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Evacuations from Mariupol Will Resume Today; Ukraine: 100+ Civilians Evacuated from Mariupol Steel Plant; UNHCR: Over 5.4 Million People Have Fled Ukraine; Ukrainian Soldier Dies After Being Captured by Russians; Shanghai Reports Dip in Daily COVID Deaths and Cases. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired May 02, 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]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

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 live from Lviv, Ukraine, and we are following breaking news of Russia's war on Ukraine. And just ahead right here on the show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The shelling was so strong, it kept hitting near us. At the exit of the bomb shelter on the top few steps, you could breathe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The courage is breath taking and has inspired the world, mobilizing a degree of solidarity.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): There was not a day that we did not try to find a solution that would save our people. For the first time there were two days of real ceasefire.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): None of the objectives are met. So, they are trying to scare Ukrainians. They are trying to scare the word. Ukrainians are not afraid and our president and all Ukrainians are bravely defending our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Welcome to the show everyone. It is 11:00 a.m. here in Ukraine. Where there is hope that evacuation from the besieged city of Mariupol could resume soon. Now according to local officials, a convoy overseen by the U.N. and the Red Cross will leave the area today. Now on Sunday, Ukraine's president said more than 100 people were evacuated from the cities Azovstal steel plant. But it's believed hundreds more are still trapped inside that sprawling industrial complex.

Many have been stranded there for weeks or two months or so, under Russian attacks that completely to be honest, completely decimated the city -- as you can see there with that footage. Food and water supplies we've been told have been running dangerously low. But despite those dire conditions, evacuations had to be paused on Sunday night and Ukrainian soldiers said shelling resumed against the plant.

Meanwhile Ukraine's military just released its latest assessment on conditions on the ground. And it says Russian forces are pressing forward in eastern Ukraine, and likely gearing up for an attack on Sloviansk -- as you can see there on your map -- that's an important town in the Donetsk region. We've already seen heavy shelling in the area from Kharkiv in the north, to Donetsk and Luhansk in the south.

This, of course, as the rush to escape Russia's advance continues. On Sunday a CNN team in southern Ukraine witnessed hundreds of people fleeing their homes in Russian occupied Kherson. They spotted a convoy of at least 120 vehicles making their way north to Ukrainian held territory.

CNN correspondents are across the region covering this story. Matt Rivers is for us in Kyiv with the very latest. Vedika Sud -- as we've been showing -- in New Delhi previewing the talks the leaders of India and Germany on Ukraine. But first I want to begin with Scott McLean who joins me hear from Lviv. And Scott, all eyes, of course, yet again on Mariupol. The hopes for signs, a glimmer of hope that the rest of those who are being hold up for two months will be able to get out.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And sometimes no news is good news, Isa. Yesterday we heard precious little about these evacuations. The Deputy Prime Minister apologized for that. She's been leading the charge trying to coordinate, trying to negotiate these corridors. But she did not want to do anything at all to jeopardize the success of this operation.

She also singled out the Red Cross and also the United Nations. Of course, the Secretary-General has made it his personal mission, meeting in Moscow, meeting in Kyiv to try to make this happen. And for a while it seems like not very much would come of those meetings. But now at least we have something. But a commander inside the plant now says that there are 200 civilians about that need to be evacuated today so they are hoping that cease-fire will hold. As for the people who were able to get out yesterday, well for some of them it's been more than two months since they felt the sun on their face.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCLEAN (voice-over): Broad daylight and a row of buses wait for these war weary Ukrainian civilians. The long awaited humanitarian corridor to evacuate shell shocked people stranded in the city of Mariupol opened briefly Sunday. About 100 people left the ruins of the Azovstal steel plant before the operation was paused. It could be a lifeline for those wanting to escape the besieged city which has been pulverized by Russian artillery in recent weeks.

It's estimated that hundreds of civilians are still stuck in bunkers under the steel plant enduring days and nights of relentless bombing trapped with little food, water or medicine.

[04:05:00]

The Red Cross and the United Nations say they are coordinating a safe passage operation which will transport evacuees to Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it took heaven and earth to make this day happen, for talks to open this corridor repeatedly broke down.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): After many weeks of negotiations, after many attempts, among them meetings, calls and countries, proposals, finally, there is not a day we did not try to find a solution that would save our people. Today for the first time in all the days of the war, this vital corridor has started working.

MCLEAN: This evacuee, part of the Red Cross and U.N. convoy, says she is glad to be above ground again. She said she spent weeks in Azovstal bomb shelter and the attacks were terrifying.

NATALIA USMANOVA, EVACUEE (through translator): The shelling was so strong it kept hitting near us. At the exit of the bomb shelter, on the top few steps you could breathe as there was not enough oxygen. I was afraid to even walk out and breathe some fresh air.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Russia's defense ministry also says evacuations are taking place in Mariupol. It says 80 civilians were transported from the complex to a Russian-controlled area. Ukraine says there are hopes more evacuations will continue Monday. But there are reports of shelling once again in the city.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And, Scott, one of the commanders inside that steel plant was saying there are about 600 or so soldiers that have been wounded. Do we know whether they are part of this evacuation plan?

MCLEAN (on camera): Yes, so initially we had been told 600. Now the number being quoted is around 500, not that it makes it that much better. They haven't given a detailed explanation of who is included. We know, obviously, civilians are coming out. But there are no indications that these wounded soldiers are part of this package.

And we didn't get very promising news from the Russian foreign minister yesterday. He did an interview where he said that, you know, Kyiv, and specifically President Zelenskyy, are really pushing this idea of getting those wounded soldiers out of there as part of this evacuation. Because he says that there are foreign mercenaries and extremists among them. Now there's no evidence that that's the case. But obviously, it's impossible to know without being there on the ground. But right now, it's not looking good.

SOARES: And obviously, we don't know the fate of the ones that are unharmed, the soldiers unharmed or whether they all surrender at all. Let me ask you about what's happening in Belgorod. What's the latest there?

MCLEAN: Yes, so there were two explosions early this morning. And you recall that this comes after a fire in that -- at a military installation yesterday which comes after last week, another fire at a weapons depot. The Ukrainians didn't directly take responsibility for that, but they might as well have. An adviser to the president said karma is a very cruel thing.

And the Russians have previously warned that any strikes on Russian soil will be met with a swift response. They are saying do not test Russia's patience on this, but of course, whoever is responsible for these, it continues to be a pattern that we've seen over really the last two months or so.

SOARES: Scott McLean, appreciate it. Keep us posted on the Mariupol evacuations.

Very, very important.

MCLEAN: You bet.

SOARES: Scott McLean there.

Now, the refugee crisis from this war is worsening by the day. The U.N. says almost 5.5 million people have now fled Ukraine since the invasion began in late February. More than half of them are children -- that's according to UNICEF. The vast majority of refugees continue to head west, with more than 3 million crossing into Poland.

I want to bring in James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF join us now from Dnipro, Ukraine. And a very good morning to you, James. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us. Let me start if I could on the evacuations that we're seeing from Mariupol. And finally, we're getting a breakthrough, expecting evacuation to continue today. But of course, we're seeing women and children coming out. They've been holed up inside for two months or so. What are you hearing about these evacuations and the expectation for today, of course?

JAMES ELDER, UNICEF SPOKESPERSON: Yes, hi, big expectations. Apocalyptic conditions in Mariupol. Every person I have spoken to that's come out of there shares the same ghastly experience of living underground, of being terrified, of seeing people injured, children, you know, for two months now have often just been hiding and sheltering and living in kind of unimaginable circumstances and coming out in dribs and drabs.

Today we really hoped to start seeing busloads of civilians coming out. That will be, as you said, Zaporizhzhia. It's about an hour and a half from where we are no. Hitting the road after speaking with you. As were UNICEF since ready. With water, with medical supplies, with counselors, the situation, Isa, it's really important that you know, our duty of care doesn't stop just by keeping children alive.

[04:10:00]

I mean, there's such a degree of trauma on these kids. And we want to be that first response when they get out of that hell hole.

SOARES: Yes, and we heard from President Zelenskyy about 100 or so, people were evacuated to Zaporizhzhia. I know you have teams on the ground in Zaporizhzhia. I don't know if you heard the report from Scott McLean. He was saying that, you know, the youngest child, six months, has spent one third of its life underground. Give me a sense of what your team are hearing from those people that have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant.

ELDER: Yes, very similar. I mean, I go back and forth to Zaporizhzhia each and every day and take any child. You know, take Ilya who is 7 or 8, I think. You know, living underground, seeing people come with wounds of war, right. So, it's a little boy, you know, hearing bombardment, seeing the stress. At this point the adults can no longer pretend there is not a horrendous scenario around him. So, he sees people come with injuries and lives in that, shares food knowing there is not enough food. There has not been enough food. He's told very clearly there is not enough water and time again he's told there might be an evacuation that didn't happen.

Now, it has happened. He'll go to a safe house. And again, we'll get medical support for him. But there are hundreds of children, whether it's in the steel plant or Mariupol, hundreds of children we fear in this fate, and many others under siege in other city, Isa. This is the front line that keeps shifting and keeps trapping kids. And we're going keep seeing that because of the shameless kind of indiscriminate attacks that are ongoing.

SOARES: And James, talk to us about these wounds of war for these children. Because I know your teams are offering counseling. How are you explaining, what are you saying to these children in regards to what is happening?

ELDER: Yes, unfortunately, they know what's happening now, you know. Many Ukrainian children now, Isa, they're acutely aware that the world is unstable, it's unpredictable, and it could be a terrible place. This has been their experience. And that loss, that absolute loss of basic safety for a child, you know, that can have catastrophic effects on their emotional well-being, on their learning, their social development. So, we know that because we've experienced with children elsewhere from Yemen to Syria, and that's the lesson these children have had to endure.

So, for us it's first and foremost about trained counselors. It's medical support, but that is trained counselors. And it supporting parents. The big thing UNICEF does, whether it's cash assistance, or hygiene and help kits, their moms and dads have still been that first line responders. So, UNICEF focuses well just not on child but on parents. It could be cash responses as well. Try and give the parents some support because they're the ones as well who have dealt with incredible trauma and they're the ones we hope can be the front line support.

But at the same time, UNICEF comes in with psychologists, with counselors, with medical help, a whole range of things which is critical and heartwarming. But it's triage, Isa, because the bombardments continue.

SOARES: Yes, and that's exactly what I was going to ask you, James. Because of course, it's wonderful to see the hundred or so civilians, mostly women and children coming out of the Azovstal steel plant, of course. But a reminder to our viewers, that many of these families and these children will be displaced and what the future holds for them. Talk to us, James, about what UNICEF is doing in terms of providing supplies, schooling, housing. I know you've touched on the counseling. But you know, what's next for these families that are displaced within their own country?

ELDER: Yes, our response is very fluid on the front line. There is not really a day that goes past where UNICEF isn't packing a truck with as I say, hygiene, or school in a box, or recreation kits, or help kits or surgical kits. And getting it to those places most in need. Because had such brave Ukrainians on the ground who had relationships with municipalities, with doctors, with volunteers. So, we're able to go -- we pick up a phone, we find where the need is, we pack a truck and we go. I was doing that watching colleagues do this all of yesterday.

It's so essential. Because you know, I went to a house yesterday, three families have all descended, 12 people, you know, they all had homes. Now they're living in a shared space. They need all the support we speak of. And so, it's a daily basis. But it's front line work, Isa. It's not easy. Just last week exactly on this day there was of a team that went to Kramatorsk. Less than a mile away as they delivered life-saving supplies, that horrendous missile killed 50 people including another couple of children. So, it's difficult. It's front line work, but they're brave and they do it hour by hour.

SOARES: And we are incredibly grateful, James, to you and your team for all the brave work that they're doing every single day. James let's keep in touch. I know you are meeting, and your team are meeting some of the people arriving in Zaporizhzhia today. Do keep us posted on those evacuations. Appreciate it, James Elder there.

[04:15:00]

Meantime, Russia has claimed any soldiers who do remain in Mariupol steel plant would be treated humanely. But CNN's Matt Rivers found evidence to the contrary. He has the exclusive story of one Ukrainian fighter apparently captured and later killed by the Russians and a warning, this story contains disturbing images as well as content.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian propaganda with a clear message to the last remaining defenders of Mariupol.

The video says, We guarantee that we will save your lives, and we will follow international laws to guarantee humane treatment. Such will be the case, says the voice-over, with this man, a captured Ukrainian soldier, Dan Zvonyk. The 25-year-old member of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force was captured at the Azovstal steel complex, the last remaining pocket of resistance in the city.

CNN has geolocated the building behind them to an area just Northwest of the plant, a Russian soldier detailing how they'll be treated. "As you are captured," he says, "we will treat you with honor and with understanding."

These videos were published on April 20. Five days later, Dan Zvonyk was dead. This picture of his face, hauntingly lifeless, was sent to his mother by officials in Russian-held Donetsk, she told us.

We redialed the numbers and were hung up on once we identified as journalists. To confirm who he was, they also sent a picture of his chest with a tattoo on the body clearly matching the one seen on Zvonyk when he was still alive in Russian propaganda videos.

RIVERS: When you first saw that message, what went through your mind?

ANNA ZVONYK, MOTHER OF KILLED UKRAINIAN POW (through translator): Nothing. I just screamed. There was nothing. No thoughts.

RIVERS (voice-over): We met his mother near where she's staying in Kyiv. She fled Mariupol herself just two weeks ago, alongside the rest of her family. Her sister-in-law also reeling from the photo of her nephew.

LUDMILA ZAGURSKA, AUNT OF KILLED UKRAINIAN POW (through translator): I still have that photograph in front of my eyes. It's constantly in front of my eyes.

RIVERS (voice-over): The morgue in Donetsk confirmed to CNN that Zvonyk was dead and that his body was picked up on Sunday. CNN can't confirm how he died, but we know he died after being taken into custody, either by Russian or Russian-backed separatist forces.

RIVERS: Do you think that the Russians killed your son?

ZVONYK (through translator): Yes. I'm sure.

RIVERS (voice-over): Russia's Ministry of Defense did not return a request for comment about how Zvonyk died.

For weeks, CNN has heard directly from soldiers inside the steel plant complex, who have told us they will not surrender to the Russians for fear of being executed. Within their ranks, Zvonyk's death only hardened that sentiment.

RIVERS: Does what happened to him only reinforce the notion that the soldiers that are there are not going to surrender to the Russians?

GEORGE KUPARSHVILI, DEPUTY COMMANDER, AZOV REGIMENT: Matt, don't you think it confirms their fear and actually their expectations, what Russia did today? This is a -- this is a war crime.

RIVERS (voice-over): We asked Zvonyk's mother, Anna, if she is angry with the Russians. Her answer honest, and gutting.

ZVONYK (through translator): For now, I only feel enormous pain. Pain and emptiness, that's it.

RIVERS (voice-over): Matt Rivers, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Powerful piece there from Matt. And only yesterday I spoke to one man that me that many of those on the frontlines are missing. That's what he told me. Of course, I'll keep on top of the breaking news coverage here. For now, let's go back to Chrissy in London.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR :Thanks very much, Isa. Just devastating what some of these Ukrainian families are going through. All right, ahead we will bring you the latest COVID numbers from China as the country races to control its current COVID-19 outbreak. Stay with us.

[04:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back. The U.S. should be preparing for what one health expert calls a now predictable summer surge of COVID-19 cases across the southern states. From the White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, says health officials need to make it clear to the public that protection against the COVID virus wanes over time and precaution should be taken with vulnerable or immunocompromised people. Birx said she is closely following data out of South Africa which is currently indicating an upward trend in cases.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR: Each of these surges are about four to six months apart. That tells me that natural immunity wanes enough in the general population after four to six months that a significant surge is going to occur again. And this is what we have to be prepared for in this country. We should be preparing right now for a potential surge in the summer across the southern United States because we saw it in 2020 and we saw it in 2021.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, the daily number of COVID deaths and new local cases in Shanghai declined slightly for the third consecutive day. According to the latest government numbers, Shanghai reported 32 deaths and more than 7,300 new local cases on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Chinese capital city of Beijing reported 41 new cases on Sunday. Nationwide there were more than 7,700 new cases reported. That's according to the National Health Commission.

CNN's Anna Coren in is joining me live now from Hong Kong with more on this. And Anna, after a month of lockdown, we are now hearing that Shanghai is moving to ease restrictions in certain districts. In a city of 25 million, how will that work? And do we know how many people this is actually going to affect?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christina, we know that it will impact about 7 million people. But other than that, we don't have any more details. The reason being is we've contacted people living in these six districts who say they are still cooped up in their apartment buildings. They are yet to be allowed out.

[04:25:00]

But we understand from authorities that once people are released, they can travel around their neighborhoods, their districts, but that is the extent of it. But for people who have been inside their homes for the past month, more than a month, we have to remember, this lockdown in Shanghai, you know, the economic engine of China, came into effect at the end of March. We are now in May.

But Christina, I spoke to one resident in Shanghai who has been in lockdown since before then. Her neighborhood went into lockdown before the official lockdown. So, you're talking about six, seven weeks inside her apartment. The only time she is allow today go out is to go downstairs where the PCR testing takes place. And she says she's suffering from depression. There is no doubt about it. She stops looking at the news, no longer monitors the social media feeds. She stopped counting the days. Because is no end in sight for her. She says that the small joys in her life are receiving food deliveries from restaurants that have opened up in her neighborhood.

Compare that to what is going on in Beijing, the nation's capital of 22 million people. You know, yes, they have imposed bans on in- restaurant dining, school bans, among other things. As of Thursday, they will stop people from entering public places unless they have a negative PCR test. But they are doing everything in their power to ensure that life continues as normal in Beijing so they don't have to have the city wide lockdown like they're doing it Shanghai -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, I'm sure residents in Beijing are keeping an eye on proceedings in Shanghai. Anna Coren thanks so much, there live from Hong Kong.

Well, South Korea will mostly lift its outdoor mask mandate starting today. But it will stay in place for rallies, concerts and sporting events with more than 50 people. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum made the announcement Friday saying the government could no longer ignore the inconveniences to its citizens. But the country's newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol opposes the move saying it is premature. South Korea's daily case count is well below peak from mid-March.

Now, in Ukraine, the Lviv National Opera is a place of solace amidst the raging war. Ahead, how ballet dancers are trying to help mend their nation's grief and reclaim a sense of normalcy.

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