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Russian Troops Continue with Their Attacks in Ukraine; More Refugees Fleeing from Ukraine; U.S. and NATO Support Ukraine with Weapons; U.S. and Chinese Officials to Meet in Rome; Ukraine's Railways Still Working; Ukrainians Eager to Defend Their Country No Matter What. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired March 14, 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)

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers around the world and in the United States this hour. I'm Hala Gorani coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine.

A number of developments we're following this hour as Russia's invasion of this country pushes well into its third week. In the hours ahead, we are expecting the next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia in the latest effort to find a diplomatic way out of this war.

Right now, though, unfortunately there is no end in sight. Mariupol is among the cities under heavy bombardment and concerns are mounting for the civilians who remain trapped there. Still, we are learning that Moscow may be looking for help as senior U.S. official says Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine, including for some drones. And Moscow could soon find itself even under more pressure.

France says that the President, Emmanuel Macron, and the American President, Joe Biden, spoke by phone on Sunday yesterday and agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia. Mr. Macron says he spoke with the Ukrainian leader who took to social media to rally his country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): We are going through the worst or deal in our history, in our lives. We protect the most precious thing we have. We must hold on. We might fight and we will win. I know that. I believe in that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: As the conflict grinds on, one thing seems increasingly clear. Russia's military attacks against Ukraine are growing more destructive.

Here's CNN's Oren Liebermann with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The attack on the Yavoriv military base is the closest Russian attack to a NATO member. The barrage of missiles hit just about 11 miles from Poland killing at least 35 people. According to Lviv military administration and wounding more than 100 others. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grows more destructive by the day.

Near the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea, nine people were killed in a Russian bombardment according to the regional administration. And satellite images show the city of Mariupol burning. Russia has besieged the city for days Ukrainian officials say, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and water. Nearly 2,200 people have been killed there since Russia's invasion began according to the city council.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says help is on the way if it can get through.

ZELENSKYY (through translator): Our humanitarian convoys two hours away with only 80 kilometers remaining. We are doing everything possible to fight the resistance of the occupants who block even the Orthodox church priests who are escorting the convoy with food, water, medication. Ukraine has supplied 100 tons of the basic necessities for its citizens.

LIEBERMANN: Among those killed in this war, American journalist Brent Renaud. Russian forces shot him outside of Kyiv according to regional police. Another journalist was wounded.

JUAN ARREDONDO, PHOTOJOURNALIST: So, the driver turned around and they kept shooting. It's two of us.

LIEBERMANN: The widening attack on Ukraine has not deterred the U.S. and NATO allies from shipping in weapons and equipment that are proven effective in slowing down Russia.

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We believe we will continue to flow substantial amounts of military assistance and weapons to the front lines to help the Ukrainians ensure that Ukraine is a strategic failure for Vladimir Putin.

LIEBERMANN: Multiple rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have led to few, if any breakthroughs. Another round of talks is set for Monday.

WENDY SHERMAN, U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: We are seeing some signs of a willingness to have real serious negotiations, but I have to say, as your reporter said, so far it appears that Vladimir Putin is intent on destroying Ukraine.

LIEBERMANN: Ukraine's resistance has slowed the Russian advance toward the capital city of Kyiv. Russia has so far been unable to encircle the city. Meanwhile, the U.S. is watching for any threat of chemical weapons from Russia in a possible false flag operation.

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: It is of the Russian playbook that that which they accuse you of they are planning to do. Now, again, we haven't seen anything that indicates some sort of imminent chemical biological attack right now, but we are watching this very, very closely.

LIEBERMANN: A Russian air-strike Saturday night damaged the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra monastery in the Donetsk region, according to Ukraine's parliament the historic church sheltered more than 500 displace people, the parliament said.

[03:04:55]

In Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to fall to Russia, protest was held a mass rally. Marching amid armed Russian troops, a brazen show of spirit for Ukraine in Kherson's Svobody Square, which means freedom square.

Another $200 million in security assistance approved by the White House over the weekend. That's after they approved 350 million just a couple of weeks ago. So we see the White House and the Biden administration moving very quickly here.

Again, within just a couple of weeks more than half a billion dollars. And where these used to take weeks if not months to get in, it's now getting in within days. Anti-tank, anti-armor, anti-aircraft missiles and more.

Oren Liebermann, CNN, at the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, against this backdrop, the White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet his Chinese counterpart in Rome in the next few hours. This comes amid reports that Russia is asking China for economic and military assistance in Ukraine.

CNN's Nina Dos Santos will be joining us in a little bit unless she's with us now. I know she will be in a little bit. First, let's of go to Steven Jiang in Beijing. Apologies, Steven. Hi again. Any response from China to this reported call for assistance from Russia?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Hala, the Chinese foreign ministry is going to start its daily press briefing in just a few minutes. Let's see what their spokesman will say. But I expect officials to very much stick to their long-standing talking points to stress China's imposed partiality in this conflict and probably denouncing the U.S. effort to, quote, unquote, "smear China" and, again, blaming the U.S. and NATO's eastward expansion for causing this war which, of course, is very much parroting a key Kremlin talking point.

But this leak from Washington, the timing of this is very interesting as you mention because this is putting China under a spotlight for its role in this war just as Jake Sullivan is about to meet Yang Jiechi, who is a key adviser to President Xi Jinping in Rome in the coming hours. Perhaps in anticipation of Washington those exerting more pressure over Beijing, Chinese state media has been trying to push back warning the U.S. against this approach and also cautioning the U.S. not try to assert division between Moscow and Beijing.

Obviously since the war broke out, China has been trying to strike an almost impossible balance. They try to stand behind Russia especially when it comes to parroting a lot of the propaganda, some would say disinformation from the Kremlin, but also trying to say the right thing at least in public in terms of respecting all countries sovereignty and calling for peace talks.

But at the same time, they're also trying to minimize the impact of severe western sanctions. Chinese entities, which, of course, have a lot of exposure to the western markets. That's why in the past few days, some analysts have pointed to some subtle signs of changes from Beijing, including China sending humanitarian assistance on a very small scale to Ukraine, and also some indication from some Chinese entities of their willingness to comply with western sanctions.

But at the end of day, experts we talk to say China is very much very pragmatic. Their self-interest is paramount. At this stage the leadership just simply does not see a lot of upsides in getting deeply involved in a war not fought on their soil. Because the way they see it, no matter what happens on the battlefield eventually a weakened and bitter Russia would have no choice but to move ever closer into China's orbit as a junior partner in this so-called no limits partnership.

That's why a lot of experts are still very skeptical at this stage that China would be willing to getting involved directly in this war, especially militarily. Hala?

GORANI: Steven, I mean, I wonder, though, China is suffering tremendously economically from the rise in commodity prices, from this war that is having a big negative impact on its much hoped for post COVID recovery. So, it really would not, I mean logically speaking, want this war to continue. Can it put actually do the reverse and put pressure on Russia to back down? Does it have that ability? And does it have that will and desire?

JIANG: I think from western leaders -- western government's perspective, China certainly can. But the question is whether they will. At this stage from what they've been saying, which is a lot, but what they have been doing is very little, it seems their strategy is not take that approach. Our suggestion from the west. And that could be because of several reasons.

One of them which, of course, is this relationship between Xi Jinping and Putin has been portrayed in such a personal kind of way, you know. Xi has called Putin his best friend. And given Xi's supremacy and his power here, it's very difficult for him to climb down from that for now. But also, as I mentioned pragmatically speaking, they just don't see a lot of benefits for them to getting involved directly and deeply at this stage, Hala.

[03:10:01]

GORANI: All right, Steven Jiang, thanks very much. Ukraine's president is warning that it's only a matter of time before

Russian missiles fall on people in NATO territory if the western block does not close the skies above Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday renewed his call for a no-fly zone over his country to help stop Russia's attacks. However, that move would be an escalation that the U.S. and its allies have so far been unwilling to make.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby gave this frank explanation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRBY: Look, I mean, no-fly zone has a nice air policing kind of sound to it. But I participated in one as a young officer on an aircraft carrier way back in the early 90s. It is combat. You have to be willing to shoot and to be shot at. President Biden has made it clear that U.S. troops are not going to be fighting in Ukraine.

And there is a good reason for that, because the United States getting involved in combat in Ukraine right now or over the skies of Ukraine right now leads to war with Russia. And there is very little that you can see that would make sense for this war to be escalated between two nuclear powers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: The Pentagon spokesperson there. Now I'd like to bring in Orysia Lutsevich joining me from London. She is the director of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House where she is also a research fellow. Thanks for joining us.

So, what options do the Ukrainians have right now? The no-fly zone is a non-starter for western allies and NATO countries. They've been quite clear about that. What do they need the west to do in order for their fight against Russia to have -- in order to be able to repel the Russian invader at this point?

ORYSIA LUTSEVICH, RESEARCH FELLOW, CHATHAM HOUSE: Well, look, we are moving in again in a critical -- what is happening in the ground in Ukraine especially in the east around Mariupol and possibly Odessa, and eventually, the battle for Kyiv. And I think what is critical is that there is more forceful imaginative provision of military assistance. And there a couple of principles that are important.

Obviously, Ukraine is quite successfully prevailing on the ground defending its territory. But anti-aircraft missile systems are key because Russia is increasingly using aviation to bombard civilian infrastructures, civilian cities in order to put pressure on Ukraine's political leadership to concede.

So, it's important that there is a lot of confidentiality about what kind of armament is being provided and where are the roots of those. Because we have seen over the weekend an assault on a military training ground all the way in the western part of Ukrainian/Polish border.

But what Ukraine needs, again, is military and economic assistance to persevere. Because every day Ukraine stands, it will get a better deal at the negotiating table with Russia eventually.

GORANI: And when you say that, you say a better negotiating position with Russia. What will it take to get to that, to that stage, to get to the negotiating stage where seriously there is talk of ending this senseless war here?

LUTSEVICH: Well, what has to happen is the Kremlin must understand that it simply cannot win. It simply cannot achieve those ridiculous objectives that Putin identified, such as, you know, complete demilitarization, some imaginative denotification of Ukraine.

And actually, one of Putin's objectives is to slice Ukraine into some kind of region and reconstitute Ukrainian state to take over Kyiv and install a puppet government. But also, Ukraine has to understand that militarily it will be difficult to persevere for too long. So, as long as Ukraine keeps the fences of its key cities and it's able to keep the negotiating open, but also let's remember all those economic warfare efforts that the west is imposing on Russia will eventually weaken Russian access to funds to support military -- support war in Ukraine. War costs money.

GORANI: Yes, war costs money. Vladimir Putin is going to have a very hard time raising money. His central bank is unable now to raise funds outside of just printing rubles, not able to raise funds outside of Russia. The stock market has crashed. The currency has crashed. The economy is going to crash as well.

At what point is this too expensive for the Russian president, or is he so determined because he believes ideologically that he'd rather just level this country to rubble if it means getting control over it rather than just letting it go and saving his own country?

[03:14:57]

LUTSEVICH: Well, it sounds horrific, but leveling country to rubble and having control of it are two very different things. If you level the country by bombardment, you eventually recognize that you cannot take over the cities.

So clearly, Putin is determined, there's no doubt about it. The defeat by Ukrainian armed forces would be deeply humiliating to Putin. But we must remember that Putin completely controls media space in Russia, and he can turn around --

GORANI: Yes.

LUTSEVICH: -- whatever he needs as a ramp for his population to present it as a victory. He could say, I already bombed military infrastructure. I have achieved my objective. But we should be, you know, clear that Putin's objectives and messaging will be changing as long as Ukraine shows military success and backing of the west of what we discussed at the beginning maintains.

GORANI: But from the outside looking in, I mean, very few of us -- I don't know if you did -- even expected an invasion. And then in the first few weeks when it was clear the Russian military was not making lightning advances and taking Kyiv and other big cities quickly, the thinking was, well, Putin is going to realize that this is too costly in men, in money, in weaponry. And he'll back down and there will be some sort of diplomatic off-ramp. But that, too, doesn't seem to be happening. So, are you puzzled at all by this behavior?

LUTSEVICH: Well, I'm not puzzled because we do know that for the last eight years since the annexation of Crimea and limited war in Donbas, Putin was not achieving his objective which is to take over control of political decision making in Kyiv and to salvage all relations that Ukraine has with its western partners.

I'm not surprised he embarked on that war of terror. But like everybody else, I am astounded by this courage and total mobilization of Ukrainian society and resolve actually to make Putin fail. And I think the whole Europe will be better off if Putin's strategy militarily and Putin's ideology of this expansion fails, and Ukraine is determined to make its token of, you know, contribution to this victory.

GORANI: Yes, absolutely. It's something we witnessed here as well. We are even doing a story later on Ukrainians who left the country, but are returning to help with the war effort in their country. Orysia Lutsevich, thank you very much for joining us.

Another area of concern is Chernobyl. The international Atomic Energy Agency says the staff at the nuclear power plant is so tired that workers have stopped carrying out repairs and maintenance of safety equipment. The IAEA says the physical and psychological fatigue of working nonstop for nearly three weeks is to blame partly. The agency's director general has proposed a plan to deliver assistance, but it has to be approved by Ukrainian and Russian authorities before it's implemented. And remember Russia is controlling now Chernobyl.

Just ahead, Ukraine's train system is a reliable main stay of daily life even now. How rail operators are keeping people and supplies moving despite the Russian invasion.

Plus, hear from Kyiv's mayor and his brother as they vow to stay in the city and defend it from Russian soldiers.

[03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Refugees fleeing the violence in Ukraine are braving brutal weather conditions during their journey to safety. Take a look at some of this video here. Temperatures are well below freezing as hundreds of refugees, including some very, very elderly people, wait in long lines to cross the Ukrainian border into Moldova.

According to the U.N. now, in total, 2.7 million people have fled, and Moldova's officials say more than 328,000 of them have arrived into their country. But many Ukrainians who have been forced to evacuate are hoping to return home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNKNOWN (through translator): We want to come back home. We have relatives there. Sisters, brothers, mothers. What is our plan? We will look if something remains from our house and we will rebuild it little by little, and we will build our city again for the people to come back and live calmly under peaceful sky.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, despite the bombardments, Ukraine's railway system continues to be a reliable lifeline for its people. You can believe it. You can still take a train to Kyiv from here in Lviv. But obviously fears of being targeted by Russia are a challenge for all of its operators.

CNN's Scott McLean has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: First light in Ternopil, Ukraine is the rising sun. The city's lights have been kept off since the war began. More than two weeks that have exhausted, overwhelmed and completely upended normal life. But through it all, Ukraine's rail network has kept running.

Every morning, the railway's executives led by 37-year-old Oleksandr Kamyshin gather for a morning call. No cell phones, no Zoom, just a Soviet era closed circuit phone system that connects every station. They won't stay here long. They can't. They believe they're a prime Russian target.

OLEKSANDR KAMYSHIN, CHAIRMAN, UKRAINIAN RAILWAYS: The strategy is to move fast so that they don't catch you.

MCLEAN: How long can you stay in one place?

KAMYSHIN: Hours.

MCLEAN: Instead, their work managing 230,000 employees continues on a single-car train headed west for now. Often their work is aboard ordinary passenger trains to blend in with the masses. Since the war began, they've been in near constant motion crisscrossing the country to keep the Russians guessing.

[03:25:03]

The decision to leave their headquarters in Kyiv was made in the early morning hours of February 24th. Kamyshin snapped one last picture with his two young kids, one still asleep.

Are they still in Ukraine? How does that make you feel?

KAMYSHIN: For me it's easier when I know that they are safe, and I have time to do my job.

MCLEAN: The country's rail network, one of the largest in the world, has been a lifeline in war, moving desperately needed supplies in and desperate people out of danger. More than two million since the invasion began. Schedules are drawn up the night before, and changed in response to panic scenes like this one in Kharkiv or in Lviv in the early days of war.

How on earth have people still been able to use the trains in a war zone?

KAMYSHIN: That's something which is surprising for the whole country and for the president as well.

MCLEAN: Surprising because every day the network is hit by Russian bombs. Small damage breaks the link between cities temporarily, a downed bridge indefinitely. Near Kharkiv, an undetonated bomb fell next to the tracks.

ROMAN CHERNITSKYI, UKRAINIAN RAILWAYS (through translator): We are reacting and repairing a railway even under artillery shelling every day. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues have been killed and injured during shelling.

MCLEAN: Thirty-three killed, 24 injured, and counting. The difficulty working aboard a moving train is that the cell phone signal is not always great. Now they do have Starlink internet systems now courtesy of Elon Musk, but they barely ever turn them on because they say it makes it easier for the Russians to target their location.

The Russians have taken control of rail links in cities like besieged Mariupol, Sumy, Kherson, and Chernihiv. But for now, all of the major hubs are still connected by Ukrainian rail.

How bad would it be if the Russians took these major stations?

KAMYSHIN: Really bad. Don't ask me how much, but really bad.

MCLEAN: When the train reaches Lviv, Kamyshin makes a quick visit to the main station. And more calls and meetings and a message for the rest of the world.

KAMYSHIN: What we can do, we already do. What west can do, close the sky and all the rest we'll do ourselves.

MCLEAN: Scott McLean, CNN in western Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Ukrainian leaders and citizens alike are desperate to find a peaceful end to the war in this country. They also remain determined to defend their country until the Russian attacks stop. Kyiv's mayor and his twin brother spoke to CNN earlier about their country's united front.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, KYIV BRIGADE OF UKRAINIAN DEFENSE FORCE: The whole country is highly motivated to stop Russian aggression and the war. There is nothing that is possibly can break the will of our women and men. We all stand together and we are highly motivated to defend our country because this is our home. That's where our children were going to school. That's where our relatives buried in the ground.

This is our home, and there's no other way that we're going to leave. And why? Because this is our home. So, we will defend the country until last drop of the blood.

VITALI KLITSCHKO, MAYOR, KYIV, UKRAINE: And regarding -- and regarding how much time we have, we have a lot of time. It's we never lose the fight for our home for our future because whole population against Russian aggressors. And whole population, every one, and we never give up. And that why, that why we continue this war.

But the key which can stop this war is the unity of all world. We have make pressure, political pressure, sanction pressure, and please, weapon deliverance to Ukraine within to fight. Not just for our city, not just for our country. We're fighting for exactly the same world, for same principles. It's this war can touch anyone, everyone, everyone in the European Union, in Europe, and can touch everyone in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: And that was the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko along with his brother vowing to stay in the city and defend it.

Still ahead, as Russia's invasion grinds on, Ukraine's president is pleading for more help. Addressing the council of Europe later today. Details on that next.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Recapping the latest on our top story. Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold another round of diplomatic talks later today. Officials on both sides have signaled that they are making some progress. But, so far, negotiations have pretty much completely failed to yield any major breakthroughs.

In Ukraine, the fighting rages on. This video is from the besieged city of Mariupol and it shows Russian tanks firing right into the city.

Officials say hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped in Mariupol still. And aid workers say food, water, and medicine are running out fast. But heavy fighting has prevented humanitarian convoys from reaching the city.

Meanwhile, Russia has expanded its offensive into Western Ukraine Sunday, carrying out a very deadly strike on a military base that is just 25 kilometers from the border with Poland, which is a NATO ally. Ukrainian officials say at least 35 people were killed and more than 130 injured.

In the coming hours, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address a special session of the Council of Europe. He was invited to speak to the group as it begins its two-day extraordinary session on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand joins us from Brussels with more on what Zelenskyy is expected to say, and also at this stage of the Russian invasion, how European countries are thinking of maybe adapting their strategy and their response, Natasha?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN REPORTER: Yeah, Hala.

[03:34:59]

BERTRAND: So, President Zelensky today is expected to reiterate the message that he has been sending for the last few weeks and months, which is that Ukraine wants to be a member of the European Union. And, of course, a couple weeks ago, we saw that Zelenskyy actually filled out a formal application to become a member.

The European Union have met on that last week over two days, and they decided to not actually fast-track that E.U. membership application as Zelensky had wanted.

So, obviously, he has been disappointed. The country feels at this moment that it will be very, very important for them to be a member of the E.U., if not only symbolically, because of the message that it would send to Russia during this war.

But the E.U. has said, look, we can't fast-track this right now, this is not a process that we really have in place, and it's not really a priority for us at this point, we believe that the priority is to give you a lethal aid and humanitarian assistance that you need in order to fend off the Russians.

But Zelenskyy has been very passionate about this. He spoke to the European Parliament a few weeks ago and gave this passionate speech about why Ukraine fills European about how they are fighting not only for themselves but also for the future of Europe.

And so, what they're going to be hearing today from Zelenskyy is likely more of that as well as, of course, the urgency of the European countries sending more lethal aid to Ukraine to help them fight off the Russians as well as, of course, economic assistance and humanitarian aid.

But the E.U. has really stepped up in terms of imposing sanctions on Russia. That right now seems to be a strategy, along with the United States. They are kind of trying to squeeze Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle.

They announced just last week that they're imposing a new round of sanctions on Russia. They are revoking the most favored nation status in terms of imposing new restrictions on that trade relationship with Russia. They also banning the export of luxury goods from the European Union as well as banning many imports in the iron and steel sector from Russia into Europe. And importantly, they're also proposing a ban on additional European investments on Russia's energy sector, essentially saying that the Europeans need to step away from that dependence on Russian energy, on Russian oil and gas.

And so, they, in that sense, understand that this is one of Russia's most important sectors and if they impose new sanctions on the energy sector, then that could really have an impact here. But, of course, the sanctions that they imposed need to be increasing, right? So far, they have not really had an impact on Putin's calculus here. He has continued to war. If anything, it has become more brutal.

So, anything that comes now, I think Zelenskyy is going to say, we will need to be even tougher. And, of course, the weaponry here is really key. They feel that they need that in order to continue fighting effectively against the Russians. Hala?

GORANI: All right, Natasha Bertrand in Brussels, thanks very much.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host Nordic and Baltic leaders for a summit on European defense in the coming days. Representatives will meet in London Tuesday to discuss -- quote -- "shoring of Europeans security and increasing defensive military support to Ukraine," according to a statement. The leaders are also expected to talk about joint military exercises in the high north and Baltic regions.

And, inside Russia, dissent, not tolerated. More than 850 people were detained in anti-war protests across Russia on Sunday, according to an independent human rights group. It says Russian security forces are no longer detaining, just protesters. They also trying to identify -- quote -- "unreliable people" in the places where demonstrations were announced. Overall, the group says almost 15,000 anti-war protesters have been detained in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began.

And that's it for me for now -- for me for now, I should say. Rosemary Church in Atlanta picks up our breaking news coverage. Rosemary?

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you so much, Hala, for your reporting. Appreciate it.

Well, some Ukrainians living abroad are now returning home to fight for their country. We will meet one such family in the U.S. after the short break.

[03:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH (on camera): This just in, a strike on a Kyiv area residential building has killed at least two people and wounded three more. This is according to Ukrainian emergency officials. They say a shell hit the ninth floor of a residential building, forcing the evacuation of dozens of people. And you are looking at live images of what we believe is the strike aftermath. We will continue to follow the story.

In the meantime, organizers in Washington, D.C. are calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

CHURCH: Activists hosted a vigil outside the White House on Sunday. They aim to commemorate the innocent people killed by the Russian invasion and honor those defending the country. Several speakers attended the event, including a member of the Ukrainian parliament and a Ukrainian refugee who fled Kyiv while pregnant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Well, many Ukrainians are facing an increasingly dire situation, cut off from humanitarian aid, and running out of supplies. But Ukrainians around the world are coming together to help.

CNN's Paul Vercammen is at a Los Angeles church with that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Los Angeles, they are rallying for the people of Ukraine. They're collecting supplies, medical supplies here, some supplies for soldiers over there, including thermal underwear because it's so cold. They put together other kits. If you look behind me, they've got toiletries, hand sanitizer.

Now, there's about 14,000 Ukrainian-Americans here in the Los Angeles area, and the scene is being played out at other Ukrainian churches. And the father here is what is astounding. It is not only are the Ukrainians helping out so much, but other people in the community from all walks of life are also contributing.

VASILE SAUCIUR, REVEREND, CATHEDRAL OF ST. VLADIMIR UKRANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: Well, it started so small. And then, I am overwhelmed with phone calls. People asking about Ukraine and crying over the phone and supporting Ukraine. Whatever they can. Clothing, medical supplies, money, everything. They -- prayers as well.

VERCAMMEN: And the father said, as people have been reaching out to him, they asked him, what is it that you need in Ukraine right now? And he said, think of it like camping, like backpack amping. Anything that you would take on that sort of trip is what people could use right now in Ukraine.

Reporting from Los Angeles, I'm Paul Vercammen. Now, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[03:45:00]

CHURCH (on camera): Thanks for that report.

And we, of course, have heard countless stories of courage in Ukraine since Russia's invasion began. Every day, people bravely staying behind to fight for their country. And now, some Ukrainians living overseas are returning home to lend their support.

CNN's Gary Tuchman spoke with the family in the U.S., worried for their loved ones who chose to go back to their native Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At this house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, these Ukrainian-American family members give each other comfort. All of these adults left Ukraine for America more than two decades ago. But once this war started, things changed.

Yuliya Penchak's husband, Andriy, has gone back to Ukraine. Gone back to help his native country.

YULIYA PENCHAK, UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN: I don't have any more tears left. I feel like I've cried them all out. It's very emotional.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): But Yuliya's husband did not go alone. Her 62- year-old father, Valentin, flew with him. And they both met up with her younger brother, Arsen (ph), who recently married.

So, in this room, (INAUDIBLE) Penchak are the parents of Yuliya's husband. And Yuliya's mother, Oleskandra Drobakha, has her husband and son in Ukraine. It's complicated. And sometimes, overwhelming.

OLESKANDRA DROBAKHA, UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN: I'm proud for my son, for my husband, for my son-in-law, for all Ukraine. I'm proud.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Before Yuliya's husband, Andriy, flew to Ukraine, he was presented with helmets and bulletproof vests by one of the local police departments. Andriy and his two relatives are now part of supply distribution network to Ukrainians.

Yuliya, her family and friends arrange for cases of supplies to be flown into Poland several days a week. Andriy and his two family members pick up the supplies and drive them across the border to Ukraine and distribute them. They also drive refugees from Ukraine to Poland.

PENCHAK: We have packed things like armored vests, helmets, gauze, tourniquets, two-way radios, medicine.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Their primary location for delivering the items? The Ukrainian military base that was just hit by deadly Russian attack. When she heard about the attack, Yuliya was extremely frightened.

PENCHAK: I started falling. I couldn't think. I couldn't think. I feel like I had white (ph) noise in my ears.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): A short time later, she heard from her husband. They were all okay. But the fears for her family, which include cousins in the Ukrainian Army and her fears for Ukrainian civilians, have resulted in --

PENCHAK: Panic attacks, unfortunately. Just unbelievable sadness and sorrow for the suffering.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Yuliya and Andriy's (ph) three children are nine, seven, and three. Their parents are very (INAUDIBLE) with them about what is going on.

(On camera): Do you think your dad is brave?

ZLATA PENCHAK, FATHER IN UKRAINE: Yes.

TUCHMAN (on camera): How come?

Z. PENCHAK: Because he went to Ukraine to save everyone there (ph).

TUCHMAN (on camera): Are you worried about him?

Z. PENCHAK: Yes.

TUCHMAN (on camera): You're a good daughter to be worried about him, but he promised he will be okay, right?

Z. PENCHAK: Yes.

TUCHMAN (on camera): And that makes you feel good?

Z. PENCHAK: Yes.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Before we leave, Yuliya tries to call her husband. But there's no answer. She knows he's probably just fine. Once again, she worries and hopes for a call back soon.

Y. PENCHAK: I will keep watching Ukrainian soldiers telling us that they're winning and telling us that everything will be over soon. So, this is what gives me strength, and I don't fall spiral into this panic.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Do you believe that in your heart, that it will be over soon and victory will be Ukraine's?

Y. PENCHAK: Victory will be Ukraine's. I believe that will all my heart. I hope it will be over soon.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Gary Tuchman, CNN, Lenga Hill (ph) in Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: So tough for that family and so many others. Well, for one Ukrainian football star, Sunday's match was more than just a game. His emotional return to the pitch when we come back.

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[03:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. A group of Ukrainian refugees arrived in Italy on Sunday with the help of Italian football club, Juventus. The team picked up 80 Ukrainians in Hungary and transported them on the team buses, a journey that covered more than 1,700 miles or about 2,800 kilometers.

Some of the refugees are members of the Ukrainian football schools evacuated from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other areas affected by Russian bombardments.

Well, it was an emotional return to the pitch for Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko on Sunday. The West Ham striker came off the bench to score the team's opening goal.

CNN World Sport anchor Patrick Snell has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR (voice-over): For Ukrainian international Andriy Yarmolenko, this day was about so much more than football. The 32-year-old had been on compassionate leave (ph) from West Ham since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But on Sunday, he was back playing, after (INAUDIBLE) to huge applause at London Stadium.

And then, Yarmolenko with 20 minutes left, a sublime touch and a superb finish for the opener in the host's two-one Premier League victory over Aston Villa. The player then invisibly breaking down in tears, dropping to his knees, mobbed by teammates. His reaction, both powerful and poignant.

ANDRIY YARMOLENKO, WEST HAM FORWARD: It was so emotional for me because, you know, situation in my country. And it's so difficult for me right now, at this moment, thinking about football because every day in my country, Russian army kills Ukrainian people and it was so emotional.

[03:55:00]

YARMOLENKO: That's all I can say.

SNELL (voice-over): The words of Andriy Yarmolenko there on Sunday.

Meantime, elsewhere in the Premier League, Chelsea fans arriving for their team's first home league fixture (ph) since the Blues' Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the U.K. On Saturday, the English Premier League Board disqualified Abramovich as a club director.

Chelsea is allowed to continue playing under special license but they can't buy or sell players, sell new tickets to upcoming games or sell any club merchandise.

In one corner of the ground, a banner featuring Abramovich's face on the Russian flag with the words, the Roman empire. A small amount of home fans briefly chanting his name. Chelsea beating Newcastle on Sunday late on 1-0. Thanks to Kai Havertz brilliantly taken winner. And a winning Sunday too for Chelsea's women's team. The reigning Super League champs also seeding their victory late on 1-0 at home, after an outstanding strike from Australian star Sam Kerr against Aston Villa.

Patrick Snell, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): Over the past few weeks, Russia's war in Ukraine has ripped families apart. We have seen heartache and tearful goodbyes as millions of people flee for their lives.

But we've also seen emotional reunions. This was the Polish-Ukrainian border on Sunday. A Ukrainian mother meeting her children at the checkpoint. She embraces them and walks with them to safety.

And thank you so much for watching. I'm Rosemary Church. Our breaking news coverage continues next with Isa Soares.

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