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Zelenskyy: Russia Seeks To Destroy All Of Donbas; Ukrainian Commander Appeals For Safe Passage From Mariupol; Russia Making Slow Advances In Eastern Ukraine; Blast At Kabul Mosque Kills At Least 10, Injures Dozens; U.S. Volunteer Killed While Fighting For Ukraine; Boris Becker Sentenced To 2.5 Years In Jail; Kansas Hit By Massive Tornado. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired April 30, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes in Atlanta, appreciate your company.

Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, defenders hold the line in what is left of Mariupol. But time is not on the side of the Ukrainian survivors, running low on food, water and ammunition. We're live in Lviv with the latest.

An explosion during Friday prayers in Kabul adds to a series of deadly attacks on mosques.

Plus how the mighty fall: former tennis star Boris Becker convicted, headed to jail. We'll have the full story coming up.

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HOLMES: Ukraine is touting its progress in efforts to hold off advancing Russian forces in the east. The Ukrainian military says it has driven back 14 enemy attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past 24 hours.

Ukraine also says it's repelled Russia's latest efforts to make a breakthrough in Izyum but Ukraine have not been able to stop Russia from doing extensive damage to some key supply lines.

This is the aftermath of the attack on an important railway hub in the Donetsk region. Meanwhile, another mass grave discovered on Friday in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha; 900 civilians have within found dead there in the wake of Russian forces pulling out.

Now Russia's focus is now on the eastern Donbas region. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says Moscow's aim is to kill everyone living there. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Only if Ukraine would stand, will they live. If the Russian invaders succeed in realizing their plan, at least in part, they will still have enough artillery and aircraft to destroy the entire Donbas, just as they destroyed Mariupol.

The city, which is one of the most developed in the region, is simply a Russian concentration camp in the middle of ruins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: For more, let's turn to Isa Soares in Lviv.

Good morning to you, Isa.

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Michael.

You heard President Zelenskyy say while the Russians focus on Donbas, they haven't taken their eyes of Mariupol. His office on Friday told us an operation was planned to evacuate civilians inside the steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol.

There are about 1,000 or so civilians holed up inside and they are desperately running out of food and water, having not seen daylight for some 50-plus days. That operation didn't go ahead. Instead, they face relentless attacks from Russian forces. Scott McLean has the story for you.

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SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are Russian troops making a break for cover in the streets near the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. One of them is shot along the way. His fellow soldier attempts to pull them to safety amidst heavy fire.

One Ukrainian deputy commander says that Russia is not only bombarding the plant from the sky but now also attacking from the ground.

SVIATOSLAV PALAMAR, DEPUTY COMMANDER, AZOV REGIMENT (through translator): As of today, there have been attempts to storm the territory of Azovstal. This is infantry. This is enemy military equipment but those attempts have been beaten off as of this hour.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, which is leading the fight from the plant says that recent bombing left some sellers and bunkers cut off by rubble. He's not sure if there are survivors trapped inside.

He says bombing also hit a field hospital turning the number of wounded soldiers to more than 500. City mayor puts the number of injured at more than 600.

MCLEAN: How many do you think will survive the next day or two? PALAMAR (through translator): I'm not going to say how long we could be here but I'm going to say that we're doing everything we can to stabilize them.

MCLEAN (voice-over): With the soldiers in the plant are hundreds of civilians, mostly elderly, women and children they say as young as four months old. Ukrainian officials say are also running low on food and water.

Thursday, the U.N. secretary general arrived in Kyiv determined to broker a deal to safely evacuate civilians from the plant after securing an agreement in principle from Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

[04:05:00]

MCLEAN (voice-over): Friday morning, Zelenskyy's office announced an operation to evacuate civilians was planned for Friday but no other details. Palamar said a convoy was in route but had yet to arrive. He is also hoping for a deal to allow soldiers to get out though perhaps it's a long shot.

MCLEAN: Would you rather die fighting then surrender yourself to the Russians?

PALAMAR (through translator): We are not considering the terms of surrender. We are waiting only for guarantees of exit from the territory of the plant. That is if there is no choice but captivity, we will not surrender.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Petro Andryushchenko, an advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol says getting soldiers evacuated safely would take an international intervention or a divine one.

PETRO ANDRYUSHCHENKO, ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR OF MARIUPOL: I really want something like miracle. It look like a Pope has to sit to the main bus from Zaporizhzhya and driving to Azovstal to take to the bus our soldier and get back.

MCLEAN: You don't think that it makes sense for the soldiers at the steel plant just to surrender themselves to the Russians?

ANDRYUSHCHENKO: It might be.

MCLEAN: That might be the best thing to do.

ANDRYUSHCHENKO: Yes.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Scott McLean, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.

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SOARES: Incredibly hard to hear that.

Some civilians who managed to make it out of Mariupol have a night club owner to thank. He repeatedly returned to the city to bring supplies and helped evacuate 200 people. He told CNN's Erin Burnett how he witnessed scenes of desperation.

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MYKHAILO PURYSHEV, CONVOY ORGANIZER (through translator): It was a shock. After giving out all of this humanitarian aid, I really didn't know what to do, you know. You see the women fighting for food. It is a shock.

I tried to organize them. I tried to do something about this because I understood that there was just not enough food for all of them. And no matter how hard I tried to distribute properly, the porridge or food, milk formula for children, there's still not enough.

And they're all there, just fighting. To one of those trips actually, they nearly turned my van over. And it was just a survival. I would watch and understand this is just survival happening near our vans, which came with all the humanitarian aid. And it was an absolutely horrible picture.

And frankly, a couple of times, I actually caught myself thinking that I do not want to come back. I do not want to see this again. And yet, I still kept coming back because I understood there wouldn't be anyone else to do this.

All I thought was my children. I was worried I wouldn't see them. I was worried I wouldn't see them again.

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SOARES: And just incredible acts, Michael, of bravery we are seeing. I know you witnessed them, too, when you were here in Ukraine. But you're seeing them every day. And it's taking a toll on those trying to help those inside Mariupol, 100,000 people inside Mariupol, 1,000 in that steel plant. It's a very dire situation.

I can tell you, Michael, when I can tell you, Michael, when I spoke to the CEO of that steel plant, he told me they only had about food and water for about 2-3 weeks and now we're at 50-plus days.

HOLMES: So many civilian deaths that we know about, let alone what's going to be found out when this is all over. Incredible, Isa, thank you. We'll see you next hour. Appreciate it.

Isa Soares there.

Now more than two months of fighting has obviously taken a heavy toll on Ukraine's infrastructure. Railway stations, hospitals, fuel depots, water systems have all been targets of Russian bombs and missiles. Heavy weapons laying waste to some major cities; you can see some of that in the video there from Kharkiv.

One Ukrainian soldier says he's still stunned by the sheer amount of destruction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I couldn't even imagine that something like this could happen. Everything is destroyed. Not one house will remain intact after this, no windows, craters everywhere. I understood the situation here but not at this level.

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HOLMES: But President Zelenskyy says the infrastructure is not just the collateral damage; he says the Russian attacks are all part of a plan.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): In Donbas, the occupiers are doing everything to destroy any life in this area. Constant brutal bombings, constant Russian strikes at infrastructure and residential areas, so that Russia wants to make this area uninhabited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:10:00]

HOLMES: For more, I'm joined by Volodymyr Omelyan, a former Ukrainian infrastructure minister, speaking with us from Kyiv.

And thanks for doing so, sir. First of all, I wanted to ask you this. President Biden has asked Congress for $33 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Where is that aid most needed, the military aid specifically?

VOLODYMYR OMELYAN, FORMER UKRAINIAN INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER: Michael, it's my honor with you today. We are very grateful to U.S. nation and Mr. Biden for support because it's our common war. And I'm 100 percent sure that we will win in this war.

There is no matter of price; we should get the results. Concerning the assistance for Ukraine by Mr. Biden, definitely more ammunition, especially heavy artillery and aircraft. Definitely we need more -- any kind of sophisticated weapon to stop Russians and start counter offensive, get them out of our country.

But we should also realize that it's not the issue that Russian troops leave Ukraine. this is the issue what will be with Russia and Kremlin because they are ready to come back in a year or 10 years' time and (INAUDIBLE) relentless and to keep Europe safe.

Concerning the assistance in infrastructure, definitely, we are hoping desperately to rebuild Ukraine. But my wish is to build new Ukraine, top feel secure not only for our nation but for the whole Europe.

HOLMES: Yes, I wanted to move onto that, because you are, of course, the former infrastructure minister.

When this is eventually over and you look at the utter destruction around your country, do you have any sense of just how massive the task will be, of rebuilding not just buildings but the economy as well?

OMELYAN: This is a great question to talk about because definitely we should find our place in the world and we should also become part of European Union and NATO. There is no other way to resolve the issue.

And if you talk about the economy, I think that Ukraine can now present a lot of new developments in military field. Definitely we are still good with grain and steel production. But we should look into artificial intelligence and I.T. here, especially when we talk about drones and other things to develop.

HOLMES: How concerned are you that Russia will begin to hit weapons convoys coming into the country; the railways have already been targeted.

Do you worry that some of these arms shipments themselves will be hit?

And if so, what can the West do about it?

OMELYAN: You know, when the United States joined World War II, it was the final thing for Hitler and Nazi Germany. Right now, Putin realizes that lend-lease is not for Soviet Union; lend-lease is for Ukraine, because Soviet Union is not Germany right now. And Putin isn't Hitler.

The Russians are very much worried about supplies from the West because they do understand, with new ammunition, with new artillery, it's impossible to fight Ukrainians. They would like to hit. But I do not believe that it's possible because it could have been done many weeks before but nothing is happening. We still have security supplies (ph).

HOLMES: I can't tell but it almost looks behind you like there is wheat there. And it occurs to me that Ukraine has accused Russia of literally stealing Ukrainian wheat on an industrial scale and shipping it back to Russia.

What do you think is going to be the food situation for Ukraine and, in fact, the world, with the wheat harvest being stolen or not happening at all because of the fighting?

OMELYAN: Ukraine still feels secure about the wheat and agriculture. But definitely this is an issue for the world because we are one of the biggest suppliers to the world market of grain and many other things.

Russia is doing this very precise thing. If you look back into the past few, recall that Russians was cutting (ph) the West not only with gas and oil supplies but also with wheat supply.

Putin's dream 10 years ago was to establish kind of grain OPEC (ph). He failed but still he's looking in that direction, to control also agriculture and food supply to the world and to the West in particular. I believe that it will be stopped regardless. But right now, they are robbing our terminals and grain facilities and taking grain away, as Stalin did in 20th century, from Ukraine --

[04:15:00]

OMELYAN: -- to make people starving from the hunger. But there is no chance this policy will go on for long.

HOLMES: Ukraine, of course, a major global supplier of wheat and also sunflower products as well, oils and so on. So a major impact there. Volodymyr Omelyan, thank you so much. It's good to see you again.

OMELYAN: Thank you.

HOLMES: Coming up on the program, another deadly attack in Afghanistan. A live report after the break.

Also incredible pictures out of China of a building collapse. We'll have the latest on that when we come back.

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HOLMES: A Taliban police spokesperson says at least 10 people are dead and 30 wounded after an explosion at a mosque in Kabul after Friday prayers. Witnesses say the death toll could be much higher. This is just the latest in a series of deadly blasts. Joining us now, Arwa Damon.

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HOLMES: What more do we know?

This has been happening almost daily, if not weekly.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It has, Michael, and it is quite tragic for the Afghan population. And these attacks have not been isolated in just one city. They have been taking place throughout the entire country.

The vast majority of the targets are mosques, generally visited by Afghanistan's Shia minority. But some Sunni mosques have been targeted as well. And then about 10 days ago or so, there were those horrendous attacks that took place at a high school and a learning center.

This most recent attack, many are saying the death toll could potentially be much higher. Here is how one eyewitness described it.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Around 300 to 400 people were there, performing rituals, when the blast went off. I helped carry 10 to 15 wounded people and three who were killed to vehicles. Many of the injured and martyred are still being evacuated from the area. There are many casualties.

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DAMON: Also worth reminding all of our viewers, Michael, that we are in the last days of Ramadan, when many will go to the mosques more frequently.

HOLMES: Arwa Damon in Turkey. We appreciate the report.

American parents hoping to vaccinate their young children against COVID-19 may soon get their wish. According to the latest meeting by the U.S. FDA, a COVID vaccine for kids under 5 could come as soon as June.

The agency's vaccine advisory committee will review data from Moderna and Pfizer and discuss whether their emergency use authorizations for young children should be approved.

From there, the CDC would have to sign off on the authorization before shots could start going into young arms.

According to a recent study, Pfizer's COVID pill is effective once you're infected but it doesn't stop you from catching the disease. According to Pfizer, recent data shows its drug Paxlovid did not significantly reduce the risk of infection in adults.

But the safety data was consistent with earlier studies showing the pills to be nearly 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization or death in high-risk COVID patients, when taken for five days shortly after the onset of symptoms.

COVID cases in Shanghai, China, appear to be on the way down. On Friday, the global financial hub reported just under 10,000 new infections, a fall of over 5,000 from the day before. Shanghai has been one of the country' hardest-hit cities during the latest outbreak, on Friday, China crediting its zero-COVID policy with protecting lives and minimizing economic impact.

Still in China, some stunning video coming in following a building collapse. This is in southern China. State media reporting five people have been rescued. It's unknown how many others might still be trapped in the rubble.

The structure is described as a resident's "self-built house," that had six stories with a restaurant, a cinema and a hotel in addition to private living quarters. No word yet on the cause.

When we come back here on the program, rail cars on fire, bridges destroyed, troops on the move: the latest on Russia's march in Eastern Ukraine.

Also a U.S. citizen was killed in Ukraine while fighting against Russian invaders. When we return, we'll tell you about the 22-year old and why he left home to join the fight.

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HOLMES: Ukraine says it is holding off the Russian offensive on several fronts and that it has repelled 14 attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk over the past 24 hours alone. That includes Russia's latest effort to break through in the Izyum area.

The Ukrainian National Guard says this video shows an artillery attack against Russian armored units in that area.

This comes as another mass grave is found in Bucha. Details on this latest discovery are scarce but since Russia troops withdrew, more than 900 bodies have been discovered.

And in Mariupol, the bombardment of that steel plant has not been letting up. Drone video you're watching showing smoke rising from the steel plant. No word on what's causing that smoke.

A Ukrainian commander inside the plant told CNN earlier, Russian attempts to storm the area have been, in his words, "deflected."

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops and civilians have been holed up there for weeks.

According to a senior U.S. Defense officials, Russia's advances in Eastern Ukraine are slow, incremental and uneven. Even so, extensive shelling of railway and supply line infrastructure. Sam Kiley reports.

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SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russia continues to put pressure on this eastern front as part of what the Russians are calling their second phase, having redefined their entire campaign effort here in Ukraine.

From trying to essentially topple the government, they are now suggesting their effort is to seize the Donbas, the east of the country, and potentially a large swath of the southern coastline.

Now as part of that campaign, they have been driving southeast from the town of Izyum and due south. There have been reports they have been attacking a railway close to a town just effectively on the outskirts of where I am here in Kramatorsk.

Kramatorsk is the ultimate prize and part of that, the Ukrainians know well, is going to be the Russians trying to get across the Donetsk River. They have done so in the Izyum area. But they haven't done so due north of here.

In this part of the campaign, there they are putting pressure on the town of Lyman. A bridge linking Lyman across the river to Slovyansk has been blown. [04:30:00]

KILEY: We don't know whether it was blown by the Ukrainians, which is most likely, or the Russians.

The Ukrainians have been blowing bridges in order to slow the Russian invasion all over the country and it has proved highly effective. But ultimately, as sources here, notably, the mayor of Kramatorsk, believes that the main Russian effort is likely to begin next week.

Perhaps, approaching May the 9th with the signature day of victory day in the former Soviet Union. On top of that, of course, there has been significant troop movements, both on the Russian side and we've seen very substantial troop movements also on the Ukrainian side -- Sam Kiley, CNN, in Kramatorsk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now Sam there mentioned the date of May 9th, known as victory day in Russia, marking the end of World War II. The defense analyst Stuart Crawford said, as we near the date, where he sees the biggest risks of the next several weeks.

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STUART CRAWFORD, DEFENSE ANALYST: I do not think the Russians have sufficient combat power to cut off the Donbas region as I think they would like to do nor do I think they have combat power to take Odessa and link up with the bricklayer (ph) area in Moldova, Transnistria. So they have got to salvage something before May the 9th.

And it would seem to me that if they are able to, for example, completely capture Mariupol, that would be sufficient for Putin to be able to claim a victory in time for the May 9 parade. However, the Ukranian defenders are proving very resilient. And I don't know if the Russians will be able to achieve that in time.

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HOLMES: Stuart Crawford there.

U.S. officials once again are warning Americans not to travel to Ukraine, while expressing condolences for the death of a U.S. citizen there. The family of Willy Joseph Cancel tells CNN the 22-year old died fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Brian Todd with more on that.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He is a 22-year-old American and leaves behind a wife and 7-month-old baby. Former U.S. Marine Willy Joseph Cancel killed on the battlefield in Ukraine. That is according to Cancel's mother, who spoke to CNN.

Neither Cancel's mother nor U.S. officials could provide information on how or where Cancel was killed. JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We know a family is mourning. A wife is mourning. And our hearts are with them.

TODD: Cancel's mother tells CNN he was working a full-time job as a corrections officer in Tennessee when he signed up to work for a private military contracting company shortly before the Ukraine war broke out.

When the conflict began, she says, Cancel agreed to go. He flew to Poland on March 12th and crossed into Ukraine shortly thereafter. She says he was being paid while he was fighting there.

DOUGLAS OLLIVANT, FORMER AFGHANISTAN ARMS CONTRACTOR: That is a horse of a different color than his being directly in some kind of Ukrainian foreign legion.

And that begs the question, who is the client of this private contracting company?

Is it for the government of Ukraine?

TODD: No immediate answers to those questions tonight. And U.S. officials say they don't have an exact count of how many Americans are fighting in Ukraine. A Ukrainian defense official told CNN in early March that, at that time, more than 20,000 people from more than 50 countries had expressed a desire to join the fight.

CNN has interviewed some Americans who volunteered. Former TV Analyst Malcolm Nance described fighting in a special Ukrainian unit called the International Legion.

MALCOLM NANCE, UKRAINE ARMED FORCES VOLUNTEER: It is not just people running around, grabbing rifles and going on the battlefield. It is a unified force that is a component of the Ukrainian army that is deployed on the battle front.

TODD: But another American fighting there, James Vasquez, told CNN he was moving around loosely.

JAMES VASQUEZ, UKRAINE ARMED FORCES VOLUNTEER: Right now, I am pretty much a ghost. Me and a British soldier, him and I (sic) have been kind of like going unit to unit, where we are needed the most.

TODD: U.S. officials are again warning Americans, don't go to Ukraine to fight.

KIRBY: This is an active war zone. This is not the place to be traveling to.

TODD: State Department officials say Russian forces could single out Americans fighting in Ukraine. One official warning that captured Americans could be subject to, quote, "heightened risk of mistreatment."

OLLIVANT: And it is not hard to imagine a situation in which a captured American is tortured, is executed on the battlefield or is just sent back to Moscow to be some type of pawn for political exchange.

[04:35:00]

TODD: At the time she spoke to CNN, Willy Cancel's mother said the people who notified her of his death said his body had not yet been found. She said the men who were with him were trying to recover Cancel's body but that it was simply too dangerous -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Russia not making it easy for Ukraine to replenish its fuel supplies. That's word from the U.S., which says Russia wants to disrupt the Ukrainian military's ability to replenish supply stores and call in reinforcements.

Case in point, this attack on a fuel storage depot in Donetsk. Ukraine asking citizens to save fuel for the military and not drive their cars. Kyiv officials want residents to wait to return and, if they do, to use public transportation.

The Czech Republic's prime minister says his country will not be blackmailed by Russia. Russia has cut off natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria after demanding they pay for it in rubles.

In Warsaw, the Czech prime minister said his country isn't paying in rubles. He adds it's a mistake for anyone to play along with what he calls Russian blackmail.

Hungary, which gets a big portion of its natural gas from Russia, has agreed to the Russian demand. Russia says it's not blackmail.

A potential diplomatic showdown may be brewing over this year's G20 summit. Russian president Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation from Indonesia to attend. But U.S. officials are considering options since President Biden has called for Russia's ejection from the group over the invasion of Ukraine.

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DEREK CHOLLET, COUNSELOR, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: President Biden made clear several weeks ago that he believes that it cannot be business as usual with Russia and that Vladimir Putin should not be able to attend the G20.

This is not the United States' call to make alone and President Biden made that clear. he said if President Putin were to attend, that President Zelenskyy should also have the opportunity to attend as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: This year's G20 summit will take place in Bali on November 15 and 16.

And we want to show you some video we just got in, slowing a group of Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol, displaying their patriotism.

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HOLMES (voice-over): Some of the soldiers with their hands over their hearts there, another even holding a soldier's best friend. A poster on Twitter saying, "Today we celebrate the day of the border guard of Ukraine. Our border guards in Mariupol singing the anthem. Take care of yourself, you are our pride," unquote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Coming up, he was once the top-ranked tennis player in the world. Now Boris Becker heading to jail. We'll speak with an expert after the break.

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[04:40:00]

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HOLMES: The one-time German tennis sensation, Boris Becker, has been sentenced by a British court to two and a half years in jail. The former world number one player failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets after his bankruptcy in 2017. CNN's Patrick Snell has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becker, a six-time grand slam champion and one of the most famous and biggest names in the history of the sport, will serve half his sentence in jail.

The judge, on Friday, adding while accept humiliation as part of the proceedings there has been no humility. This video of him arriving at court on Friday, very significant. Becker wearing a gray suit, white shirt and a striped tie in the famed Wimbledon colors of green and purple.

Becker was declared bankrupt in June of 2017 and that meant he was legally obliged to disclose all his assets. The assets he concealed including around $450,000, which was transferred to several third parties; a property in his homeland, Germany, and 75,000 shares as well. That is according to the U.K.'s insolvency service.

When it suited him, he made full disclosure. When it didn't, he didn't. The words of one prosecutor who had urged the judge to pass a custodial sentence. That according to Reuters.

Becker also accused of concealing and transferring assets and depriving creditors of that more than $2.5 million in assets. The 54 year-old including the press association telling the court, quote, "The proceedings have destroyed his career entirely and ruined any further prospect of earning an income. His reputation is in tatters."

He will not be able to find work and will have to rely on the charity of others if he is to survive.

Becker made tennis history when he won Wimbledon, aged 17 in 1985, putting his hometown on the map. He won Wimbledon the next year, too. That huge boom-boom serve of his. He won three Wimbledon titles in four calendar years. A huge rise to overnight global stardom, the first unseeded male player to win the Wimbledon singles crown. And later, rising to the number one global ranking.

Massive interest over the years in him ever since his private life, the notorious British tabloids at home in the United Kingdom. He would go on to win a total of six grand slam titles over the course of more than a decade. He never won the French Open but he did win two Australian Open titles and the U.S. Open as well in New York City.

He has remained active in the tennis world, most notably as the coach of Novak Djokovic. And also frequent media appearances as a commentator and a pundit as well over the years. Send it right back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Our thanks to Patrick Snell.

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HOLMES: A disaster in Kansas after a swarm of tornadoes tore through that state and Nebraska. We'll go to the CNN Weather Center for the latest.

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HOLMES (voice-over): A massive tornado you see there, passing over Andover, Kansas, on Friday. The governor declaring a state of emergency. City officials say at least 12 people with minor injuries, 50-100 structures damaged.

The National Weather Service says there were more than a dozen tornadoes reported, most of them in Kansas but also in Nebraska, all part of a severe storm system passing through the region this weekend.

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HOLMES: I want to tell you about a beekeeper who went the extra mile to save thousands of bees misdirected to the airport in Atlanta.

According to the Metro Atlanta Beekeeper's Association, the bees were supposed to go to Alaska but were diverted and ended up in Georgia. And when Edward Morgan Jr. arrived, he found many of the insects dead or starving.

He knew the survivors wouldn't make it to Alaska, they'd been kept there in storage for too long. He spent hours finding people who could place them in local hives finally. So that was some good news and most of them were placed but not good for those who didn't make it.

Also want to tell you about beer lovers who are going to be able to toast once again in Munich, Germany, later this year. Oktoberfest coming back and will run from September 17 to October 3rd. The annual brewfest was canceled for two years due to the pandemic.

This year, it's hoped that the event will be restriction free. It usually attracts 6 million revelers from around the world. But Munich's mayor warns it could be canceled again if pandemic measures are reinstated.

That wraps up this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Michael Holmes, we'll have more on the war in Ukraine after the break, you're watching CNN.