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Ukraine under Russian Attack for Fourth Day; Six-Year-Old Boy Killed in Heavy Gunfire in Western Kyiv; UNHCR: 116,000+ People Flee Ukraine to Other Nations; U.S. and Key G7 Allies Expelling Some Russian Banks from SWIFT; CNN Witnesses Russian Tanks Moving toward Ukraine; Global Protests Condemn Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Aired 2- 3a ET

Aired February 27, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

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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 coming to you live from Ukraine. I'm Michael Holmes.

Our breaking news this hour: fighting in Ukraine entering a fourth day as Russian forces press ahead with an all-out assault on Kyiv. But so far, Ukrainians have kept the Russians from taking the city, despite being outgunned and outmanned.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We have survived and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. Fighting goes on in many cities and districts of our country. . But we know we're defending our land and the future of our children in Kyiv. And in key parts of the country, our armies are in control. The enemy tried to seal off the center of our country and install their puppets here.

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HOLMES: Ukraine's former president, Petro Poroshenko, shared a similar sentiment, speaking to CNN from the streets of Kyiv.

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PETRO POROSHENKO, FORMER UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: The millions of Ukrainian, not only staying here but they are fighting against Russian aggression, with a very high risk to be killed. When Putin said that Ukrainian will meet Russian troops with the flowers, the only flowers for Russian soldiers is the Molotov cocktail.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: A Ukrainian general also said on Saturday that Ukraine had captured around 200 Russian soldiers, although CNN cannot independently verify that.

But the dangers of war still loom around every corner, of course. The U.N. reporting more than 5 dozen civilians have been killed in the fighting. And CNN has learned a 6-year-old boy is among the dead.

And the violence doesn't seem to be slowing down. Have a look at the scene in Kyiv overnight. CNN cameras capturing the moment an explosion lit the sky above Ukraine's capital, one of two massive explosions on the city's outskirts.

Here's a clear view: this area just southeast of Kyiv is home to a large military airfield. The town's mayor says a petroleum storage depot was hit.

All of this as another crisis could be looming. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says more than 150,000 people have fled Ukraine so far and thousands of others are internally displaced.

This video from a train station in Kyiv showing just how panicked some people are to get out of the city before the violence gets even worse.

Meanwhile the U.S. and its allies ramping up sanctions against Russia, unleashing a powerful ban on Russian banks and their international activity, their ability to do business.

CNN has correspondents positioned across Ukraine and the around the world to bring you the latest on all this breaking news. White House reporter Jasmine Wright is standing by in Washington. CNN's Arwa Damon is near the Ukraine-Poland border, where refugees have been arriving by the hour.

Al Goodman is in Madrid with a look at global protests. But first let's go to Clarissa Ward in Kyiv.

All right, now while the war rages on in Ukraine, we are seeing the indomitable spirit of many people as they endure this conflict. We're also seeing thousands of citizens, who are desperately fleeing their country. CNN's chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward now.

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CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A man stands on his balcony looking out at a new reality. Just hours after a missile slammed into his apartment building.

It was 8 am when the projectile hit, destroying parts of the 22nd and 23rd floors. According to Ukrainian authorities, two people were killed.

Officials here say it was a Russian strike. Russia's ministry of defense claim it was a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile that went awry, whoever was responsible. This is what happens when war comes to a major city: homes and lives are destroyed. At the city central train station, a frantic dash as people try to escape to the West of the country.

"Step back," the train conductor says, "step back."

She tells the crowd to leave their bags to make room for more people.

WARD: So she's just said that women and children could get on the train. Now you can see people pushing to get on. They've got their pets. They've got their babies and they're trying to get on this train to get out of here.

WARD (voice-over): Ukraine's railway services say they are evacuating 5,000 people a day. Every single space is precious. We'll stand, this woman pleads. It's full the conductor tells her. Inside the carriage, it's standing room only.

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WARD (voice-over): A woman, waves goodbye to her family. Who knows when she will be able to return?

Her daughter, Tamara, has made the tough decision to stay behind.

WARD: For many people it'll be hard to understand how brave you are to stay here and not to try to leave and get somewhere safe.

TAMARA BAKOVA, KYIV RESIDENT: It's not a grave, I should just understand. It's my city. It's my hometown. It's my homeland. It's my country. And I'm not the one who should leave, the Russians are the ones who should live. And they would leave. I wouldn't leave the city before there.

WARD: Do you think many people are like you and they're ready to do everything they can to get Russia out?

BAKOVA: I'm not thinking I know.

WARD: This is the sort of extraordinary resistance Russia is facing here; 100 miles northeast of Kyiv, a man tries to block a Russian tank. He kneels in front of it, determined to stop it in its tracks. And for a brief moment he does before the column pushes on toward the capital -- Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kyiv.

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HOLMES: All right, let's take a closer look now at the war from the Ukrainian point of view. I want to bring in Nataliya Gumenyuk in Kyiv. She's a Ukrainian journalist, who specializes in foreign affairs and conflict reporting.

It's good to have you back. One thing Vladimir Putin has done is try to say that Russia and Ukraine are the same country, the same people. You wrote an op-ed in "The Washington Post" saying the opposite, the countries are very different.

What were you trying to get across with that op-ed?

NATALIYA GUMENYUK, UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST: So it's good to talk to you again. It's really not about, you know, ethnic difference. But indeed there are no orders for the Ukrainians, you know, like to go and resist. There are the calls and people doing that on their own. It's purely democratic society. The media working as much as they can do.

By the way, interesting detail for me is that I'm in media here for many years. So I see even those people who are very critical to government and even the bigoted pro-Russian are now like very determined against Russian invasion.

These citizens are organizing themselves. I had a chance overnight to be embedded with people from the civil defense and law enforcement, various people, from I.T. specialist to one super famous musician, which was super famous in Russia in 2000s.

And he's here with the civil defense and it's his choice. But I also want to really give the hint that it's not really just about the people taking the guns in their hand but the whole organization.

You just showed the report on the, you know, railway station. But like the government is trying to do the things, like letting people travel for free. The banks are trying to do their best because there is no blockade for people in this dire moment to work -- to get the money.

And so I think with Russia, what I also explain, that now it's forbidden to say on the Russian television that there is the war in Ukraine. It's not really there. Media could be punished for that. So these are the tiny details -- it's not tiny deal but these are the things which make it very, very different.

HOLMES: I want to go back. You were talking about the streets and the civil defense units. Try to give people watching a flavor of what it is like on the streets at the moment and how you feel at the moment.

GUMENYUK: So it's very different from the situation. We talked a couple days ago. I was at home, you know, despite of everything. But there was a curfew since Friday here through Monday because there are clear reasons to believe that there would be attempt to overtake Kyiv.

By the way, I should say that Ukrainians want to spread that it's already more than four days and it's not really successful. So the city is blocked. The city is divided in two by the huge river.

But the bridges are closed since Friday night, so it's not really possible to travel. The subway stations, they are more working as the shelters. But also because the troops are waiting on probably an attempt, especially from the left bank, as we call it. They really said (INAUDIBLE) you can't cross.

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GUMENYUK: People are not really allowed to get out on the street because there are street fights, mainly with the saboteur groups. However, there were cases, where the people from the territorial defense were catching up the -- some of the Russians. And it was quite easy to identify them. So it's really not advised to be there on the street.

HOLMES: I wanted to ask you something else that you wrote about. You said that, "Criticism of the authorities is in our blood."

What would happen if somehow -- and hopefully from your perspective it doesn't happen -- but somehow a Russian-backed government is installed there?

How does that criticism of authorities then express itself?

GUMENYUK: I think the huge mistake is -- of the thinking of just how the dictator can think in that way that, if you kill the president, that -- we know it's not a secret hat President Zelensky and his family is like target number one. He said that.

But the idea is for us, OK, that would be really a huge blow. But you know but in a way that would be a different person running the country. Because just like a dictator think that killing a leader of a state, you overtake the country, it's not how it work.

So that's probably something I also want to stress in that. But my criticism of the government -- I also say that this country can be united. I've covered politics for years and I've seen like the fiercest (INAUDIBLE), even like the pro-Russian parties is criticizing -- they really stand behind the current president.

And the former prime minister Groysman, I've just seen how he's doing the video call, how to do the Molotov cocktails, which for me was something quite unusual, to be honest. That's not something I would expect to see.

HOLMES: Yes. Quite concerned about people with Molotov cocktails, up against tanks. But it shows the spirit of the Ukrainian people. Before I let you go I want to ask you this.

How important is it for you to continue to do your job as a journalist amid all that's going on around you and just trying to survive?

How important is it to still be a journalist amid all of that?

GUMENYUK: You know, I'm probably not very much like everybody. I understand this is my profile to be. But I'm staying here. I do tell the story. But I've been trained to do that so it would be very strange for me to believe like I really had to move to a different area to be able to, you know, move around the town.

So I had to leave the house yesterday. I'm not sure whether I would be back there. Quite a relief that my family is out of the town. The airport is one of the areas we expected yesterday huge battles and paratroopers coming.

By the way, it didn't happen. So it's a good thing. Also it's not just because the Russian troops are weak and not really attacking but it's also about the ability to defend itself by the Ukrainian army.

HOLMES: Nataliya Gumenyuk, it's a pleasure to speak with you again. I hope we speak again shortly. Do take care. Thanks for being with us.

GUMENYUK: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right, the U.S. and its allies are moving to banish some Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial system. Now SWIFT is the backbone used for moving money among big financial institutions. The decision could send shock waves through Russia's banking and its entire economy.

But Western countries are also considering taking a step further and targeting Russia's central bank. CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright joins me now live from Washington with a closer look at the new sanctions.

Tell us what you know, Jasmine.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michael, something of this scale has not been done before, making it very significant in Western countries, really aimed, trying to isolate Russia financially.

And so the U.S. along with European leaders and Canada announced a slate of actions that they are taking. First, it is to basically cut off some certain Russian banks from the

international financial system. And if we focus really on that Russian central bank there and the amount of cash reserves it has, about $600 billion really, as it tries to prop up the Russian economy amid these waves of sanctions.

And so what the U.S. and their partners are trying to do is basically stop that ability for the Russian central bank to do that with some restrictive measures and also kind of sending the ruble into freefall.

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WRIGHT: And now word is still out on whether or not the U.S. would actually sanction the Russian central bank. That would be unprecedented. They have not come to decision.

But we know U.S. officials are discussing it. And then turning to SWIFT, as you talked about momentarily, that international banking system, that links up world banks to about 11,000 financial institutions, the U.S., along with their partners, are basically trying to make it impossible for some Russian banks to connect with that service, making those transactions impossible, again trying to isolate the Russian financial system.

And I always want to note, Michael, here, this really came about quickly.

We just heard from the president on Thursday when he was asked, why not include SWIFT into those first round of sanctions?

He said European leaders aren't ready yet.

Fast forward to today, just a few hours ago, when we got this notice that this would be happening.

HOLMES: Yes. It's certainly significant. Jasmine Wright, I appreciate that, live in Washington for us.

We're going to take a quick break. When we come back some Ukrainians say they have only one option left now that their country is under attack.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's crazy. It's crazy. Actually I don't want to leave my native country.

HOLMES (voice-over): Next up, a wave of refugees hits neighboring countries. But that could be just the beginning. Stick around. We'll be right back.

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ARTEM ZONENKO, HUSBAND AND FATHER OF UKRAINIAN EVACUEES (through translator): 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.

VIKTORIYA HIERMAN, DISPLACED UKRAINIAN (through translator): 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're mothers and our hearts are telling us to go home.

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HOLMES: Ukrainian refugees there on the struggles that they are enduring right now and those struggles are many. The U.N. says more than 150,000 people have fled the country and many others are displaced inside Ukraine.

Now at the same time, Ukrainians are showing the world they are not afraid to fight back. Two senior U.S. officials tell CNN, Russia is suffering heavier losses in personnel, armor and aircraft than they might have expected. And the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. says she's not surprised that

civilians are taking up arms to help defend their country. Have a listen.

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OKSANA MARKAROVA, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: The spirit in Ukraine is very strong. So yes, we're very peaceful people. We never attacked anyone. We did everything possible during the past eight years, after Russia attacked us in 2014 and illegally occupied Crimea and some parts of Donetsk and Lugansk.

It's not only the president who's courageously staying in Kyiv with our people; it's not only government; it's not only armed forces, who we adore and respect; it's not only police and everyone else but ordinary Ukrainians, who went, organized those territorial defense. But just on the streets, stopping the enemy, we all are defending our home.

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HOLMES: While the world sees people fleeing their homes and cities under attack in Ukraine, people in Russia are being shown something entirely different. Jill Dougherty is in Moscow and looks at how state media is covering this invasion.

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JILL DOUGHERTY, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND WILSON CENTER: In the West, Russia is usually depicted as a pretty sophisticated user of propaganda. But here in Moscow, the picture is somewhat different.

In fact, state propaganda, state media are looking more ineffective and kind of flat-footed when it comes to giving the final message (ph). For example, CNN and other broadcasters are showing live pictures of attacks in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Here in Russia, state media do not show live pictures from downtown Kyiv. Instead, they are showing what they say are attacks in the eastern part of the country, those breakaway Donbas regions, which, they argue, are being attacked by the Ukrainians.

It is part of the strategy and the messaging of the Kremlin. Then you also have the government forbidding independent media -- what's left of the independent media -- from using words like "war," "intervention" or "attack."

In government-speak it is "a special military operation." And the government also wants those outlets to use only official government information.

Now how are the Russians reacting to this?

Well, the majority of Russians do support the operation. But there are others who do not. And we've been seeing Russians on the streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. In fact, about 26-27 cities so far, who have been showing up and

protesting, they are very quickly, usually detained and arrested.

Then here in Moscow, there have been people who have gone to the Ukrainian embassy and laid flowers in support. Now in social media, there is a lot of support and attacks, really, on using any type of violence against Ukraine.

There are memes; people are using music in an anti-war protest. Finally, young Russians, if they are against the war, the thing that we are hearing the most from them is that they fear that their future in the West -- the ability to travel, the ability to study -- may be taken away, as Russia becomes more and more isolated because of this military action -- Jill Dougherty, Moscow.

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HOLMES: And stay with us here on CNN for the very latest on Russia's invasion of this country. Coming up, the crisis stretching across borders as refugees overwhelm international crossings, desperate to flee the violence.

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HOLMES: Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes, coming to you live from Lviv, Ukraine, as we continue our coverage of the Russian invasion.

And a Ukrainian general says his forces have captured some 200 Russian troops. He claims they were badly equipped and some of them did not get any training at all, many of them just 19 years old, he said. CNN has not independently confirmed that report.

Meanwhile there were massive explosions in a town about 20 kilometers southwest of Kyiv overnight. The town's mayor said a military airfield and a petroleum storage depot were hit.

Clashes also reported in Kyiv on Saturday night, several people wounded, we're told, and a 6-year-old boy killed.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's state emergency service says a nine-story residential building was hit by what they're calling enemy artillery; a female civilian killed there.

All of this coming as British and American defense officials say Russian troops are facing stiff resistance and not making the progress they had planned on.

And to keep internet service up amid the Russian attacks, Elon Musk says his company's satellite-based Starlink internet service is now active over Ukraine. [02:30:00]

HOLMES: Now for Ukrainian civilians, the conflict growing increasingly desperate, as you might imagine. According to the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees, More than 150,000 people have now been forced to flee across international borders.

The displaced people are heading to Hungary, Moldova, Romania. But the largest group, more than half of them, have headed to Poland. And that's where CNN's Arwa Damon is. And she shows us the disturbing scenes of people forced to be on the move and who are shell-shocked by the experience.

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ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This bus has just arrived. Oh and we can see some sort of a reunion happening here.

This bus just arrived from the Ukrainian border. And there's been a steady stream of buses like this coming into this parking lot that has now turned into something of a makeshift reception center.

These people, the vast majority of them, would have walked for hours trying to just get across.

And you'll notice that most of them are women and children. And that is because men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not being permitted to leave.

All of these people here that you see holding up these signs, they're all volunteers. And on these cardboard pieces of paper are written the names of various different cities that people who are disembarking from these buses can get rides to, places where they can find free accommodation.

One thing that is quite eerie when it comes to being here is just how quiet it is. People, you can see them as they're coming off the bus, are completely and totally shell-shocked.

And we have been talking to a number of people here and also at the train station.

Many of them still struggling to comprehend exactly what it is that has happened, how it is that less than a week ago they were able to wake up in their own homes and now parents are having to figure out how to describe this to their children.

One mother we met as we were speaking to her she was smiling and she said, "I have to smile because it's the only way that I can control my hysteria."

And it's really quite jarring when you think about the reality that all of these children who are here, these mothers, wives, they all said goodbye to husbands, to fathers, to sons who have had to remain behind in Ukraine. So many families torn apart. We've also met so many people here on this side of the border in Poland who say that their loved ones, their elderly are still inside, that they are unable to make the journey this far.

No one knows what's going to happen at this stage. No one knows what's going to be happening next.

And you really see just how sobering that reality is when you look at people's faces as they're coming off these buses, as they're trying to figure out exactly where they're going to go.

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HOLMES: Arwa Damon there.

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HOLMES: Ewan Watson is the head of media with the International Committee of the Red Cross and he joins me now from Geneva, Switzerland, to talk about this desperate situation.

Really there's been a humanitarian issue in this country now from eight years of war.

But what do you see already and what might be to come in terms of a worsening humanitarian crisis?

EWAN WATSON, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: The situation is just getting worse and worse by the minute. It was already extremely, extremely difficult for the people in Ukraine.

These last eight years, as you mentioned, there's been war in the east that's caused tremendous pain, suffering and a mental health toll. And, of course, now the conflict is escalating exponentially. That's only going to get worse.

It's absolutely heartbreaking what is happening in Ukraine. We're seeing people having to make impossible choices about what to do next, whether to try and find some safe haven in the country or whether to flee outside.

Right now in the capital, Kyiv, there is a curfew until tomorrow morning at 8:00 am. People really can't get out and get the basic necessities they might need. Supermarkets are essentially empty and, of course, amid all that, you've got active warfare. You've got shelling.

And that's why one of our calls to the parties to the conflict today is to facilitate humanitarian access to the people most in need and to protect civilian infrastructure and the civilian population.

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HOLMES: Yes, we're meeting a lot of these people here in Lviv, coming from Kyiv, and heading to the border. There are the issues of human movement and that is, of course, critical. You noted something that is just as interesting: a million people lost access to water in the east of the country because of shelling as well. Those sorts of impacts.

WATSON: Yes, absolutely. That happened before this latest escalation. So in the east, there's been a whole series of incredibly painful events that have happened over these last eight years.

Just last week, two major water plants were essentially taken out by shelling. And that meant a million people were essentially cut off from vital water supply.

And we're seeing that all along the line of contact in the east, where homes have been destroyed. Vital infrastructure that keeps homes, hospitals, schools running is taken out. And that has catastrophic effects on civilian life.

And now we're obviously seeing that spread right through the country. So that's why it's so important for the parties of this conflict to respect that civilian infrastructure and life.

HOLMES: I wanted to ask you -- I mean, how difficult is it for your teams to work in this environment and be able to render assistance, meaningful assistance?

How difficult is it for them out in the field?

And what do you need?

WATSON: It's really changing every day and it depends on the location. So right now in the capital, Kyiv, we're really not able to move a lot. For example, just today, I was speaking to our team on the ground. We're trying to get to the city emergency hospital in Kyiv.

But we just literally can't do it because of the insecurity, because of the curfew. That is happening in the capital. Looking at other locations, for example, in the east, we are able to get about. We have been able to deliver water and repair certain infrastructure.

So it's extremely difficult. The -- I mention the shops are closed. Obviously, prior to the escalation, we got a lot of our supplies for humanitarian aid in the country. Now, with shops closed, we can't do that.

We're trying obviously to bring things into the country. But truck drivers are finding themselves blocked, unable to come in. There's a whole logistical chain that's struggling to work here. And that's evolving every day as the conflict evolves.

HOLMES: Yes. It is a desperate situation. Thanks for the work you're doing. Appreciate you taking the time.

WATSON: Thank you.

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HOLMES: All right, if you would like to help people in Ukraine who might be in need of the basic supplies -- shelter, food, water and so on -- go to cnn.com/impact. You'll find several ways that you can help there.

All right, we'll have much more from here in Ukraine a little later. For now let's go to Anna Coren in Hong Kong.

ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Michael, many thanks.

Just ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, outrage at Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine.

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COREN (voice-over): Protesters around the world are gathering to express their anger against Russia and show their support for Ukraine.

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COREN: Welcome back.

Well, countries are sending more aid to help Ukraine fight back against Russia's invasion. France announced it'll send fuel supplies and defensive equipment for the resistance. And Australia will now work with NATO to supply weapons to Ukraine after initially saying it would provide nonlethal aid.

Meanwhile, Ukraine says all the soldiers defending a tiny island from Russia may still be alive. Ukraine's state border guard service says they have strong reason to believe their troops are being held by Russia as prisoners of war.

You may remember the service members had refused to surrender what's known as Snake Island to a Russian warship. The recorded exchange helped inspire Ukrainian defiance.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).

COREN (voice-over): Incredibly brave.

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COREN: Ukraine initially said all the soldiers had been killed but now Russia's military claims the Ukrainians voluntary surrendered. We'll keep an eye on this story and bring you any developments.

YouTube is the latest social media company ramping up its fight against Russian propaganda. The site said on Saturday it'll temporarily block a number of Russian channels from monetizing off its content.

The company said it restricted access to Russian channels at the request of the Ukrainian government. YouTube joins Facebook parent company Meta in taking action. It said on Friday it cut Russia's state ability to run ads, monetize them and said it will continue flagging policies.

Protesters around the world have been demonstrating against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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COREN (voice-over): This was the scene outside the White House on Saturday. Many people hoisted Ukrainian flags as they chanted, "Stop Putin now." And nearby, flowers were left on the steps of the Ukrainian embassy.

Ukrainians in Denver are speaking out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means that we are all united. We pray for Ukraine, we stand for Ukraine and we will never remain silent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sanctions are not enough. NATO and the United States need to do more.

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COREN: And in Madrid, hundreds gathered with signs reading, "Stop Putin" and "Peace and freedom in Ukraine."

Well, joining me now from Madrid is journalist Al Goodman.

Al, good to see you. Please describe the sentiment where you are and what protesters are saying to you.

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have been a number of protests, several protests, since the shooting started -- since Russia's invasion of Ukraine started on Thursday.

A few of those were smaller ones outside the Russian embassy in Madrid. The largest one so far was on Friday night at Madrid's Central Square the Sol Plaza, where hundreds gathered to chant against the war in Ukraine, against President Putin of Russia, saying this is an issue just vital to Europe.

There were also some leftist groups in that group, who chanted against NATO itself but mainly it was a protest against the war in Ukraine.

All that sets the scene on what's expected to be the largest protest so far in Spain, certainly in Madrid, which is coming up in about three hours time at a different central square here in the city of Madrid, called, according to officials, by Ukrainians, who live in the Spanish capital.

More than 1,000 people are expected according to officials. This one will be expected to walk from the main square along a main boulevard to another square and then near the Prado museum.

What we've seen here in Spain is a growing level of not just shock that there's a new war in Europe after all this time but outrage at how this is coming on and quickly siding with Ukraine -- back to you.

COREN: These global protests really seem to be gaining momentum.

Tell me, do Spaniards, do Europeans feel that Europe, the United States, the world should be doing more to take action in defending Ukraine?

GOODMAN: Well, if you listen to the protesters -- and we've seen pictures coming in, certainly, with the help of Reuters, some of them with CNN cameras in cities around the world -- there were protests Saturday in Munich, in Germany, where one protester said that, after 80 years of peace, now there's war again. There's a fear it'll spread over to Germany, which is close to Ukraine.

But here in Spain and on the Western side of Europe, there's also that fear here. We're two hours away from the time clock, away from Ukraine. And yet they're feeling here it here.

There were protests in Turkey on Saturday, with one protester telling reporters that this is a war where Ukraine will come out stronger, according to this protester. And President Putin will ruin himself and his country, Russia.

Then you've seen protests not just in Europe but also in Asia, in Japan, in Taiwan, in nearby Australia. You've seen protests in the United States, in Los Angeles, in Latin America, Argentina, Peru, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

So you're seeing a growing level of concern and outrage, people saying, basically pointing a finger at President Putin as the main culprit behind this attack, saying Ukraine has to be protected and the West in particular Europe and the United States has to do more to help out Ukraine. Back to you.

COREN: Certainly seems like much of the world is united with Ukraine. Al Goodman joining us from Madrid in Spain, many thanks.

Stay with CNN. We'll return to Ukraine where my colleague Michael Holmes will take it away. Stay with us.

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(MUSIC PLAYING) COREN: News coming into CNN moments ago. Street fighting has broken

out in the center of Kharkiv, as Russian troops enter Ukraine's second largest city. That's coming from the head of the Kharkiv regional state administration.

As our Clarissa Ward described it, this is a thriving metropolis; at one point, 4 million people. It's in the east of the country. It sits well outside of the area controlled by Russian separatists.

Ukrainian forces have managed to deter Russian forces from entering the city for the past three days. But this has now changed, with fighting taking place at the heart of the city.

The Russian owner of one of England's most successful football clubs is giving up what he calls his stewardship. Billionaire Roman Abramovich has owned Chelsea FC for nearly 20 years. But now there are calls for him to be barred due to his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin. "WORLD SPORT's" Patrick Snell has details.

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PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chelsea's Roman Abramovich has overseen a golden era for the West London club since 2003, twice champions of Europe, five Premier League titles and FIFA club World Cup winners, too.

But as his team prepared to play Liverpool in England's League Cup final Sunday, Abramovich releasing a statement, which reads in part, "I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that wearing a successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.

"I have always taken decisions with the club's best interests at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea's Charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC."

Meantime, a source close to the club clarifying to CNN the 55-year old's decision was to protect the club's reputation after his 20-year commitment and does not want to damage it.

Although some British parliamentarians have called for Abramovich to give up ownership due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian national will stay on as owner of the English Premier League side, according to that source.

Abramovich himself has not been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, according to the U.K. sanctions list website.

[02:55:00]

SNELL (voice-over): While the billionaire himself maintains he's not an official political figure for Russia. The Chelsea Supporters Trust saying, it is "deeply saddened and shocked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent loss of life," adding, it's "seeking urgent clarification on what the Abramovich statement now means for the club."

Meantime, in the English Premier League Saturday, Everton and Manchester City showing their support for Ukraine and for City's Oleksandr Shevchenko, the defender moved to tears. Emotions running high for his compatriot, both players sharing a powerful, poignant embrace.

Aston Villa's Matty Cash sending a "Stay strong" message to Polish International teammate and Kyiv defender Tomasz Kedziora, currently in the Ukrainian capital. While Poland and Sweden's national teams now say they won't face Russia in playoff matches next month ahead of this year's World Cup in Qatar.

And the Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev, who made global headlines with his powerful gesture, writing, "No war, please, on a TV camera, winning the Dubai tennis championships this weekend in the UAE -- Patrick Snell, CNN, Atlanta.

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COREN: I'm Anna Coren live in Hong Kong. Thanks for your company. My colleague, Michael Holmes, in Ukraine. We'll be back with more breaking news coverage after this short break. Stay with CNN.