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Official: Missiles Hit Railway Station in Lviv Region; Russian Attacks in Eastern Ukraine Hamper Aid Efforts; Experts Expect North Korean Military Parade for Anniversary; All-Private Mission on Return Trip From ISS. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired April 25, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Clearly, it is ruffling their feathers. Clare Sebastian, in London. Thanks very much, Clare, good to see you.

Let's remember, the last few minutes the Russian attack in the Lviv region of Ukraine, where I am. Well now, the chairman of Ukraine state railways company says Russian forces struck a railway station in central as well as western Ukraine. The statement accuses Russian troops of systematically destroying railways as well as infrastructure. Adding that within one hour five railway stations were hit. Five in just one hour. They are set to be -- there are to be casualties, but we have not learned details of that. Of course, we'll bring you more information as we have it. But that coming to us in the last few minutes.

They head of Ukraine's state railways saying that Russia has struck five railway stations in central and western Ukraine. One of those about 35 miles or so from where I am in Lviv, Ukraine.

And coming up, what's the head of Doctors Without Borders says he's seeing on the frontlines here and the desperate need to get civilians out. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back to CNN news, my name is Isa Soares coming to you live from Lviv, Ukraine. Now I want to bring us some breaking news. The head of Ukraine's state railway says Russia has struck five railway stations in central, as well as western Ukraine.

[04:35:00] And there's been an explosion as well at a substation of the Krasne railway station following a missile attack in Lviv. We have no immediate word on casualties. But officials say Russian forces launched the missiles into Ukraine from the southeast, likely, from strategic bombers. And as I'm just talking to, here is an air siren. We heard this initial air sirens about over an hour or so ago. We only get two. One, when it's obviously an alert, a warning and the second, when an all clear has been given. So, this I would assume would be the all clear.

Obviously, what we saw that first siren was happening those at those railway stations being hit. The breaking news, five railway stations being hit in the Lviv region. Of course, will stay on top of the breaking news story. But this is the reality here. Not just for us, but for many civilians. This is what they have to live with. As the sirens continue to sound across Ukraine, as Russia continues to push its offensive. Not just in the east, not just in the south, but clearly in different parts of Ukraine.

And that is the all clear for people living here in Lviv. We'll stay on top of this breaking a story for you.

Meantime, against this backdrop that I just described, two top U.S. officials met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and defense Secretary of State Lloyd Austin are the highest-level U.S. official to visit Ukraine since the conflict began 60 days ago. There obviously visiting as sirens continued to sound day in day out. Blinken pulled no punches really, when rebuking the Russian invasion. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Russia has sought as its principal aim to totally subjugate Ukraine. To take away it sovereignty. To take away its independence. That has failed. It sought to assert the power of its military, and its economy. We, of course, are seeing just the opposite. A military that is dramatically underperforming, and an economy, as a result of sanctions, as a result of a mass exodus from Russia that is in shambles. And it sought to divide the West and NATO. Of course, we're seeing exactly the opposite.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: But Russia is continuing to step up its military campaign in the east. Ukraine's regional military governor in Kremenchuk says that nine Russian missile struck the central Ukrainian city on Sunday. And despite being orthodox Sunday, the Orthodox Easter, no humanitarian corridors were open. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia would not guarantee a cease fire. The deputy Prime Minister says she hopes the U.N. can broker a humanitarian evacuation when the Secretary- General visits Moscow this week. And so far, just putting it into perspective for you, more than 5.1 million people have led the fighting in Ukraine to other countries. 7.7 million, as you could see there on your screen, are in internally displacement right now. Well, Stephen Cornish is director general of Medecins Sans Frontieres

and he is joining me now live from Dnipro, Ukraine. Steven, thank you very much for taking your time to speak to. Let's start really where you are in Dnipro. Give us a sense of what you've been seeing on the ground.

STEPHEN CORNISH, DIRECTOR GENERAL, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES: Well, here in Dnipro, things are quite calm. But our team is on the frontlines to the east. And back where we are seeing increase in trauma cases and are working to increase our nebulous service there. To be able to bring the trauma cases back from frontline hospitals to areas that are more secure.

From the south, we are continuing to receive and displaced peoples in cities like Zaporozhe and here in Dnipro where our teams are working in those shelters bringing mental health support. The Ukrainians are doing a very good job between volunteers and the local medics, but we're bringing the extra things that are falling through the gaps. And we know that many of these people have lived through weeks and weeks of intense shelling. There are stories of heartbreak and loss and almost every family that makes it. And so, the mental scars of war are just as important to us as the physical ones.

SOARES: Absolutely, and it is not like we have pointed out, just before we came to you, Stephen, it's not those who have left. But the displaced -- 7.7 million is a staggering figure. In the last few minutes or so, at the top of the hour, in fact, we heard reports -- I reported on the fact that the U.S. defense official and the highest defense diplomat from the U.S. have provided more support -- pledging more support, military aid but also medical aid to Ukraine. What kind of supplies, Stephen, would you want to see in that package from an aid's standpoint here?

[04:40:00]

CORNISH: Well, I wouldn't be able to comment on what's in the U.S. package. I know the types of humanitarian and medical assistance that we are providing. On the front line, of course, it's trauma kids and medical and surgical apparatus. We're also very concerned with the elderly and vulnerable population left behind in many of these towns. People who are on poor diets, are living under shelling in these underground basements or having their existing conditions like diabetes -- difficult to find medicine. Hypertension do also to the war and diet.

So, we're seeing a lot of noncommunicable diseases. And it's very important that we bring medicine for every day occurrences in the frontline areas. The pharmacies are closed. And the healthcare system that was in place is looking very tenuous. So, it's important that we minister to the population and all the types of needs that they have. Not only the war related trauma.

SOARES: Yes, and actually, Stephen, on that point, we have seen from our teams on the ground that a large majority of those staying behind in some of these towns are the elderly, like you point out. I mean, has MSF been able to get the supplies to those who need it most in the frontlines? Those who really decided or decided they can't leave or the won't leave. Give us a sense of what you are hearing, your teams on the ground are hearing?

CORNISH: Yes, so in many cases, yes, we're able to get supplies. Sometimes directly, sometimes through volunteer networks. We also see the displacement arriving here and many shelters have opened up. A lot of the shelters have bedridden elderly patients that are looking for things even like adult diapers. So, it is very, very difficult for it to get everywhere and to everyone. And there are many gaps in many places where healthcare is in extremely short supply. There are areas also where our teams have been visiting from southern Donetsk and other areas, which are under such intense shelling that it's not possible for us to go. We also have to make sure that our teams are safe as well.

And so, there definitely are gaps in areas where the needs are not being met. And we certainly would hope to be able to access all of those areas. It's very important that all parties to the conflict spare civilians and medical infrastructure. That we see sometimes in this conflict. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

SOARES: And, what you just really highlighted there, Stephen, is the need, the desperate need for these humanitarian corridors to put back safely. So, people can make their way to safety. Stephen Cornish, in Dnipro, Ukraine. Thank you very much taking time to speak to us. Thank you to your team as well for all the incredible work you are doing on the ground.

And, if you'd like to help those in Ukraine, who maybe need of shelter, food and water. Please go to our website. CNN.com/impact. And there you'll find several ways that you can help safely and securely.

And in the last few minutes, I'm sure if you're with me, you heard the sirens sounding here in Lviv, Ukraine. That siren, that sound of that long siren, that wasn't the all clear as we thought. That siren is warning in fact the danger is so very much in place. This, of course, as we heard in the last few minutes, that Russia has attacked five railway stations in central and western Ukraine. One of them about 35 miles also from our live position here in Lviv. Of course, we'll stay on top of the breaking news as soon as we have more, we shall bring it to you. In the meantime, I want to send you to Max Foster in London -- Max.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Isa Soares, thank you so much. Just ahead, it's a milestone anniversary for the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. Find out what North Korea might have in store for the big occasion.

[04:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Welcome back. Monday is the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. And international monitors are expecting a military parade, and possibly other weapons displays from North Korea to mark the occasion. North Korea has conducted a series of ballistic missile tests this year. But the U.S. and South Korea believe Pyongyang could soon resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in five years. CNN's Blake Essig joins me now from Tokyo with more on this. We are waiting to see if and when the parade starts. And exactly what is in it.

BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, Max, we understand rain may have played a role in the recent delay for the parade. But as you just mentioned, we now continue to wait as the weather is expected to clear overnight. Now through satellite imagery and other reports, South Korea has detected signs that Pyongyang is planning to hold a massive military parade, if it happens.

Observers expect North Korea to feature tens of thousands of troops, hundreds of military vehicles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, a hypersonic glide vehicles and submarine launched ballistic missiles. Well, like it looks like North Korea is gearing up for that military parade, U.S. and South Korean officials believe that Pyongyang is also preparing for nuclear weapons test. It's first in about five years.

Now that's because for weeks, South Korea has reported that the North has been working to restore several tunnels Punngye-ri. Its main nuclear test site. This is the same underground test facility that that North had previously claim to have destroy back in 2018, after Kim Jong-un declared the country's nuclear arsenal complete. If North Korea does conduct another nuclear tests, it will be the country's seventh since they first started testing in 2006.

Now, knowing a possible show of force from North Korea, is likely a U.S. carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln -- recently spent time conducting joint drills with Japanese forces in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. To send a message to Kim Jong- un that the recent number of missile tests conducted this year is not appreciated.

So far, Pyongyang has conducted more than a dozen weapons tests this year. That includes testing what they claim was a new type of ICBM -- the Hwasong-17 about a month ago. Of course, South Korean military officials and missile experts believe it was actually an older and smaller ICBM that was tested.

Max, experts say that this year's recent flurry of missile tests is aimed at the domestic audiences as opposed to the international audience. That domestic audience in North Korea, as a show of achievement, to cover-up for economic struggles -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, let's see when it happens. Blake Essig in Tokyo. Thank you so much indeed.

The first all private mission to the International Space Station has wrapped up. They paid millions of dollars for the experience. And got even more than they bargained for. That story is just ahead.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) FOSTER: The first all-private mission to the International Space Station will soon be back home. The passengers enjoyed a few extra days amongst the stars due to some weather delays down here on earth. CNN's Rachel Crane gives us the rundown on their return trip and what they experienced in space.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL CRANE, CNN INNOVATION AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT: The crew of AX- 1, the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station is now on its journey back to Earth.

SpaceX spacecraft Endeavor undocked from the space station to begin its roughly 16-hour journey home, a journey that involves several burns to distance the vehicle away from the International Space Station. As it eventually de-orbits, and then makes an expected parachuted splash-down off the coast of Florida Monday afternoon.

Now, the whole process is autonomous. So, the four crew members on board will be able to take in the last moments of their journey, which three of the crew members are rumored to have paid a whopping $55 million a seat for.

Now, the whole mission was only intended to be about ten days, but Mother Nature was on their side, because weather violations at the landing sites delayed this return by five days. So, the crew had a few extra days to simply enjoy the space flight experience and take in those views from above.

[04:55:00]

Now, they were very busy on station, and accomplished over 100 hours of science experiments while on board. Including one involving self- assembly research for future satellites in space habitats. Cancer stem cell study, as well as conducted educational outreach, and even auctioned off some NFTs. Now, while the splash-down will mark the end of the journey for the crew, for Axiom Space, the company that arranged this journey with NASA and SpaceX, it's just the beginning, they say.

The company has plans for several other private journeys like this one, and they intend to add their own module onto the International Space Station in 2024 to house more private astronauts and eventually have their own free-flying space station.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Plenty of action in the NBA playoffs on Sunday with four games. And New Orleans star forward Brandon Ingram Rallied the Pelicans to a 118-103 victory over the top seeded Phoenix Suns. The best of seven series is now tied two games apiece.

In Denver, the Nuggets avoided a sweep by defeating the Golden State Warriors 126-121. Once again, Denver got an MVP like performance out of their star center, Nikola Jokic. And in the east, the top seeded Miami Heat rolled past the Atlanta Hawks 110-86. The Hawks had no answer for Jimmy Butler, who led the way with 36 points. The Heat now leads the series three games to one.

And the defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks easily took down the Chicago Bulls 119-95. The Bucks are just one win away from ending that series in five games.

That does it here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. Our coverage continues in "EARLY START" with Laura Jarrett in New York. You're watching CNN.

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