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Russian Troops Coming from All Directions; Ukrainians Eager to Win Fight Against Russian Forces; Ukraine Signed for E.U. Application; President Biden Will Have His State of the Nation Tomorrow; Refugees Flock for Their Safety; Casualties from War Are Mounting. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired March 01, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): And welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine. Thanks for your company.

It is day six of the Russian invasion of this country. And this country is bracing for what could be Russia's biggest offensive yet. A massive Russian convoy baring down on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Satellite shows it stretches for more than 40 miles. That's around 65 kilometers. And includes tanks and artillery.

But the concerns stretch far beyond Kyiv. Russian troops continue to pour in by land, sea and air. CNN have learned U.S. lawmakers were given a classified briefing saying Ukraine could soon be overwhelmed. One source said they were given a timeline for when Ukrainian city could fall and called it quote, "alarming."

Now that convoy we mentioned near Kyiv is coming in from the north. And to the south Russian forces are on the move beyond Crimea. Civilians in the Ukrainian capital preparing for battle, cleaning rifles, stocking up on Molotov cocktails. Russian units have breached the Kyiv suburbs before and met fierce resistance.

Meanwhile, Ukraine second largest city Kharkiv came under intense shelling on Monday. This on the same day as talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. Ukraine's president says the Russians sitting at the table were sinking up attacks with the negotiations and he accuses them of targeting civilians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): It was clearly a war crime. Kharkiv is a peaceful city. There are peaceful residential areas. No military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove this is not a single false volley but deliberate destruction of people. The Russians knew where they were shooting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): Now as the war rages on Ukrainian civilians and volunteers are playing a critical role in helping to defend their country from Russian forces.

CNN's Clarissa Ward shows us how.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The people of Kyiv are mobilizing. Across the capital, volunteers are pouring in. Building up the city's defenses with whatever they can. Women bring in empty bottles to be made into Molotov cocktails. The leaders of this militia say Ukraine will win this war emboldened by recent successful operations to repel Russian forces.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WARD: One shows us his passport. I am Yvanov (Ph). I am originally Russian. But no Russian boots will stand here.

Do you have a message for president Putin?

UNKNOWN: Putin (muted).

WARD: It's a popular sentiment on the street. This man sign is too vulgar to translate. Another billboard warns invading forces. Russian soldiers leave. How will you look your children in the eye?

Ukraine has borne the brutality of this invasion with patient grit and determination. Outside every supermarket, there are long lines and scarce supplies. But no one is complaining.

It's amazing to see the optimism of people here. They've been waiting in this line for about 40 minutes to get into the supermarket. But still, they're saying everything is going to be OK. You can feel a growing confidence among people. That they do have a chance to defeat Russia.

In an eastern suburb of the city, Raiza's Schmatko (Ph) front yard has turned into a staging area.

So, you can see they're collecting things to donate to people. Sleeping bags. Sleeping mats. Pickles. Foods.

Schmatko (Ph) is a grandmother and a retired economist. Now she spends her days preparing for battle.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WARD: OK. This is where they make the Molotov cocktails. She says she's going to show us them now.

These are the only weapons she has. But she says she's ready to fight.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

[03:04:59] WARD: Let those Russian shits come here, she says. We are ready to greet them.

How did you learn how to make Molotov cocktails?

"Google helped," she tells me.

You googled it?

"Of course," she says.

If Russian forces push into the capitol here in Kyiv, what will you do?

"We will beat them. They won't come." She tells us. "I believe in our Ukraine. I believe in Ukrainian people."

Moments later she's off. Russian forces are still moving forward. And there is much work to be done.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kyiv.

HOLMES: For more now I'm joined by Major General Mick Ryan. He's a retired Australian army officer and author of "War Transformed: The Future of 21st Century Great Power, Competition, and Conflict."

It's good to have you with us, sir. The Russians a couple days ago they announce a corridor for civilians to safely leave Kyiv. And now you have this kilo -- 40-mile, 65-kilometer column outside the city. What do you think? Does this look like clearing the city for perhaps a ferocious assault on the capitol?

MICK RYAN, RETIRED AUSTRALIAN ARMY: Thank you, Michael. And first I want to say thank you to you and all the other journalists who are putting your selves at risk to bring us these stories from Ukraine.

Yes, I think that the Russians have reassessed their campaign in the last couple of days. Their operations in the north and the east have not been that successful. So, they are going to double down in combat power, they are going to double down in fire power. And it's going to be a much more ferocious and much more destructive and a much more bloody fight from here.

HOLMES: Yes, I covered the taking of Mosul or the retaking of Mosul from ISIS in Iraq a few years ago and other urban campaigns as well. And the fact is they are almost inevitably hard to coordinate. They are bloody. And there is always a huge threat of civilian casualties. And in Ukraine, so many civilians are actually taking up arms to defend their country as well. What could that urban combat look like?

RYAN: Well, as a soldier we prefer not to fight in cities because it is the hardest environment in which we can fight for the reasons you just out lined. They are very different, difficult to command and coordinate. They are very difficult because it's hard to identify friend from foe. And it's the kind of fighting that takes place at very close quarters.

Many of the fight in Iraq took place at distances of 10 meters or less. The presence of civilians makes things even more difficult. And in this fight, we are going to see the Russians use more fire power and there are going to the massive casualties if they do go into Kyiv.

HOLMES: It's extraordinary to even hear you say that. We're talking about a European capital. It's just mind boggling. What is your assessment? You touched on this. But give us more of an assessment of, you know, how Russia has prosecuted this war so far tactically and so on. Many suggesting over confidence in how things would go. And you know, they messed up everything from refueling their own vehicles along the way.

RYAN: I think the Russians really hoped that surrounding the Ukraine with 190,000 troops would over or them and coerce them into some political initiatives that would be favorable to Russia. That hasn't happened. I think that's surprise the Russians.

And quite frankly, the stiff resistance, the amazing bravery by Ukraine soldiers and civilians has really shocked them. But the Russians have proven in the past they can learn from their mistakes. I think they are learning. And they are going to double down with more combat forces, more air power to not just secure Kyiv and other bits of land, but to sort out problems with logistics, with fire power, and with securing the air space over Ukraine.

HOLMES: Talking about this with another analyst a couple hours ago. I'd like your thoughts. I mean, when you look at the David and Goliath aspect of this, it's true. Is it not that a motivated army that is the underdog can often really seriously challenge an under motivated army? Do you think that's happening here given the Ukrainians are fighting for their nation, the performance they put up?

RYAN: I think you're on the mark there, Michael. It's been very clear right from the start that Ukraine have seized the strategic narrative. I mean, the president's words just the other day, I don't need a ride, I need ammunition. I mean, wow. That's -- that's electrifying stuff for a nation for its soldiers and its civilians.

[03:09:59]

And from top to bottom, the Ukrainians have been very effective at mobilizing their own people but also mobilizing very quickly a massive international coalition to support them. They -- that has given them a sense of purpose and they know that the Russians cannot offer them the democracy and freedom they desire. At the same time, it is not clear that the Russian soldiers that come across the border in this invasion share a sense of purpose that is anyway equal to that of the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

HOLMES: Yes. Yes. A lot of them 19-year-old conscripts. We touched on the strategy and the failings of the Russian military so far. That's -- if we can call it the first stage of conventional warfare. We're talking also about a transition to the next stage of urban warfare which you have addressed could involve fighting in the city. Perhaps then if the Ukrainians are overwhelmed as most analysts think

they will be, do you envision a stage later of resistance or insurgency given the passion of the people?

RYAN: Well, you know, I'd caution against too much doom and gloom about what might happen. I mean, we've heard this before. The Ukrainians will fold quickly. That still might happen. But we can't just (Inaudible) but they continue to buy time for a negotiated solution at some point.

But if -- if that does indeed happen and the Russians are able to secure a large part of Ukraine, I can't see how the Ukrainians would not continue to resist. I've got formed in this. You know, during the Second World War against the Nazis and even against the Soviets after the war they have had resistance movements before. And I expect there would be large international support for any kind of insurgency that manifests after any kind of Russian success.

I would add though, Michael, that even if the Russians win tactically, politically it's hard to see how they can be successful here. They can only win at the cost of massive destruction and bloodshed. They'll have million Ukrainians that will hate them.

HOLMES: Yes. Exactly. And quite apart from previous resistance efforts, this is a country where people power is thrown out a couple of pro-Moscow presidents in the past. So, you're right. They have formed. Major General Mick Ryan, we're out of time. Thank you so much for your analysis.

RYAN: Thank you, Michael. It's great to talk to you.

HOLMES: Well, the presidents of eight European countries are pushing the E.U. to immediately grant Ukraine, quote, "candidate country status" and begin negotiations on its formal acceptance into the block. Now this is a major step and one that Ukraine has wanted for years.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand joins me now from the E.U. headquarters in Brussels. Good to see you. So, how is the E.U. responding to this request?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, So the president of the European Commission actually said just a couple days ago we believe that Ukraine is one of us. We want them to join the European Union. However, it is not something that could happen overnight.

It's a very complex process. It has to do with market integration. There are a number of steps including democracy and democracy reform and anticorruption efforts that would have to take place first.

And of course, there is a war going on now in Ukraine and there are separatist regions that have broken away from Ukraine and are now supported by Russia. So, there are a number of obstacles here.

President Zelenskyy did sign a formal application earlier this week for E.U. membership and has been pushing that a lot in recent days because of course he believes that it will give his country certain security guarantees and move him closer to the west and show Russia that Ukraine is a European state that has the support of the entire European Union and the west.

But this is not something that is going to happen quickly even for a country that is not currently at war. It is a complex process. So, they are reviewing the application for expedited candidacy for Ukraine. But it remains to be seen how and when and even if that's ever going to happen.

HOLMES: All right. Natasha Bertrand in Brussels, I appreciate that update. Yes, major thing if that were to happen.

All right. Now here in Ukraine the casualties are mounting. That is causing a growing exodus. The commotion, the panic, the frustration at a train station here in Lviv. We'll have that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN (through translator): We have to survive this dangerous situation and then we want to return to our homeland. At least I want to. If the kids want to live elsewhere, then they can stay. But myself with all the years behind me, I want to go home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): A Ukrainian grandmother there seeking safety in Hungary. Just one of the countries taking in some of the more than half a million refugees so far from this war.

Tens of thousands of others making their way to Romania and Moldova. But neighboring Poland has received the most Ukrainians so far. The U.N. Refugee Agency says it is preparing for the overall number to swell up to perhaps four million in the coming days and weeks.

Meanwhile, more than 400 civilian casualties have already been reported. With 100 of those coming in just the past few days. But the U.N. says the true figures are likely much higher.

[03:20:00]

Inside Ukraine, there is a growing number of people trying to escape.

CNN's Scott McLean shows us what's happening at a train station in Lviv.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At the train station in Lviv, no one knows when the next train to Poland will come. But they wait in the frigid temperatures just in case. Suddenly, an announcement sends people rushing for platform five. Some cross the tracks to get there but police turn them away.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE) MCLEAN: "Please keep calm and go down the stairs," shouts the officer. "How can I not panic? Let us in. My kid has a disability. He is downstairs with our bags." She tells us. "We traveled three days from Verdansk. I'm nervous." Another woman traveling with a toddler tells us.

How are you feeling now? This mother pushing a stroller says everything in just a single glance.

Under the platform. It's a free for all but sometimes it gets tense. People push their way to the front but police allow only women and children. Men are told not to bother.

This woman is offered a place on the train with her baby but not her husband. And she won't go without him. "No, I can't," she says. "He has everything. He has friends there. And how will he get there? Not by train."

At the top of the stairs police usher women and children through the crowd. Tossing suitcases and pulling children up by their coats. It's all a bit overwhelming for kids and for mothers.

They are packing as many people as they possibly can onto these trains. But there are still many people including women and children who likely will not make it.

This Nigerian woman who came from Kyiv two days ago is one of them.

UNKNOWN: I'm overwhelmed. It's insane. I never want to be in this position in my life.

MCLEAN: You're tired.

UNKNOWN: Yes. I couldn't sleep for days. Yes. I'm so happy at least I could get into the train.

MCLEAN: With most Ukrainian men barred from leaving the country, the men turned away are almost entirely foreign.

UNKNOWN: We found to that taxi but he told us we need a lot of money, $500, $600.

MCLEAN: For the waiting families the next train is due a few hours later. But many who traveled for days just to get here, they can't come soon enough.

Scott McLean, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.

HOLMES: President Joe Biden and key U.S. allies are coordinating their sanctions on Russia with a focus on maintaining global economic stability, especially regarding oil prices. Mr. Biden hosting a call with European leaders, Japan and Canada's prime minister and NATO secretary general on Monday. Later, on Tuesday, he will deliver his state of the union address where, of course, the Ukraine crisis will be a major focus.

CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright joins us now from Washington with all the details. Jasmine, what can we expect?

JASMINE WRIGHT, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Michael, we can expect that this speech will be critical for the president as it is coming as an incredibly important time. And now just a few months ago officials thought that this would be a moment for him to launch a domestic reset. But of course, with the events unfolding in the last month the focus here is going to be a lot on Ukraine.

And so White House press secretary Jen Psaki she previews some of the speech in a Monday briefing and she said that the president is going to hit a couple different things. First, he is going to highlight the global coalition that he helps build, uniting allies on the west. NATO in face of Russian aggression.

I think over the past week we've seen intense coordination among NATO, among the west, among Canada and the U.S. when it comes to sanctions really trying to punish Russia. But also make sure that things don't happen in a freefall around the globe. Just that it is focus and targeted on Russia.

So that's going to be one of the things that he talks about. Of course, he's going to talk about the amount of military assistance and human assistance that the U.S. has provided to Ukraine trying to bolster that resistance, especially as one, Ukrainian lawmakers are asking for more resources.

But also, as we get these incredibly dire warnings from lawmakers. Just within the last few days saying that although they are pleasantly surprised by the Ukrainian resistance and how it faired so far, things could get more challenging for them down the line. And so that's going to be the second thing that the president talks about.

And the third thing Psaki said is that he is going bring it back to the homeland. Talk about what his administration has done to try to mitigate the impact that Americans are going to feel in this time of crisis. One of the things that this administration highlighted from the beginning is that potentially Americans can see real spikes at the gas pumps because of the oil prices.

[03:25:01]

So, both key and allies across the globe have really tried to do things to mitigate that impact. And so, he's going to speak about that. Now of course, Michael, we can expect him to touch on domestic issues. Two things for sure we expect him to talk about of course the ongoing pandemic here in the U.S. and globally. And of course, inflation.

Two things that this administration has struggled with for the president's large part of his presidency. but of course, Ukraine here is going to be a dominant, dominant thing. It's at top of mind for this administration. Something that they have focused on intensely not just this week but for the past few months. Michael?

HOLMES: Yes. Jasmine, thanks for the update. Jasmine Wright there live in Washington for us. Now the resistance here in Ukraine has taken many by surprise. Coming

up, how they've held off the Russians despite the odds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

HOLMES,: Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine. Bitter fighting still under way all across this country. As Ukrainians try to hold off that Russian invasion.

New satellite images show you they -- show a massive Russian convoy rolling towards the Ukrainian Capitol, Kyiv. It reportedly stretches more than 40 miles or around 64 kilometers. We're also seeing escalating rocket attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.

You're looking at some of the damage after those attacks on Monday. Kharkiv's mayor said at least nine civilians including three children were killed in the series of attacks.

Meanwhile the Russian convoy, an ominous sign of a looming onslaught potentially on Kyiv. But Ukraine's resistance, well, it has been fierce and it has been unexpected.

CNN's Phil Black with that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The smoking wreckage of Russian armored vehicles on the outskirts of Kyiv. While in the eastern city of Kharkiv, Russian forces are seen awkwardly retreating. With more of their hardware ultimately lost or abandoned to Ukraine's defenders.

It's all evidence of an unexpected early twist in this vastly uneven war. Ukrainian forces are holding the line. With Russia failing to take any key cities so far.

This Ukrainian military spokesman says the enemy is demoralized and has suffered heavy losses. Russia has acknowledged casualties without confirming numbers. From a distance, independent western experts believe Ukraine's assessment is largely accurate.

ED ARNOLD, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: The morale within the Russian forces will be incredibly low. And unless the Russians can get temper into the operation and get a victory, a very clear victory of it. Morale will decrease on the Russian side.

BLACK: You believe very firmly that the Ukrainian resistance is more spirited than they would have expected?

ARNOLD: Absolutely. This pints our fingers absolutely, possibly the decisive factor.

BLACK: Observer's say, a key Russian mistake was making false assumptions about the nature of the fight. MATHIEU BOULEGUE, RUSSIA AND EURASIA PROGRAM, CHATHAM HOUSE: Ukraine

would sort of lay down their arms. Would surrender very quickly. That they would be able to decapitate the command and control of the Ukrainian forces extremely quickly in the initial period of war. These first few days of the campaign. This has not happened.

BLACK: Smaller tactical errors have also been costly. Like allowing Ukraine's drones to hunt freely.

ARNOLD: Very surprising considering the air force hasn't neutralized the Ukrainian drone capability and also that the troops on the ground seem oblivious to the fact that they were being targeted.

BLACK: Another theory. Russian forces may have been holding back. Trying to take big cities with lighter forces. Hoping to inflict minimum damage. But Ukraine's resistance could trigger a switch to what experts say is Russia's traditional military doctrine. Overwhelming force.

You are pointing to a scenario where there will be far greater bloodshed.

ARNOLD: It's a calculation on their part about how brutal they're willing to go. Because ultimately if you destroy Kyiv, then they have lost the political ability to then install a government that is pro- Russian, able to govern the country.

BLACK: Ukraine's only possible military strategy is somehow holding out. Inflicting costs. Limiting Russian wins. To the surprise and admiration of many, it's working so far.

Phil Black, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, the Russian president lashing out at the sanctions imposed upon his country by Western nations. Which on Monday he called the empire of lies. This coming just a day after Vladimir Putin put Russia deterrence force which includes nuclear weapons on combat alert. A senior U.S. Defense official says there is no specific threat.

And U.S. President when asked if Americans should be worried about a possible nuclear war. Well, he bluntly said, "No." Still President Putin recent behavior raising a lot of questions about his grasp on reality, as Melissa Bell now reports.

[03:35:04]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was only a week ago. A rambling T.V. address in which Vladimir Putin signaled the start of a war and the abrupt end of weeks of frantic diplomacy. So abrupt says the French president the discussions had continued until just a few hours before. PRES. EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): So

yes, there was duplicity. Yes, there was deliberate conscious choice by President Putin to launch a war when we could still negotiate peace.

BELL: But if the abruptness of the announcement surprised the French president, its tone did not. Says a French presidential source who described it's ridged and paranoid. Something they say that chimes with what Macron had first noticed during his more than five hours of talks with the Russian president in Moscow on February 7. When the Russian president struck him as different, stiffer and more isolated. Than he had been in the past.

And few Western leaders have seen as much of Vladimir Putin these last few years at Emmanuel Macron. The Russian president was one of the first foreign leaders to visit Macron, just after his election in 2017 at Versailles. And the Russian leader visited Macron again during his summer break in the south of France in 2019. And then again at the Elysee Palace in December of that same year.

That was the last time that Macron had seen Putin. Until he met with him in Moscow. What Elysee palace sources say is that by then, he found himself opposite a man who was much changed. Macron felt that Putin was now an ideological drift. No longer the man he met in December of 2019.

By Saturday, Putin was once again making televised remarks, referring to Ukraine's leadership. As a Nazi or fascist regime urging Ukrainian armed forces to seize power. Even as the country's Jewish president was defiantly speaking to the world from Kyiv. And Ukrainian forces and civilians were putting up stiff resistance.

BERNARD GUETTA, JOURNALIST AND MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: I think that this guy (inaudible) to reality actually, reality and realities, American reality or Western-European reality, Ukrainian reality, and even Russian realities. Because the Russian people this is clearer and clearer every day, doesn't support this war.

BELL: By Sunday, another televised address and a further escalation.

The Russian president putting his nuclear arsenal on high alert. Blaming NATO for its aggressive statements.

PETRO POROSHENKO, FORMER UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: But this nuclear madness Putin imposed does much greater threat to the world than Bin Laden.

BELL: Even as the Russian invasion slows in the face of Ukrainian resistance. The question is now one of disconnect. Even within the kremlin, Ukraine's foreign minister saying Sunday that their intelligence suggests that even those close to Putin are against the invasion. A military move that may have devastating consequences for Russia.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Much more from Ukraine still to come. But first, let's take it back to Rosemary Church at CNN's world headquarters. Rosemary?

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Thank you so much, Michael. We'll see you in just a moment.

Still to come this hour, unprecedented Western sanctions hit Russia's economy.

Up next, a live report on the effect they are now having.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. With the Moscow stock exchange remains closed for a second straight day as the Russian economy is slammed by severe sanctions from the West.

CNN's Anna Stewart joins me now from London with the latest on all of this. Good to see you, Anna. So what impact are these economic sanctions actually having on Russia and is that economic pain being felt directly by President Putin and his oligarchs?

ANNA STEWART, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): I mean, I think that economic pain is going to be felt by absolutely everyone. Not least, if you just look at the rubble which crashed over 30 percent yesterday and essentially lost half of its value since the beginning of the year.

So, everyday life is getting expensive. They will be restricted on what they can import from around the world due to export controls which is part of sanctions. And increasingly Russians are going to feel isolated. Airlines stopped flying to Moscow and in retaliation, Russia's actually closes its airspace to around 36 nations at this stage.

And that feeds through to oligarchs as well. Who, of course, are being targeted personally with sanctions as are their family have new names added to the E.U. sanctions list yesterday. And that includes the president spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.

We have got Igor Sechin, he is the CEO of the big Russian oil giant Rosneft. And Mikhail Fridman, the founder of Alfa Group. Who actually yesterday came out publicly and said he wanted the bloodshed to end. He's a Russian citizen, but he was born in Ukraine. His parents still live there, he says. He grew up in Ukraine.

And not only will the oligarch's overseas assets be frozen. Not only will they have some travel bans in certain parts of the world particularly from the U.S. I believe.

[03:45:06]

But that also seeing their Russian assets domestically plummet in value. When you're looking at the ruble or you are looking at equities. (Inaudible) says the stock market in Moscow closed once again today. When it reopens if it reopens this week, you will see equities tumble.

Because we saw secondary listings in Europe yesterday. Like, Sberbank, which is one of Russia's biggest bank. We saw the stock price fell by 70 percent. So, huge pressure I think at this stage, Rosemary, on President Putin both from your everyday person, where Life is getting more expensive and the feeling of war even if they are not seeing it on Russian state media and pressure from oligarchs which is critical.

CHURCH: Yeah. Absolutely. And Anna, while Russia has of course built up considerable reserves to protect against economic sanctions like this, President Putin has been surprised by this severity. And now corporations are doing their part. What are the most significant moves being taken right now by some of these companies?

STEWART: This has been really interesting. So some companies are having to take action due to sanctions. They are being forced to. And some are choosing to on ethical basis. So, we had overnight VISA and MasterCard both saying, of course, they will comply with sanctions. As MasterCard went on further saying they had already blocked multiple banks in Russia from using their network.

So as to people will be unable essentially to use their VISA or MasterCard today in Russia. Both companies also pledging millions of dollars for humanitarian aid. And that just adds to a slew of corporate news which we could get into. So many western companies cutting ties, shedding assets, getting out of Russia, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah. The whole world in fact is getting behind Ukraine. Anna Stewart in London. Many thanks for joining us. I appreciate that.

And our breaking news coverage of the Russian invasion continues live from Ukraine in just a moment.

Coming up, the two countries met for talks on Monday. But Russia's continued assault on Ukraine overshadowed the negotiations.

We're back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:50:00]

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes live in Lviv, Ukraine. And we are getting new information about a huge explosion in central Kharkiv. That has all but destroyed a major government building in the center of the city. Let's have a look at the video.

This was posted by the Ukrainian government. And have a look at the missile strike there. The state emergency service says, six people were injured including a child in that explosion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, quote, "Russia is waging war in violation of International Humanitarian Law. Killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure."

This was a major building in that city.

Meanwhile, a quick check of the other latest developments from Russia's invasion of this country. China says it is now evacuating citizens from Ukraine. And Taiwan says it will join the growing list of countries blocking Russian banks from the international payment system known as SWIFT.

Meanwhile, ice skating world governing body has suspended Russian and Belarusian skaters from participating in international competition effective immediately. And the leaders of at least eight countries in the European Union are calling for talks to begin on Ukrainian membership in the block.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to mount a fierce resistance to the Russian invasion now in its sixth day. On the outskirts of Kyiv, a massive Russian military convoy stretching for more than 40 miles or 65 kilometers. Ukraine's president accusing Russia of synchronizing, Monday's negotiations with a new wave of attacks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia committed war crimes by bombing Kharkiv and attacking civilians. The city's mayor says the rocket attacks killed nine people.

Now football's biggest governing body, they are also cracking down on Russia, both FIFA and UEFA suspending the Russian national team and professional clubs from competition saying they stand in full solidarity with Ukraine.

CNN World Sport's Don Riddell with that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russia are out of the World Cup and (inaudible) of Moscow are out of the Europa league. Five days after Russia invaded Ukraine. Some extraordinary developments at the intersection of sports and politics. With football world and European governing bodies combining to release a joint statement saying that quote, "All Russian teams whether national, representative teams, or club teams shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice."

The statement concluded, quote, "Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both president's hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people."

This represents an extraordinary change in fortunes for a country that has become one of the most influential in world sport. Just four years ago, Russia hosted the men's World Cup. They also stage the major Olympics in 2014. And around about that time, Russia developed very close ties with football world governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino. But now FIFA has assumed the position they couldn't have imagined just a week ago.

[03:55:06] While these governing bodies are being applauded for taking a tough

stance. It is arguably the teams from Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic that should be taking over credit. On Sunday, FIFA was hoping that Russia could play next month's World Cup qualifier against Poland under an amended name, in a close neutral venue without their flag and without their anthem. But when those teams simply refused to play Russia, under any circumstances, FIFA's hand was forced.

On Friday, UEFA had acted quickly to strip Russia of the right to host the Champions League final in May. The game was switched from St. Petersburg to Paris. And on Monday, UEFA cut additional ties dropping Gazprom, as one of their sponsors of the Champion's League tournament. National team competitions and the next European championship in 2024. Gazprom is a Russian state owned energy supplier.

Russia is facing a global backlash for its hostility in the region. Now the beautiful game of football is turning its back on them too.

Back to you.

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HOLMES: All right. Thanks for watching, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes, here in Lviv, in Western Ukraine. Our breaking news coverage continues after the break.

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