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Mounting Casualties May Undermine Russian Morale; U.S. and NATO: Thousands of Russian Troops Killed in Ukraine; Biden and Xi to Speak for the First Time Since Invasion; Ukrainian Man in U.S. Helps Rescue Sister from Ukraine. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired March 18, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Max Foster in London. At least one person is dead and four others wounded after debris from a downed Russian rocket fell on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine. A large fire broke out and a dozen people had to be rescued.

This was the scene earlier today in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. Ukraine's military says six missiles were fired into the city, but two of them were intercepted. According to city officials, the missiles struck an aircraft repair facility near the airport but did not hit the airport itself. No casualties have been reported.

A huge fire broke out at this market in Kharkiv, when it was hit by Russian shells. A rescue worker reportedly died battling the blaze. At least 21 people were also killed in other attacks in the city.

And in Mariupol, we're hearing reports of survivors emerging from the devastation of that bombed out theater. Authorities say that more than a thousand people have taken shelter inside, but it's not clear how many survived.

U.S. and NATO officials don't know exactly how many Russian troops are being killed in Ukraine, but it's believed to be in the thousands and much higher than the Kremlin had expected. That could weigh heavily on Russian morale, as the military offensive appears to stall. Let's bring in CNN's Natasha Bertrand in Brussels, also Nada Bashir. She's here in London.

First of all, to you, Natasha. It's hard to estimate, isn't it, but we are apparently seeing reinforcements being brought in to support those Russian troops. What do we think about casualty numbers?

NATASHA, BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, what U.S. and NATO officials are telling us, Max, is that the estimates vary widely, because there's no precise way to actually count the number of casualty figures, right? It's just very difficult to have that level of visibility. But one intelligence assessment produced by the United States has found that about 7,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in combat since the war began almost a month ago.

Now, again, these estimates vary widely, some intel assessments place the number more at around 3,000 killed, and others place it as high as 10,000 Russian troops killed. But the bottom line here is that thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed since this war began, probably far more, they say, than anything that Vladimir Putin had anticipated.

And the real impact of this is not only, of course, that it's creating this stalled momentum for them, but it's also contributing to morale really, really sagging among the Russian troops, we're told. And the Pentagon, NATO, they both have anecdotal evidence that the Russian have said very kind of down, their morale has been flagging a lot because of these losses, because of the fact that they have not been able to achieve their military objectives, as quickly as they thought.

And, you know, we are getting reports according to these intel officials of Russian troops just kind of abandoning their equipment, just leaving it behind in the field, because they again, don't really understand what the military objective here is. And this is having a lot of impact on the progression, of course, of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

We have seen that it has stalled very significantly, especially when it comes to Kyiv. They have not been able to make the kind of advances that they have hoped for. Of course, they hoping to take Kyiv in just a matter of days. But the Russian losses here are very, very significant regardless of the exact number that were getting. Because even the lowest estimates again, Max, place it in the thousands. Now it's important to note that the Russian military leaders, they are apparently still all in on this. Their morale is pretty high at this point. And the NATO officials that we spoke to said that they still assess that Vladimir Putin believes that he is able to take the whole of Ukraine -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Natasha, thank you.

[04:35:00]

Nada is here. Security officials in London are telling me the same sort of story. This constant narrative that they've, you know, they're falling behind, the morale is very low, and all the soldiers are very inexperienced. But that's the Western sort of PR campaign as well, isn't it? And they want that message to get through. But what are the Russians saying? Because clearly, they're not supporting the idea that morale is low.

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. You just heard from Natasha, I mean, they are still very much looking to advance their, what they call a military operation. This war is ongoing. And we have seen these devastating attacks now on civilian infrastructure. And just this morning hearing a blast in Lviv in the western regions. So, there are serious concerns that Russia could be advancing, despite these challenges.

Really this is something we've seen before straight out of the Syria playbook. We saw Russia continuously, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructure, and then denying, claiming that these are military bases are used for military officials. And that's exactly what we've seen. We saw earlier on your show, the attack in Mariupol on the maternity hospital. We've also seen that attack on theaters sheltering civilians. Clearly indicated from an aerial perspective that there were children inside. And quite frankly, we've heard some pretty concerning denials from the foreign ministry spokesperson, who really echoed some of the remarks that we've heard in previous years over Russia's attacks in Syria. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA ZAKHAROVA, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The Russian armed forces do not bomb cities. This is well known to everyone, no matter how many videos are edited in NATO, no matter how many clips and fake photos are thrown in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Max, you and I both know that this is completely false. CNN has verified that these attacks on civilian infrastructures happened. We've heard that from NATO and other Western officials. And yet the Russian authorities continue to push forward this narrative that they are not targeting civilian areas, they are not targeting cities, but in fact, are targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure.

FOSTER: And it's interesting, isn't it, this PR war that's unfolding. It does seem as if the Russians are quite unnerved by the way, you know, that Western officials are briefing, cohesively. You've also got this authenticity on the side of the Ukrainian leaders, as well.

BASHIR: Absolutely. We haven't really seen the Western leaders come together in this show of unity in previous conflicts, particularly taking the example of Syria, again, where Russia was of course, heavily active in targeting civilian infrastructure. And there was some division there within NATO itself. So, just seeing this, of course, has, like you said, unnerved the Russian authorities. And of course, Zelenskyy there being hugely popular now in terms of both the Ukrainian civilians and also internationally.

FOSTER: Nada, thank you very much, indeed.

Now a U.S. citizen, James Hill, is now one of President Putin's victims, as well. Officials say Hill was amongst several people killed when Russian artillery opened fire on civilians in the city of Chernihiv. CNN's Camila Bernal has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bombing has intensified no way out. That was the last post from American James Hill before confirmation of his death. His Facebook detailing a chilling account of his last days in Ukraine.

Intense bombing still alive, limited food, room very cold.

KATYA HILL, JAMES HILL'S SISTER: At one point a missile went by him in and landed at a distance. BERNAL (voice-over): According to his family, Hill was waiting in a breadline with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military snipers. His body was found in the street by the local police.

Hill was in Chernihiv with his partner Ira, who's Ukrainian and battling MS.

HILL: It was not going to leave Ira's side in her condition.

BERNAL (voice-over): We're hanging in there. He wrote on Monday. Very cold inside, food portions are reduced, bombing and explosions most of the night, hard to sleep, people getting depressed.

In his post, he describes feeling helpless, hungry and cold while narrating a war.

Intense bombing last night for two hours. It was close to hospital. Machine gunfire could be heard. It stopped just after midnight.

Hill even encouraging political action, posting this on March 7th.

For my American friends and relatives. Please pressure your local representatives to expedite American visas for Ukrainians, especially for families with children and skilled workers.

HILL: My brother was the helper that people find in a crisis.

BERNAL (voice-over): But while he wanted to help others and find a way out, it was too late.

HILL: We don't know where my brother's body is. So, that kind of closure the family won't have right now.

[04:40:00]

BERNAL (voice-over): Camila Bernal, CNN, Los Angeles

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: A phone call taking place a few hours from now could have big consequences. The leaders of the U.S. and China will take up the issue of chilled relations and the war in Ukraine. That's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINE PRESIDENT (voice-over): We do not need 13 or more thousands of killed Russian soldiers. We did not want this war. We only want peace. We want you to love your children more than you fear your authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: That plea for peace will likely be echoed in a call between the U.S. president and his Chinese counterpart today. The two are expected to speak in the next few hours. The call comes at a critical time. The U.S. is worried that Russia wants China's help in its invasion of Ukraine. If Russia gets that help, China's chilly relations with the U.S. could get much colder.

Kristie Lou Stout joins us from Hong Kong with the details. We just don't know, really, do we? What the Chinese view is on this and how, if it will get involved. So, what are you hearing?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's what's needed right now is clarity. We've been monitoring Chinese state media. According to Chinese state media, they say these two leaders, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden will exchange views on issues of common interest. But according to the White House, they will talk about managing, competition, and of course, talk about Russia's war against Ukraine, two issues that are not being mentioned in Chinese state media.

Look, in the run-up to this upcoming phone call between Biden and Xi, Biden administration officials have been making this assertion that Russia is seeking economic help from China, it's seeking military help from China. It's a claim that both Russia and China have denied. And the Biden administration is again, looking for clarity into what is China's position in regards to the fate and future of Ukraine. And it's easy to see why if you look at recent events.

Let's go back to February. The summit in Beijing before the Beijing Olympic Games, where you had Vladimir Putin next to Xi Jinping, declaring that their relationship had no limits.

[04:45:00]

And fast forward to a very interesting meeting that took place this last week. Monday in Lviv, where you had China's top diplomat in Ukraine shake hands with Ukrainian officials and declare that China would never attack Ukraine and will help Ukraine economically.

And then, we had a meeting that took place yesterday between ministry of foreign affairs official in China and the Russian ambassador. Look, China is holding this position of playing both sides. And analysts say going into this phone call, China will play this as a neutral third party. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YUN SUN, DIRECTOR, CHINA PROGRAM AT THE STIMSON CENTER: So, neither leaning towards Russia nor leaning towards Ukraine, and instead try to present itself as a neutral third party and communicating with the United States about China's position and also the injustice if U.S. decides to pursue secular sanctions on China because of this economic relationship with Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: In the last hour, we heard from a ministry of foreign affairs official. He said that China's position regards to Ukraine is, quote, fair and objective, unquote -- Max.

FOSTER: Kristie in Hong Kong, thank you. Thousands of people are fleeing Ukraine and the journey isn't easy.

We'll talk to one man who flew thousands of miles to get his sister out of the country and into the U.S.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: The mission to launch Europe's first planetary robot designed to search for signs of life on Mars has been suspended. The ExoMars rover, a collaboration between the ESA and the Russian Space Agency have been on track to leave for Mars in September of this year, but sanctions from Russian's invasion of Ukraine has made that impossible. The European Space Agency says it deplores the human casualties and tragic consequences of Russia's action.

The Biden administration is looking for ways to help Ukrainian refugees join family members here in the U.S. but in the meantime, the journey can be difficult. CNN's Randi Kaye talks to one man who had to jump through several hoops to bring his sister into the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEKSANDR MURGA, FLEW TO UKRAINE TO GET SISTER: I felt like being here, it's not really helpful. I got to go. I got to be there.

RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And, just like that, Aleksandr Murga, booked a ticket, from Florida, to Eastern Europe, to help get his sister safely out of Ukraine in the region.

Marisha Murga was living in Zhytomyr, about 90 miles, from Kyiv, when the Russian bombs, started to fall.

KAYE: How worried were you about her?

MURGA: You stay shake -- kind of shaken, all the time, because it's you want to be there. You want to support her. You want to hug her. You want to somehow protect her.

KAYE (voice-over): Aleksandr made a plan, with Marisha, to meet her in Poland. He left his home, outside Orlando, around the same time, she left hers, in Ukraine.

Marisha drove 14 hours, to a border crossing, then waited another 14 hours, to cross over into Poland. Her husband stayed to fight. But finally, she managed to get to Poland's Rzeszow airport. And that's where she reunited with her brother.

Without Aleksandr's help getting her a visa, Marisha would be stuck in Poland. It wasn't easy. First, he tried the U.S. Embassy, in Warsaw.

MURGA: I'm standing, right now, in front of the United States Embassy. Doesn't really matter if you're from United States or not, all they do is pretty much get pushed away from the door.

KAYE (voice-over): But Aleksandr kept trying, all the while, helping others, at the Polish border, at Rava-Ruska. These are pictures of other family members, Aleksandr helped find safety, 12 in all. He says he also helped at least 30 strangers get aid and somewhere to stay. It was all very emotional for him, even though he left Ukraine 17 years ago.

KAYE: What did you see on the ground there?

MURGA: Things that none of us should ever see. It's all those people coming out and crying. I saw people here, not -- not being able to hold on like they do. It's really emotional. I know I'm not able to go there now, help them from inside and fight. But seeing them -- give me a minute.

KAYE: OK.

MURGA: And seeing all them out there being so strong, and it's just heartbreaking. I didn't expect to see my country.

KAYE (voice-over): Despite the emotional toll, Aleksandr wasn't leaving Poland without his sister. So, he tried another embassy, in Krakow and was finally able to get his sister, a visa. They landed last night in Orlando. The first time, Marisha stepped foot, on U.S. soil.

KAYE: Will you go back?

MURGA: Absolutely. The first thing, that I'm going to do, I'm just going to go back. We have to -- we have to go back. They need us. They need support. All those houses, infrastructure, everything has to be rebuilt. Has been destroyed.

KAYE: How grateful are the two of you to be sitting here together?

MURGA: The best -- the best feeling, the best thing in the world, is, you know, being able to hug my sister.

KAYE (voice-over): And while Marisha didn't speak much English, in our interview, she surprised us with this message of thanks.

MARISHA MURGA, UKRAINIAN REFUGEE: Thanks for all people, all country, who help my country and my people.

KAYE (voice-over): Randi Kaye, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Netflix is now streaming an old TV series featuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy that may have helped him become Ukraine's president, ultimately. Before politics, Mr. Zelenskyy was a successful actor and comedian who starred in the Ukrainian political satire he created called "Servant of the People". He played a high school teacher who becomes the Ukrainian president after a speech he makes about government corruption goes viral. The show first aired in 2015. Mr. Zelenskyy became president four years later.

[04:55:03] Now, it can't be easy for Ukrainian children fleeing their homes with their families, but one volunteer is trying to give the kids some much-needed laugh. Wearing a funny hat, this is Israeli who lives in Spain, greets the children with plush toys and a playful touch. The smiles say it all. He says he wants to take their minds off the crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERZON FEUERSTEIN, VOLUNTEER: For me, the purpose of all is to give them some kind of a break of the seriousness of everything. To bring them a smile. And also, when I create the first reaction, and I can direct the mothers if they need to come over and take whatever they need, so they can continue the journey and have more food or more water or more toys or more clothes, anything they need.

So just to give them kind of a relief and understanding that they are now on the safe side, that they can continue and they feel better. And I'm here to make them just for a bit, just a little bit happier. That's all. That's the least I can do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, as the number of Ukrainian refugees soars over 3 million, this border crossing in northern Romania is the main entry point for many refugees coming into the country.

Thanks for joining us here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. Our coverage continues on "EARLY START " with Christine Romans. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: It is Friday, March 18th. 5:00 a.m. in New York. Thanks for getting an "EARLY START" with us. I'm Christine Romans. Laura Jarrett has the morning off today. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.

We begin with breaking news the from Lviv, where so far, the city in western Ukraine.