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Desperate Scenes in Chernihiv After Russian Troops Leave; Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice; Mass Testing Continues Amid Shanghai Outbreak; Israel: Gunman in Attack on Tel Aviv Bar Killed; Axiom Space Launch Inaugural Mission. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired April 08, 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]

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CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For weeks, Chernihiv was completely cut off from the rest of the country. Once a vibrant city of 300,000 people, now parts of it a wasteland. Just 45 miles from the Belarusian border, it was quickly surrounded by Russian forces. There was no power, no water, and little food.

Seventy-one-year-old Ivan Yvanovich (ph) survived the relentless bombardment. But his struggles are far from over.

WARD: He is saying that he is hungry. He needs something to eat. He has asked us if we have any groceries.

WARD (voice-over): Less than one week after Russian forces left this area, Chernihiv is reeling and the true scale of its loss is only starting to emerge.

Outside the morgue, makeshift coffins stand ready for the dead. Authorities say at least 350 civilians were killed in the bombardment, and they expect to find more.

Overwhelmed, morgue director Sergei Andrev (ph) is now using a refrigerator truck to store the bodies of those who have yet to be identified. Their relatives likely fled the fighting or were killed in it. He tells us hundreds more died because they simply couldn't reach the hospital.

"There was a constant flow of dead people like this in our morgue. The main reason was heart attacks, pneumonia, diabetes," he says, "and I believe all of this was because they didn't get medical treatment on time."

Cut off from the main cemetery by constant shelling, the city was forced to clear a wood to make room for the dead. Buried in large trenches, their names signposted for relatives to find.

WARD: It is so heartbreaking to see as people here looking, desperately trying to find their loved ones among this mass of new graves. WARD (voice-over): Did you find him, this woman asks. She is looking for her husband, Vladimir Shulga (ph). I can't find him, her daughter tells us. I need to keep searching.

Those who are lucky enough to find their family members can at least say good-bye. The farewell brings little solace. At one grave, relatives mourn the death of Vladimir Aduchenko (ph), a Ukrainian soldier who was ambushed by Russian forces as he tried to recover the bodies of his fallen comrades. His father, Leonid (ph), says it was 17 days before the Russians left that he could finally reach the place where his son was killed.

"I dug the ground with my own hands. I uncovered his face," he says, "and I recognized him."

"We waited for him, and then we lost him," Vladimir's (ph) wife says. "They took him and we lost him."

Russia's war has taken so many from Chernihiv, and while its forces may have retreated, the grief will long remain.

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MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: If you would like to help people in Ukraine who may be in need of shelter, food, and water, please go to CNN.com/impact. You'll find several ways you can help there.

The legendary band Pink Floyd is releasing a new song in support of the people of Ukraine. In their first single in 28 years with proceeds going to relief efforts. It's called "Hey, Hey, Rise Up."

The single features Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk who was seen in is that video. The band used audio at his performance in Kyiv. Khlyvnyuk later joined the Ukrainian resistance and he's now recovering from injuries on the battlefield. And Pink Floyd saw his videos on Instagram. That's how it all came to their attention.

Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, a shooting in Tel Aviv leaves two dead. Israeli security forces say they have now killed the gunman. We go to Tel Aviv, next.

And Shanghai residents say they're being pushed to the limit with no end in sight to the COVID lockdowns. We'll have the latest numbers and what's being done to make life at least a bit bearable there for them.

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FOSTER: This just in to CNN. Authorities in eastern Ukraine say two missiles have hit a train station. It happened in the city of Kramatorsk which is in the Donbas region. The head of Ukraine's national rail system says there are reports of injuries, but it's not clear yet how many people have been hurt. Again, Ukrainian authorities reported two missiles hitting a train station in Kramatorsk. We'll bring you more information as we get it into us. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On this vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are 47 and this nomination is confirmed.

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FOSTER: Some more positive news, at least, to bring you. Vice President Kamala Harris there announcing the U.S. Senate vote confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court and so a new era does begin. As a black female justice will sit on America's highest court for the very first time. More from CNN's Lauren Fox.

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LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A historic day in the U.S. Senate with the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first black woman on the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson will take her seat on the bench after Stephen Breyer retires following the summer session of the Supreme Court. Democrats were joined by three Republicans in supporting her nomination.

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine all joined together with Democrats to support her confirmation. Citing not just judge Jackson's qualifications, but also the fact that they wanted to move beyond the partisan battles that have dominated confirmation hearings of the past in the Senate Judiciary Committee. There were a couple of hiccups, however.

Senator Rand Paul was late to this historic vote, with many senators seated in their desk for this momentous occasion. It was a moment where lawmakers were milling about waiting for one last senator to vote. Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Jim Inhofe also had to vote from the cloak room instead of their desk because they weren't dressed for the occasion.

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Senate rules require ties and jackets to be on the well of the Senate. Senator Lindsey Graham, not wearing a tie for this momentous occasion in the U.S. Senate. Still, several Democrats said that they were not going to let a couple of Republicans actions dominate or overshadow the joy that they felt confirming Judge Jackson on this day.

For CNN on Capitol Hill, I'm Lauren Fox.

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FOSTER: Thursday's confirmation vote in the Senate may become notable for another reason, as well. And that is the spreading of COVID-19. We've been telling you about the 37 Washington power brokers who tested positive for COVID after attending the elite dinner last weekend. Amongst them, the Attorney General, commerce secretary, several members of Congress, and even president's sister. Those attending had to be vaccinated but didn't need a negative test.

Here's a problem, Senator Susan Collins was at the dinner, tested positive. She was also seen Thursday in the Senate chambers casting her vote for Judge Jackson. Now Senator Raphael Warnock tested positive, but we haven't heard if he was at the dinner that everyone else had been to. He was too seen at the confirmation vote without a mask. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just tested positive for COVID. She wasn't at the event, but she was standing without a mask right next to the president, President Biden, at a bill signing on Wednesday. Luckily, no one has reported serious symptoms, and we should stress that President Biden has not tested positive.

The COVID outbreak in Shanghai, China, shows no sign of easing. On Thursday, the city reported more than 21,000 new cases. That's nearly all of the cases reported in the entire country. Officials say the outbreak has spilled over into neighboring cities, which are now on lockdown, as well.

Grocery stores are helping people cope by delivering meals and banks are accepting late mortgage payments from those accepted by the outbreak. Kristie Lu Stout is live in Hong Kong with the details. So much sympathy for all the people in this very strict lockdown. And so frustrating that it doesn't really appear to be working.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the anger, the frustration just continues to rise. You know, Shanghai is buckling over this citywide lockdown that shows no end in sight. A number of residents have reached a breaking point and they are speaking out.

Earlier today, we heard from Shanghai government officials, they reported for Thursday 21,000 additional new cases of COVID-19. The cases continue to rise and China continues to cling on to this tough and punishing zero-COVID policy, punishing to both lives and livelihoods in Shanghai and elsewhere.

And I want and to show you this video that's gone viral on Chinese social media this week. And watch how this man vents his frustration about living under lockdown in Shanghai.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translated text): Everyday my business is shut by my employees need to eat. I don't have money! I have to pay for mortgage. In two days, my mortgage is due! I don't care anymore! Just let the Communist Party take me! Where is the Communist Party?

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STOUT: Now CNN cannot verify the authenticity of that video. Again, it's been circulating widely on Chinese social media. There's also been continued mounting anger over food shortages in Shanghai. In this viral video clip, you will see an angry confrontation between the lockdown residents of a residential compound in Shanghai and police. And in this video, the residents yell at police. At one point, they say, we are starving, as they try to break out of their lockdown compound. Again, CNN cannot independently verify this video. And on Thursday, the Shanghai government conceded that there is a

problem with food distribution and they pledged to improve it. There's rising anger after this video clip emerges. Which is very distressing, especially for animal lovers. A health worker, this is a pandemic prevention worker was caught on camera bashing to death a Corgi, killing to death someone's pet outside a residential compound in Shanghai. This happened after its owner allegedly tested positive for COVID-19, was taken to quarantine. A resident of the compound filmed this video and in it -- and we have to blur it out for you -- but in it, this COVID prevention worker is hitting the Corgi three times with a shovel and the pet died at the scene.

And CNN has made attempts to reach out to the residential compound. The residential compound has spoken to local media to acknowledge that this took place and they also said that they believed that the owner should ask for compensation. But the reason why we're showing you all of these video clips is they give us a look inside Shanghai right now, under this tough, punishing lockdown. And these scenes of just brutality, as well as desperation, which are all caused by these extreme measures, done all in the name of zero-COVID and the outrage just keeps on growing. Back to you -- Max.

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FOSTER: Yes, as you say, it's important to see, but too difficult to see, as well. Kristi, thank you.

Israeli officials say the gunman who carried out a deadly attack at a popular Tel Aviv dining area has been killed. Two people were killed and several others wounded in Thursday's mass shooting in Tel Aviv. It is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have put Israel and the Palestinian territories on edge. Joining me now from Tel Aviv is journalist Lauren Izso. What's the latest in terms of context here?

LAUREN IZSO, JOURNALIST: Well, Max, after an overnight manhunt, Israeli security forces say they shot and killed the gunman responsible for last night's shooting attack at a bar on Dizengoff Street in the center of Tel Aviv that left two dead and police say injured more than a dozen others.

Security forces caught up with that gunman right here in Jaffa, actually just a few meters to my right early this morning at 5:00 a.m. where a gun battle ensued. And if you look to my left, you can see, there is a vehicle parked right here that still has damage, that has a shattered window as a result of that gun battle.

Now, security forces have named the assailant as 28-year-old Raed Hazem, a resident of Jenin in the West Bank. They said he has to affiliations to any official terror organizations, no previous arrests and no security background whatsoever. But the attack has been claimed by the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. A group that also say that they were responsible for last month's attack in Bnei Brak where five Israelis were killed.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the attack saying it's not helpful and will only lead to a further deterioration of the current situation. Security officials say the investigation is ongoing.

FOSTER: Yes, so there has been talk of this escalating. What's that based on?

IZSO: Well, so in the last month or so, there has been five attacks carried out in major Israeli cities. The police presence on the street has been really ramped up, but like we're talking about right now, an attack still took place last night, even while the police are all over the streets, trying to, you know, find these people before these attacks are carried out. It's also the month of Ramadan. It's an extremely sensitive time. So, we can all only hope that we won't be seeing any further attacks in the near future.

FOSTER: OK, well thank you for the details on this incident. Thank you, Lauren Izso, in Tel Aviv. We'll be back in just a moment.

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FOSTER: A rather grim update on our breaking news this hour. Authorities on eastern Ukraine say that there are dozens of casualties after two missiles hit a train station. This happened in the city of Kramatorsk, which is in the Donbas region. The head of the regional military administration says first responders are reporting dozens of dead and injured. The station was crowded with thousands of people looking to evacuate from the region. Again, Ukrainian authorities reporting dozens of casualties after two missiles hit a train station in Kramatorsk.

Now, Tiger Woods served notice, he's back to playing, following the harrowing car crash last year that almost cost him his leg and his career. Walking with a slight limp, he shot a one under par in the first round of the Master's tournament and almost got a whole in one. He's tied for tenth place, four shots behind the leader and hopes to win his sixth career green jacket. Woods was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash in February of 2021. Many didn't think he would play again at all.

We are just hours away from the launch of Axiom-1, which will carry four civilians to the International Space Station. It is the inaugural mission for the commercial space flight company Axiom Space and the first time an all-private crew will go to the ISS. CNN's Rachel Crane on how Axiom geared up for the historic launch.

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RACHEL CRANE, CNN INNOVATION AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a successful test fire, the first mission of its kind is a go.

LARRY CONNOR, ENTREPRENEUR, NON-PROFIT ACTIVIST INVESTOR, AX-1 PILOT: The AX-1 mission is a real challenge, a real opportunity. But, you know, with that comes a real responsibility and to do it to the professional standards that both SpaceX and NASA have established.

CRANE: Set to launch Friday, a commercial space vehicle, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, is set to carry an all-private four-man crew to the International Space Station for the very first time. Overseen by Houston-based start start-up Axiom Space, the mission will be the first without a management role filled by a government space agency. But crew members are clear. While they aren't NASA astronauts, this commercial space venture comes with a higher level of professional training than some other launches.

CONNOR: There's a place for space tourism, but they're going to do 10 or 15 hours of training and be in space for five to ten minutes. In our case, as I said, we're over a thousand hours. And we're going to be in space ten days, eight of which are going to be at the ISS. So, there's a big significant difference.

CRANE (voice-over): U.S. investor and private pilot Larry Connor will be piloting the AX-1 mission alongside Michael Lopez-Alegria, a retired NASA astronaut who is mission commander. And two mission specialists are Israeli investor and former fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe and Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy. The three crew members reportedly each shelled out about $55 million for their seat. Axiom isn't revealing financial details of the trip. But the company believes that the AX-1 mission is more substantiative than other recent space rides for wealthy entrepreneurs.

PEGGY WHITSON, AXIOM ASTRONAUT: The company is going to build the first commercial space station in low earth orbit. And these missions like Axiom-1 is the first mission of four different precursor missions we have planned. So, it's really exciting, because we're going to be testing out all of our processes and procedures.

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CRANE (voice-over): Axiom contracted with SpaceX for the launch and transportation, and with NASA to provide accommodations at the space station, where the four crew members should arrive about 20 hours after liftoff, as the new guests on the ISS.

MARK VANDE HEI, NASA ASTRONAUT: Having had the experience of having or visiting non-governmental astronauts visiting the space station. But we anticipated that might be challenging, but in every case, we were pleasantly surprised and it was a joy to see people come onboard and be thrilled about being up there with us. Quite honestly, it felt reinvigorating.

CRANE (voice-over): While at the space station, the AX-1 team will be living alongside an international team of astronauts, including some from the U.S. and others from Russia. Mark Vande Hei, who just returned from the ISS, says despite troubled relations with Russia on earth, relations in space are friendly and highly professional.

HEI: Honestly, I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to have an International Space Station. Some people that don't care so much about space care about international relations. And having a space station where we can cooperate, I think, is really important for a peaceful future.

CRANE (voice-over): As part of the AX-1 mission, crew members will carry equipment and supplies for more than two dozen experiments onboard the ISS. Among them, a study on brain activity from an Israeli start-up, in which three crew members will wear a special helmet for 20 minutes each day to test neural activity and potentially detect abnormal brain dynamics. The quest for fresh insight into mind and space quickly approaching, as the expansion of commercial space flight rockets into the future.

Rachel Crane, CNN.

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FOSTER: Thanks for joining me here on earth on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. Our coverage continues on "EARLY START" with Laura Jarrett in New York, Brianna Keilar in Lviv, Ukraine. You're watching CNN.

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