russian invasion.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: The official also tells CNN the U.S. has evidence that the operatives have been trained in urban warfare and in using exclusives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia's own forces.
This intelligence echoes claims made by Ukraine's defense ministry.
BLACKWELL: Also, a cyberattack shut down a number of Ukrainian government sites this morning.
This laptop screen shows the threatening message posted by the hackers. It warns Ukrainians that they're personal information has been hack and to be afraid.
CAMEROTA: CNN senior international correspondent, Sam Kiley, joins us now from Ukraine.
So, Sam, tell us what you know about the attack.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the hackers, according to the government here, hit about 70 Web sites. I have to say it is low level.
They've said that there was an infiltration they believe through one of the suppliers or a number of suppliers that provide the Web site facilities for these government sites.
It was disrupted but it wasn't catastrophic.
There has been, as far as government here is concerned, no hacking of personal details, no hacking into key ministries, like Ministry of Defense or Interior.
But it is this drip feed, if you like, from their perspective, of yet more pressure coming from whom they suspect most of all, which would be, of course, Russia.
[14:35:07]
Now, of course, it is very difficult quickly to identify where these pressure points are coming from when it comes in terms of cyberattacks, unless it is the case that Russia wants people to know that its fingerprints are on it.
Which, in all likelihood, it does in this case, if it is part of the pressurizing campaign that we've also heard increase with these potential false-flag attacks.
That is being taken much more seriously by Ukrainian authorities. They pointed out that they have evidence of an attack potentially in Moldavian and Russian troops there that could be blamed on Ukraine.
And then we have this report coming out of Washington, intelligence sources telling CNN that a similar threat may be being placed in eastern Ukraine, in the Donbass region, which is already under the control of Russian-backed rebels.
And, indeed, there have always been, since 2014, covert and semi- covert operatives from Russian Special Forces there -- Alisyn and Victor?
CAMEROTA: Sam Kiley, thank you for the reporting from Ukraine.
Back here, ICUs overflowing, COVID cases still climbing, and New York City's mayor now open to remote learning. We have the latest on the Omicron surge.
BLACKWELL: And in a new CNN original series, "REFRAMED," discover the life and legacy of the true Marilyn Monroe. It premieres Sunday at 9:00.
Here is a quick preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marilyn Monroe knew she was more than just a pretty face.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She wanted control of her own destiny.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is frustrating that people can't think about her for her intellect.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marilyn challenges what it means to have agency as a woman.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To see a woman that is sort of in charge of her sexuality is extremely impowering.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This woman is so comfortable in her skin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was rolling the dice with her career in very real terms.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marilyn would have been the biggest influencer of all time.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Getting her own production company, getting films made.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE Marilyn Monroe is a mirror for people's idea about women's sexuality and women's power.
(SINGING)
MARILY MONROE, FORMER ACTRESS: It is hard to know where to start if you don't start with the truth.
ANNOUNCER: "REFRAMED, MARILYN MONROE," Sunday at 9:00 on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[14:42:12]
BLACKWELL: The United States average daily COVID case rate has more than doubled in the past two weeks. And new cases are twice the number of new vaccinations each day.
CAMEROTA: Hospitalizations also continue to hit record highs. And 19 states are nearing capacity in the ICUs.
CNN's Nick Watt has more.
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NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Omicron onslaught rolls on and, boy, a bad week for President Biden.
"We write with grave concern regarding the current state of preparedness and response to the COVID pandemic," five Democratic Senators just wrote to the White House COVID response coordinator.
"Far too many measures such as increasing access to home-based testing have been reactive rather than proactive."
DR. BERNARD ASHBY, FLORIDA STATE LEAD, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE: We saw South Africa getting ravaged with the virus. We knew it was highly transmissible but we didn't ramp up our testing capacity.
WATT: Plus, the Supreme Court blocked Biden's planned vaccine mandate for private companies with more than 100 employees.
The court said, "The AMA halted one of the most effective tools in the fight against further transmission and death from this aggressive virus."
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: The obvious political leanings of the court were shown in that decision. I thought it was shameful decision.
WATT: Reasons to be cheerful? West Virginia's COVID-19-positive governor is feeling better, saying, "Without question, the fact that I choose to get vaccinated and boosted saved my life. That is all there's to it."
And this was the map beginning of last week, cases rising rapidly everywhere except Maine. Today, there's a lot less deep red. Most of the northeast looking better.
REINER: I'm very encouraged that case counts are dropping now in this area unmistakably.
WATT: Still, nationwide, averaging nearly 800,000 new infections every day.
New York City's new mayor determined to keep schools in person is now open to other options.
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D-NY): If we're able to put in place a temporary remote option, we're welcome to do so.
WATT: Oh, and we're waiting to hear how the Biden administration will get more good masks out there.
And still waiting for the CDC to give us information that is already out there.
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: We are preparing an update to the information on our mask Web site to best reflect the actions that are available to people, as you note, and the different levels of protection, different masks provide.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATT: And to finish with, a few signs of our times. Walgreens and CVS are temporarily closing some stores over the weekend due to staff shortages.
One school district in Maryland is asking National Guard troops to come and drive school buses. [14:45:05]
And in Washington, the governor is appealing to retired health care workers to come back to work and lend a hand -- guys?
CAMEROTA: Those do capture the challenges.
Nick Watt, thank you.
BLACKWELL: Two families are pleading for help after their loved ones disappeared after a plane crash in Panama earlier this month. The wreckage has still not been found.
I'll talk to the son of one missing woman as he's asking the U.S. government to get involved in the search for his mother.
CAMEROTA: And here's a look at some of the other events that we're watching today.
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[14:50:50]
BLACKWELL: Two midwestern families are pleading for help from the U.S. government to find their loved ones after a plane crashed in Panama on January 3rd.
Two retired teachers, Sue Borries, from Illinois, and Debra Velleman, from Wisconsin, were on the small plane.
It crashed near the coast of Panama near the beach town of Chame. Now they are missing. And the pilot and two other passengers were rescued by Panamanian search-and-rescue teams.
But the missing women's families are pleading with the U.S. government to help with the search. They say Panama's government is also asking for assistance.
Jake Velleman is the son of one of those missing women, Debra Velleman. He's with me now from Panama where he flew to try and find his mother.
Jake, thank you so much for being with me.
First, let me ask you, I know you're asking for help from the U.S. government.
But what is the search now? Is there an active search by the Panamanians for your mom and for Sue Borries?
JAKE VELLEMAN, SON OF DEBRA VELLEMAN MISSING AFTER PLANE CRASH IN PANAMA: Thank you, Victor.
Yes, there's an ongoing search that's still active a short distance from where I am now. Panamanians -- beginning with the search-and-rescue crew, they rescued
three individuals, including my dad -- have been incredible, as well as the rescue searchers.
Some are volunteers are out there searching every day and every night for these two people. So we're very grateful for their efforts.
But we know they've made it clear, as diplomatically as they can, that their resources are limited. And so they are asking for help from the United States to help get this job done.
We simply want to find our loved ones and we can take it from there.
BLACKWELL: I understand you've reached out to the State Department, to the Defense Department, members of Congress as well, and you say that the Panama government also.
What has been the response to your request?
VELLEMAN: That's right.
Many hundreds of people have been reaching out to various legislative offices on our behalf, and through various other channels, in addition to the official request that came from the Panamanian government, early last week after this happened.
My parents were very well loved. My mom, as you mentioned was a retired public schoolteacher and they touched many loves.
We have been getting what I can best describe as conflicting information, insufficient information.
Our elected officials we know are advocating for us, advocating for their constituents.
But thus far, aside from some limited consular assistance on the ground and a best attempt by the embassy to relay information, it's been deafening silence.
BLACKWELL: There's not been a "we won't participate, we won't help in the search?" They just aren't responding?
VELLEMAN: Well, I think the initial message was worded differently, of course.
But the initial message was basically a no, that the assets don't exist, or that they can't be deployed, which at this stage, we also don't accept.
This is the United States we're obviously talking about.
They're looking for help. You know, Panama is a small country. And despite their best intentions, they're really asking for help and resources and to try to find these two people.
BLACKWELL: Jake, you mentioned that your father was also on this plane. I understand he had some significant injuries, had to undergo some surgery, I believe.
How has this last week and a half been for you and your family?
VELLEMAN: Well, it's -- it's been a nightmare. I mean, my parents, you know, came down here to spend their winter, along with many other ex- pat families, including the ones they were celebrating New Year's Eve with.
They have pretty modest means. And they came down here to live very comfortably.
And they were living a dream for this last year. And it really only turned into a nightmare last Monday afternoon.
[14:55:03]
We are just -- it's now me. I'm here alone. My brother was here to help. He accompanied by dad back to Wisconsin yesterday.
It's just me on a beach with some binoculars and well-intentioned Panama search-and-rescuers.
But it has been a full-time job, more than a full-time job without sleep. And, frankly, without getting the opportunity to even start to grieve or process what has happened.
We are simply doing our best to retrieve our loved ones to give them the dignity they deserve.
BLACKWELL: Jake Velleman, I really hope you get help and you find your mother. And also for the two boy's family, the Borries family, as well. I cannot imagine. It's now been 11 days, and you're still looking and need some help.
Jake Velleman, from Panama, thank you so much for joining us.
VELLEMAN: Thank you.
CAMEROTA: I really hope this helps get him attention, too, Victor.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
CAMEROTA: Back here, many states are preparing for a winter storm this weekend. So we have the latest forecast for you next.
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