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Ukraine Repels Several Attacks as Russia Ramps Up Offensive; Ukrainian Paramedics Work to Save Lives Amid Attacks; U.S. Defense Chief Lloyd Austin Holds Meetings on Ukraine in Germany; Push for Peace as Russia Ramps Up Strikes on Ukraine; Civilians Still Sheltering at Mariupol's Azovstal Plant. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 26, 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]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares coming to you from Lviv in Ukraine. And we are following breaking news coverage of the War in Ukraine. And just ahead right here --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We are going to do everything we can to push back on President Putin's aspirations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you want to restore the old empire, you lose. And if you go against the Ukrainians, you lose.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ukrainians are dying for us now for this choice of freedom and democracy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My city now looks like huge cemetery.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

SOARES: It is Tuesday, April 26th, 11:00 a.m. here in Lviv, Ukraine. The country's military says that it has successfully repelled several attacks in the east as well as the south as Russia continues to ramp up its offensive in its new phase of fighting now three months into the war.

Russian troops are in control of the Kherson city council, they have been occupying the region for weeks now. The city's mayor says the armed men entered the building and installed their guards on Monday. This coming of course just days ahead of a so-called independence referendum. Ukraine's president slammed it as illegitimate and praised the civilians standing up to Russian forces. Have a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): People showed with their protests their attitude toward the occupiers that Ukraine would definitely win. Does Russia want to play a sham referendum somewhere on our land? Even if they tried, it will be as shameful as anything else that was created in Moscow for the occupation of Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine. Nonstop Russian shelling has been reported in the Luhansk and as well as Donetsk regions. And Luhansk administrator says the Russians are raising everything to the ground. He referred specifically to this tiny village on the front lines which has seen intense fighting over the past week. And now -- as you can see on the screen -- just lies in ruins. Ukrainian forces and Russian backed separatists are blaming each other for the destruction there.

Meanwhile, ahead of a meeting with the U.N. chief in the coming hours, Russia's foreign minister says that the danger of nuclear war is, quote, serious but he insists Russia is doing everything it can to lower those risks. Well, the demands on health care workers, as you can imagine, have increased exponentially since the beginning of the invasion, many are putting their own lives at risk every day to save others. CNN's Clarissa Ward and her team followed two brave paramedics as they attempted to save a wounded man during a heavy shelling in Russia -- in Ukraine, pardon me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's the beginning of a 24-hour shift for paramedics, Aleksandra Rutkovskaye (ph) and Vladimir Venzo (ph). They prepare their ambulance for the carnage that Kharkiv residents confront every day.

(VLADIMIR VENZO speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "We have to tourniquets," Vladimir says. Aleksandra's mother stops by the dispatch center to give her daughter a hug. This is one of the most dangerous jobs, every moment together is precious.

A loud stream of boom signals the day's work is beginning.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "That's incoming now," this ambulance worker tells us. Aleksandra and Vladimir answer the call.

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.) WARD (voice over): "Temperatura," say says. The code used when someone has been wounded by shelling. Their flak jackets on, they're ready to roll out.

WARD: So, they've said that they got reports, one person at least has been injured in the shelling and they're hearing some rockets as well, so we're going to see what's going on.

WARD (voice over): The shells hit a residential apartment building, the paramedics need to act fast. Russian forces are increasingly hitting the same target twice. It's called a "double tap," a horrifying strategy to take out rescue workers as they respond.

We see for ourselves.

"Get in," Vladimir shouts. "Faster, faster, faster."

[04:05:00]

We take cover under the stairwell. Aleksandra is trying to find the wounded person, but there is no signal. At that moment, another barrage moves on. We brace for the impact.

(UNIDENTIFIED MEN AND WOMEN speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "Is everybody okay," Aleksandra asks.

Our team member, Maria Avdeeva (ph) has cut up her hands on broken glass. Vladimir treats her injuries as Aleksandra calls the dispatch again to find where the wounded are.

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "I've got no connection. We are sitting in the entrance," she says, "And they're shelling the shit out of us." The connection keeps dropping.

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): Finally, she gets through to the person who called for the ambulance.

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "Tell me your damn house number," she says. "I repeat 12-G. I've told you a thousand times," he replies, "The man is dying." We decide to try to make a run for it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go. Come on, Maria. Maria, come on. Come on Maria. Come on. Go, go.

WARD: OK, so we were just in an apartment building. They were looking for an injured man, a bunch of rounds came in and hit the next-door building, so now we are getting out as fast as we can.

WARD (voice over): While we run out, Vladimir and Aleksandra run back in. We find them treating the injured man on the side of the road. Their back window has been blown out by the blasts. He has shrapnel injuries and head trauma. Once they've stabilized him, they rush him to the hospital.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): Vladimir asks about his pain. The man has been deafened by the blast. Arriving at the hospital, they've done their part. It's up to others now to save him.

WARD: I have to say I think you guys are like the bravest people I have ever met.

WARD (voice over): Back at base, we asked them why they continue to do this work with all the danger it entails.

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "It's normal. This is our work. Of course, it's scary, like for everyone." Aleksandra says, "Today, you were with us in the hottest place, in the oven, but we're still alive. Thank God."

(VLADIMIR VENZO speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice over): "You feel it's your duty or obligation," Vladimir tells us, "To help the people who are still here."

WARD: And what do your parents say? What does your family say? Aren't they wanting you to stop this work?

VENZO: No comment. No comment. It's very difficult.

WARD: They must be scared.

VENZO: Yes, yes.

WARD: Proud, but scared.

VENZO: Call us all day, all night.

WARD: We saw your mother.

RUTKOVSKAYE: Yes.

(CLARISSA WARD speaking in foreign language.)

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.)

WARD (voice-over): "She is worried to the point of hysteria," Aleksandra tells us. She says, "You need to leave. You need to go to some safe place. Why are you doing this? I have only one child, stop it."

WARD: And what do you say?

(ALEKSANDRA RUTKOVSKAYE speaking in foreign language.) WARD (voice over): "I have to do it," she says simply. And with that, they go back to cleaning their ambulance. Their shift only halfway through.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kharkiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Let me take you to the Ramstein Air Base where U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is speaking.

LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: -- this has only underscored my sense of urgency. Urgency I know that we all share. So, I'd like this whole group today to leave with a common and transparent understanding of Ukraine's security requirements because we're going to keep moving heaven and earth so that we can meet them.

Then you'll hear from General Walters, the coordination mechanism that we have in place can become even stronger with all of your help.

[04:10:00]

And we can do more for our defense industrial bases to continue to help Ukraine defend itself even more capable. Now we're joined today by my dear friend Ukrainian Minister of Defense Reznikov. Good to have you here and we welcome your team as well.

We're all here because of Ukraine's courage, because of the innocent civilians who have been killed and because of the suffering that your people still endure.

SOARES: And you were listening there -- we're trying to reconnect because would he lost our signal to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who was speaking at the Ramstein Air Base. He was talking -- I think we have it back. Shall we try to listen in. Let's try to listen in again.

AUSTIN: ... ravaged. Your hospitals have been bombed. Your citizens have been executed. Your children have been traumatized. But Ukraine has done a magnificent job defending its sovereignty against Russia's unprovoked invasion and Ukraine's valor and skill will go down in military history. You know, the battle of Iwo Jima took 36 days. Battle of the Bulge lasted 40 days. And Ukraine has now beaten back the Russian military for 62 days.

And so, your resistance has brought inspiration to the free world. And even greater resolve to NATO and glory to Ukraine. And we provided our assistance at record speed. And the whole world can see the difference that's making on the battlefield.

You know, Putin never imagined that the world would rally behind Ukraine so swiftly and surely. And after Ukraine's defeat at the battle of Kyiv, pardon me, after Russia's defeat at the -- Russia's defeat at the battle of Kyiv, big distinction there, Mr. Minister, the war is now entering a new phase. But nobody is fooled by Putin's pretext or by his phony claims on the

Donbas. So, let's be clear. Russia's invasion is indefensible. And so are Russian atrocities. We all start today from a position of moral clarity. Russia is waging a war of choice to indulge the ambitions of one man.

Ukraine is fighting a war of necessity to defend its democracy, its sovereignty and its citizens. But the stakes reach beyond Ukraine and even beyond Europe. Russia's invasion is baseless, reckless and lawless. It is an affront to the rules based international order. It is a challenge to free people everywhere. And as we see this morning, nations of good will from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's imperial aggression. And that is the way it should be.

This gathering reflects the galvanized world. Since Russia's invasion on February 24th, more than 30 of our allies and partners from across the globe have joined the United States to rush security assistance to Ukraine. And together we have committed horn more than $5 billion of equipment to support Ukraine's self-defense and that includes some $3.7 billion that President Biden has committed to help Ukraine since Russia's invasion began.

My trip to Kyiv reinforced my admiration for the way that the Ukrainian armed forces are deploying these capabilities. Ukraine clearly believes that it can win. And so does everyone here. Now to inform our common understanding of the situation, you'll be hearing later from several of my teammates including our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley, and I look forward to hearing from all of you as well.

I know that we're all determined to do everything we can to meet Ukraine's needs as the fight evolves. And that includes talking today about a framework for continuing to work together and look ahead. We have much more to do. Ukraine needs our help to win today. And they will still need our help when the war is over.

[04:15:03]

As President Biden says, our security assistance has gone directly to the front lines of freedom and to the fearless and skilled Ukrainian fighters who are standing in the breach. My Ukrainian friends, we know the burden that you all carry. And we know, and you should know, that all of us have your back. And that is why we're here today. To strengthen the arsenal of Ukrainian democracy.

I'm proud to be here with all of you and I look forward to our vital discussions. And so, we'll pause for a minute and allow our colleagues in the media to depart and then we'll continue. Thank you very much.

SOARES: You have been listening there to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaking at Ramstein Air Base, NATO members, alongside the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. That meeting is going to take place following on from that press conference just now. He is joined there as he said by Ukraine's Minister of Defense, and it follows of course his meeting -- his face-to-face meeting I should add in Kyiv, in Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy that happened on Sunday.

So, in terms of what he said -- let me give you some highlights of what he said. We are here to continue to help Ukraine defend itself, right here because of Ukraine's courage he said and suffering of the people of Ukraine. Your hospitals are being bombed, your citizens are being executed. Your children he said are being traumatized. He said we can do more to help Ukraine defend itself. And he called Russia's aggression, imperial aggression, saying that Russia's aggressions and atrocities are indefensible. Russia is waging a war of choice for one man. And so, we'll keep on top of what comes out of that meeting a bit later on this hour.

But breaking news in the meantime to come out -- coming in to CNN right now. The Interior Ministry reports two radio towers have been damaged by explosions in the breakaway Transnistria region in Moldova. Now the ministry says no radio staff or residents were hurt. No information was given about the cause of these explosions, but Ukraine is blaming Russia for a series of explosions on Monday calling them a planned provocation. Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova in 1990 -- although it's not recognized by the international community. Russia has about 1,500 or so troops stationed there. And has claimed Russian speakers are being oppressed. We'll stay on top of that breaking news story.

This is a busy morning, so I want to get the insight and perspective from Orysia Lutsevych. She's the director of Ukraine Forum at Chatham House and she joins me now live from London. Good to see you, Orysia. Let me ask, I imagine that you were listening there to what Lloyd Austin was saying, there's strong words yet again, and very clear position from the U.S. vis-a-vis this war in Ukraine and Russia too.

ORYSIA LUTSEVYCH, RESEARCH FELLOW, CHATHAM HOUSE: It's a real important day today, I think of the meeting of the alliance and such a steadfast U.S. leadership. I mean, we have seen Ukraine's perseverance and the total mobilization of population. And in Ukraine, 90 percent of civilians and armed forces believe they can repel Russian aggression. And here today, we also heard from Secretary Austin saying we also believe Ukraine can win. But there is still a lot do jointly with an alliance to develop a strategy so that all members of the alliance share the vision and work towards that vision. It's very important.

SOARES: Indeed, and we shall find out what comes out of that meeting throughout the day. In the meantime, here in Ukraine -- and particularly in the east and the south -- we have seen, Orysia, a very intense and nonstop shelling, I think it is fair to say, including attacks on railways in the last 24 hours. I'm talking about in the Lviv region. Which shows in many ways how much it's a war of logistics.

LUTSEVYCH: Well, absolutely. Any military strategy to be successful needs a backing of supply lines, of ammunitions, of food, medical supplies. And that railway connection is key for Ukraine. Ukraine has actually one of the most densely developed and sophisticated railway systems in Europe and that is why that railway was sustaining the first two months of war and also remember allowing people to flee. Most of the Ukrainians were fleeing bombardments through the railway.

[04:20:00]

And so, it is key that Ukraine sustains those lines, quickly repairs. From what we understand, the trains restored their capacity yesterday, so the damage was inflicted but it was not critical.

SOARES: Let's talk Mariupol because we have seen humanitarian corridors -- we haven't seen humanitarian corridors the last few days in fact. How much longer, Orysia, do you think those people that have been holed up inside the women, children, soldiers can hold on for here? Because it has been -- it's been what, 50 plus days?

LUTSEVYCH: Yes, absolutely it is from the first of March. Actually, Mariupol is under the siege and Ukrainian armed forces succeeded to supply something via helicopter drops at night and some of that storage munitions, some food, but mostly it's military supplies are stored in Azovstal, one of the largest steel factories in Europe.

It's hard to tell. I don't think that this can last for very long. That it is so critical that women and children are allowed to exit. You know, I don't have high hopes, but I still hope perhaps General Secretary Guterres will be able to negotiate at least exit of women and children out of there because I'm sure the situation is existential for them. It is a matter of life or death in several days for civilians. I'm not talking about military personnel. They can I am sure will stay longer because there are a lot of underground tunnels in that factory.

SOARES: Yes, and we know that the General Secretary Antonio Guterres is meeting with President Putin and Sergey Lavrov in Moscow today. Let me ask you this, because there's talk here, Orysia, that Russia's generals will need to provide Putin some sort of Victory, a win of some kind, by May 9, which is the World War II Victory day I think it is, in Russia. Do you fear that Mariupol and its plant may be a trophy they're trying to get?

LUTSEVYCH: You're right, I think that this is the easiest trophy and kind of an understandable trophy that they could get. It is the large port town that in a way has already been to a large degree obliterated, taken under control. And we've seen this vicious images of the fighters exterminating, you know, whatever was walking on the street.

But I think beyond that, it is very difficult to imagine how Russians can establish any solid control over the larger territory in Donbas and that fight with the proper assistance from the West will be very vicious and difficult from the Russians. So really there's very little that they can say other than Mariupol. Which in the military terms they have not taken, they have destroyed.

SOARES: Yes, completely destroyed as we have seen the images from the ground. Orysia Lutsevych, always great to get your insight and your perspective. Thanks, Orysia.

Well, I want to get more now from CNN's Oren Liebermann who is standing by at Ramstein Air Base, who was at that press conference, who was listening in to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. And Oren, what I heard was a very clear messaging yet again from the Secretary- General about the U.S. position on what they can do alongside NATO allies to try and help Ukraine here.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Isa, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said right in the opening statement here that Ukraine can win this fight, but it is a question of what weaponry the U.S. and others can provide them. And that is the purpose of this whole meeting here with some 40 plus countries here, this being called the Ukraine Defense Consulting Group to have those discussions.

Not only about what weapons Ukraine needs in the short and medium term to stay in and succeed in this fight that were seeing now. But also, in the long-term. What happens if and when it drags out or even if and when there is an end to the fight and what kinds of weapons do they need at that point to protect their own sovereignty.

So that is the purpose of these discussions going on here right now. We heard more of that same optimistic, perhaps even more of that same definitive rhetoric from Austin and from the American administration, that Ukraine can win this fight as long as they keep on providing those weapons. And we've seen that continuation of announcements not only the $3.4 billion that the U.S. has provided up until this point, but also the announcement we saw just yesterday of another $165 million in sales of essentially Soviet era ammunition to the Ukrainians. The sort of weapons that they know right now. But there are the beginnings of discussions and the thinking process about what it would take to convert them and transition them to the sort of NATO- capable weapons. The type of weapons that the U.S. is using. What's the training they would need. How do he get those weapons in. So, that's part of what this discussion is all about as the U.S. watching closely.

In terms of how today will play out, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov is here. So, he'll give a situational update. What the battle looks like and how it's unfolding in south and east Ukraine. And then it's two different sessions. One focused on the short and the medium term and one focused on the longer term bringing together all the countries to figure out who has the weapons Ukraine needs and who can get it to them and how quickly -- Isa.

[04:25:04]

SOARES: And on that point, Oren, are all the NATO allies and leaders on the same page here? Because there has been criticism that perhaps Germany has been somewhat slow and has been hesitating somewhat in providing military material.

LIEBERMANN: So, there's the broader question of do all NATO countries support Ukraine and that answer is clearly yes. But there is some hesitancy on the part of some NATO countries in terms of what weapons they're willing to send in. But nobody has slowed the process. Now it's worth noting that NATO hasn't sent in weapons on its own. It has largely been countries within NATO making the decision either unilaterally or bilaterally in discussions with Ukraine to send weapons. And that's how that process has unfolded.

Now has Germany, have others faced criticism for not sending in weapons? Yes, of course, we've seen that play out. Are we expecting perhaps more announcements? Well, it's unclear what comes out of today, if this is just discussions or if we're accepting or expecting something concrete. We'll wait to see that. But part of the point of the U.S. and for example the U.K. being so loud and so open about sending in weapons is that it makes it easier for other countries to do the same either publicly or quietly through the system the U.S., the U.K. and others have established.

SOARES: And I know that you will bring us up to speed as soon as we get more developments from that meeting there. Oren Liebermann, great to see you. Oren Liebermann in Germany, thank you very much.

And this breaking news just in from the warzone, Ukrainian authorities say two guided missiles were fired at the city of Zaporizhzhia in central Ukraine on Tuesday. The regional military administration said one person was killed and one was injured. It says infrastructure facilities were damaged and a third missile exploded in the air.

And we've got much more of our breaking news coverage just ahead. For now, though, I want to send it back to my colleagues Max Foster who is in London and following the other top stories for today -- Max.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed, Isa. And we're looking at Twitter of course, Elon Musk is set to acquire one the most influential social media platforms. Why this Twitter takeover is already ruffling feathers.

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