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Putin Appoints New Top General After Failing To Take Kyiv; Biden Adviser: Label Of Genocide Less Important Than Taking Action; Macron Projected To Face Far Right Candidate Le Pen In Runoff; Rep. Cheney: Missile Strike Against Ukrainian Train Station Clearly Is Genocide; Accusations Of War Crimes Against Russia Mount As Atrocities Uncovered; Woods Look To Rebound After His Worst Masters Performance. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired April 10, 2022 - 14:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:39]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield and my colleague, Brianna Keilar is joining us from Lviv, Ukraine. We'll get to you in a moment, Brianna.

We begin this hour with Russia's new shifting strategies in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin appointing a new commander to lead his forces following a series of failures to capture key cities like Kyiv.

The White House national security adviser warning that this change could also bring a new level of brutality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: This particular general has a resume that includes brutality against civilians in other theaters in Syria, and we can expect more of the same in this theater.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Russia now retreating from decimated regions around Kyiv, turning its focus on an expected assault on the Donbas region in Ukraine's east.

And new satellite images showing a Russian convoy eight miles long just east of the war-torn city of Kharkiv. This just days after Ukraine's defense chief told CNN, Russia is preparing for a major offensive against Kharkiv.

And today, Russia and Ukraine carrying out their third prisoner swap, a sign of the still ongoing negotiations. The two sides also opening nine more humanitarian corridors today. Civilians in a life or death race to flee Ukraine.

But today, one of the key European leaders facilitating talks with Putin, French President Emanuel Macron finds himself in his own race. Polls closing moments ago in France in an election that could have far-reaching consequences.

All right. Now let's get to our programming with Brianna Keilar in Lviv, Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there Fred. Yes, for more on what's happening here on the ground, I want to go to CNN's Ed Lavandera who is actually live for us in the southern port city of Odessa.

So Ed, Russia right now is really putting -- we've seen them putting a new general in charge of the onslaught there. How does this appointment change the landscape of this war?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's a question of expectations as to exactly what's going to happen here next. And the new general is Aleksandr Dvornikov.

General David Petraeus, the U.S. Army general describes him as quote, "the butcher of Syria" during that war there. He was known to decimate civilian neighborhoods in the quest to reach his objectives. And so there is great understanding and a great belief that he is going to simply employ many of those tactics that wreaked so much havoc there in Syria.

And perhaps we're already getting an indication of that based on the missile strike at the train station in eastern Ukraine that killed more than 50 civilians and wounded almost 100 others.

But this is, you know, someone who has brutal tactics, but according to one European official, they also took it as a sign that this really speaks to just how badly things are going for the Russian army.

So, you know, it could be a combination of both of those things. Things are going badly and it could really be an indicator of just how brutal of a turn this war is about to take. And it's already been brutal, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, the cruelty is the point. That is what this appointment is indicating here, Ed. Can you also talk a little bit about these pictures we're seeing? We can see this big Russian convoy about 8 miles long near the city of Kharkiv. Do we know anything more about it?

LAVANDERA: Yes, satellite images, you know, this kind of speaks to that whole idea of Russian forces regrouping and re-maneuvering there in eastern Ukraine. And essentially what military analysts believe that the Russians are trying to do is on that front line of the Donbas region where Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting Russian forces that perhaps this convoy is trying to encircle them and block them off.

So this is a significant development as they continue to watch how these forces are redeploying.

But remember, Russian forces have had countless troubles in terms of keeping these convoys moving, resupplying, refueling and so many logistical problems that, you know, this is still a ways off. But it's definitely something to closely monitor and watch.

[14:04:58]

KEILAR: All right. Ed Lavandera in Odessa. Appreciate that report. Thank you.

So despite Russia's atrocities seen across Ukraine, the White House has been really reluctant to classify this depraved brutality as genocide. Really avoiding that label.

CNN's Arlette Saenz live for us at the White House. Arlette, tell us about this.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Brianna, the White House is arguing that labeling these atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine as genocide is a legal determination, one that the administration is not in a position to make at this moment.

Now the U.S. has repeatedly called Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine war crimes, and the U.S. is also supporting investigations into these incidents. Helping document the situations that they've seen playing out there.

But they've so far really stopped short of calling these atrocities a genocide. Even as you have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy using that term. And some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also saying that genocide is under way.

Now the United Nations defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. And today national security adviser Jake Sullivan was pressed on why the administration has yet to use that term, genocide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: I understand that this is up to authorities and there is a process in place. But in your opinion, how is this not genocide?

SULLIVAN: Look in my opinion, the label is less important than the fact that these acts are cruel and criminal and wrong and evil and need to be responded to decisively. And that is what we are doing. And we're doing that not just by supporting international investigations and gathering evidence to hold the perpetrators all the way to the highest levels accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: So Sullivan there talking about some of the ways they're trying to hold Russia accountable. Of course, it always could happen down the road that the administration does decide to use that term genocide.

Just take a look at the way that they evolved when it came to calling Putin's actions war crimes. Now earlier in the week, Sullivan said that the U.S. would be constantly evaluating the situation, seeing what is happening on the ground there. He also said that there is not necessarily a mechanical formula for determining genocide has occurred. He pointed to that lengthy review that was conducted that eventually determines that genocide was under way in Burma. So this is something that the White House could eventually change their minds on and make that determination, but there has certainly been some pressure from the international community, specifically Zelenskyy, who has outright called it a genocide himself, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes. And some other countries as well. Arlette, thank you so much for that report.

So with Russian forces retreating now from regions around Kyiv, we're actually getting some new insight into the atrocities that happened there.

I do want to bring in Volodymyr Omelyan, he's a former Ukrainian minister of infrastructure. He's now a soldier with the Territorial Defense Force.

Volodymyr, talk to me a little bit about what you've seen, this evidence of war crimes.

VOLODYMYR OMELYAN, FORMER UKRAINIAN MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Good afternoon, Brianna.

Yes, last week I spent listening and helping people in dozens of villages and small cities around Kyiv, northern part of Kyiv region, and pictures are really awful.

We took -- international journalists with us to tell the world the truth about crimes did by Russian army. So it's not only about Putin who gave instructions, Russian army to kill each Ukrainian, or Ukrainian citizen, but it's also for Russian soldiers to obey to that command and to fulfill all instructions they were given.

They killed, they tortured, they murdered, they robbed civilians in massive scales. For example, as of today, we discovered more than 1,200 dead bodies. Almost all of them were tortured before the deaths. So it's not about casual deaths, it's because of artillery strikes or missile hits of Russian army, but those people were kept -- killed by Russian soldiers on purpose.

KEILAR: We just heard a report from the White House where the terminology there is not matching what Zelenskyy would say. The national security adviser for the president is really downplaying this genocide label. And I wonder if you think it's important to use it.

[14:09:53]

OMELYAN: I think it's important, but most important right now is to save civilians' life. We do fight with Russians. They do try to hit us in the eastern Ukraine. But we will never surrender.

You know, In Ukraine's history in 20th century, we already had very bad experience with Russians when they organized artificial famine and killed almost 10 million Ukrainians, telling the west that nothing is going on in Ukraine. Everything is ok.

But 10 million Ukrainians in 1932 -- 33 died because of Stalin's command and Russian troops to fulfill this command to block all supply into Ukrainian villages and towns and to kill almost 10 million of Ukrainians.

So right now, Putin would love to do the same. He simply understands that Ukrainians will never surrender, and Ukrainians will fight not only last soldier but last Ukrainian standing.

And that's why he wants to kill us all. And in his opinion, there will be empty land then filled maybe with some (INAUDIBLE) guys or Buddha's coming from Siberia, somewhere else, from Russian empire.

KEILAR: When we speak with Ukrainian officials they always say they need more weapons. But also last night I was speaking with Yuriy Vitrenko who runs a large energy company here in Ukraine as the former energy minister -- infrastructure minister. And he was saying that they're subsidizing to the tune of $1.3 billion energy for Ukrainians.

What else does Ukraine need from the west, from Europe and the U.S. when it comes to getting Ukrainians' basic necessities?

OMELYAN: I would say that until war is going on, most crucial thing is weapons, weapons and weapons. And we need sophisticated weapons, offensive weapons to counterattack Russians.

There is no other way to stop Putin. He will never listen to diplomacy because he already broke all diplomatic rules and principles and disobeyed all laws in the world. So he will go to the very end.

When he stopped, definitely we will need support from civilized world to rebuild Ukraine. But I believe that this rebuild should be based on Russian reparations. And Russia should pay a check for decades for, at least one century, to come in order all other nations to understand that to occupy somebody else, it's very costly thing. And all elite will lose its money. All countries which will -- would say somehow dares to attack other countries will pay the full price for this attack.

But this is the second stage. Right now we need weapons to stop Russian troops and to get them away from Ukraine.

KEILAR: Volodymyr Omelyan, we do appreciate you taking the time with us this evening. Thank you.

OMELYAN: Thank you.

KEILAR: The first round of high-stakes election -- the first round of a high-stakes election just wrapping up in France. We're going to take you there live. Find out how the war in Ukraine is playing a role in what has become a very tight campaign.

Plus, as Ukraine's humanitarian crisis grows more dire each day, governors in the U.S. are finding ways to help.

[14:13:33]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back.

Polls in the first round of France's presidential elections are just closing and exit polls show President Emanuel Macron is projected to face off against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a runoff.

Macron is looking to become the first French president to be re- elected since 2002. He's been a key player in talks with Putin and the outcome of the election could have major global implications.

CNN's Melissa Bell is at Macron headquarters and Jim Bittermann is at Le Pen's headquarters. So Melissa, what are we learning about the vote and the turnout?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a surprise really here for the people who come around to see this count at the headquarters for Emanuel Macron, his count tonight, because Fredricka, the results that he's got are much better than his camp had feared. It had been a particularly fractured political field.

He will face off now with Marine Le Pen in the second round, a rerun of what happened in 2017. What's interesting this time is that both of those candidates increased their score from last time. This is only the first round.

And that's impot because it was a fractured field because Emmanuel Macron was much criticized for not having done much of a campaign, being more focused on Russia than on domestic politics. He hasn't debated with any other candidate and yet tonight a score beyond what he's achieved in 2017.

That is a surprise and it's also important, Fredricka because you'll remember that last time he came in as this fresh political force, sweeping aside the two main traditional political parties that had essentially shared power since 1958, rewriting, redrawing the political landscape.

What he's shown tonight is that five years on and despite a great deal of division here in France, you'll remember the yellow vest protests, the divisive nature of his term. He still managed to come out with a remarkable score on a fairly low turnout. The lowest in 20 years and that is something of a surprise, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I see. Ok. Melissa, thank you so much.

Jim, there you are at Le Pen headquarters. Is there a feeling of confidence there?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think a little bit of confidence. There was quite a cheer when the vote count came in. But then as people kind of digested it, I think their realizations, what the crowd in fact, she's got a long way to go if she wants to win in two weeks' time. [14:19:52]

BITTERMANN: Basically, what she has to do from this point onward is to find some alliances that can bring up her vote count. And the third highest vote count-getter was Jean-Luc Melenchon, an extreme left wing candidate.

And it seems unlikely that there would be many voters from the extreme left who would vote for Marine Le Pen on the extreme right. There could be some and I talked to a member of parliament from Marine Le Pen's party. And he said, yes, it was possible that some of them would come out and vote for her but it's not too likely.

So the question is where is she going to make up this vote deficit? To give you some perspective and I think Melissa kind of hinted at this. In 2017, these two, the same candidates were available to voters in the second round. The first round they were 2.5 or so points apart. And in the second round, they were more than 30 points apart.

So it seems like it's close right now but in fact it's not that close. A little reaction from the crowd here about the idea that they've got a tough road ahead, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lots of excitement at both camps nonetheless. Thank you so much, Melissa Bell and Jim Bittermann. Thank you for hanging in there.

All right. Still ahead -- new intercepted audio of what is said to be Russian soldiers openly talking about killing and raping civilians. The disturbing radio transmissions and the growing accusations of war crimes, next.

[14:21:19]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: There's a fierce debate in Congress over how the U.S. should be involved in Ukraine.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is on Capitol Hill for us. Suzanne, Congresswoman Liz Cheney says that she wants to see the U.S. play a stronger role than those signaled by the White House. What can you tell us?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Brianna, Congresswoman Cheney and many others are very frustrated here at Congress. This is a bipartisan group that is really pushing very, very vigorously that the U.S. participate in a more aggressive way, a more robust way to help the Ukrainians not only supplying defensive materials but also offensive tools and weaponry as well.

And this is not just on the House side but it's also on the Senate side. To give you a little bit more context here, it was just this past week the Senate Armed Services Committee actually met and they were grilling Pentagon officials essentially saying why is it that they haven't even spent nearly the $3 billion that were appropriated for this military aid for the Ukrainians? Have not spent even two- thirds of this.

There was also a bill that was passed in haste on the Senate side, really trying to streamline that process to get those materials, those weaponry and all of the kind of support that they were hoping for much, much faster.

This is what Representative Cheney was reacting to this morning, specifically the administration, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his statements about where the United States is in its aid to Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): You know, I wasn't satisfied with what I heard. I think that it's crucially important that the United States be clear that we are absolutely committed to Zelenskyy's victory.

We should not be talking about, as Jake Sullivan did just now, improving Zelenskyy's position at the negotiating table. This is about defeating Russian forces in Ukraine. I think this clearly is genocide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And as you know, Brianna, that is very significant. She is referring specifically to that attack on the -- at the train station, Ukrainians, more than 50 civilians who were killed as well as more than 100 or so that were injured.

She said this is really part of what she called a genocidal campaign. And she is making this point first and foremost to say and argue that the United States needs to do more. That this is, in fact, a genocide.

And secondly, to make the point that European allies and countries, they need to do more. They need to do a complete embargo of oil and gas. That is something that she is calling for, and she says otherwise they are simply funding this genocidal campaign.

You know that it's a very specific type of definition, a legal definition. It means particular things in the international community and world bodies to actually be more aggressive when it comes to Russia. But this is just one example, Brianna, of again Representative Cheney and many Republicans, some moderate Democrats, as well, making the case here that the United States, at this point is not doing enough, and it's not doing it fast enough as well.

KEILAR: And Suzanne, Cheney is also on the January 6th committee. And she was asked today about potential criminal referrals to the DOJ. What did she say?

MALVEAUX: Well Brianna, they are not there yet. They did meet and Ivanka Trump, Trump's daughter, was with them for about eight hours or so testimony last week. and she said that that was very helpful. That is as far as she would go with that.

But when it comes to President Trump, she said that they have information that they believe that what he did was unlawful. And so the next step, of course, the next big question, whether or not they would refer him for criminal contempt and that it would go to the Department of Justice to determine whether or not that would be, in fact, carried out.

She would not go there. She would not make that commitment. She says they haven't really made up their minds at this point. But I will tell you, Brianna, this is what she said. They have evidence that they have seen that there was a massive, well-organized, well-planned effort to use multiple tools to overthrow the last election.

MALVEAUX: And so that is where the committee is going. Those are the leads.

[14:30:01]

That's the evidence that they are following. So stay tuned for this week and next week to see if, in fact, it moves to the next level, regarding the former president.

KEILAR: All right. Suzanne, we'll be watching with you. Thank you so much.

The bombing of hospitals, the targeting of civilians by Russian forces, attacks on a nuclear power plant, the use of rape as a weapon of war and use of banned weapons -- those are all among accusations of war crimes against Russia.

And this chilling audio of intercepted transmission of Russian troops released by Ukraine. A warning that some of these images are disturbing.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

RUSSIAN TROOPS: A car drove by, but I'm not sure if it was a car or a military vehicle. But there were two people coming out of the grove dress as civilians.

Kill them all, for f**k sake.

Got it. But all the village here is civilian.

What's wrong with you? If there are civilians, slay them all.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

KEILAR: He said but all the village here is civilians, and the response was slay them all.

And just in the past week, Ukraine's president repeated his claims that Russian attacks have amounted to genocide.

Pierre-Richard Prosper is the former U.S. ambassador at large for war crimes issues in the George W. Bush administration. He's also a former war crimes prosecutor for the U.N. and former assistant U.S. attorney.

Ambassador, clearly this meets the definition for war crimes. I think everyone is in agreement about that. Does it meet in your opinion the definition of genocide?

PIERRE-RICHARD PROSPER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR AT LARGE, HEADED OFFICE OF WAR CRIMES ISSUES: Well, Brianna, thank you for having me.

You know, what we have here is obviously atrocities are being committed. And we, as you noted, the evidence is showing that there are violations of the laws of war and war crimes.

When it comes to genocide, what we have to look at is not only the actions but the intent of the perpetrators. We have to see if what the Russians are doing, what Putin is doing is designed to destroy a group in whole or in part. I think that what we're seeing is that the Russia is moving closer to that line, but at this point, it's difficult to say that they've actually crossed it.

KEILAR: I do want to listen to what Jake Sullivan said this morning on "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": I understand that this is up to authorities and there is a process in place. But in your opinion, how is this not genocide?

JAKE SULLIVAN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Look, in my opinion, the label is less important than the fact that these acts are cruel and criminal and wrong and evil and need to be responded to decisively.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Is there a political or diplomatic reason that the U.S. is not labeling this genocide?

PROSPER: Well, that's difficult to say exactly what they are thinking. As noted, there is a process, but once we label something genocide, under the Genocide Convention, states are obligated to act.

Now that does not necessarily mean military action, but more aggressive and concerted action is required. So there could be an analysis that is under way in the government, in the State Department, but it's important that, as he said, to look at the actions that are taking place and the United States should act firmly to help prevent these things from happening.

KEILAR: Isn't that a little bit like solution aversion. You don't want to admit what the problem is because it requires you to solve it. It requires you to take steps and that there's actually not an appetite for taking some of those steps.

PROSPER: Well, there may be not an appetite. I can't speak to that.

But we've been here before, Brianna. If you recall in the '90s with Rwanda, there was a hesitant to call what was happening in Rwanda a genocide. And that proved to be a problem for not only for the situation, but for the United States and the international community. So I do think that the United States government should take a close

look at what is happening here and call it by its proper name, whatever that may be. But it's important that the information and the evidence is collected and we should not shy away from calling evil by its given name.

KEILAR: Yeah, one of Bill Clinton's greatest regrets as president was the sort of slowness in calling that genocide. So, you know, rather than holding its soldiers accountable, Russia has been lying to cover for them. We've heard that from top Russian officials. How do you know this is really Russians when clearly it is, they've said.

It certainly is state enabled. Does that make it state-sponsored, and do these distinctions matter?

PROSPER: Actually, I do believe it is -- it is state sponsored. What we are seeing here are actions that are being done in the name of Russia. We can look at Putin, we can look at the commanders and their individual responsibilities, but this is done in the name of Russia.

[14:35:01]

So I think it's important that when we look at accountability, we have to not only look at these individuals, but the state itself.

And it's time for the Russian people to understand that this is their legacy that is at stake as well. Putin's legacy is, obviously, firm. We know who he is. But the Russian people need to stand up, speak out and dissent because this is -- this is something that will impact them deep into the future.

KEILAR: I do want to listen to something really incredible. This is a video transmission between Russian troops that was intercepted by Germany where they are discussing raping Ukrainian women. Of course, I do want to warn our viewers, these are disturbing conversations but important to listen to.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE)

RUSSIAN TROOPS: Basically, three tankers here, raped a girl.

Who?

Three tankers -- she was 16 years old.

Our tankers?

Yes.

F**k.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

KEILAR: How much evidence are we seeing of rape being used as a weapon of war here in Ukraine? PROSPER: Well, Brianna, the information that is coming out is

appalling. And rape in a time of war is torture. It's designed to terrorize the population, not only the victim herself, but the family as well, the entire society. So what we are seeing here is a concerted effort to intimidate, terrorize and effectively eliminate a population.

So it is important that we respond aggressively. It's important that there's international condemnation. It's important that the entire global community that is Latin America, Africa, Asia, everyone must unite and do what not only what is required to stop this from happening, but also what is required to hold the individuals and the state accountable.

KEILAR: Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, pardon me, thank you so much for being with us. Really essential analysis from you tonight.

PROSPER: Brianna, thank you for having me.

KEILAR: New today, Pope Francis calling for an Easter truce in Ukraine. In his Palm Sunday service in St. Peter's Square, he condemned the war. The pope appealing for a ceasefire.

He said nothing will be gained by being able to plant a flag on a pile of rubble. This during the first open-air mass since the pandemic began.

And, now, a quick programming note, there was no one, no one like Anthony Bourdain. This is the story that you haven't heard from the people who know him best. "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain", premiering tonight at 9:00 p.m. on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST: My life, it's a gift, a dream, a curse. I shall explain.

I got very lucky. One minute I was standing next to a deep fryer, and the next, everything in my life changed.

I was unqualified for the job. I was in deep waters and fast-flowing ones at that.

The currents could change at any time without warning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was definitely searching for something and it was kind of agony for him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was such a romantic about life, about families, and reality was never going to live up to exactly how he pictured it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was about tony learning how to be a better person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a good karma. BOURDAIN: Oh!

How is this food related? (EXPLETIVE DELETED) if I know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: As Ukraine's humanitarian crisis grows more dire each day, governors around the U.S. are stepping up to help. Governors from Iowa and Nebraska say they will send police protective gear, including military-grade equipment to help Ukrainian civilians defend themselves.

And a former New York governor is partnering with a Hungarian company to provide modular homes to displaced refugees.

CNN's Polo Sandoval joining us with more on these efforts.

Polo, some experts say the move to send protective gear is unprecedented. Why?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I can tell you, Fred, what you have here, local police departments across the country that are sending some of this nonlethal equipment over to Ukraine. This is obviously a country experiencing a war. So that alone is certainly something that sets this apart. And adding to that is also raising the questions about whether local police departments should be sending this kind of military police grade equipment out of their jurisdictions to conflict zones.

The U.S. Department of Commerce issues export licenses for this equipment. They say they've been processing for some time now these requests and export licenses to basically send this kind of equipment overseas here. Ultimately, the onus is on donors to ensure they are following federal laws.

Let me take you to Pennsylvania for example. One of those jurisdictions that's really launched this effort to try to collect gear to send overseas. Talk about Falls Township, Pennsylvania. In fact, we do have some of those images.

What we saw just recently here was a launch of Operation Urgent Aid.

[14:45:02]

And what we saw here are basically the collection over 100 different pieces of equipment that have been shipped over. The chief in that police department telling CNN this is basically tapped into something more than just the police officers' desire to help a community. In this case, half a world away, and there's also the Ukrainian American coordinating council or the UACC. This is one of those nonprofit at the middle of these efforts to send over this gear. They have secured permission from the government to send over things like ballistic helmets, hard plate soft armor and vests. A member of that group saying they've sent about four shipments.

Organizers and also the police departments across the country are taking part in these efforts saying that this is all, obviously, not only legal but they are also checking all of this equipment to make sure that it adheres to the requirements that the federal government has laid out.

So there's certainly the need to protect Ukrainians or provide what they need to protect themselves but also to protect a roof over the head of many Ukrainians. This is the other angle I wanted to tell you about.

You see some of the latest U.N. numbers showing at least 4 million Ukrainians have left their war-torn country, also about 7 million Ukrainians who either won't or cannot leave their country and they are those that are basically internally displaced, many of them with no place to stay. And this is where New York's former governor has actually stepped in and teamed up with a company in Hungary to build these sort of pop-up modular housing units for the last couple of weeks.

So former New York Governor George Pataki has taken now two trips to Ukraine and provided this kind of pop-up housing. At least 30 minutes. He has hope that together with this company and also his nonprofit they'll be able to provide even many more as these humanitarian efforts continue not just again to house some of these refugees but to provide the equipment that they need to protect themselves.

WHITFIELD: All right. Polo Sandoval, let's hope these efforts make some sizable differences for the people in Ukraine. Thank you so much.

Still ahead -- the tide has turned at the Masters after an incredible return. Tiger woods struggled to maintain a competitive edge yesterday. The fourth and final round kicked off today. We're live in Augusta, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:51:38]

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. A deadly night of shootings across the country.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a shooting at a nightclub claimed two lives and injured ten others. It happened around 1:30 a.m. at the Taboo Night Club and Lounge.

In Indianapolis, a shooting broke out after a fight at a birthday party left five dead and one wounded. Police say shots were fired inside and outside of banquet hall on 38th Street around 3:00 in the morning.

In the nation's capital, four people were also injured after a shooting incident following a Washington nationals game late Saturday. Police say they're on the lookout for two suspects this afternoon. And new into CNN this hour, the Biden administration is expected to

announce new gun regulations in the coming days. A new rule which could come as soon as tomorrow would target untraceable weapons from kits known as ghost guns. This potential actions come as President Biden is under growing pressure to address gun violence across the U.S.

And now to the Masters, Tiger Woods has defied the odds at the Masters with an incredible comeback since that horrific car crash last year. But the five-time champion struggled for consistency in his third round on Saturday. He finished with the worst score of his Masters career, but a huge victory that he's there, right?

CNN's Dianne Gallagher joins us live from Augusta.

All right. So, Tiger, how did it go today? Did things change a little bit on the upswing for him, or no?

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Fred, is he on the 18th hole right now, Tiger Woods, wearing red, on a Sunday at the Masters in an Augusta. Those are words that a year ago we didn't know if we would ever actually be able to say again let alone a year later after that car crash. He was still in a hospital bed at his home, trying to recover. He didn't know if he would lose his leg.

And so, this comeback that we have seen from him, the cheers there on the 18th as he struggled to walk up the hilly terrain of Augusta National, taking his hat off, acknowledging those fans. Well, he has had a bit of struggle against today. I'm kind of keeping track of him right now and how things are going.

But he's going to likely finish more 20 strokes off the leader, where the leader is right now who just teed off, world number one Scottie Scheffler. But it's not about the score at this point, it's not about what he shot, it's about completing all 72 holes here at Augusta National. Something on Thursday, Tiger said he wasn't sure if his body would allow him to do. So, what's why he was here, trying it out, calling it a game time decision, Fred.

He spoke yesterday after that worst round at the Masters in his entire professional career, saying that for him, this is about not giving up and perseverance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: Never give up. Always chase after your dreams. I fight each and every day. Each and every day is a challenge.

Each and every day presents its own different challenges, for all of us. And I wake up and start the fight all over again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: Now, again, Tiger on the 18th green right now at Augusta National at the Masters.

[14:55:03]

Fred, a lot of the talk at this point turning to what is next for him. He said he has to listen to his body. He will likely never play another full tournament schedule again. But there is a lot of discussion here in Augusta about when we will see Tiger Woods next, which major that will be, and how he's going to feel about his own performance here at Augusta.

WHITFIELD: Right. Well, this is just a reminder, he is still an inspiration, back in the game, back in action, especially, as you say, Dianne, just 14 months ago. I mean, nobody could imagine what could have been next, but thank goodness --

GALLAGHER: He made it out at the Masters.

WHITFIELD: Hey, thank goodness he is there and showing everybody how it's done, period, with the fight.

All right. Dianne Gallagher, thank you so much, in Augusta.

GALLAGHER: Uh-huh.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

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