Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Death Toll From Train Station Missile Strike Rises To 57; Ukraine Readies For Massive Russian Attack In The East; Shanghai Struggling To Contain COVID-19 Outbreak; Scottie Scheffler Dominates To Win First Career Major. Aired 11:30p-12a ET

Aired April 10, 2022 - 23:30   ET

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

[23:30:00]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN HOST: Headquarters in Atlanta. Ukraine is bracing for a major assault and is urging civilians to flee eastern areas of the country. Now the latest satellite images show a nearly 13- kilometer-long Russian military convoy east of Kharkiv. Now Ukraine's defense intelligence chief said Friday Russian troops are regrouping for an expected attack on that city. And in an address to the nation President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored the urgent need for more help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): But Ukraine does not have time to wait. Freedom does not have time to wait. When tyranny launches aggression against everything that keeps peace in Europe, action must be taken immediately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now a regional military governor says a Russian strike destroyed the airport at the city of Dnipro. He said the airport and nearby infrastructure have been demolished but the rockets just kept flying. There is no information on casualties as of yet. Meantime, Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer says he'll meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the coming hours. He'll be the first European leader to meet with Mr. Putin since the invasion began.

The chancellor organized a trip during his stay in Ukraine. Now he met with President Zelenskyy and visited Bucha where dozens of bodies were discovered following the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Now the official death toll from Russia's strike on that train station in Kramatorsk meantime has now risen to 57. More than a hundred were injured including many women, children, and the elderly all looking for a way out. These were civilians just trying to find a way to get to safety.

CNN's Ben Wedeman revisits the day that Ukraine will never forget.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): At 10:30 in the morning Friday, as many as 4,000 people were here at the Kramatorsk railway station waiting to be evacuated, when there was a large blast overhead that rained down thousands of pieces of shrapnel on the crowd below. At least 52 people were killed.

You can still see the blood all over the ground. As many as 100 people were wounded. All the injured have been evacuated out of this city to the city of Dnipro and the capital Kyiv because of course there is a profound fear that there is going to be a massive Russian assault on the eastern Ukraine.

Here we can see there is a shoe that's been ripped apart by shrapnel. There is just blood everywhere.

The authorities in this part of Ukraine have urged all civilians, especially women, children, and the elderly to leave as quickly as possible because of fears of that Russian assault. This is a city where just to the east of here, there have been intensive Russian bombardments on Ukrainian positions.

So the evacuation continues. Prior to the blast on Friday, they were dealing with about -- handling about 8,000 people leaving the city. Now the evacuation effort has moved elsewhere because this station is no longer functioning.

Here inside the station, more blood on the floor. Many of the wounded were dragged inside for fear there might be yet another blast. This is the luggage of those who were killed and wounded, left behind. There is more blood here on the floor. Cleanup crews are just almost 48 hours after the blast coming to clean up. But here we see more glass on the floor. What happened here can only be described as a massacre.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN reporting from Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Just hauntingly still there on that train station now.

Now as we've been saying here for weeks the violence in Ukraine is causing hundreds of thousands of people to continue to flee the country. According to the U.N. more than 4.5 million refugees have gone to neighboring countries since the fighting started, nearly 700,000 have fled to places like Romania where volunteers have been welcoming them. Now many of the newly arrived refugees and women and children we've been seeing these scenes, right, they continue to flee with more their cherished possessions and obviously a lot of them trying to carry their pets as well. Meantime those who remain in eastern Ukraine and some of the hardest hit areas are describing the scenes of Russian aggression as horrific.

[23:35:02]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The shelling went through our house. My husband, children and my daughter-in-law were all in the basement. We all ran out of the basement and started running in different directions, to the road. All the while, they were shooting at the neighbors' houses.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Ukraine's ambassador in Washington says after the battle for Kyiv, her country has to win the battle in Donbas. She spoke to CBS about how her country is now bracing for this next stage of war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OKSANA MARKAROVA, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: What we are preparing is for the massive attack in the east. Yes, the enemy Russians they are demotivated, they are war criminals, but there are so many of them and they still have so much equipment. And it looks like they're going to use all of it, so we are preparing for everything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Joining me now from Los Angeles is Daniel Treisman. He's a professor of political science at UCLA and the coauthor of the book "Spin Dictators: Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century."

You know, it seems that the tyranny hasn't changed much in a century and beyond the brutality of this war, the end game here has been hard to picture for Russia, especially given the military failures that we've already seen. What do you think will come of them now concentrating on both the east and possibly the south, and how can they translate that into what we already know was a desired land grab in Ukraine?

DANIEL TREISMAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, UCLA: Well, we know that Putin is determined to have a victory that he can point to at the celebration of the end of World War II on May 9th, so they're going to put maximum force into this offensive against the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and also to the south as you said. Whether that will work is another question, as the ambassador was just saying, they have a huge amount of military equipment, the forces available for this are significant but if they're going to reuse the forces that were previously fighting around Kyiv, these will be very deflated, demoralized and they really need some time to recover before going into battle again.

NEWTON: And yet, you know, you and I both know that some of the ordnance is going into Ukraine right now, in the east, this is good positioning for Russia. They can actually do a lot of their damage from inside the borders of Russia, it puts them in a better position. They feel they need to be in this better position to broker a better deal. They've also already said that they want -- any kind of peace deal would have to come with an end to sanctions. How realistic is that?

TREISMAN: I don't think it's realistic at all. And I don't think that the negotiations at this point are very serious. They're going through the motions of negotiating, but until the Russians have achieved, in their view, a major victory in the south, they won't really be ready to talk about wrapping up the war and making any concessions at all. Of course, they are feeling the pressure of economic sanctions, and so ultimately, they will want those removed, but I think it's unrealistic to expect the West to remove sanctions, as long as there are Russian troops with it still fighting and killing in horrific ways in the east of Ukraine.

NEWTON: You know, we've already been warned that this is going to go on quite a bit longer. I mean, with civilians desperate to leave the area and hopefully finding a way to safety, what is the character of the conflict do you see going forward in places like Kharkiv, for instance?

TREISMAN: Well, there's going to be massive bombardment as we've seen already. That's going to continue. The Russians are going to throw evermore ordnance at the targets in the hope that this will grind down the resisters and will lead to a clear and decisive victory. We're also going to see this very determined assault with ground troops moving in.

The real question is whether they manage to break through and perhaps even surround Ukrainian forces. If not, then it's likely to bog down into a kind of trench warfare with, unfortunately, massive shelling across the lines of division and really, a horrific kind of war in which the ever-rising casualties and not much progress towards any resolution.

NEWTON: Yes, I don't have a lot of time, but before I let you go, do you believe that inevitably, though, this will also lead to more repression in Russia?

TREISMAN: It already has. We've seen a dramatic increase in oppression in Russia since the start of the war and this picks up on the trend that we really saw going back to 2018.

[23:40:01]

So for sure, there's not going to be any liberalization or loosening of the screws. And it's just going to be tightening the screws from here on in, as long as the war continues.

NEWTON: Yes, and I will note that editorials in Russia already have been turning pro-Kremlin, has been turning in a darker picture of what is going on in Ukraine, all of it disinformation.

Daniel Treisman, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

TREISMAN: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now if you would like to safely and securely help people in Ukraine who may be in need of shelter, food, and water, and we know they need it, please go to CNN.com/impact, you'll find several ways you can help.

Now Shanghai officials say more COVID testing is needed to help slow a surging outbreak but residents there are clearly growing frustrated with the government lockdowns and now a food shortage as well. We'll have a live report right after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:44:04]

NEWTON: New York Mayor Eric Adams has tested positive for COVID-19. A spokesperson says Adams has no major symptoms and is now isolating. It's unclear where he contracted the virus but he's attended several public events recently including the Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington on April 2nd. More than 60 people who were at that dinner have now tested positive for the virus. Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says he's not surprised cases are rising right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Well, obviously, there's concern that we are seeing an uptick in cases. As I've mentioned over the last couple of weeks, this is not unexpected that you're going to see an uptick when you've pulled back on the mitigation methods. This is not going to be eradicated and it's not going to be eliminated. And what's going to happen is that we're going to see that each individual is going to have to make their calculation of the amount of risk that they want to take.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[23:45:00]

NEWTON: Very clear this virus isn't going anywhere. Meantime, in China, officials say the best way to fight surging COVID infections is stay the course with a strict zero COVID policy. So far, that's meant multiple rounds of testing and restrictions on movement of the entire city of Shanghai, as well as mandatory quarantine in government centers for anyone testing positive.

Residents, of course, aren't happy with the measures, especially that there are reports of protests and food shortages right around the city. Despite this, officials are ordering additional COVID testing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUN XIAODONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: Because of the severity of Shanghai's COVID outbreak, we've already conducted several rounds of mass testing at this stage. Now it's necessary to improve strategy. We have a general overview of the situation, but we cannot say if it's crystal clear, so further testing is needed until the situation gains more clarity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: CNN's Anna Coren joins me now from Hong Kong with more on this. And Anna, you have been discussing this, right, the lockdown has been so difficult to endure. Are there any signs that Chinese officials are taking more steps to make sure that people have the food they need, have the medicine they need, if they're expected to stay in lockdown? ANNA CORREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For sure. I mean, these people have

been in lockdown since the end of March, and we, we know they've been taking to social media, voicing their anger, their frustration, they've been yelling out the window down to community workers saying we need food, we are starving.

And as we were discussing yesterday, Paula, Chinese officials have allowed e-commerce platforms to resume which means that those grocery deliveries that have been held up for the past 10 days might be able to start happening again.

The people that we've been speaking to said they've yet to see that but still we know that obviously, officials that are hearing the concerns of these 25 million people who have been locked up in their homes, but despite the scarcity of food, the scarcity of medicine, authorities, Paula, are really just doubling down on these COVID zero strategy which they have maintained from the very start.

We heard from Xinhua News which is one of the state-owned news outlets, a mouthpiece if you like, for the government, which said, and I'll read it to you, "China's medical system would risk collapse leading to enormous loss to life if it gives up on epidemic prevention and control." That is, without doubt, a fact.

I mean you're talking about Shanghai, which is, you know, the most populous cosmopolitan richest city in China with the best medical system and yet it would be completely overwhelmed if this COVID situation was to get out of control, let alone the situation in the rural parts of China which have a very rudimentary health system. So this would be an absolute crisis for the Chinese government, something, obviously, the leader Xi Jinping is doing everything to avoid.

And then we have from the "Global Times," a leading expert for the Shanghai COVID medical team, Wu Fan, she says that China should stick to dynamic zero COVID policy rather than lie flat. She then goes on to refer to the situation here in Hong Kong where she says the situation in Hong Kong also serves as a reminder to the mainland that is to be more cautious of omicron. She goes on to say that China's policy is about protecting the elderly, those with a weak immune system.

I mean, Paula, let's be frank, many of China's elderly have not been vaccinated. We know that more than half over the age of 80 have not been vaccinated.

Here in Hong Kong, you know, we have seen Omicron rip through, which caught authorities off guard, the health system off guard. At its peak, it reached, you know, almost 57,000 daily cases, and the death rate in Hong Kong from just this fifth wave was 8,557 deaths, prior to that, the past two years, it has been just 200. Translate that to China and you would have an absolute calamity.

NEWTON: Yes. Anna, as tough as it is, I'm so glad you put a fine point on that because that is what is at stake right now for China especially there in Shanghai.

Anna Coren, thanks so much, appreciate it.

Coming up here for us, the top ranked golfer in the world is now a Masters champion, how Scottie Scheffler dominated the competition at Augusta when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:53:23]

NEWTON: The hottest player in golf right now has his first major victory and his first evergreen jacket. American Scottie Scheffler won the Masters Sunday and the 25-year-old world number one did so in dominant fashion.

CNN WORLD SPORT's Patrick Snell has more now from Augusta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT (on-camera): It's the stuff that dreams are made of for Scottie Scheffler. Prior to February 13th of this year, he didn't even have one single PGA Tour victory to his name. Now, eight weeks on after a remarkable run, the world number one has four wins in his last six starts. Including his first major title.

(Voice-over): On the biggest day of his career if Scheffler was feeling any nerves he certainly wasn't showing it. Starting Sunday with a three-shot lead, Scheffler responding in style with a sublime chip in at 3 for birdie after playing partner Cameron Smith had briefly closed to within one shot. That then followed a stunning approach at 14, setting up another birdie opportunity which Scheffler was all too happy to capitalize on.

In the end, though, despite a nervy finish on the final green, it would be victory by three shots as Scheffler ended the tournament at 10 under par. The green jacket proudly his. A life-changing moment to savor with those who matter most.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, 2022 MASTERS CHAMPION: This is such a fun golf course. It's such a fun piece of property. I mean, it's Augusta National, it's about as cool as it gets. It's so fun to play. You know, I just can't believe that I can come back for a lifetime and get to enjoy this golf course.

[23:55:00]

SNELL: Meantime, an emotional week for Tiger Woods, ending with a highly emotional Sunday. The 15-time major winner given a really poignant standing ovation at the final hole. Woods finishing at 13 over par overall after a second consecutive round of 78. And this just 14 months on from suffering serious leg and foot injuries in a California car crash.

TIGER WOODS, FIVE-TIME MASTERS CHAMPION: This tournament has meant so much to me and my family. You know, this entire tournament. I mean, a lot of different things could have happened. But 14 months I'm able to tee it up and play the Masters. SNELL (on-camera): Tiger Woods, who says he will play at the 150th

Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland in July, won his first Masters in 1997 as a 21-year-old. Back then, Scottie Scheffler was just 9 months old. 25 years on, he can now call himself a major champion, too.

Patrick Snell, CNN, Augusta, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: A Ukrainian soccer team has kicked off what's being called a Global Tour for Peace.

Shakhtar Donetsk began a series of charity matches in Greece on Saturday with the proceeds going toward aid for the people of Ukraine. Now it is the first time the Ukrainian Premier League club has played since Russia invaded the country in February. Shakhtar's players wore jerseys with the names of Ukrainian towns instead of their own names.

Nice to see that. I'm Paula Newton. We will be right back here at CNN NEWSROOM with the latest developments in just a moment. We will be joined live from Ukraine with CNN's John Vause. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)