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Ukraine Prepares for Russia's Offensive in Eastern Ukraine; Dispersed Peaceful Protest in Kherson; First Round of French Presidential Elections; U.S. to Accept Ukrainian Refugees; U.S. Police Agencies Donate Protective Gear to Ukraine. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired April 11, 2022 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: -- the United States and around the world, I'm John Vause live in Lviv, Ukraine. Ahead this hour, as Russia plans a renewed assault, the Ukrainian president pleading with the west for more military aid saying his country's very survival depends on it.

ROSAMERY CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church live at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta. Coming up, a runoff in France. It's Macron versus Le Pen again for president. But after a volatile first round, polls indicate this may not be a replay of their last contest.

VAUSE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging the country to brace for a new face of this war. Recent satellite images show a military convoy east of Kharkiv that appears to be moving south. This comes as Ukrainian officials say they are expecting a major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine at any moment. Zelenskyy says victory on the battlefield for Ukrainians won't be possible without increased international support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODOMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: We think this will be a new wave of this war. We don't know how much Russian weaponry there will be, but we understand they'll be many times more than there is now. It all depends on how fast we will be helped by the United States.

To be honest, whether we will be able to survive depends on this. I have 100 percent confidence in our people and in our armed forces, but unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: In the meantime, Ukrainian officials are urging civilians in eastern Ukraine if they can leave, to evacuate immediately. Those trying to escape this conflict though are an increasing risk as we saw with the Russian strike on a train station in Kramatorsk, which left dozens dead. On Sunday, local officials say a Russian airstrike also destroyed the

airport in Dnipro, which had already been hit once in early March. Meantime, the new Russian commander taking over this war in Ukraine raising alarm bells in Washington and around the world. U.S. officials say General Alexander Dvornikov has a history of brutal attacks on civilians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And Austria's chancellor will meet with the Russian president later today in an effort to try and ease tension and bring about a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine. We get more details out from CNN's Ed Lavandera reporting in from the port city of Odessa.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORREPONDENT: On Monday, we expect to see a significant meeting between the chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, and Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. The Austrian chancellor announcing this visit on Sunday and he also says that as the country remains militarily neutral, that they -- that the chancellor is calling for a cease-fire, and a full investigation of war crimes.

So, that is a significant meeting. And this comes on a day where we see continued and sustained attacks on various parts of Ukraine. First, we heard about military strikes at the airport in the city of Dnipro, which is close to the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Regional officials there in Dnipro say that the airport has essentially been decimated. The airstrip was struck by a missile strike several weeks ago, but the strikes today apparently making it a total loss in that area.

And we're also hearing of significant attacks and explosions and bombings in the city of Mykolaiv, which is just about 85 miles east of where we are here along the coast of the Black Sea in the city of Odessa. And all of this really comes at a really significant time in this war in Ukraine where we are seeing Russian forces regrouping, re- mobilizing, as they begin what is expected to be a serious assault into Ukraine from the east, in Donbas region.

And also, one other significant development today, we've learned that the Russian military has called on General Alexander Dvornikov, who was known as the butcher of Syria, who led a ruthless campaign of attacking civilians and bombings of civilian neighborhoods in that war in Syria. He's expected to continue leading the forces of Russian forces into Ukraine, and by all accounts, the concern here is that this -- we will see a dramatic escalation of targeting civilians here in this country.

[02:04:55] And that is why you're seeing so many Ukrainian officials urging civilians to evacuate some of these areas in eastern Ukraine where the worst of the fighting is expected to take place in the weeks ahead. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Odessa, Ukraine.

VAUSE: In the occupied city of Kherson, there was what was described to CNN as a peaceful rally on Sunday. Local officials say the rally was subsequently broken up by Russian forces. This was a pro-Ukrainian rally, anti-Russian rally. CNN though not able to verify if the rally happened or if there's actual turnout.

But joining me now live from Kherson is Tetyana. She is a resident there. She is wearing a mask to protect your identity. And we thank you for being with us, Tetyana. Kherson is now being under occupation for more than a month, just tell us, what is the biggest fear there just living under the control of the Russian military from day to day?

TETYANA, KHERSON RESIDENT: So, earlier I was scared from bombing, but now I'm scared because of endless kidnappings because we're going to become the next Bucha because militaries of Russian check-up on our phones and our Instagram, of our (inaudible). And if they don't like something, they say that they could take you just for like on some Instagram pro-Ukrainian force. So, that is what's scary about.

VAUSE: Do you know many people who have actually disappeared because of that?

TETYANA: I don't know, I mean, personally, but every day I read our local news in our new channels and people disappear every day. It might be deputies or some activist or volunteers or somebody who (inaudible) 2014. So, there are a lot of people.

VAUSE: You sent us some images of what appeared to be a pro-Ukrainian rally in Kherson. That was over the weekend. So, what is the sentiment there like in Kherson when it comes to, you know, the Russian military and what's happening?

TETYANA: When we see the Russian military, we are of course afraid. And then they come to our peaceful protest and they are shooting their guns in the air or on the people. We don't like them. Of course, surely. So, we don't think that they can, somehow, affect us. Of course, we are scared, but we would take part in those protests anyway because Kherson is Ukraine and we don't want to live in somehow Russian republic (inaudible) correctly.

VAUSE: You also sent us some images of -- you also sent us some images of what it's like to simply going out and about to grocery stores, to do everyday shopping. And many of these stores, the shelves were completely empty. So, what is the situation there in terms of basic essentials? How expensive are these basic essentials become over the last couple of weeks?

TETYANA: That's very expensive. The city has (inaudible) the basic products, but they are at greatly inflated prices. So, every morning we also go to the stores or to the local markets. In pharmacies, most of the medicine are not available, for example, painkillers and feminine hygiene products.

Volunteers do everything in their power to deliver vital medicine from Mykolaiv to Kherson, sometimes they succeed, but the Russian armies still does not allow Ukrainian humanitarian aid so every day there are (inaudible) distribute their humanitarian aid in the central square and the queues for it are not small should I say.

This are the same people of (inaudible) social status if I might (inaudible) it. I don't know how to explain. I don't have facts, but I see that these people are not from Kherson. I don't know how to explain it. They are from here and just because Russia want us to take their humanitarian aid, they don't want any products to come to our city. So, the prices are rising, we should stay. Everything big queues a lot for like half an hour or an hour could take this (inaudible) in one store just to take some basic products.

VAUSE: I understand that if you're looking in the situation from a military point of view that there could be some fighting escalating around the Kherson region. Possibly, the Russian soldiers will be forced to withdraw by the Ukrainian fighters if it gets to that.

[02:09:53]

Are you concerned that the Russian soldiers currently in Kherson will do to Kherson what we have seen in Bucha, what we have seen in Borodyanka, what we have seen in Irpin, what we have seen in so many other towns and cities? This scorched earth policy of death and destruction on their way out?

TETYANA: For now, I don't see this coming in my city. I'm afraid that it will all be because our soldiers were here (inaudible) every evening so, we know our soldiers are coming for us, we wait for them, basically. I'm afraid that we become the next Bucha. For now, I don't see such severe cases of violence in our city. I heard about them, but I don't see a lot of them coming.

So, maybe, maybe, will -- when our military is coming to the city, maybe there will be something like that. I don't know. But I'm still here because it's my city and I don't want to leave.

VAUSE: Tetyana, please stay safe and thank you for speaking with us. We know that it is at some risk for you to join us here on CNN. Thank you.

Well, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has had its first staff rotation in three weeks. The International Atomic Energy Agency made that announcement Sunday. The first change of staff since March 20th and 21st, when the plant was still under Russian occupation.

Ukraine told the IAEA that some of the sites laboratories were destroyed and looted, instruments had been stolen, broken, or disabled. The director general of the IAEA says he's hoping to lead a mission to conduct a radiological assessment of Chernobyl soon.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: To France now, and this year's race for the Elysee looks like deja vu. Voters narrowed down their presidential candidates and the finalists are incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron, and his far right rival, Marine Le Pen. France's interior ministry reports that the current president, won about 27 percent of Sunday's first round of voting putting him in first place in a crowded field of a dozen candidates.

Le Pen is in second place with around 23 percent. The second round of voting in two weeks is set to be a rematch of the 2017 election. After the polls closed, the centrist Macron made his pitch while the far right Le Pen made appeals to the mainstream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translation): I want a France which inscribes itself in a strong Europe, which continues to form alliances with great democracies to defend itself. Not a France that exited from Europe, would have for its only allies the international populous and xenophobes. That's not us.

MARINE LE PEN, FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translation): The French people have spoken and gave me the honor to be qualified in the second round against the incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron. Let me express to the millions of voters who expressed their trust in me and my sincerest gratitude. I acknowledge with humility all the responsibility that comes with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: This year's election saw significant abstention with voter participation, falling to a two decade low for a first round vote. As CNN's Paula Newton reports, the question now is when the candidates can inspire those non-voters to show up for the second final round.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sunday, in Paris. For many French people, it was a laissez-faire kind of day, to lounge by the Seine or enjoy a drink at a cafe.

But there was one activity many people around the country decided to skip. Voting in the first round of the country's presidential elections. The candidates voted, 12 were in the running, but turnout for the rest of the country was less impressive.

A French polling group estimates less than 75 percent of voters cast their ballots, which would be the lowest turnout for a first round vote in 20 years. Some voters say they just couldn't relate to any of the candidates or their policies.

UNKNOWN (through translation): No one who represents me. I think they are disconnected and I think France is tired of this.

NEWTON (voice-over): And for those who did vote, some say it boiled down to a choice between consistency and change. This woman said she voted for incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron.

UNKNOWN (through translation): I'm relatively satisfied with what he's done up to now. We're never 100 percent happy, but I think he's done a lot of good things.

NEWTON (voice-over): Macron's high-profile role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine was a plus for some of his supporters.

UNKNOWN: We really need to have somebody who is well-positioned in the international landscape and the international discussions.

NEWTON (voice-over): But this woman says she wasn't satisfied with how the government handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

[02:14:57]

UNKNOWN (through translation): It is very important for me to vote because we want change. I want change because it has been two very difficult years.

NEWTON (voice-over): Other issues like immigration and identity were major platforms for far-right candidates like Marine Le Pen and hit home with some voters.

UNKNOWN (through translation): With all these immigrants who come, France is now no longer us, it's them.

NEWTON (voice-over): Others say it wasn't so much the issues that brought them out as much as it was their duty.

UNKNOWN (through translation): Because there's too much people that fought for us to have the right to vote. So what does it take to wake up a little earlier to vote on time and express ones opinion.

NEWTON (voice-over): Exit polls show Macron and Le Pen will head to the second round of voting in two weeks. To have a shot at victory, both will need to convince the people who didn't show up Sunday to not only vote on April 24th, but to vote for them. Paula Newton, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And I'd like to bring in Steven Erlanger in now. He is the chief diplomatic correspondent for "The New York Times" and joins us live from Brussels, Belgium. Thank you so much for being with us.

STEVEN ERLANGER, NEW YORK TIMES CHIEF DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

CHURCH: So, preliminary results show President Emmanuel Macron in first place with about 27 percent, just ahead of far-right politician Marine Le Pen at around 23 percent. Given what we know about the other ten candidates and their supporters, particularly Jean-Luc Melenchon. Who do you think will likely win the April 24th runoff, Macron or Le Pen?

ERLANGER: Well, I think it will be Macron. After all, this time, he won almost twice as much larger percentage over Le Pen than he did five years ago in the first round. And the first round, as much as he is detested by many, many French, he won more first round of votes than any candidates since Francois Mitterrand, which was quite a long time ago.

So, I think he's okay. But what's happened in France is pretty shocking because more than 50 percent of voters voted for the extreme right or the extreme left. That's a majority of voters. And so, I think the debate in France, which has been fairly ugly during this campaign, should lead to some soul searching.

The main old parties of the center right and center left have essentially disappeared. And so you have Melenchon doing very well. He won roughly the same vote five years ago, a bit more this time. But the center-right has completely disappeared. Macron has become, to some degree, the candidate of the center right, but he is quite unpopular.

CHURCH: Right.

ERLANGER: I think he'll win. I think it will be very close. Marine Le Pen has wrapped herself in nice words and her cats. She's become a cat breeder, everybody loves that. She softened her image, but I think the French will still have a very hard time forgetting what her party really stands for.

CHURCH: Right. So, how critical then is veteran leftist politician Jean-Luc Melenchon in this upcoming runoff and how will he likely advice his supporters to vote given he received 22 percent of the vote. That's just one percentage point behind Le Pen.

ERLANGER: Well, Melenchon is a very interesting case because he's very, very smart and very articulate. He gives wonderful speeches and he's in a way a man of the old left. But he has taken over from the socialists and the far (inaudible). But what he's told his supporters overnight is do not vote for Marine Le Pen.

What he hasn't said to them, certainly not yet, is vote for Emmanuel Macron. And the biggest risk to Macron is that Melenchon voters and other angry voters, this 51 percent will either vote for Le Pen or stay home and abstain. And that is Macron's biggest vulnerability it seems to me.

CHURCH: And Steven, why do you think French voters are so polarized with nearly a quarter of the country selecting a far-right candidate who represents the absolute opposite of what the E.U. stands for? And why was voter turnout so very low?

ERLANGER: Well, it's low in French terms. It's pretty high in American terms, I have to say. But, I think people are angry and they're tired and there's COVID, and there's a war, and you have in Emmanuel Macron a very distant figure. Everyone knows he's very, very smart, but he seems disdainful of ordinary people. That's his image. He's sort of considered a man of the elite, of the rich.

[02:19:56]

And as someone who campaigned five years ago as being neither left nor right, most French have decided that he is a man of the right, the center right. But people are, I mean, the French tend to be grumpy anyway, I have to say. But they express their grumpiness in the first round in a very explicit way.

In the second round, they tend to think more about France's place in the world and how important it is, and their role in Europe and in NATO, and I suspect that will eke this very unpopular Emmanuel Macron through to a second round victory.

CHURCH: All right, we'll see what happens on April 24th. Steven Erlanger, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your perspective. Appreciate it.

And just ahead here on CNN, how police departments across the United States are pitching in to help Ukrainians fighting on the front lines. We're back with that in just a moment.

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VAUSE: Well, the exodus of Ukrainians fleeing this war is not letting up. The latest numbers now according to the U.N., more than 4.5 million refugees have crossed into neighboring countries since the fighting began.

The Biden administration says it will accept as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, but some U.S. lawmakers say the application process is far too cumbersome, far too slow. Thousands of refugees already waiting at the U.S.-Mexico border. There are now calls for President Biden to speed up the entry process.

[02:25:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM LANGEVIN (D-RI): The process is -- it's too slow if people are out of harm's way. So we all feel that urgency. We're just urging the administration to just continue to redouble its efforts to cut through the red tape and get rid of any kind of bureaucratic hurdles that might still exist so that we can get as many Ukrainians out of harm's way as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And now police departments across the United States are helping Ukrainians fighters. They are donating armor and other non- lethal gear for those on the front lines here. Experts say it's unprecedented for U.S. law enforcement to send equipment to a foreign country involved in an ongoing war. CNN's Polo Sandoval has details.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, in the United States, there seems to be a large willingness among local police departments to chip-in, sending non-lethal military and police grade equipment halfway around the world to assist Ukrainian forces.

There are these pictures out of Falls Township, Pennsylvania, home to a large Ukrainian community. They launched Operation Urgent Aid to collect more than 100 ballistic vests, and also dozens of ballistic helmets. The chief in that town telling CNN that he believes that this has really tapped into something greater than just the need to help people half a world away, at least for its officers.

And there's also the Ukrainian-American Coordinating Council. These is a nonprofit at the center of one of these efforts to send regulated, protective equipment. The UACC moving quickly after the invasion of Ukraine started to obtain a license from the Department of Commerce to export level three ballistic vests and special authorization to export level four vests.

They offer some of the highest protection and are heavily regulated. A member of that group saying that so far they have sent about four shipments that have been delivered to Ukraine with more in the weeks ahead.

The U.S. Department of Commerce actually regulate these kinds of exports and issue these export licenses for some of these equipment saying that they have seen an increase in some of the requests to export, to authorize end-users in Ukraine, but ultimately, though, the onus is on owners to ensure that they are following export laws.

As for the police departments that you'll find from California all the way to Vermont, they tell CNN that these efforts are legal. That they do inspect the donated equipments. They review it to make sure that it does meet federal standards, and that they are operating within the law. Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

VAUSE: Just ahead here, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's global virtual tour of parliaments around the world continues. Next up, he'll be addressing South Korean lawmakers there, pleading for more assistance, more international help. We'll have a live report from Seoul in a moment.

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[02:31:44]

VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. I'm John Vause live in Lviv, Ukraine. Just 31 minutes past the hour. Russian troops are massing in eastern Ukraine, an ominous sign of a major offensive to come. The latest satellite images show in nearly eight-mile-long Russian military convoy east of Kharkiv. According to Ukraine's defense intelligence chief, Russian troops are regrouping for a renewed assault on Ukraine's second largest city.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is well aware of the risks as Russia escalates its attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): I don't want to make myself out to be a hero. He said, I love my family. I want to live many more years. But choosing between running or being with my people. Of course, I'm ready to give my life for my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: U.S. national security adviser says the United States is leading an effort to aid Ukraine that's been unprecedented in scope and speed. But there is an ongoing debate in Washington over whether the White House is actually doing enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We will continue to take every step we possibly can to help the Ukrainians succeed on the battlefield and to improve their position at the negotiating table.

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: In just a few hours, President Zelenskyy will take his case for international support to the South Korean parliament. This will be the 20th foreign legislative body he has addressed since March 8th along with international support for military aid and financial health. He's also asking for much tougher sanctions on Russia. CNN's Paula Hancocks live in Seoul. What more we can expect from a President Zelenskyy.

He he'll have a lot of convincing to do for the South Koreans, you know, exactly eager supporters, at least not yet.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know, John, at this point is from the defense ministry and that's the fact that the defense minister here had a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart last week, last Friday. And the Ukrainians have already asked for weapons which the South Koreans have rejected. Now, according to the Defense Ministry, they did ask for anti-aircraft weapons.

The defense ministry though saying that at this point, they cannot do that, saying that it was for matters of national security and also that they have to maintain a state of readiness. So certainly, what we could expect this afternoon when we hear from President Zelenskyy speaking to lawmakers here is that he could once again ask for weapons and ask for more physical support from South Korea.

Up until this point, the support has been monetary. We know there's $10 million has been pledged at the beginning of last month and humanitarian aid, and also non-lethal aid up to about $800,000 the likes of helmets, blankets, tents, MREs, medical supplies. But we do know that Ukraine would like more than that. Now at this point, we know that South Korea has signed on to the international sanctions as you alluded to there, John, that they didn't - initially, they did come under some international criticism for not signing up to those sanctions quite so quickly against Russia.

[02:35:14]

Russia's was a big export market for South Korea. And there were concerns that South Korea was trying to put economic concerns ahead of international obligations. But certainly, they have caught up with that now and they have signed on to the sanctions themselves. So, it will be interesting to hear what President Zelenskyy says this afternoon. Clearly, there are some similarities when you look at the Ukraine and you look at South Korea.

South Korea itself back in 1950 was invaded by North Korea, they have had experience of this kind of surprise invasion, they've also had experience of having to rebuild almost from scratch as much of the country was destroyed back in the Korean War. Now in that respect, they did have the international support to rebuild the country. And we're hearing from President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol who will take over from President Moon Jae-in next months.

That he's already spoken to President Zelenskyy and after the war, he would like to meet, he would like to offer cooperation. But of course, after the war is a - is a very tricky time at this point considering nobody knows when that will be. John?

VAUSE: Nobody knows when that will be. We can hope that it will be soon. But Paula, thank you. We know that address to the South Korean Parliament 90 minutes from now. We appreciate you being on top of that, Paula, thank you.

We'll take a short break. When we come back. A late dinner in Washington turning into a super spreader event with COVID-19. The latest on the politicians who have tested positive after having that meal.

Also, growing calls in the United States for more regulation of so- called ghost guns after a deadly shooting in New York. You're watching CNN.

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[02:40:39]

CHURCH: Top U.S. disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci is confident President Joe Biden is safe when it comes to COVID-19 after nearly 70 people tested positive following an elite dinner in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: We feel that the protocols around the president are sufficient to protect him. And as Jen said, the fact that he couldn't get infected, we hope he doesn't. We do everything we can to protect him. But remember, he's fully vaccinated, he's doubly boosted. And most of the time people who get anywhere near him need to be tested. So, we feel the protocol is a reasonable protocol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And one of the latest politicians to test positive is New York Mayor Eric Adams. It's unclear where he contracted the virus but he has attended several public events recently, including that Washington dinner event. Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who sits on the January 6 Committee. And Representative Jackie Speier also announced positive results on Sunday.

Well, meantime, in China, officials say the best way to fight surging COVID infections is to stay the course with the strict zero COVID policy. So far that's made multiple rounds of testing and restrictions on movement for the entire city of Shanghai, as well as mandatory quarantine and government centers for anyone testing positive. But residents are not happy with the measures with reports of protests and food shortages 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 (through translator): 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 our strategy. We have a general overview of the situation, but we cannot say it is crystal clear. So, further testing is needed until a situation gains more clarity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Anna Coren joins me now live from Hong Kong with more. Good to see you, Anna. So, this extended lockdown across Shanghai has been pretty tough on everyone, hasn't it? And now, many are pushing back. What efforts are underway to ensure residents receive the food, water and medical supplies that they need at this time?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been excruciating, Rosemary, for the 25 million residents who have basically been locked in their homes since the end of March even longer. For some people whose neighborhoods went into lockdown weeks earlier. You know, they haven't had access to fresh foods, fruit, vegetables, meat for days, if not weeks, on end. Deliveries are haphazard, you know, they are having to rely on these community WeChat groups to source groceries.

I spoke to one local resident a little bit earlier today. And she said that she spent her entire day trying to source food. It has just become exhausting. And it went from shock to anger to now, a sense of hopelessness. And the reason for that hopelessness is because there is no end in sight. Yes, on the weekend, the government announced that perhaps they will ease restrictions, we are still waiting for details for a timeline.

But, you know, as far as those residents are concerned living in this most populous, cosmopolitan hub of China and really the economic engine of the country that contributes, you know, up to four percent GDP, it is just mind boggling to think that these people cannot get access to food and haven't been able to get access to food for weeks on end. But Rosemary, the government is doubling down as they have throughout the entire pandemic for the past two years.

We heard from Xi Jinping last Friday saying that this is a great strategy. And then you have, you know, state media outlets reiterating the government's line and that they cannot stray from this dynamic zero COVID path. Let me read to you something that was in Xinhua News this morning in the commentary section, it said, China's medical system would risk collapse, leading to enormous loss to life if it gives up on epidemic prevention and control.

[02:45:02]

COREN: And Rosemary, that is the truth. If COVID was to rip through the Chinese mainland the way that it has in other countries around the world, you know, some experts say that there would be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of deaths. I mean, we've seen it here on a -- here in Hong Kong on a very small scale, you know, what happened when Omicron ran rampant.

China does not want to see that replicated on the mainland, that would be disastrous, obviously, for the health system, overwhelm the health system. It would also be disastrous politically for Xi Jinping.

CHURCH: Yes. I totally understand that. But it just extraordinary. The China wouldn't have some sort of plan in place for 25 million people to have access to fresh water and food and medical supplies. Just incredible. Anna Coren, thanks for bringing us up to date on that situation. Appreciate it.

Well, later today, U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to introduce new firearm regulations meant to contain the use of privately made weapons. Sources say the president wants to regulate so called ghost guns, unregulated, untraceable weapons made from kits. Now the move would address a gap in the U.S. government's ability to track them. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says it's likely one of these guns was used by a 17-year-old arrested over the weekend.

That teen is charged with fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl walking home from school in New York. Schumer says there's an epidemic of ghost guns flowing into the city and it needs to stop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): The number of ghost guns in New York City and on Long Island are skyrocketing. The bet bad people who want to get guns for bad purposes realize this is the easiest way to get a gun it's even easier than going on a street corner and paying someone some money for a gun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And deadly gun violence in the U.S. goes well beyond New York, of course. At least two people are dead and 10 others hospitalized after a shooting in Iowa on Sunday. Police say an unknown number of shooters fired dozens of shots at a nightclub in Cedar Rapids. Police say this was a targeted attack and they believe the suspects were able to escape with the crowd. Authorities are still investigating but they say there's no threat to the public at this time.

Elon Musk will no longer join Twitter's board of directors. That is according to a tweet from the company's CEO. Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX sparked a deluge of headlines after disclosing he'd become Twitter's largest shareholder. After that announcement, Twitter said it would add him to its board of directors for a two-year term. But those plans now appear to have changed.

And coming up. He was the owner of those soccer club in Lviv. Now he's traded in his dream for a sniper rifle. We will have his story after the break.

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CHURCH: The hottest player in golf right now has his first major victory and

his first ever green jacket. American Scottie Scheffler won the Masters on Sunday. And the 25-year-old world number one did so in dominant fashion. He shot 10 under par for the tournament winning by three strokes.

Well, the journey out of war-torn Ukraine is often a long one. It can take days for many just to reach the Polish border. CNN's Jake Tapper takes us to a soccer club in Lviv that's opened its doors to refugees giving them a place to rest in their search for safety.

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JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): Under the watchful eye of this lion, a local soccer team mascot, three-year-old Yana exhausted, finally sleeps. Yana has fled Donetsk with her mother and big sister, her aunt and cousins. It is no longer safe for her there.

But here in Lviv, residents like Ukrainians across the country are opening their homes and businesses to fellow citizens.

TAPPER (on camera): Vulnerable families fleeing their homes, seeking refuge wherever they can find it, including for this three-year-old girl and this four-year-old girl at this soccer club in Lviv.

TAPPER (voice over): The Galician Lions are a minor league soccer club. They're fierce fighting spirits so far more successful off the field than on. Team executives say their offices emblazoned with lion logos has offered a resting place for hundreds of refugee families such as this one, stopping in on their way to the border into Poland.

TAPPER (on camera): It must be very difficult to be a mother and protect your children at a time like this when there are horrible things happening.

ANASTASIA, FLED TO LVIV WITH FAMILY (through translator): Yes. It is both physically and psychologically difficult.

TAPPER (voice over): Anastasia tells us she was a pharmacist assistant before the war. Her sister-in-law, Katia, an accountant. Their husbands remain back east as their journeys likely continue soon out of the country. Now they say they are open to any job and any safe way of life for their family. KATIA, FLED TO LVIV WITH FAMILY (through translator): I was also a bookkeeper, worked at a company. I'm also ready to take any job. We just we left because of our children. We left our town because we were afraid of their psychological state. We have a war there and we were very scared.

TAPPER (voice over): Their oldest children, 11-year-old, Yegor, and nine-year-old, Valeria (ph), seems sad and confused.

TAPPER (on camera): How was the journey?

YEGOR, 11 YEARS OLD, FLED WITH FAMILY TO LVIV (through translator): It was very long but I'm very happy now that we are in a safe place.

TAPPER: What do you miss the most?

YEGOR: I miss my grandmother and I would like to be back in my town, because here everything is looks very unfamiliar to me, unknown.

TAPPER: It must be tough being a kid and having to go through all this.

VALERIA, NINE YEARS OLD, FLED WITH FAMILY TO LVIV (through translator): A bit.

TAPPER (voice over): They are, after all, only 11 and nine, but they find themselves having to comfort their much younger siblings.

[02:55:08]

TAPPER: Yegor, what do you tell your little sister in the other room when she gets worried?

YEGOR: I tell her everything is going to be fine and that it will end soon.

TAPPER (voice over): Relatively these children are lucky, thousands of Ukrainians, including the nation's youngest, have been killed in Putin's brutal war. Innocent civilians murdered in their hometowns, in their homes, many more in danger of being next and that is what motivates soccer club owner, Oleg Smaliychuk.

OLEG SMALIYCHUK, SOCCER CLUB OWNER (through translator): I want to change my profession. I bought a rifle. I want to become a sniper.

I believe after what we have seen, what happened in Bucha, the number has increased tenfolds of people like me who want to join.

TAPPER (voice over): He wants to join the Ukrainian military he says and go to the frontlines.

SMALIYCHUK: I definitely want to go where I can avenge our children.

TAPPER (voice over): Upstairs, he began to show me the sniper rifle and ammunition he purchased. And as if we needed any more evidence of the threat the people of Ukraine find themselves under, constantly the air raid siren went off while we were speaking. Oleg did not stop and instead continued loading the bullets, ready to go to war for the children under the Ukrainian flag and under the watchful eye of the Galician Lions.

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CHURCH: And thank you so much for watching. I'll be back next hour. CNN's breaking news coverage continues with John Vause joining us live from Lviv in Ukraine.

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