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Some Civilians Leave Mariupol as Russians Press On; Russia: Mariupol Steel Plant Could Be Taken in 3-4 Days; U.S. Justice Department Appeals Mask Mandate Ruling; Putin Says No Need to Storm Industrial Area Around Steel Plant; Ukraine's Farmers Have Ended Up on the Front Line. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 21, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Max Foster in London with more breaking news on Russia's war in Ukraine, just ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They are keeping 120,000 people in besieged Mariupol.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Destroying unique weapons will strengthen the combat potential of armed forces.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will this war kill your business?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it will.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's already killed it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His father, this human beings, these are atrocities. These are all crimes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

FOSTER: It's Thursday, April the 21st, 9:00 a.m. here in London, 11:00 a.m. in Ukraine. We begin with breaking developments in the war.

Russia's defense minister telling President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces need three to four days to take over the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol. Where as many as 1,000 civilians and an unknown number of soldiers ever holed up. A Ukrainian military commander says Russian forces have not stopped shelling Mariupol even as negotiations to evacuate civilians continue.

On Wednesday, four evacuation buses did manage to leave Mariupol through a humanitarian corridor. And officials hope to get more people out today. But tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped inside the city. We will continue to follow the story as it develops over the day.

Meanwhile, we're seeing the devastation on the human toll across Ukraine. A new report from Human Rights Watch finds Russian forces committed apparent war crimes in Bucha. The report says searchers have found evidence of executions, disappearances and torture.

The Russian offensive continues to push farther in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The Luhansk military governor says no town is safe and the Russians are destroying everything in their path.

Video circulating in social media show Russian forces have taken central Rubizhne, and essential village. The British Defense Ministry reports that Russian troops are advancing from staging areas in Donbas towards Kramatorsk. And U.S. defense officials tell CNN Moscow has added 17 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine in the past week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The situation in the east and south of our country remains as severe as possible. The occupiers don't give up trying to gain at least some victory for themselves through a new large-scale offensive. At least something they can feed their propaganda with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Meanwhile, World War II Soviet victory flags are appearing across occupied parts of Ukraine ahead of Russia's May 9 victory day celebration. And it's likely Russia wants to report major progress in the invasion by that date.

Joining me now from Kyiv is Anastasia Radina, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the head of its anti-corruption committee. Thank you for joining us. What do you make of the flags going up, first of all?

ANASTASIA RADINA, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Well, we are absolutely seeing what Russia is doing is that they are conceding in genocide of Ukrainian people. Actually, as of yesterday, humanitarian corridors from Mariupol, according to this video took, does not work as we planned them to and Russian troops continue shelling and our factory evacuation route so we were not as successful as we hoped on getting people out of Mariupol. Again, there are still people, held hostages there by Russian troops.

FOSTER: What about this report that it may take three or four days to take control of the steel plant which obviously is where the fighting is centered in Mariupol. And where the last soldiers are holding out? Do you think three or four days is realistic for the Russians to take the plant?

RADINA: Well, first of all, I have to remind that the initial plan of Russia was to take Kyiv in three, four days and this wasn't realistic. So, Mariupol is holding up for many, many days. By now, it is true the situation is very severe there. Our key aim right now is to try and get civilians out of city. And this is exactly what Russians are refusing to allow.

FOSTER: How many civilians are there, by your counting?

[04:05:00]

RADINA: It is difficult -- it is difficult to estimate. I think approximate numbers are more than 1,000, which is still a lot.

FOSTER: You've asked for supplies. Military supplies, obviously, from the West. Your president seems more positive that those supplies are now coming and that the West really does understand what you need for that military operation in the east of the country?

RADINA: There are some supplies coming, but what we are is asking for is more. We are asking for more -- for more heavy weapons, for more artillery, for more armed vehicle tanks and ship missiles. This is what Russia -- this is what is necessary for saving civilian lives, in Mariupol, first but other cities throughout east and other parts of the country as well.

FOSTER: Do you think it's inevitable that Mariupol will be under Russian control within the week?

RADINA: No, I don't think so.

FOSTER: How will you fight them back, when, obviously, the military there are talking about complete lack of supplies, and they can't even get water apparently?

RADINA: So basically, right now, again, two issues are crucial for Mariupol. First one is expedient supplies of heavy weapons, when I say expedient I absolutely stuff coming on the ground now. And the second issue, which is also very how important is complete oil and Russia embargo on Russia. Because now we are still seeing how countries around the world, including unfortunately the European Union are directly supporting and funding Russia in Ukraine by continuing paying for Russian oil and gas. Our estimate is that the embargo on Russian oil and gas is a key function that might -- might make Russia reconsider its military plans.

FOSTER: Germany is obviously essential to that whole debate, because they are the largest economy in Europe. And they are largely dependent on Russian oil and gas. They have outlined a plan to come off oil. I think, within the year. Are you comfortable with that? And, you know, when you ask them to come off gas, you're effectively asking them to prompt a recession, because that's what would happen in Germany if they came off Russian gas immediately.

RADINA: Well, first of all, it is important to outline that Germany is among the world's biggest buyers of Russian gas. And there are options for Germany to stop paying for Russian oil and gas right now, not waiting until the end of the year. This option is not new. Held funds from Iran, for example, and this to stop paying to Russia direct for oil and gas, instead accumulate this funding this time on a special account to which Russia can only receive access after it stops its war, of course, in Ukraine. Again, this is perfectly possible. This has been done before. And this is what has to be done right now. Not waiting for another month or a year on considering plans on how to stop supplies. Just stop paying.

FOSTER: Do stop paying directly. Ukrainian member of Parliament, Anastasia Radina. Thank you very much indeed for your perspective today.

The U.S. Justice Department is appealing Monday's court ruling striking down the mask mandate for public transportation. Airlines and transit agencies move quickly to make masks optional. But the White House says it would wait to hear from the Centers for Disease Control before taking further action. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has the detail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Two days after a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate for travelers the CDC announcing that it is asking the Justice Department to appeal that ruling by a federal judge. Now the Justice Department just a day earlier, they had said that they would indeed move forward with the appeal if the CDC deemed it necessary. And that is now what is happening.

This is a statement from CDC, they say, quote, to protect CDC's public health authority beyond the ongoing assessment announced last week, CDC has asked DOJ to proceed with the appeal. It is CDC's continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health.

Now the CDC also says here that they are going to continue to monitor public health conditions as it relates to the necessity of this mask mandate going forward. But what's really interesting here, is that the CDC is explaining its rational on two fronts. On one hand they're saying, that look, we believe the conditions right now in the country makes it necessary for the mask mandate to still be standing for travelers to be required to wear masks on planes, for example, as well as trains and other modes of public transportation.

[04:10:00]

But what they're also saying, is that they're appealing this decision in order to preserve that legal authority they had to institute this mask mandate in the first place. And the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, she made this point earlier on Wednesday as well, when she said that, look, there are going to be highs and lows in this pandemic and that should there be some kind of a new variant or more serious strain or an uptick in cases once again, that the CDC wants to retain that authority, that legal authority, to be able to reinstitute that mask mandate if necessary.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Well, Delta Airlines says it plans to restore flight privileges to about 2,000 customers who were barred after failing to comply with mask rules. The airline emphasized it'll review each case and make sure each customer understands the expected behavior. If they disregard any rules they could be permanently banned. Delta has a separate list of about 1,000 people who are on a permanent no-fly list for, quote, egregious behavior.

Now, coming up, on the front lines, Ukrainian farmers already facing massive disruptions to their business by themselves in the path of Russian rockets. Their story is just ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our house, we lived here more than ten years. And for the people that lost their homes, I hope they'll be able to get back and they will replacement homes. And it's devastating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Really heartbreaking words, the victim of a tunnel fire that burned nearly 20,000 acres. We'll have the latest from the CNN weather center, next.

[04:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: We'll have more on the lead story now. Russia's defense minister says the last Ukrainian forces in Mariupol are securely blockaded inside a steel plant. And Russian President Vladimir Putin now says there is no need to storm the surrounding industrial area. Although

CNN's Isa Soares now live from Lviv, Ukraine. Just speaking to a member of the Parliament, Isa, suggesting that the Russians, you know, didn't go into Kyiv straightaway. So, there's no assumption here that they're necessarily going into Mariupol and Putin seems to be confirming that.

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, what we have heard, Max in the last few minutes, in fact, is from Putin himself, congratulating the Russian defense minister for liberating the city of Mariupol. Yet the same defense minister who said that the Azovstal steel plant inside Mariupol may take three or four days.

So, let's take those comments by Putin with a pinch of salt, because the whole city haven't been liberated as the Russians said. In fact, there's still that stronghold inside that Azovstal steel plant. Of course, what we have seen and what we have heard inside that plant from the Ukraine commander militia inside, is that it could be a question of days if not hours before the Azovstal steel plant is taken.

But what we have seen, Max, is the relentless barrage of fire power really thrown on Mariupol, so really since February 24th. And there is a reason for that. Mariupol is a key strategic city. So, taking Mariupol will be a huge win for Putin, of course, who, so far, has failed to make any major strategic advances inside Ukraine. And it's important for one reason. One, of course, it's a port -- it's

a port city which means that Russia would control 80 percent or so of that coastal Ukrainian coastline. But also, it means that once Russian sources have taken control of Mariupol, they are then free, Max, to then go to that offensive that we have seen in the east of the country. That you're looking at on your map, to reinforce the offensive.

And critically, as you look at this map, it would create a language that you and I have talked about for so long between the land corridor between Mariupol and Crimea. That is why this would be an important strategic win for Putin. But it's not there yet, by any means. Because the forces on the ground, they're standing firm. The last line of defense, Max. And inside that steel plant, we have wounded soldiers. We have civilians, women and children. And while there has been effort, of course, to get them out. It has failed in the last day or so. Only four buses were able to leave Mariupol in the last 24 hours -- Max.

FOSTER: I can only imagine what life is like in Mariupol right now. Isa, thank you very much joining from us Lviv. We're back again with you tomorrow on the show.

Now Russia's invasion of Ukraine is hurting an already struggling global supply chain. The two nations provide about 30 percent of the world's wheat. But Ukrainian farmers haven't been able to plant or sell their crops. Instead, they're given constant alerts with a barrage of Russian rockets, bombs and gunfire coming at them. Ed Lavandera brings us their story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sergiy Yaiichuk runs a one-man dairy operation. He has six cows on a little farm just 15 miles from the frontlines of the battlefield in southern Ukraine. But neither Russian soldiers or falling rockets have stopped the 49-year-old from tending to his work.

LAVANDERA: That is Sergiy's house there just in the distance and there is an unexploded rocket that landed this close, landed here about a week ago. Did you hear that rocket land?

SERGIY YAIICHUK, UKRAINIAN DAIRY FARMER (through translator): Everything happened before my eyes.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): The explosions erupted all around him when this strike hit. Russian rockets often target his village of 500 people.

YAIICHUK (through translator): We were covered with dust, just dust and shrapnel all the way here. I fell to the ground crawling, not feeling my legs or arms. It was scary. For those who have not gone through this, you would not believe it.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Sergiy keeps one eye on his herd and the other eye on the war. [04:20:00]

LAVANDERA: So, these are Sergiy's six dairy cows. And if you notice, he has them spread out. He wants to separate them so they don't all get killed in one strike.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): He must keep the cows alive. This is the life of a farmer in Ukraine.

Maxim Krivenko and his family grow the traditional Ukrainian crops of wheat and sunflower on these lush wide-open fields near the village of Yavkino. But the war has up ended his business.

MAXIM KRIVENKO, UKRAINIAN FARMER (through translator): It's been unfortunate for all of us. Basically, everything has shut down and we aren't working.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Maxim says the cost of fuel and grain seeds have skyrocketed. It's difficult to find parts to repair farm machinery. He's supposed to plant this year's wheat crop in the coming weeks, but if the fighting returns to this land, it won't happen.

LAVANDERA: So, this is the storage area where they keep their sunflower seeds, but they haven't been able to sell it because of the war.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Maxim is also stuck with an entire season sunflower seed harvest. It just sits in this storage space.

LAVANDERA: Will this war kill your business?

KRIVENKO (through translator): It's already killed it. We have stockpiled our wheat production and our sunflowers but we aren't able to sell them. So, I would say it is the beginning of the end.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Ukraine is considered the world's breadbasket along with Russia producing 30 percent of the world's wheat exports. The United Nation says this war is creating a food production crisis not seen since World War II.

LAVANDERA: Thousands of Ukrainian farmers now find themselves on the frontlines of this war and their growing fields of wheat and sunflower have been turned into debris fields for missiles and rockets and other explosives.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): The wreckage of recent battles still sit in the farm fields. The body of a Russian soldier is buried next to this ammunition supply truck.

Farm or fight is the choice facing frontline farmers. Sergiy Yaiichuk has already faced this life and death decision. When the Russians invaded this village last month, Sergiy joined the fight. He was shot in the shoulder.

LAVANDERA: Oh, wow. If the Russians come back, do you want to fight again? YAIICHUK (through translator): What else can we do? I'll take my pitchfork and go fight. I will defend my village until the end.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): When the war returns, the harvest will have to wait.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Yavkino, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Perfectly dry weather conditions are continuing to fuel fires across the Southwest United States. Millions of the region are already under red flag warnings or fire weather watches. And officials are warning of a potentially wildfire spread scenario. Now, Pedram, these are spot warnings and the images are frightening.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The elements are in place here for explosive fire weather behavior and that's the exact concern here. Winds could easily max gust to 60 to 65 miles per hour. That would be closing in on hurricane force here over the next say 10 or so miles per hour above this value. So, anytime you get winds of this magnitude, you've got the elements in place. Fires already are present. These fires will expand. And we have at least 12 large active fires are spanning across six States across portions of the U.S.

So, the state of Arizona in particularly, you'll notice drought conditions encompass the entirety of the State. But go in for a closer look, the town of Flagstaff, just north of Flagstaff, that's where the largest fire is. The Tunnel Fire, about 19,000 acres of land consumed and zero percent containment. A going to be difficult to get any containment when you have these gusty winds that are present in that forecast.

In fact, from space, satellite imagery, north of Flagstaff, look at this smoke right here. It's going to be bellowed off of toward the north and east as the winds howl across this region. And that's the area of concern, particularly just east of it. Work your way toward Eastern New Mexico, portions of western Texas. We do have critical levels of concerns there for fire weather, gusty winds, low humidity. And also, plenty of dry brush and drought that is present here to ignite and expand these flames.

Here comes the front that will kind of kick up these winds, and then you'll notice severe weather just east of this region. A big story as well. In fact, a level two on a scale of 1 to 5 there for severe weather, includes parts of Kansas City, Wichita as well.

General concern here going to be for some large hail, maybe some gusty winds. Certainly a few isolated tornadoes into the afternoon and evening hours. Certainly a few isolated tornadoes into the afternoon and evening hours. And as it transitions into Friday, the severe level here increases to a level three on a scale of 1 to 5 and expands as far south as Lubbock, Texas and as far north as Minneapolis, Minnesota. Where again, gusty winds and hail become the primary areas of concern. The storms, they fire up later into the evening. And look at Chicago.

By Friday, quite a bit of rainfall in store across that region. Now the Western U.S., a quick glance at what is happening across this area.

[04:25:00]

Because we do have big time weather alerts in place, also in the entirety of the state of California underneath drought conditions. And the nice last-minute push here of wintry weather. Higher elevations into the Sierra there could see maybe a couple of feet of snowfall before it's all said and done. Usually, we see the transition out of the wet season here, in the beginning portion of April. We've been very quiet in recent weeks. So, any additional rainfall and snowfall in that area goes a long way for the dry season ahead of us. San Francisco about 60 degrees, Max, in St. Louis, almost 80 degrees, spring weather back in action.

FOSTER: OK, thank you, Pedram.

Now, electric automaker Tesla has zoomed past Wall Street's expectations in its latest earnings report. The company made a record $3.7 billion in the first quarter, much higher than the $2.6 billion analysts have expected. It's also more than tripled the earnings in the same period last year. This despite the supply chain issues that have dogged the entire auto industry.

The good news is not as good for Netflix though. A day after announcing it lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of the year, its stock plunged 35 percent. That wiped out $50 billion from its market value. Netflix expects another 2 million subscribers to quit in the current quarter as well. The news dragged down shares of fellow streamers like Disney and Paramount, everyone questioning the future of that industry and how it's going to work.

The U.S. is turning up the heat on the Kremlin with a new round of targeted sanctions. But Moscow is countering with its own flex to the West, showing off the test launch of a powerful new nuclear -- potentially nuclear missile. Those details just ahead.

Plus, a fiery debate in France of the two candidates in Sunday's presidential runoff come face-to-face.

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