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Protests Across U.S. After Leaked Draft Opinion Indicates Supreme Court Plans to Overturn Abortion Rights Ruling; Azovstal Steel Plant Evacuees Arrive in Zaporizhzhia; North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile into Sea. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired May 04, 2022 - 01:00   ET

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

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[01:00:46]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and a warm welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. I'm Paula Newton at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

A brazen leak of Supreme Court Documents has ignited in abortion uproar right across the country. The contentious issue over which so many Americans agree to disagree, is being argued all over again, now that women appear poised to lose their constitutional right to end their pregnancies. The Supreme Court's Chief Justice has confirmed the leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade is in fact authentic, that landmark ruling has federally guaranteed safe and legal abortions for nearly a half century. And polls show, a majority of Americans support it.

Striking down Roe would put states in charge of abortion laws and many would immediately enact their own bans. Thousands of people right across the country have been protesting the court's likely decision which we have to stress again, is not final. U.S. Vice President called it "a direct assault on freedom."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Now, at this very moment, Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land. But let's talk about what a world without Roe looks like. Women in almost half the country could see their access to abortion severely limited. In 13 of those states, women would lose access to abortion immediately and outright.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Let's take a look at some of the states she's referring to, the red ones you see there are all but certain to ban abortion. Those in yellow appear likely to do the same. We will continue to have more on this breaking story, and we'll have more for you in about 20 minutes from now.

Now, we were just saying we already know the courts action on abortion will be a major campaign issue in this year's midterm elections. And apparently so will Donald Trump we're seeing the first evidence of that in Ohio. CNN projects JD Vance will who wasn't in fact endorsed by Trump will be the Republican Senate primary candidate. He's best known as the author of the best-selling book, Hillbilly Elegy. Vance will face Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan in November and let's expect it to be one of the most hotly contested races of the season.

Now, that is, I say we've been following the top stories here from the United States. But we do want to get you to our other top story. That is the situation in Ukraine. We want to bring in our Isa Soares, who is live for us now in the Lviv.

Isa, a day where there was some glimmer of hope and yet also missile strikes right around the country?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And not very far away from where I am here in Lviv, which has been a place of refuge for so many. Ukraine this morning really assessing the damage pooler after several regions across the country were hit by Russian missile strikes. Take a look this map we're showing you, show some of the places struck in the past, just in the past 24 hours.

Now, Ukraine says missile strikes throughout the country cause severe damage to railways, as well as infrastructure here in the Lviv in western Ukraine. The mayor says two people are injured after Russian missile strikes. And these images you can see there really shows the power station fire in the aftermath knocking out electricity for parts of the city. On Tuesday, water supplies were being told have also been affected.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President says more than 150 people have made it to safety after being evacuated from the Azovstal Steel Plant and the other areas around Mariupol.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister says they have for humanitarian corridors plan to get more people out today. If the situation really allows. I want to get CNN's Nick Paton Walsh, was there in Zaporizhzhia when people started arriving on Tuesday. He spoke with two women about some of the horrors they endured while trapped underground. Have a listen to this.

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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Five buses only, but within them the worlds hopes of a way to deliver innocent Ukrainians to safety from Russia's onslaught.

[01:05:00]

Just over 100 civilians the first to leave the basement of the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, bringing with them stories of the circle of hell they lived in underground for weeks.

This is Oga. After two months in the dark, she struggles in sunlight still. I asked her if she can see OK. But she says, I can't see anything in the sun. Age 78 and she keeps saying completely alone. Her entire life is in these two bags, 48 hours earlier she was pictured in a Ukrainian military video just walking out of Mariupol cheerfully across a bridge.

Now, via the U.N. and Red Cross talks in Moscow and Kyiv and countless Russian checkpoints. She is here. worried she cannot fend for herself as a wound to her leg isn't healing because of her diabetes. The head torch that was her only source of light still around her neck. Her toilet roll in her pocket.

OGA, AZOVSTAL EVACUEE (through translation): Toilet paper. Everything I own, I have with me. I went to the basement with just a bag and left with it. I thank the boys who carried me out. Thanks to them. Lord bless them. I can't say anything bad about our soldiers there. Azov or not Azov. They held me in their hands, brought me out. One of them wanted to lift me up but I said you can't. They took each others hands to lift me. It's hard to carry an old lady like me.

WALSH: Also, coming off the bus is another familiar face, Anna, with six month old, Stiatuslav (ph). Embraced by her brother. One of many family reunions here. She was also seen in the same video as Oga, leaving Mariupol, the day after Stiatuslav turn six months old. She is a French teacher in happier times.

(On camera): How would you feel now?

ANNA, AZOVSTALL EVACUEE: Now, I feel happy and exhausted. Because two months being sick (ph).

WALSH: How do you live for two months in a basement with a four month old boy. How do you eat your food?

ANNA: Now, I smile because I can smile finally. Because all these months I was crying almost every day. Emotionally it was really very, very difficult. When we didn't have any hot water for him, we just took a candle and we hit the water. At that point the candle.

WALSH: The busy world she's emerged into now different for her.

ANNA: For me now, (inaudible). How to say? Yeah, it's the most difficult and then the most scared ones, because now I -- when I -- sorry. Now, when there are lots of noise, I have like a reflex to hide myself, you know?

WALSH: What are you going to tell him when he's older?

ANNA: I just tell him that, he was really very, very brave boy. Very brave, he's very calm. He -- he's the best child in the world, I can say, he's idle.

WALSH: Sleeping well, so that's good.

ANNA: Yeah, yeah, all the time. Yeah. And also, I can see that he didn't want for him to repeat this story or to repeat the story with his child.

WALSH: Get the terror they bore witness to will fuel a loathing that won't pass quickly. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Nick Paton Walsh really capturing them, the relief for so many of those families including of course that baby. Well, joining me now is Michael Bociurkiw, he's a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He's also the former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Michael, great to have you on the show. Let's talk about what we saw overnight, really like last night, let's say in Lviv, we're at what 40 miles from Poland. And we're seeing yet again, Russia targeting the supply lines, the infrastructure. What can you tell him from what you saw and the sources you've been speaking to?

MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, SENIOR FELLOW, ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Yeah, well, major escalation I saw the smoke from my window not far from here. And it seems what's happening is the Russians are targeting exactly the infrastructure -- transportation infrastructure that not only moves people and agriculture and cargo but also military equipment.

The lethal weaponry can't get to the frontline fast enough, I'm being told. So if they are trying to chokehold these supply lines that's going to be a big problem.

[01:10:03]

The other thing of course is civilian infrastructure, was also affected water, power, Wi-Fi. And if this continues, this could cause a blow to confidence here where a lot of IDPs and aid workers are.

SOARES: Do you know whether, how quickly the Lviv is, you know, rebuilding again? Because that is critical, like you pointed out to get not just food and goods moving but having the heavy weaponry, the weaponry to the frontlines?

BOCIURKIW: Incredibly quickly. I mean, I was -- I spent a day with Ukrzaliznytsia (ph), the State Railroad Company A few weeks ago, and they pretty much repair the rail lines almost immediately after their hit. So they're very good at that. They're very good at rerouting traffic as well. There are many options available to move cargo and, you know, weaponry and people as well. So it may cause a temporary interruption, but definitely won't cut off.

SOARES: Yeah, I mean, we saw Lviv pretty much dark last night, but very quickly, power came back. What does it tell you the fact that Russia is attacking the supply lines and an infrastructure about how the war is going on the frontlines? How are they succeeding so far?

BOCIURKIW: Well, I think it's a sign of desperation. These are long range weaponry usually shut off from the Black Sea, the Azov Sea Caspian, but they're very expensive, and they're not the most accurate in the world. But I think because of the huge losses on the battlefield of soldiers and also equipment that they're turning to these other methods, and that's why I've kept on saying is that no winch from Ukraine will be safe until Ukraine has the ability to close it skies off to these types of weapons. SOARES: And in the meantime, we've been hearing from U.S. and Western officials that they believe that the Putin's objective here is to take Luhansk, Donetsk or the Donbas Region. You and I've been speaking about this for some time. How real is that given as we get closer to that May 9, Victory Day?

BOCIURKIW: Yeah, well, up until now, they've had about 30% of that whole region, they want the whole thing, including all the way up to (inaudible), which is a very key hub, especially militarily. I think the fact that Mr. Pushilin, the head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, came to Mariupol and showed himself off there publicly, it was a very brazen move, but they're showing that they have the capability to move, keep people around now, and that's very worrisome. But, again, Ukraine needs a lot more help than it is getting now to propel them.

SOARES: In the meantime, we're seeing obviously, civilian infrastructure being hit, and journalists being killed, too.

BOCIURKIW: Yeah, yesterday was World Press Freedom Day. And we had a panel here, and the numbers are at least 10 dead so far, that equals roughly the number of journalists killed in Afghanistan last year, which was the highest number for any single country. And it represents about 20% of all journalists killed last year. Foreign correspondents tell me that they're wondering whether now they're being deliberately targeted by the Russian side, whether it's a risk to actually wear that press sign on, your car's investment (ph). I've never heard of that happening before. So that's a very, very worrisome sign but brave individuals, including colleagues from CNN.

SOARES: Absolutely. Absolutely. Michael, great to have you on the show. I appreciate it.

And Paula, I'll have much more from Lviv in just a bit but first, obviously we'll keep an eye on the situation Mariupol and when they will have any further evacuation. We are expecting evacuations from the city of Mariupol itself, but 100,000 people of course have been looking for, for a way out, out of Mariupol, but we still not sure what will happen to those still inside. The Azovstal Steel Plant. Paula.

NEWTON: Yeah, we will wait and hope for more good news. Isa, thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Now, abortion rights activists here in the United States are outraged over the Supreme Court draft opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade. More on our top story right after the break.

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[01:17:51]

NEWTON: And now to our breaking news story we're following here at CNN, North Korea is believed to have fired yet another ballistic missile just a short time ago, South Korea and Japan say it was launched into the waters east of the Korean Peninsula. It comes just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to bolster his nuclear arsenal.

CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us now from Seoul. And it's good to have you. Covering this for us, Paula, it shouldn't come as a surprise. Perhaps his commentary anyway has been much more aggressive. What more do we know though about this launch?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, this particular one, according to Japan's Coast Guard was fired at 12:03 p.m. local time also, according to the South Korean military. And they believe from the Japanese side that it had an altitude of 800 kilometers a distance of 500 kilometers. So what that means is it is shorter range than what we have been seeing in recent months, certainly, from March 24, when you had that ICBM, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launch, which is believed to be capable of reaching mainland United States.

So this one is certainly shorter range than we have been seeing. But over recent months, we have seen a lot of activity from North Korea. This would be the 13th missile launch that we've seen this year alone. January is already in the record books for the number of missile launchers. There's also been a number of big anniversaries, the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Army. We saw a large military parade for that particular anniversary. Some of these missiles being paraded, including the Hwasong-17, believed to be the largest of North Korea's ICBMs.

And we have also seen a number of other missile launches, for example, a new type of tactical guided weapon, according to North Korea state run media now that was a short range that Kim Jong-un himself went to see. He doesn't usually go to those kind. So that was clearly a very important weapons test. So we have been told by Kim Jong-un back in January of last year exactly which weapons systems he wants to perfect and to be able to push forward and develop.

[01:20:07]

And one by one he is going through these with these testing. Of course, timing always important when it comes to North Korea. We're just a week away, less than a week away from a New South Korean president being inaugurated here and just a few weeks away from the U.S. President Joe Biden visiting as well. Paula.

NEWTON: Yeah, that's important perspective. Paula, I appreciate you bringing us up to date and good seeing you. Thank you.

Now, millions across the U.S. say they are outraged as America's decades old battle over abortion rights is back in the spotlight. Demonstrators took to the streets and cities from coast to coast after a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that might overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortions nationwide. CNN's Paula Reid has more for us.

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PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The leaked draft sparking protests across the country. And prompting questions Chief Justice John Roberts -- UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you plan to investigate the leak?

REID: -- seen here leaving his home Tuesday issued a statement calling the leak and egregious breach. He is directed the marshal of the court to investigate. The court confirms, the draft is authentic but cautioned it does not represent a decision or position of any member on the issues in the case.

The nearly 100 page opinion says a majority of justices are prepared to uphold a Mississippi law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks and overturn Roe v Wade, which established a right to abortion 50 years ago, leaving it to individual states to determine abortions legality.

Justice Samuel Alito, author of the draft stating there is no inherent right to an abortion. Writing, the Constitution makes no reference to abortion and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.

Alito says Roe was egregiously wrong from the start, and that its reasoning was exceptionally weak and the decision has had damaging consequences. The opinion is not expected to be published until late next month, and could still be modified as draft opinions circulate and justices can change their vote.

Sources tell CNN Roberts did not want to completely overturn Roe. It appears Alito was joined in his majority by Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Even though Kavanaugh and Gorsuch called Roe the law of the land during their confirmation hearings.

BRETT KAVANAUGH: It is an important precedent of the Supreme Court.

NEIL GORSUCH: That's the law of the land. I accept the law of the land Senator, yes.

REID: Senator Susan Collins, who voted in support of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said today in a statement, the draft opinion was completely inconsistent with what Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh said in their hearings and in our meetings in my office.

President Biden called the draft decision radical and echoed concerns that this decision could serve as a template for limiting other individual rights previously recognized by the court, like same sex marriage and access to contraception.

JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: If the rationale of the decision as release were to be sustained, a whole range of rights are on questions.

REID: But in the wake of this draft opinion, Democrats are vowing to fight to protect abortion rights.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, (D) U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER: We'll go down as an abomination. One of the worst, most damaging decisions in modern history.

ELIZABETH WARREN, U.S. SENATE DEMOCRAT: We could pass a law to protect every woman's right to an abortion. And we should do that.

DICK DURBIN, U.S. SENATE DEMOCRAT: If this turns out to be the opinion of the court and it's issued. It could have a major impact on the outcome of this election.

REID: Republicans are condemning the leak itself.

MITCH MCCONNELL, U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER: Whoever committed this lawless act knew exactly what it could bring about.

TED CRUZ, U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN: Whoever did this leak, should be prosecuted and should go to jail for a very long time. This has shaken the independence and the ability of the judiciary to function.

REID: Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now, for decades, right wing activists have kept the fight against Roe v Wade at the heart of America's culture war. Carrie Severino is the president of the Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative legal advocacy group. Here's what she says about the Supreme Court's draft opinion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARRIE SEVERINO, PRESIDENT, JUDICIAL CRISIS NETWORK: It's very clear that Americans while they like the idea of Roe and many of whom also considered themselves pro-choice also would like to see more limits on abortion than Roe in fact, allows. Roe actually requires abortion effectively on demand all nine months. This is more liberal than almost every country in the world with the rare exception of places like China and North Korea. The law issue here in Mississippi would outlaw abortions after 15 weeks, that itself is actually much more liberal than 47 out of 50 European nations that set earlier limits for abortion including France, Spain, Germany, Norway, et cetera.

[01:25:14]

So what we're talking about is a much more nuanced position on the part of the American people, then the Supreme Court decision reflects. What's good about this is it's going to return that decision to the people themselves, who can then come to those political compromises and not be forced into a one size fits all regime for the nation that is, in fact far more liberal than what the country would like to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Meantime, CNN's Erin Burnett, as Democratic lawmaker Jackie Speier, if abortion rights should be handled at the state level, as she just suggested, have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: -- or those who make a states' rights argument that this could be decided at the state level. The New York Times points out the comparisons with other countries, they note that only 11 other countries allow abortions for any reason, after 15 weeks, which is the threshold in the Mississippi law that this ruling is about, only 11 countries. And countries including Germany, Italy, Norway, they all have limits before up to 15 weeks. These are -- these are countries that the U.S. admires in many ways, right? We're talking about Norway. Why not use that threshold in cases that are not medical emergencies?

JACKIE SPEIER, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: Well, in fact, it is something that we have always imposed as well. We had a 24 week or 22 week limitation on abortion in this country. And it's always been in conjunction with the life of the mother. And I think that the real concern here is that this is going to see complete erosion over time. If some states see this as an opening to do whatever they want. You're going to see more states do the copycat of what Texas has done, where they're going to be bounties that are going to be offered for anyone who assists a woman getting an abortion.

Again, it is a medical procedure that is safe, and one that has been available to women in this country for almost 50 years. And that can't be lost on any of us. It is going to have a profound effect on women's abilities to leave their lives to be able to provide the care they already have for instance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Ahead for us, we returned to our coverage of Russia's war on Ukraine. That's after a short break.

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[01:30:47]

NEWTON: And welcome back. We want to bring you right up to date on our top story.

Ukraine is assessing the damage after several regions were hit by Russian missile strikes.

I want you to take a look at this map. It shows some of the places struck just in the last 24 hours. You see it's quite widespread there and that includes the west of the country. Ukraine says missile strikes throughout the country, in fact caused severe damage to railways and infrastructure.

In the west, the mayor of Lviv says two people were injured after Russian missile strikes. These images show a power station on fire and the aftermath knocking out electricity for parts of the city on Tuesday. Water supplies and the Internet were also effected.

And for more on this now, we want to join Isa Soares who's in Lviv. It must have been quite an unnerving 24 hours there. As you've told us Isa, it's not something Lviv is usually used to.

SOARES: No, this is a relatively quiet city. It's been a place for refuge for so many escaping the front lines that we've seen in that war that we've seen -- intensity of the war on the front lines.

But then of course, it no doubt will shake some people here, shake that sense of security here in Lviv.

Let me get more on these air strikes that we've seen right across the country, as Paula was laying out there. Peter Layton is a visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. He joins now from Brisbane, Australia.

And Peter, let ill me start with that. You know, last night's missile strikes really across the country, including Lviv where I am. Are the Russians, in your view, succeeding at destroying infrastructure and supply lines here?

PETER LAYTON, VISITING FELLOW, Griffith Asia Institute: They certainly appear to be targeting the electrical network, which is powering the trains and the rail network.

And they're obviously trying to -- trying to cut the Ukrainian movement of soldiers and ammunition and fuel into the forward areas. They seem to be succeeding in tying up repair crews and in slowing everything down.

SOARES: And what does that tell you, then, in that case, Peter, about how the battle's shaping up on the front lines or how that it could effect the battle on the front lines?

LAYTON: It can effect the battle on the front lines in that the Ukrainian front line troops start to run out of replacement soldiers, fuel, food, and ammunition. That can slow everything down a lot. The Ukrainians would also find it difficult to withdraw and move their troops around the country.

At the present time, there seems to be possibly an offensive mounting towards -- in the east Ukraine. The Ukrainians might like to shift some troops there, or shift them out of there. The attacks on the rail line network is an attempt to slow this down and make moving them much more difficult.

SOARES: And do you think that these attacks that we've seen right across Ukraine the last 24 hours, do you think that we'll start to see a ramp-up of these as we get closer to that May the 9th -- Russia's victory parade, I should say?

[01:34:55]

LAYTON: Certainly, everyone is putting great store on the Victory Day and expecting President Putin to make some big -- some big statement.

The attacks are meant to be supporting the current operations going on that the Russian army's mounting in the east. I don't see them as being anything particularly strategic in that particular sense. More about helping out the Russian army in the east.

SOARES: Let's talk about the battlefield, that offensive in the east. I was just reading the U.K. defense intelligence just in the last few minutes that says that despite struggling to break through, that Russia highly likely intends to proceed, it says, beyond Izyum to capture Kramatorsk, as you can see there, and Severodonetsk.

What do you make of this strategy here? Because it seems like it's being used as a staging point, isn't it?

LAYTON: Yes, certainly from the operational point of view, it makes good common sense, if you like straightening out the map. And you can see that that would give the Russians a tactical victory and force the Ukrainians to withdraw from where they've been for, well, since sort of -- since 2014.

However, the Ukrainians are mounting some successful counter attacks north of there, so, to a certain extent, I'm surprised the Russians think that they have a chance there. It seems unlikely they would make that breakthrough.

As well, when I said an operational level success, strategically it doesn't make much sense, either. You would think the big strategic payoff would bee an attack down south into Odessa, so they could cut Ukraine off from the sea. That would seem the big strategic victory that Putin needs.

Instead, you have this sort of relatively minor action, which while it's important in that sort of sense, is not strategically vital.

SOARES: Yes, we haven't seen trying to with some strikes in Odessa to be really seeing push back really by Ukrainian forces. Of course, Odessa is pretty big, it's pretty large.

Let me get your thoughts on what we heard from the U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE I think yesterday saying that there are no indications whatsoever, he said, that Putin's about to end this war. Do you agree with this view?

LAYTON: Ah, certainly, I think that he's right in that I think that Putin will still attempt on Victory Day to paint the current location of the Russian army as a victory. And I think that there's still a chance that he may declare a cease-fire, which the Ukrainians may not agree with.

Certainly Putin wants to keep the territory he has captured. If there's a chance the Ukrainians might counterattack and drive the Russians out, they'll try and freeze the conflict in place somehow.

The idea about mobilization, of course, is that this conflict goes on, whether at an increased rate or at a frozen state, but making -- declaring its war allows Putin to then mobilize the Russian public and conscript troops easier.

SOARES: Yes, and that's something, of course, that we've been hearing from U.S. and western officials, of course, for him to get that. We don't know what that victory will be, because right now, it doesn't seem to have made many gains, of course.

Mariupol still holding strong inside the Azovstal steel plant, of course.

Peter Layton, appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thanks, Peter.

LAYTON: Thanks so much.

SOARES: Well, the war in Ukraine is now, of course, in its third month and Ukrainian families all over the country have experienced really the pain of losing loved ones in this conflict, sometimes multiple loved ones.

I traveled to a small town just outside of Lviv and saw first-hand how residents are coping with their losses.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Pain and sorrow as the unbearable weight of war reverberates in this small town outside of Lviv. Yet another soldier gone too soon.

Konstantin Yakovenko (ph) was 48 years old, a father of two young men. Originally from the east of Ukraine, he fled here to Chervonohrad with his family only to enlist and get drafted.

Within less than two months, Konstantin's life was taken. His family has been torn apart. The mayor, who hasn't missed one funeral, tells me it's been too many since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

[01:39:51]

SOARES: "At first I felt guilty that I'm here, not there with them. But I was told that my mission is to be here, to support the families."

The ripple effects of Russia's war are evident in this town in the west of Ukraine, hundreds of miles away from the front lines.

Just a few graves down from Konstantin, we've learned from the mayor that this young soldier who died in battle in 2018, that his own mother is currently inside the Azovstal steel plant, defending Mariupol from Russian invasion.

It's the tale of one family defined by war. And it's one we're keen to learn more about.

So we drive to the family home where we meet Paraskevia (ph). And we are instantly absorbed by her haunting display of grief. She says her grandson Yuri was a sergeant with the Azov battalion, who specialized as a sniper.

"It's difficult to explain how much I loved him," she says. His death at the mere age of 23 made the front page of the local paper. It was too much for Paraskevia and his mother Natalia to take.

So, in her late 40s, Natalia ended up enlisting with the same regiment. Paraskevia tells me she begged her daughter to leave Azovstal, but she rejected two offers to surrender. "She is in that hell," she tells me. We try to call Natalia to no avail. Later, though, we manage to reach Natalia via text message.

"Morale is high," she writes back. "The soldiers will fight to the end. Wait for us to come back with victory."

Paraskevia tells me her granddaughter's husband died in Mariupol. His body moved to the Azovstal complex, unable to be brought home. Her insurmountable loss just too much to bear.

"I have this wound for the rest of my life. It's very difficult to live with," she tells me. "Of course I'm proud that they died for Ukraine."

Paraskevia tells me she finds solace working on her plot of land and invites us to come and see it for ourselves. In the car, finally a smile. Now on her land and even here in the peace of nature, she's reminded of what has been robbed from her.

"These are Yuri's trees," she tells me.

Comfort and company for a woman who bears the weight of grief and the incomprehensive pain of an unwarranted war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: A family right there that has been defined by war. We are in touch with Natalia, we haven't heard from her in the last 24 hours or so. Of course, Natalia's inside that Azovstal steel plant so we'll keep on trying.

We'll take a short break, be back in a very short moment. You are watching CNN.

[01:43:01]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: An endorsement from Donald Trump apparently still carries a lot of weight with Republican voters in Ohio. CNN projects Trump- backed author J.D. Vance will win the state's GOP senate primary after what was a bruising campaign.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: In one of the first big primary nights of the 2022 midterm campaign season, a big Republican victory in Cincinnati for J.D. Vance who emerged the victor in a crowded primary field for the U.S. Senate.

Now this is a race to replace retiring Senator Rob Portman. He was running against a field of five other major candidates and emerged as the winner at the end, thanks to the endorsement from former president Donald Trump. This has been viewed as a test of the former president's strength inside the Republican party. And one of the first people J.D. Vance thanked tonight was Mr. Trump.

J.D. VANCE (R), OHIO SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I have absolutely got to thank the 45th, the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, ladies and gentlemen.

One, for giving us an example of what could be in this country. Ladies and gentlemen, remember 2019 when wages were going up and not down? Remember 2019, when workers were doing well in this country, not struggling terribly? Thanks to the president for everything, for endorsing me.

ZELENY: J.D. Vance of course, best known for that best-selling book "Hillbilly Elegy", has never run for public office before. In his first campaign, he not only defeated several seasoned Republican candidates, he also introduced himself to Ohio voters.

Now, for the next six months forward, he'll be running against Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan, who Vance accused of trying to act like a Trump Democrat. Of course, this will be one of the most competitive races in the fall campaign, but more importantly, urgently, this is a big test of the former president's strength going forward.

He's offered endorsements in several House, Senate, and governors races. The strength will be tested throughout the month of May if he's a king maker in his party. The first try on that stop here in Ohio, Mr. Trump showed that he still is.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN -- Cincinnati.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Social media videos are fueling more backlash against Chinese officials and their handling of Shanghai's COVID outbreak. We will have a live report from the region, as millions of people are still under lockdown.

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NEWTON: Chinese officials have come under fierce criticism for their handling of the growing COVID outbreaks and shocking new videos coming out of Shanghai are fueling accusations of mismanagement and heavy- handedness.

Anna Coren has been following the story for us from Hong Kong. And some of these incidents are just outrageous. They certainly must be shocking, not just to people in China but everyone around the world. I mean what's been happening?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It really highlights, Paula, the dysfunction that is going on in China, particularly in Shanghai, which as we know, a city of 25 million people has been in lockdown now since the end of March.

But this video, that we are going to show you now, shows really the lengths that the police are going to, to take COVID positive patients away into quarantine.

You can see from this video, police are breaking down the door. The residents inside basically saying we're going to call the police. The officials are saying, we are the police. We are here to take you away.

They haven't received their COVID results as yet, which is why they are arguing with the police and why they have not allowed them to come in. But they are forcibly removed and taken to this make-shift quarantine centers around the city.

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COREN: This is nothing new, Paula. This has been going on now, as I say, for more than a month where residents are forcibly removed from their homes to these make shift centers. Many of these people are elderly, you know, over the age of 90 and having to live in these squalid, you know, poor conditions.

And I want to show you some very shocking video, that has caused outrage in China. It has gone viral, it was posted on Sunday but it has taken some time for us to clear this video.

But basically, it shows health workers removing a body bag on a gurney, they open it up, they realize that the man, the elderly man inside is still alive and still breathing.

They are taken aback. They -- some of the workers walk back in shock, another goes back to the nursing home to say that this patient is still alive.

So, it really set off an absolutely fire storm in China on social media, on Weibo, which of course, is China's version of Twitter.

Let me read to you some of what people said. They said the problem in Shanghai are fully exposed this time. This counts as intentional homicide. And the government doesn't care what is going on in Shanghai, Paula.

NEWTON: Such strong language there and obviously deserved given what we just saw on our screens there.

Anna, thanks you so much. Appreciate it.

And that is it for me. I'm Paula Newton here at CNN Center in Atlanta. We will continue with more news right after a break.

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