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Authorities across Ukraine Report Missile and Rocket Attacks; Israeli Forces Search for Gunman after Checkpoint Attack; Mozambique Fights to Push out ISIS-Linked Militants; Officials Say at Least Five Killed, 12 Wounded in Kyiv Strikes; Fort Myers Beach Residence, Business Owners Survey Damage. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 10, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Max Foster. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with the breaking news this hour.

According to Ukrainian officials, a series of Russian strikes have hit several cities across Ukraine, including the capital of Kyiv. One of the explosions reportedly destroyed a children's playground. And officials say at least five people are dead and 12 injured in the strikes in Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is trying to annihilate the country with wave of attacks. Independent journalists Nataliya Gumenyuk joins me live from Kyiv, thank you. What was it like there when you heard these strikes?

NATALIYA GUMENYUK, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST: We probably should understand that it's really a significant day because we're speaking not just about the multiple attacks on Kyiv but the capital, but the hundreds of rockets sent from the Black Sea, from the Caspian Sea and the attack is ongoing all over the country. To the capital, to the cities like Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, other bigger towns including the towns in the western Ukraine. What we do know now about the first attack which you mentioned which is the central park, in the very center of Kyiv with the university where what we understand so far there are five people killed, there are more casualties.

But the attacks are ongoing. Their aim is the first infrastructure. We know that in some of the towns there are no light and electricity. In my area where I am, there was also the attack -- you know, it's a big city, so it doesn't mean that everybody heard it. So, for instance, there was a drop of the electricity for five, ten minutes. That's not something significant but the problem it's on going.

And of course, as we understand the second goal is, of course, to terrorize the people because the most targets, the most places where rockets are falling, there could be various civilian areas. The park and now the residential area but the point that because it's happening all over the country, of course, it's pretty scary.

There is a general call to stay in the basement for the whole day. And again, I have to stress, it's one of the major -- if it's not even the deadliest -- but it's one of the major attack of this scale during the whole war on the, you know, civilian, residential areas or all over the country.

[04:35:00]

FOSTER: Seeing there a Ukrainian bridge being blown up, but this is widely regarded, isn't it, as a response for the Russian bridge that the Ukrainians accused of blowing up a few days ago.

GUMENYUK: But it's very weird for me even to comment because, you know, the bridge which was blown up, it's a pedestrian glass bridge, a short bridge, in the park in Kyiv which sounds even a bit silly as retaliation. But the problem with the Russian attacks, it's true that part of them are targeting the civilian infrastructure. First of all, the electric power station.

But of course, we know already the experience of the last months is Russian attacks and rockets are extremely unprecise. So now this is one of the first really full scale attack on the center of the Ukrainian capital. And, yes, it's getting to a weird place. It's like I don't know, like the parks. Building near the university, a museum, a building where 100 years it was Ukrainian Parliament. But of course, there is damage, there are people who might die. The things are unrolling. We know that, you know, everybody should go to the basement, everybody should go to the subway stations and Ukrainians there are deep there serving as the places to hide. But of course, the emergency services are working.

FOSTER: A reminder that the Russian military does have significant power, too, as well off the back of this narrative that we've been learning about that they're, you know, under huge amounts of pressure and morale is low, they're showing they can still strike at the very heart of the capital.

GUMENYUK: Yes, it's true. But the general sentiment is the Russians are retreating and they are losing in the battlefield, in the south. Village by village is retaken. But this is a real, you know, military theater where Ukrainians are gaining. These attacks, of course, have strong emotional toll, but what I understand, you know, for the last couple of hours talking to all my colleagues, journalists, anybody all over the country, it doesn't bring any military, you know, gain for Russia apart from Ukrainian being more defiant. So that is the paradox of this attack.

And a sign that Ukrainians will think like, OK, there is another person killed. Should we surrender for this? Because military wise, this is really cruel attack but largely on the civilian targets with no real understanding, you know, where they -- were the bombs are falling.

FOSTER: OK, Nataliya Gumenyuk, thank you very much indeed for joining us. And stay safe.

Now, meanwhile, authorities in Israel have been searching for a gunman who carried out a deadly attack in east Jerusalem. They say the suspect opened fire at a military check point on Saturday and killed at least one Israeli soldier. It happened after Israeli forces killed at least four Palestinians over the weekend. Let's go to Hadas Gold live from Jerusalem. What more have we learned -- Hadas?

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Max, this is the latest in a surge of violence that this region has not seen levels of in years, since at least 2015. What we understand is that a military check point northeast Jerusalem near the Shu'fat refugee camp. An area that I should say is usually relatively quiet, where we don't see as many clashes or attacks as we might see in other regions of Jerusalem.

And surveillance video we've seen a man seems to go up to a group of soldiers and shoot at them point blank. Israeli officials say an 18- year-old female soldier named Noa Lazar was killed and 30-year-old Israeli guard is in critical condition after being shot in the head and a manhunt is still under way to try and catch the shooter.

Now this attack happened after a deadly two days across the West Bank where four Palestinians were killed. Two teenagers were killed during an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. The Israeli military says that it happened after they came under attack while trying to arrest an Islamic jihad militant. And then to other Palestinians were killed in separate incidents across the West Bank. The youngest of which was 14-year-old Adel Ibrahim Daoud who was shot near the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank.

When we asked the IDF about that situation, they say he was shot after -- they alleged that he through a Molotov cocktail at soldiers. This is all happening, they said, during what's really been a surge of violence. It feels as though, Max, things are so dry, the kindling is so dry that it will take one match that will really just light this entire region on fire. I have to say, Max, it doesn't feel as though there's any sort of political, local political force or any sort of international force that is really doing anything to try and stop this cycle of violence -- Max.

FOSTER: Absolutely. Hadas in Jerusalem, thank you.

Now still to come, Mozambique threatened by fighters linked to ISIS. How the country's battle with insurgents could impact the global energy market.

[04:40:00]

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FOSTER: Breaking news out of Ukraine this hour. Officials are reporting multiple rocket and missile attacks across the country. In the capital Kyiv, an official says at least five civilians have been killed and 12 are wounded after the apparent Russian attacks. This video shows a powerful explosion destroying a pedestrian bridge in the city. Authorities there have been suspended train services and are urging people to stay indoors.

Now in southern Africa, Mozambique is contending with ISIS linked fighters with the help of Rwanda's military. Insurgents are being pushed back in some areas but remain a threat to the region's natural gas supply. A resource that could drastically change reliance on Russian oil.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The fight against ISIS didn't end, it shifted to ungoverned spaces like this.

We're embedded with Rwandan security forces in northern Mozambique battling an ISIS linked insurgency. The tactics are familiar, it unspeakably brutal. To sew terror, burn schools, create chaos, they've displaced nearly a million people. Jihad in Mozambique is an extension of the Islamic state jihad all over the world, he says, in a message posted in August.

MCKENZIE: What was it like when they attacked?

MCKENZIE (through translator): They first came to this area to spread their propaganda, says Asmani Dadi. They melted back into the forest and then later attacked.

In Mocimboa da Praia, a strategic port town, ISIS Mozambique arrived in force, held the territory for a year.

[04:45:00]

When they find children like this, he says, they took them back to the forest. And when they find men like this, they cut off their heads.

The cost of this insurgency is in blood, but also enormous treasure.

MCKENZIE: We're entering the $20 billion Afungi natural gas plant. This has the potential to take in at least 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. And in a time of global gas insecurity, this is a massive deal.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): Industry analysts say Mozambique's offshore natural gas potential could eventually rival Russia. As Europe phases out Russia's gas supply because of the war in Ukraine, alternate sources are critical.

MCKENZIE: There isn't a soul anywhere here. It's completely empty.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): When the militants attacked Palma, energy giant Total declared force majeure, Mozambique fearing a collapse of control looked elsewhere. 2,000 Rwandan soldiers and police invited by the government took the fight to ISIS. Later, regional forces joined in.

MCKENZIE: General, what is the chief consideration when dealing with an insurgency like this.

BRIG. GEN. RONALD RWIVANGA, RWANDA DEFENCE FORCE: The first thing you have to do is to defeat the insurgency in a military operation. But after that you must try to win hearts and minds.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): It is still opaque why Rwanda answered the call. Aid workers and Western diplomats praise their professionalism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name is Ali. He has high grade fever, as you see. You see it's like 8.7.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The displaced are tentatively moving back, bringing what belongings they can.

I heard that there's peace now, so I came home, says Benjamin Thomas.

That peace is fragile. Outside of Rwanda's zone of control, the killings, the beheadings continue. Intelligence sources say the insurgents have split into smaller cells, now using improvised explosive devices.

MCKENZIE: Is it not just fixing one area and pushing the problem somewhere else?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you could say that it's natural for the enemy to escape to places that are less, you know, with pressure. But all we need to do is to maintain momentum, follow and pursue.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The stakes are extraordinary and shouldn't be ignored. The window to defeat ISIS in Mozambique before the insurgency involves is likely short.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCKENZIE (on camera): It's a very critical window. And most people I speak to say, Max, that the military answer is not the only answer. There needs to be development, schools need to be built. There needs to be a sense from the population that that gas wealth is something that they can actually benefit from. And we've seen that so-called resource curse play out throughout the world and especially in parts of the African continent. But if they can get it right, it could revolutionize Mozambique, this region and energy security around the world -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, David McKenzie in Johannesburg, thank you.

We'll be back in just a moment with the latest update on Ukraine.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Officials across Ukraine are reporting multiple rocket and missile attacks including in the capital Kyiv where the pedestrian bridge has been heavily damaged by a powerful explosion. One official says at least five people have been killed in the city and 12 are wounded. The top general in Ukraine's military says the Russians used missiles, air strikes and dozens of other ways of attacking. Now, Ukraine's president has blamed Russia for the attacks, saying Moscow is trying to annihilate his people.

We're seeing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since Russia sent loose a barrage of rocket attacks. He says Russia's goal is to sow panic and chaos and destroy Ukraine's energy system. Adding there may be temporary power outages now but will never be an interruption in our confidence in victory. He says air defenses are at work and have shot down 38 targets and he's urging Ukrainians to stay in shelters but not be afraid.

Now, for the first time hurricane Ian ravaged -- since hurricane Ian ravaged much of southwest Florida, business owners and residents of Fort Myers Beach have been allowed to survey the storm damage. CNN's Nadia Romero was also there to give us a firsthand look at the devastation left behind.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NADIA ROMERO, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Fort Myers Beach now back open, at least temporarily for residents and business owners to survey the damage. And this has been such an emotional day for so many people.

We are standing here at Fort Myers Beach in what was a restaurant. You see that red sign there Zanzibar? That was a restaurant owned by a large Israeli family and they would serve Mediterranean food. And they've spent their livelihood pouring into this restaurant. This is what used to be their restaurant. A small dance floor, places for you to pick up your food, a bar to get drinks. And then all along here were other restaurants, other small business owners, everyone that they knew.

They poured in their life savings taking mortgages out on top of their own home mortgages, trying to figure out how to stay afloat. Surviving during COVID and then now, having to figure out what to do after hurricane Ian. I want you to hear from two of the owners as they try to process what's happening and what kind of help may be coming their way.

LEE LEVY, CO-OWNER, ZANZIBAR RESTAURANT: It's like great now, starting to sink down that everything we worked all our life for and put everything we have into in order to have it up and running is gone. And we see no way out really. FEMA doesn't help any small businesses. So basically, no help there. SBA, they offer loans, but we already -- actually we start returning the EIDL loan from COVID, which we don't know how we'll pay back considering what's going on now.

[04:55:00]

But what they're offering you is to take more loans on top of that. And when you don't have any income, you know, it's a really scary place to be, especially after you invested everything basically you have, you know, to have a business.

MEIRAV LEVI, CO-OWNER, ZANZIBAR RESTAURANT: I know that we can rebuild the area. I know they're going to do it. Fort Myers chambers are strong. They have connection. Everybody here we know it's going to get back to normal, like Louisiana. It took them a while but after a year you saw like tourists coming back. It's going to happen.

ROMERO: You heard from those two sisters there. Since the storm hit and they haven't been able to come back to see their restaurant here in Fort Myers Beach, they have been feeding other people at their synagogue, trying to keep their minds off of the destruction but also giving back to the community despite losing nearly everything. Take another look. The lower level, the first floor is where all of

those restaurants were, a sub shop, a club, a bar, a souvenir shop. But then if you look up, the rest of the building, that's where you would find another restaurant and a souvenir shop and hotels. Rooms where people would come and stay for spring break and for holidays.

Lee tells me that this is a place of love for family, a place of light. And she just hopes that they'll be able to come back here one day and rebuild.

Nadia Romero, CNN, Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Now, if you'd like to help people affected by hurricane Ian who may be in need of shelter or food or water, please go to CNN.com/impact and you'll find several ways that you can help there.

Thank you for joining me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Max Foster in London. Our breaking news on Russia strikes on Ukraine, across Ukraine continues after the break.

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