Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Battle for Kyiv Underway as Russian Troops Close in on Capital; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Says Fate of Country Being Decided Right Now; U.S. President Joe Biden Orders Release up to $350 Million to Support Ukraine; Ordinary Ukrainians Forced to Flee; Active Fighting Now in Streets of Kyiv. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired February 26, 2022 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[00:00:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, live from Lviv, in Ukraine. I am Michael Holmes.

And our breaking new this hour, Ukrainians battling to hold back Russian troops advancing on the capital from every direction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).

HOLMES (voice-over): You hear it there, explosions rocking the city earlier. There have also been bursts of gunfire. Our team in Kyiv, reporting that in the last hour. And fierce fighting said to be underway in the streets south of Kyiv.

The town's mayor says there have been losses and many wounded. Ukrainian officials say clashes are also underway in an eastern suburb of Kyiv. Ukraine's president says it is a make-or-break moment for the country.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): This night will be very difficult, and the enemy will use all available forces to break the resistance of Ukrainians. This night, we have to stand ground. The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The Russian invasion, now in its third day. It began on Thursday, with Russian forces attacking from three sides, by land, sea and air. Ukraine's defense ministry says 18,000 guns with ammunition have been distributed to reservists in the Kyiv region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): I want to show you a scene now from the Kyiv train station on Friday. This is as civilians desperately sought to evacuate. What a scene that is. Ukrainian troops received a loud round of applause as they walked by. You can see that there.

Also, new satellite pictures showing the Ukrainian border with Romania -- traffic backed up for miles, as many try to leave. As of last evening, here in Lviv, we were getting reports from the Polish border, saying traffic was backed up for 37 kilometers.

Now the United Nations says more than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have, already, fled the country, many of them, now seeking refuge in Poland, also Moldova.

Alex, I know, there has been a lot going on. Just bring us up to date.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Yes, Michael, I will get to the fighting coming from all directions in just a second. But we have just gotten word about the most significant fighting that we have heard overnight. And, that is, in the western part of the city.

Michael, for the first time, we did hear explosions within the city limits. That was a couple hours ago and that was -- that has been of great concern because it is an indication that this fighting is getting closer and closer.

Now we have just heard from the military law enforcement service, telling us that, according to preliminary information, those explosions that we heard were Ukrainian forces targeting what they are calling a column of equipment of the occupiers.

That includes two cars, two trucks that are full of ammunition, they said, and a tank. That is what the -- the military is saying caused those explosions in the early hours of the morning.

Now as you noted, Michael, this fighting is continuing now on all sides of the capital, Kyiv. Significant battles, we are told, to the south and to the east. And then, in addition to those explosions I mentioned that came from the west, we have also known, for the past few days, that the Russians have been pushing in from the north.

That northern front has been relatively quiet. But all manner of fighting in the overnight hours, Michael. We heard explosion from different directions. We heard small arms fire. Larger arms fire at some of though explosions, lighting up the night sky. Air raid sirens going off here in the capital, Kyiv.

But there has ban been a lull for about the past hour. And all told -- and it's still early -- but it does appear that, for now, that a difficult night that -- that President Zelensky had predicted may not have been as bad as so many had feared.

It will be interesting to see how the Ukrainian forces fare against what is going to be an overwhelming Russian force. For now, it does appear that they are putting up a pretty good fight, President Zelensky saying that hundreds of -- of Russian troops have been killed.

[00:05:00] MARQUARDT: Of course, as you noted, there have also been losses on the Ukrainian side as well. This is, as some of my colleagues have -- have said -- it is a David-and-Goliath situation.

But having spent a couple -- the past-few weeks here, there is a lot of confidence in this Ukrainian military that has grown so much over the past eight years, since Crimea was illegally annexed back in 2014. But that, then again, Michael, we -- increasingly worrying signs that the fight is quickly coming to the capital and from every direction.

HOLMES: Yes and coming to a head. You mention Ukrainian forces, we saw earlier just a few seconds ago, the scenes at the train station.

Can you give us a sense, paint a picture of the -- the mood there?

I mean, how are people reacting?

Not the military, the people?

MARQUARDT: You know, just on the streets, for example, what -- what's really jarring right now is that you have these, you know, silence- piercing series of explosions and gunfire. But other than that, it is extremely quiet.

I mean, the sun is coming up here as -- as well as Lviv. You can hear the birds chirping. But it is incredibly quiet in the streets. No one is about, no cars. But of course, Michael, many, many people, not just in Kyiv but across the country, are going to want to be fleeing. And they already are.

The Ukrainian train service put on special trains on Friday to get people out of the capital. Their goal was around 10,000 people. You saw those scenes, those -- those trains being mobbed.

It is such a stark contrast to just a couple days ago, when so many Ukrainians, including the president, did not believe that a war was going to happen. Of course, that changed very quickly, with this -- you know, with the -- with the realization that Russian troops are literally coming across the border.

So you will have, of course, a lot of people who want to leave. But you are also going to have a lot of people who want to stay and fight. One of the -- one of the results of that Russian invasion back in 2018 -- 2014 -- is this incredible growth of patriotism and national fervor that was born directly out of that Russian aggression.

And so, you have a lot of people from all walks of life, all ages, men and women, who are ready to take up arms against the Russians. And the Ukrainian military now willing to give out a gun, essentially, to anybody who asks for it. So this could be a long campaign to resist this Russian' aggression.

As -- as one Ukrainian official told me a couple weeks ago, you can expect every window to be shooting at the Russian aggressors, he said -- Michael.

HOLMES: Some grim days perhaps ahead. Alex Marquardt in Kyiv, thanks so much, my friend.

All right. Well, CNN military analyst retired General Wesley Clark joins me now from Little Rock, in Arkansas. He served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.

It is good to see you, sir.

From what you are seeing on the battlefield, what do you think is unfolding here?

GEN. WESLEY CLARK, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, obviously, the Russian objective is to take Kyiv, to displace the government and to put some kind of a Russian puppet government in place and then, neutralize the country, at least, or reoccupy the whole country, do whatever it takes to make sure that it is never part of NATO or the European Union or Western oriented.

But as I understand Putin's orders, he wants to clear Kyiv. He is raging about neo-Nazis and other things and so, he -- this is going to be a very personal campaign for him. And I think the citizens of Kyiv are going to put up a very, very tough fight.

The Ukraine army is performing brilliantly. They, of course, have no air cover at this point. They have no air defense. They have fought magnificently. They have really slowed down the Russians, they've imposed casualties on the Russians and the Russians have got to get into Kyiv. They won't find it easy.

HOLMES: Yes. And -- and to that point, I mean, city fighting, as we have seen, it is very difficult. It is very bloody. There are inevitably civilian casualties. I mean, give us a sense of what it could be like.

CLARK: I think what you will see is, if they can get in, they won't care much about civilian casualties, unlike the way we fought in, let's say, Mosul. I don't think Putin is going to be worried about that.

[00:10:00]

CLARK: He seems to want to take revenge on the people of Ukraine. So I imagine they will use heavy firepower where there is resistance. But it is still a tough battle. Tanks fight at close quarters. And people are -- have the advantage of elevation from rooftops. There will be tough resistance if he gets in.

They are not in yet. And -- and I think the people of Kyiv are going to do everything they can to keep them out.

HOLMES: And given the disparity in the forces, let's say the odds are, Russia is going to win at this phase of operations. But this is not Syria, is it, where the Russians were brutally effective.

This is a European city with a by and large supportive of their government population. They have already thrown out two pro-Russian presidents in their past. This -- it -- it won't be easy to hold and move forward for the Russians, will it, in a political or social sense?

CLARK: Well, this is a country that fiercely values its heritage and its independence. And it is going to fight desperately to hold onto that against Russia. And from everything we have seen, the Russian soldiers -- many of them don't even know why they are there. Some of them don't even know where they are.

So there is a sort of fierce determination at the top, spurred on by Mr. Putin. And at the bottom, there are a lot of Russian soldiers who are semi-motivated. Of course, once you get shot at, you either fall back or you get aggressive.

But thus far, the Russian army has underperformed what our expectations were. That may change in coming days. They have certainly got the overwhelming mass. And as they come and circle in and around Kyiv and cut off the Ukrainian forces that are outside Kyiv, it's going to be a tough fight.

HOLMES: Do -- do you think the Russians had been caught off guard by the performance of the Ukrainian military?

It's not the Ukrainian military of old, of course.

CLARK: Well, it's certainly not the Ukrainian military they thought they were fighting in 2014. This is a very much different army, much better equipped. But it's also trained. It's very motivated. They are fighting on their home ground. They know the land. So I think the Russians better give them a high degree of respect.

HOLMES: All right. General Wesley Clark, always great to get your analysis. Thanks so much.

CLARK: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. Now before we go to Washington, I just want to point out, if you are hearing the sirens behind me, this is a -- a morning thing. It has happened already a couple of times today. The sirens are going off.

There is a broadcast happening and what they are saying is telling people to get their documents, check on elderly neighbors and go to shelters. This has happened daily here and it -- there -- it hasn't been resulting in any sort of kinetic activity in the city of Lviv but it is a -- it is a precautionary thing.

Obviously, the authorities see something, they hear something, and these announcements go on. They say get your documents, get your family, turn off the stove and go to a shelter.

So if you can hear that behind me, that's what's going on. All right, let's now go to Washington, where CNN's Jasmine Wright is standing by.

Give us a sense of what the White House knows as it is monitoring what is going on in Kyiv.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Michael, while the president spends the weekend at his home in Delaware but no doubt, White House officials are watching growing developments and watching it with concern, I would say, as you know we have gotten these really grave warnings from officials for the past week.

Intensifying, no doubt, in the last few days because of their updated intelligence and prediction after prediction. They are really seeing it come into focus here. So no doubt, there is concern for the current status of Ukraine, its people and the stability of its government but also, for President Zelensky.

And so, we know that President Zelensky and President Biden spoke today in what the White House said was about a 40-minute call. Their first call since they spoke after the real initial fall of -- excuse me -- the invasion of -- Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

And the president, in a readout the White House released afterwards, they said that the president really commended the Ukrainian people for fighting for their country and they also -- he also spoke with Zelensky about support and real defense assistance.

And just a few minutes ago, we got word from the White House that, in a memo to the State Department, Biden instructed the State Department to release up to $350 million of defense assistance for Ukraine as the -- as their efforts go on.

[00:15:00]

WRIGHT: And so, we know that tomorrow, in terms of monitoring what is happening, the president will convene a rare Saturday morning call with his national security officials and the vice president, really to update him on what happens overnight here. Michael.

HOLMES: And just real quick. President Biden planning to take sanctions a step further. Tell us how that decision was made, what might they be.

WRIGHT: Yes, President Biden will impose sanctions on Russian President Putin himself, marking this really the highest profile person that the president will sanction over Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine, as it tries to deter but also punish Russia.

It seems that determent is not something that is really motivating at this moment President Putin to stand down. And so, this comes after both the E.U., U.K. and Canada imposed or said that it would impose similar sanctions on President Putin and Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.

And now, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, she told reporters today that it came about in the last 24 hours, really in concert with U.S. allies trying to make sure that they are unanimous and really united on -- in terms of their punishment for President Putin as the White House looks to ratchet up things.

Really, trying to make Russia pay a price, even if it happens in the long term here. Michael.

HOLMES: All right. Jasmine Wright at the White House.

We going to take a quick break. When we come back, he played a president on television until he became one.

Coming up here on CNN NEWSROOM, more on the leader now standing firm in the face of aggression from Russia. Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband is still there. We will fight even if Europe doesn't help us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:20:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone.

Just to update you, there have been more explosions around the capital, Kyiv. They have been continuing most of the morning. Some of those, very close to the city. And we are hearing of fighting actually inside the city limits, in a couple of outer areas of the capital.

Even small arms have been heard by our team in Kyiv. So obviously, there is a -- there is a major operation going on. It does seem, though, that Ukrainian forces, for now, are keeping Russian forces out of the center of the capital.

Well, these hostilities taking a heartbreaking toll, of course, on ordinary Ukrainians. It is forcing families to separate, as men stay to fight the against of the Russian military, while women and children and the elderly try to head for safety. Here is what they told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): My friend and I went to the Carpathian for a yoga meditation. We stayed there for a couple days and then we heard the war had started. Russia started the war.

We decided to go back, even though it is a dangerous trip. But our children and families are there and we have to be with them. It can be dangerous and our husbands were telling us maybe we shouldn't travel. They suggested we stay here for a bit until everything calms down. But we are mothers and our hearts are telling us to go home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I was at the train station in Kyiv all night. And I was scared of Russian army attacks and airstrikes on the station all night. So we stayed in a shelter at the station.

This morning, I boarded the intercity train. We traveled for about eight hours and arrived in Lviv. My wife is already here. We're going to get some rest now because we haven't slept in almost two days. We are tired. My daughter is tired. Now we will rest and think about what to do next.

Now it is necessary for my family to leave Ukraine. I will stay here but the main thing is for my family to leave Ukraine and not feel the threat of attack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now many people around the world, of course, have been venting their anger over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): You see there, hundreds of protesters. This is in Madrid, joining members of the Ukrainian community there to demand an end to the invasion.

Across Latin America, thousands marching in Argentina, Brazil and Peru, calling on Russia to pull their troops out of Ukraine.

And some 30,000 people took to the streets in Tbilisi in Georgia to protest the invasion. Many demanded the resignation of Georgia's prime minister, who has refused to join the economic and financial sanctions imposed by the West.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now the overwhelming military operation is putting the skills of the Ukrainian president to the test. The charismatic comedian swept into power nearly three years ago with little political experience. CNN's Nina dos Santos takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR (voice-over): He was the comedian who once played Ukraine's president on TV before winning the office, for real, in 2019. Since then, events have changed dramatically for Volodymyr Zelensky and his people. No more laughter. Instead, it's tears he shed on screen. His countryfolk, meanwhile, shedding their blood on the streets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKY (through translator): Today, Russia began an attack on Ukraine. Putin began war against Ukraine, against the entire democratic world. He wants to destroy my country -- our country.

[00:25:00]

ZELENSKY (through translator): Everything we have been building, everything we were living for.

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): With little political experience defending Ukraine's fragile democracy against increasing aggression from a neighbor that had already seized parts of the country was always going to be a big ask.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to -- and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week.

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): But as Russian forces began amassing along Ukraine's borders, Zelensky voiced his frustration with these foreign powers, saying they were they were inciting panic.

ZELENSKY (through translator): We cannot say on the daily basis that war will happen tomorrow.

What kind of state is it going to, what kind of economy is it going to be?

How can you live in the state when, on the daily basis, you are being told tomorrow the war will happen?

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Just two days before Russia began its assault, Zelensky was still pursuing diplomatic ways out of the crisis. After continued warnings from abroad, he declared a state of emergency and called up his reservists.

ZELENSKY (through translator): On the issue of security and defense, there is no need for a general mobilization. We do need to promptly replenish the Ukrainian army and other military formations.

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Two days after that, he ordered a general military mobilization. A CNN poll conducted earlier this month found that less than 40 percent of Ukrainians saw their president as trustworthy or decisive.

And just 29 percent thought of him as reliable. And of all the regions in Ukraine polled, none believed that Russia and Ukraine should be one country.

With a question mark hanging over his future and that of his nation, Zelensky and his cabinet emerged in a video, staring down Europe's despot and appearing to be standing strong -- Nina dos Santos, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now when we come back, fleeing the fighting: thousands are leaving Ukraine. They are heading to safety in Poland, Romania and elsewhere. The fears and the open arms, that's after the break.

(MUSIC PLAYING) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv, in Ukraine, where warnings by the nation's president and the fears of the Ukrainian people appear to be coming true.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): The battle for Kyiv is on. There is fighting reported to the north, to the west and the east and to the south of Ukraine's capital, as well as inside the city. The explosions and gunfire growing louder and closer the center of the city.

President Zelensky telling his people earlier, quote, "This night will be very difficult. The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now."

But also, striking a defiant tone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKY (through translator): Our main goal is to finish this slaughter. The enemy losses are very grave. Today, there were hundreds of killed soldiers who crossed our border and came on our land.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now that defiance is evident across the country. Some of the Ukrainian TV channels giving instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails. Now for his part, Russian president Vladimir Putin had own message for the people of Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): Do not let vanderites (ph) and neo-Nazis use your children and wives and old people as human shields. Take power into your own hands.

It looks like it will be easier for us come to an agreement than with this gang of drug addicts and neoNazis that have settled in Kyiv and taken hostage the entire Ukrainian people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: At the same time, the United Nations says more than 50,000 Ukrainian people have fled the country. They are now, officially, refugees, having crossed various borders. There are long lines of cars in Romania or going into Romania.

And as of last evening, a 37-kilometer-long line of cars at the entrance to Poland. Now many of those fleeing Ukraine, heading there to Poland; at least 29,000, so far. That number, literally, grows by the hour. And that is sparking fears of a humanitarian crisis, on top of the fears of those running for their lives themselves. CNN's Scott McLean is at a train station on the Polish side of the border.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are tired, they are exhausted and, for many people in this train station, they have no idea where they are going to be sleeping tonight or the next couple of nights.

We are at the train station about 30 minutes or so inside the border. And a train from Kyiv has just arrived here and people trying to figure out where to go from here. Some people are holding up signs, offering rides to different parts of Poland.

There is also a lot of volunteers here handing out food, handing out water. They are also trying to link them up with places to stay. Sometimes, it is maybe a school gymnasium they might be staying in. In other cases, it is families who have actually offered to take in women and children as well.

Now the Ukrainian government is not allowing men between 18 and 60 out of the country; though, we have run into some here. We spoke to one man in his 40s earlier today, who described having to convince the border guards to try to let him across, which he managed to do.

[00:35:00]

MCLEAN: He also describes the chaos of getting onto that train and the stampede of people without tickets but desperate to get out of the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most people -- they just didn't have the tickets, so they just stormed the train. I mean, it was almost like a stampede. People were, like, trying to get inside no matter what. Nobody was actually checking tickets because I mean, obviously, most people didn't have any tickets.

MCLEAN: It was chaos?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was chaos. It was chaos. It was a lot of people, like, pushing around. But I mean, people run to escape, to run for their lives. So I don't blame them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN: We have also found Ukrainian men here living Poland waiting at this train station for their loved ones to arrive, unable to go back themselves. I spoke to one earlier today, who was waiting for his family to arrive. And I asked him whether he was willing to go back to Ukraine.

And he said, yes, if the situation worsens -- not if it gets better but if it gets worse -- he says he is willing to join the military and willing to fight and die for his country if it comes to that -- Scott McLean, CNN, in Poland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now Vladimir Ashurkov is a leading figure in the opposition movement in Russia. He helped to found the anti-corruption foundation and was forced to leave the country because of politically motivated prosecution by Russian authorities.

Good to see you, sir. He joins me now from New York.

First of all, did you think it could come to this?

Russia, about to enter, militarily, a major European capital.

VLADIMIR ASHURKOV, RUSSIAN DISSIDENT: It really was unthinkable until three days ago. Sincerely, I thought that it was Putin's bluffing and when the full-scale invasion started, I was really shocked and most Russians were as well.

HOLMES: Now we know, of course, that Putin controls most media in Russia.

I am curious, what are you hearing about what ordinary Russians are hearing about this invasion?

What are they being told?

ASHURKOV: Well, I -- I talked to people in Russia and I -- I see the reaction on social media. It really is disbelief. It's unthinkable happening. Our countries, our people, that used to be, you know, so together, that share common legacy.

And now, we see tanks, we see blood, we see Russian military attacking Ukraine. It's really hard to process that.

HOLMES: We have seen the images of protesters in Russia arrested for opposing this war.

I am curious, what risks does Putin take, domestically, by doing this -- this operation?

He's had broad appeal, of course; not surprising, given the role of state media in messaging.

But what can he do to appeal as the invasion goes on?

ASHURKOV: Well, over the last few years, especially over the last year, it has become very difficult to participate in mass protests. People are arrested. People are beaten up. They are detained.

And despite all that, we see protests in major Russian cities. Over the last two days, over 2,000 people have been detained in different cities of Russia. And we see this consistent wave of people -- of dissenters coming to streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg, day after day.

So it is quite amazing that people are taking to the streets despite all the oppression.

HOLMES: But how can -- can that eat into his popularity?

What is keeping him in power?

What could hurt him at home?

ASHURKOV: Well, this war is very unpopular. You see it on social media. You see it from the fact that many people take to the streets. You know, it's -- has been just two days but I believe that popularity of Putin, of regime is really plummeting.

And that's -- we haven't seen, yet, the coffins with Russian soldiers coming back. I think this is going to be a very unpopular exercise.

HOLMES: I -- I'm curious.

What is your take on who Vladimir Putin listens to?

[00:40:00]

HOLMES: There's been a lot of talk about how isolated he's been, particularly during the pandemic.

Who -- who is advising him?

And is there anyone who dares to tell him that he might be going down the wrong path?

ASHURKOV: Unfortunately, Vladimir Putin does not answer to a parliament, to a electorate. Over the last decade, all the checks and balances have been eliminated. So it's -- has, for a long time, been just a close circle of advisers.

And it has been exacerbated by COVID, when Putin is saying even less people. We have seen this footage of him, talking to French president Macron over a table, with a length of 5 meters.

And it -- it's the same situation with, you know, his -- people who talk to him in Russia. So he, indeed, is in touch -- is -- is out of touch with the reality. And I think that's the reason for this miscalculated military step.

HOLMES: You know, I've been discussing this with a lot of people. I would like your thoughts, too. I mean, there was obviously a disparity in the forces. Russia is likely to win the -- the conflict itself.

But how do you think it will win the peace?

I mean, the thing is that, you know, this is, by and large, a pro- Western society and they have already thrown out a couple of pro- Moscow presidents.

It would be a tough thing to subjugate these people, wouldn't it?

ASHURKOV: Yes, indeed. I think it's miscalculation. It seems, from the rhetoric of what Putin has said over the last few days, that he thought that this military escalation, this aggression will not meet that much resistance.

At the same time, we see Ukrainian people fighting quite hard, despite the overwhelming force of Russian military. And we see the fighting, that now takes place in Kyiv, in other major cities. I think Putin miscalculated that this would be a walk in the park for Russian military. But clearly, it has not been.

HOLMES: All right. Vladimir Ashurkov, really appreciate your insights. Thanks for taking the time.

ASHURKOV: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. Our breaking news coverage continues after a break with my colleague, Anna Coren. I will see you a bit later.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:45:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I am Anna Coren in Hong Kong. We are following the crisis in Ukraine.

The sporting world is also condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that includes Russian athletes like tennis player Andrey Rublev. After his match on Friday, he had this message to everyone writing on the camera lens, "No war please." The world's number seven men's tennis player says it is important to have peace in the world.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREY RUBLEV, TENNIS WORLD NUMBER 7: My match is not important so it is not about my match, how it's affecting me because what is happening is much more terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: His fellow country man, Daniil Medvedev, said he is all for peace and that is the most important thing right now.

And the world of international football is also coming out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war has prompted one of the sport's most prestigious events being pulled from Russia.

(WORLD SPORT)

COREN: Well, stay with CNN. We'll return to Ukraine to follow the Russian invasion of the country with our Michael Holmes, who is live in Lviv, Ukraine, next.

(MUSIC PLAYING) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: Welcome back.

Ukraine's interior ministry is warning residents of Kyiv that there is, quote, "active fighting" going on in the streets of the city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): It is clear Russian troops are closing in on the capital. There is fighting now reported to the north, to the west, to the east and the south as well as inside the city limits.

Now this was the scene at dawn in western Kyiv. The Ukrainian military says a Russian tank was destroyed there. More now on that dire warning from Ukraine's interior ministry, that active fighting is taking place in Kyiv and urging residents to stay calm.

Now there was a statement on Facebook, the interior ministry telling people to stay away from windows and balconies. It's that serious.

[00:55:00]

HOLMES: Also take cover in a room where they would be safe from gunfire. Now the ministry also telling residents to run to the nearest shelter if they hear an air raid siren. Terrifying, as you can imagine, for residents in Kyiv at the moment.

And finally, vigils heavy with symbolism are being held all around the world to show solidarity with Ukraine.

In Berlin, hundreds of pro-Ukrainian supporters gathered by the Brandenburg Gate. It was lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. You can hear the songs being sung. They were asking Germany to help the besieged country more.

A similar tribute in Paris, where the Eiffel Tower was aglow in blue and yellow. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has been trying to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis. He's trying to play the role of mediator at the moment.

Meanwhile, thanks for watching. I'm Michael Holmes live in Lviv, Ukraine. Our breaking news coverage continues after the break.