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World Leaders Solid on Supporting Ukraine; President Biden Don't Think Recession is Coming; Russia Arrested Eight People Over Kerch Bridge Bombing; IMF Warns of Worse Days to Come; French Government Takes Action on Workers' Strikes; Clashes in Iran Continues. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired October 12, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CNN Newsroom. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Good to have you with us.
Just ahead, Russia deliberately targets of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine for a second day. This as NATO defense ministers are set to meet in Brussels to discuss the ongoing war.
U.S. President Biden has a warning for Russian President Putin. That exclusive interview is coming up.
And later, three men lost at sea surrounded by sharks. The story of their unbelievable rescue and how they survived.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: World leaders are pledging to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes as the country faces another day of Russian missile attacks.
In the coming hours, NATO defense ministers are set to meet in Brussels to discuss the alliance's support of Ukraine. NATO secretary general says that while NATO is not party to the conflict, its supporters playing a key role in helping Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: President Putin is failing in Ukraine. His attempted annexations, partial mobilization, and reckless nuclear rhetoric represents the most significant escalation since the start of the war. And they show that this war is not going as planned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Also meeting today, E.U. energy ministers who are beginning together right now in Prague. The group is set to discuss how they will tackle high energy prices as Europe deals with limited Russian gas supplies.
On Tuesday, G7 leaders spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a virtual meeting. Mr. Zelenskyy told a group his country needs an air shield as Russia continues its assault and one that Vladimir Putin still has room for further escalation.
Well, despite the looming nuclear threat, the G7 is vowing to hold the Russian president accountable for the recent attacks in Ukraine.
Nearly eight months into the war, President Biden sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. And address Putin's mental state as well as fears of a recession. Here's part of that interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Do you think Putin is a rational actor?
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think he is a rational actor has miscalculated significantly. I think he thought -- you might recall I pointed out that they were going to invade, that all those 100,000 or more troops there and no one believed that he was going to invade Ukraine.
You listen to what he says, if you listen to the speech he made after when that decision was being made, he talked about the whole idea of he was needed to be the leader of Russia that united all Russian speakers. I mean, it -- I just think it's irrational.
TAPPER: So, if he is not rational.
(CROSSTALK)
BIDEN: No, I didn't say he's not rational.
TAPPER: You said the speech.
BIDEN: I think -- I think the speech.
TAPPER: OK.
BIDEN: His objectives were not rational. I think he thought, jake, I think he thought he is going to be welcomed with open arms. That this was -- this was the home of mother Russia and Kyiv, and he was going to be welcomed then. I think he just totally miscalculated.
TAPPER: What is the off ramp? Is there any acceptable way that he can leave in his mind without seizing territory in a way that would not be acceptable to Ukraine?
BIDEN: I don't know what's in his mind, but clearly, he could leave. He could just flat out leave and still probably hold his position together in Russia. The idea that he has been able to convince a significant Russian in America -- of the Russian people that this is something that he thought made sense, but now he has accomplished what he wants to do, and it's time to bring Russians home.
TAPPER: The economy remains top, top of mind for voters. Should the American people prepare for a recession?
BIDEN: No, look, they have been saying this now how -- every six months, they say this. Every six months, they look down the next six months and say what's going to happen. It hadn't happened yet. We are in a better position than any other major country in the world, economically and politically.
[03:05:00]
We are -- we still have real problems, but look at what we got done. We passed so much legislation that significantly makes -- makes a point about, you know, for example, the American Rescue Plan, the legislation to deal with inflation, the Inflation Act. We moved along.
I mean, there's so much that has been accomplished that the idea that there is something -- there's an automaticity to recession, it's just not -- it's just not there. They keep -- they've been putting this often on for the last --
TAPPER: But you just said that a slight recession is possible.
BIDEN: It is possible. Look, it is possible, I don't anticipate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: U.S. President Biden there with Jake Tapper. We have some news just in to CNN. Russian state media reports that eight people have been detained in connection with the explosion on the bridge linking Russia to Crimea.
Russia's federal security service, the FSB, claims that it was a terrorist attack organized by the main intelligence department of Ukraine's defense ministry. A report says that five Russians and three citizens of Ukraine in Armenia have been arrested. Ukraine has yet to publicly comment on the FSB claims.
Ukraine says there are no victims from a Russian missile attack overnight on the cities of Zaporizhzhia and its suburbs. But rescuers pulled several people out of the rubble of a residential building that was hit.
President Zelenskyy says Ukraine shot down 20 of 28 missiles fired by Russia on Tuesday. He praised one soldier for bringing down to cruise missiles Monday with a shoulder fire rocket. Ukraine's energy minister reports that about 30 percent of the country's energy infrastructure has been hit by Russian missiles since Monday.
He tells CNN that crews are working around the clock to restore power. But he's also urging people across the country to limit their energy use.
We have more now from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR (voice- over): The second day of smoke over the capital in skies that had been quieter for months. A power plant in Vinnytsia, one of many, hit today here by an Iranian drone attack officials said. As Russia's cruise missiles try to turn the power off before winter.
A smaller way from Monday, with Ukraine saying 33 hit their targets and 33 were shot down. Russia's defense spokesman blunt about what it wanted to hit. Energy systems and military control. These 48 hours of onslaught, new in ferocity but not purpose. Russia has been hitting civilian targets and cities like this one. Zaporizhzhia daily for the past week where one person died this day.
Terror, that led the White House to agree to send advanced air defense systems Monday. But talking to the G7 leaders, Ukraine's president wanted more, declare Russia a state sponsor of terror too he said.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): The leader of Russia, feeling the approach of his end is trying to force the democratic world to surrender with a terrorist rush. To retreat, to lose. This can only be the desire of an insane person. More than 100 missile strikes in less than two days against civilians, against civilian infrastructure. Sham referenda, a criminal attempt of annexation.
WALSH: Yet the days of indiscriminate and clumsy blasts don't change Russia's main problems. But its army is using forced conscription and lacks basic supplies.
Its military leadership, brought a reprieve from rare internal dissent by Monday's violence perhaps. But still, Putin's rhetoric less fiery when he met the U.N. nuclear watchdog head today to discuss the frontline embattled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Even as he blamed everyone else for what he has been doing.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Of course, we see that today, there are elements of excessively dangerous politicization of everything connected with nuclear activity.
WALSH: Still, we will meet his Turkish counterpart in Kazakhstan as his leading diplomat insisted, they were not against talks with the west if offered.
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): This is a lie, I can tell you right away, we did not receive any serious proposals to enter into contact.
WALSH: Again, a sign that Russia, for all of its violence and bombast is not in a position of strength.
WALSH: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is following developments for us live this hour from London. Good to have you with us, Salama.
So, I want to start first on those new lines we are getting from Russian state media. Obviously on the weekend, we saw the attack on that key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia. And what followed was the barrage of missiles from Russia right across Ukraine. And now we are learning of arrests. Eight people, most of them Russian.
[03:10:04]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Yes, absolutely Lynda. And this is part of a continuation that we've seen from the Kremlin to get ahead of the explosion on the bridge Saturday as quickly as they can. Trying to start repairs around the clock. We saw that happening over the weekend. And now, trying to hold what they say, who they say are the perpetrators to justice.
We have from Russian state media today that an investigation has been carried out by the Kremlin, the result of the investigation is the arrest of these eight people. Five Russian citizens, three from Ukraine and Armenia. They say that this bomb was transported to the port of Odessa through several countries.
This is again, according to Russia's investigation and that the bomb was a 22,000-kilogram bomb that was hidden within this, this explosive device, hidden of course and set off on Saturday. Now, again Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for this attack but Ukrainian officials have been open about celebrating about this attack.
And for Russia, for the Kremlin, this absolutely does expose some serious security flaws. This bridge is Russian controlled, it is Russian owned, security should have been tight, access should have been controlled. And yet, saboteurs were able to inflict this major damage on a bridge that's been used as a supply route to the front lines that is the -- one and only connection between occupied Crimea and Russia.
So, a major blow here. And of course, when it comes to these arrests, all we know is the Russian side of the story on this of course coming from state media. Ukraine continuing to deny it but yet again, you are seeing President Putin with the response that we saw in the last couple of days. Those barrage of missiles and rockets. And now these arrests trying to respond as quickly as possible to this attack on the bridge.
KINKADE: And Salma, we know that in the coming hours defense ministers, NATO defense ministers will meet. We've already heard from secretary general who says that they will step up and support Ukraine. What can we expect to come from that meeting?
ABDELAZIZ: So, a flurry of diplomatic activity has really been taking place over the last 48 hours since President Putin launch these retaliatory strikes. Some parts of Ukraine seeing the worst violence, the worst strikes since the beginning of the conflict.
Really yesterday, we saw that emergency meeting with G7 leaders. During that meeting, President Zelenskyy started to plead for one he wants most. And that's air defense systems. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENSKYY (through translator): I am asking you to strengthen the overall effort to help financially with the creation of an air shield for Ukraine. Millions of people will be grateful to the group of seven for such assistance.
When Ukraine will receive a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems, the key element of Russian terror, missile strikes will cease to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now Presidents Zelenskyy will be getting his wish, the United States has already promised two surface to air missile systems, two advanced air defense systems that they say will be sent to Ukraine as quickly as possible. That they have expedited that process.
But, when you look at what's going to happen today, with this NATO defense ministry's meeting, you can expect that President Zelenskyy is still going to plead for more. He is going to say two is not enough, I need more, I also need weapons on the ground.
Ukrainian -- the Ukrainian military has had this lightning strike counteroffensive that has been very effective at gaining back territory. He is going to want his western allies to continue to support that offensive. Lynda?
KINKADE: Staying across all the developments for us. Salma Abdelaziz in London. Thank you very much.
Jim Townsend is a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy. He joins me now from Washington, D.C.
Good to have you with us.
JIM TOWNSEND, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, EUROPEAN AND NATO POLICY: It's great to be here, thank you.
KINKADE: So, NATO secretary general said the alliance would meet to step up and support Ukraine this week. What does that look like logistically and tactically given Ukraine is not a member?
TOWNSEND: Well, it shows the unity of the alliance, that's the number one thing for this meeting, this defense ministerial, is to message once again to Putin and as well as to Zelenskyy and the Ukraine people that the alliance stands behind Ukraine even though they are not a member of the -- of NATO.
NATO nations are providing a lot of assistance. And that assistance will be the topic of conversation during this defense ministerial.
KINKADE: The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith said that a closed-door conversation in Moscow could get increasingly tense as Russian President Putin continues to fail strategically in Ukraine. Given the brutal widespread attacks on civilians and civilian
infrastructure that we have seen this week, how does NATO expect those tense conversations to play out on the battlefield going forward?
[03:14:58]
TOWNSEND: Well, I think we are going to see for sure continued shelling and firing missiles at civilian targets. As he lashes out, Putin lashes out at Ukraine and the west by doing this, but also, he is showing his domestic audience that he is a tough guy. And this is how he shows that.
He shows those people who will be behind closed doors and pointing fingers at him and saying that you are not being tough enough as he does this missile campaign, this is -- he is acting out in a sense. And he is trying to message both Ukraine of his anger, he's messaging the same thing to the west. And to his domestic audience he is saying look, I'm a tough guy. And that's what we are going to see on the battlefield, that kind of thing.
KINKADE: Secretary Townsend, there are reports from western intelligence that Russia may be running low on sophisticated missiles. Russia does however have a large supply of tactical nuclear weapons. About 2,000. Far more than the roughly 100 that NATO has positioned around Europe.
In recent weeks, we have heard or at least seen the prospect of Putin raising this prospective using nuclear weapons. Although NATO and the U.S. say they haven't seen any signs of Russia moving towards nuclear weapons. How big of a concern is this for NATO? And are they working to mitigate this potential risk?
TOWNSEND: Well, I think this nuclear saber-rattling is a great concern to the U.S. and to NATO, to our European allies, it's something that we have to take seriously. But what we can't do is allow this brandishing of the nuclear saber to scare us. To make us afraid.
We have to stay solid and united. But we have to be -- we have to be very vigilant and watch carefully to see if he begins to put into motion some of those events that occur when you begin to deploy a nuclear capability.
We know what that looks like. We have to watch for that and as you said, this is something that we haven't seen happen yet. But you know, the allies are going to meet in Brussels, they're going to meet today. Part of that meeting is the nuclear planning group. And the NPG, and they are going to be talking about these things. And they are going to be exchanging views on what the alliance response should be. Should he decide to use a weapon like that. Which I do not think is something that we are going to see.
But the alliance is talking about this, is determining what kind of -- what kind of options the alliance might have in a case like this. And the U.S. of course has been looking at this now for months. As we first heard about this from Putin earlier. Earlier in the invasion, in February March timeframe. So, this is something that we have been watching and have been talking about and planning for a long time.
KINKADE: And Secretary Townsend, Turkish President Erdogan will meet with Putin Thursday, he has been seen as a crucial figure in the mediation between Ukraine and Russia. And he wields a good deal of influence at times. Turkey appears to be a bit of a headache for NATO like when it threatened to block Sweden and Finland from joining the alliance. Erdogan certainly can be viewed as a bit of a wildcard. What do you think is his end goal?
TOWNSEND: Well, that's a great question. And I think that's what everyone watches and tries to figure out as they look at these moves that Erdogan makes. You know, I think Erdogan plays a dangerous game with the Russians. He is playing both sides.
He cuts deals with the Russians. He tries to find ways in which the Russians can help him on a regional basis. But at the same time, finds himself on the opposite side of the argument in places like Libya and other hotspots in the region where the Russians are on one side and he's on the other.
So, you know, he is an opportunist. And he feels that he can use Putin for leverage. And vice versa. Whether it's on the west or on regional powers. So, they will be talking about a lot of things. I'm sure. And we'll just have to see what comes out of it.
I do hope that what he can do is keep the grain moving out of the Black Sea and into the Mediterranean and to the mouths of hungry children who are looking for their next meal. That's something that Erdogan was very helpful with.
So, let's see if that can continue. And maybe we can get some other types of movements in terms of how Putin conducts himself in Ukraine. Maybe Erdogan will have an impact on that. But we'll have to see. I'm sure Erdogan has a big want list as well that he is going to raise with Putin.
[03:19:59]
KINKADE: Yes, certainly some crucial meetings in the days ahead. We will be following those closely. Secretary Jim Townsend, thank you so much for your time. We appreciate it.
TOWNSEND: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, let's take a look at our global markets are doing today as the war in Ukraine, the resulting energy crisis and concerns over a potential recession weigh heavily on the minds of investors.
Stocks in Europe are mixed while U.S. futures are up. Well, meanwhile, the outlook for the global economy in the months ahead is gloomy with the International Monetary Fund warning after a difficult year that there is much worse to come.
CNN's Rahel Solomon has more from New York.
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The International Monetary Fund forecasting storm clouds ahead with a sharp recessionary warning and another economic downgrade. The IMF warning that quote, "the worst is yet to come" as it's lightly downgraded its global growth forecast for 2023 to 2.7 percent.
The agency said that, Tuesday it expects one third of the world next year to experience two quarters of negative GDP where some economists would call that recession. And many people around the world will feel like it's a recession.
Russia's war in Ukraine persists an inflation and continued lockdowns in China all a factor in the darkening outlook. Also predicting a gloomy forecast, J.P. Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon said in an interview with CNBC that these headwinds are serious and likely to push the U.S. and world into some sort of recession into the next six to nine months.
Some silver lining in the otherwise bleak report, the IMF expects global inflation to peak late this year before lowering in the following year. We're also learning a lot more about the state of the economy when the big U.S. banks kick off earning season later this week.
Friday we'll hear from J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley.
Rahel Solomon, CNN, New York.
KINKADE: Well, in the coming hours, British Prime Minister Liz truss will face questions in parliament as support from her own party dwindles. It comes as the U.K.'s finance minister promises that his medium-term economic plan will have an iron commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The plan will be published on October 31st. Three weeks earlier than previously announced. And it's expected to elaborate how he plans to fund tax cuts after his mini budget spark chaos in the markets recently.
Plus, the Bank of England says it will not extend its bond buying support for pension funds beyond Friday. Investors hit hard by a slump in bond prices have just - three days to adjust investments before the central bank withdraws support.
Well French lawmakers are starting the legal process to end the blockade on gas refineries as a workers strike enters its fourth week. Long lines at gas pumps have become common in France.
Thirty-one percent of gas stations across the country now facing shortages leading to rationing in some regions. Refinery workers are demanding a pay hike to cope with soaring inflation. And lawmakers want talks between the workers unions and energy companies to resume.
CNN's Jim Bittermann is following the story for us and joins us live from Paris. Good to have you with us, Jim.
So, the government now threatening to step in and force workers back to the refineries. Just take us through the latest.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, in fact it may be more than a threat, Lynda, as the government announced through AFP this morning, Agence France-Presse, that in fact they are going to go ahead and requisition employees. This gives them the right to order employees at the refinery back to work.
There is one refinery that's going to be in particular that they're looking for and, which is an (Inaudible) refinery, where they've already come to an agreement. At least some of the unions have come to an agreement but there's one union that's holding out. Those are probably the first workers that will be requisitioned, will be made to go back to work.
Now, what people are facing here this morning, anybody that drives the car (Inaudible) is something like this. This is the B.P. station right here. And there's a line that stretches about 500 yards around the corner here up there. And people are waiting, we talked to some of the people, first people in the line.
They've been waiting two, two and a half hours since early this morning to get gasoline. In this kind of has a self-fulfilling prophecy kind of aspect to it. In other words, people hear about the shortages and then even if they don't really need gasoline, to go top their tank anyways. Because they worry, they won't be able to at some later date.
So, it's a big confluence of motorists trying to get gasoline. And about one third of the stations across France are either without gas entirely or if they have some partial deliveries of fuel, including diesel and there is different grades of gasoline.
[03:25:01]
So, it's a mixed bag. But for motorists, it's really a difficult situation, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly a massive, massive headache no doubt. Jim Bittermann for us in Paris, thanks so much.
Well still to come.
(CROWD CHANTING)
KINKADE: Anti-government protests continue to sweep Iran But as the crowd grows, security forces are pushing back harder. We'll have the latest in a live report.
Plus, the mother of a teenage girl found dead in Tehran says that she was killed by security forces. But authorities are telling a different story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: We are tracking video out of Iran drawing protesters chasing away security forces in a largely Kurdish city of Sanandaj. Clashes between anti-government groups and authorities have intensified and spread, showing little sign of letting up despite a deadly government crackdown.
Iran's latest protests began in response to the death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the morality police last month. Amini was Kurdish and though protests over death have spread beyond Kurdish regions, pro-government forces have been especially brutal trying to quash dissent in Iran's Kurdistan province.
A rights group says the scale of the massacre is bigger than they can report. And they say that Iran is using heavy weapons on its own citizens.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what the Iranian regime doesn't want the world to see. Its ruthless crackdown on the purpose in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj has turned it into a war zone. Security forces moving around on motorbikes, terrorizing residents. Shooting indiscriminately at protesters and into people's homes.
Human rights monitor Hengaw says several people have been killed, including a seven-year-old child who died in his mother's lap. Communication restrictions making it almost impossible for them and for us to tell the story of that child and the many others Hengaw fear have been killed. After days of trying, we were finally able to briefly speak to a protester inside the city. For his safety, we are concealing his identity.
UNKNOWN: The security forces are using a lot of forced to confront the people. A lot of people have been killed here. Because the internet is cut, we couldn't send any information on social media. The people are really scared. Last night, in the Baharan neighborhood, there were fierce classes.
[03:30:08]
KARADSHEH (voice-over): The regime says it is separatists fueling the uprising in the Kurdish region, armed gangs that have attacked its forces but offered no proof. The little video breaking through the government's internet shutdown just enough to see some of
the horror unleashed on the people of Sanandaj.
UNKNOWN: Last night, the security forces were firing in the direction of houses. They were using military grade bullets and until now, I haven't heard such bullets. The people were really afraid. They were firing lots of tear gas in the direction of houses, the backyard, even the balconies.
In the Baharan neighborhood, everybody felt the effects of tear gas. They had difficulty breathing. We have heard that the hospital is full of injured people. Many people have been arrested, and it's not clear where they are being taken because they are not telling anyone anything.
KARADSHEH: Human rights groups say the government is using the blackout to hide its crimes.
RAMAYAR HASSANI, HENGAW ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: The scale of the massacre is way, way bigger than what we have been able to report. This is just a drop of the ocean. We have received videos from Sanandaj that the IRGC and other security forces have used 50 caliber machine guns. These are not the normal guns, it's basically like shooting protesters, let's say, in -- on one other streets of the United States by M2.
KARADSHEH: But those bullets and bloodshed haven't stopped the will of the people. Some brave protesters still taking to the streets. Refusing to be silenced.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: The mother of a teen girl found dead in Tehran is denying claims from the government and her own family that her daughter died from falling from a building. Nika Shakarami's mother tells an independent Iranian newspaper that her daughter was killed by security forces at a protest.
CNN's Nada Bashir joins me now from London with more on this. Adn Nada, the mother of the 16-old-year-old protester founded three weeks ago is speaking out yet again, rejecting Iran's claim that her daughter fell from a building. And saying that family members who say otherwise are being forced to say that.
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Lynda, look, this is a real show of bravery has to be said to speak against the Iranian regime's narrative of how 16-year-old Nika Shakarami died. We heard last week was that interview given to Iranian state media by Nika Shakarami's aunt and uncle in which they really told the Iranian regime is lying. Saying that she had died after falling from an apartment building.
This fully in line with the government's narrative. They claim they have CCTV footage showing Nika Shakarami entering an apartment building. And that her body was later found in the backyard of that building where she had died after falling. And they have arrested individuals who work in this building.
But now of course, we are hearing from Nika Shakarami's mother, Nasrin Shakarami, she spoke yesterday to Iranian media as well as BBC Persian denying any such claims that Nika Shakarami died after falling from a building. She believed she died at the hands of the Iranian security forces.
Now, the Iranian regime, the authorities have denied that this had any connection to the protests taking place up and down the country. But her mother said in this interview that she believes her daughter was attending a protest in Tehran and that she went missing shortly after attending this demonstration. It was only days later that she was then shown a photo of her
daughter's body in a nearby morgue by the Iranian authorities. Now she's spoken to Etemad, the reformist newspaper in Iran, identifying her daughter on social media video at this protest. She has complete denial of any such claims of the Iranian regime's lie that she'd fallen from a building.
But of course, Nika Shakarami is one of several women now who have died over the course of these demonstrations that we have seen spreading across the country. And her memory, her legacy has really come to symbolize the core of what this movement is about. That continued brave show of defiance against the regime. Severe restrictions on women's rights. Lynda?
KINKADE: All right. Nada Bashir, we will leave it there for now. But stay of course that story. Thanks very much.
Still ahead this hour, decisive blow, a desperate maneuver. We'll speak with a military expert about Russia's bombardment of Ukraine.
[03:35:01]
Plus, a Russian general with a reputation for brutality takes command of Moscow's forces in Ukraine. See what difference he can make in Vladimir Putin's war.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Well, let's get you up to date on our top story this hour.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking G7 leaders to help create an air shield to protect against Russian missile attacks. It comes ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers today in Brussels.
Russia has a least a barrage of aerial attacks across Ukraine this week, which have claimed at least 19 lives. And some say the new general in charge of the war is behind the more aggressive strategy.
CNN's Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The cold eye stare of Russia's new overall commander in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin reflective of a reputation for brutality.
ANDREA KENDALL-TAYLOR, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: This guy is not a nice guy, according to open sources in Russian language, he is a proponent of these types of ruthless attacks on civilian centers.
TODD: General Surovikin who has also commanded Russia's air force also led Russian forces in Syria. For that campaign, he was awarded the title hero of the Russian Federation. But his units were also accused of a vicious offensive on the city of Aleppo where barrel bombs and other munitions targeted densely populated neighborhoods, causing widespread civilian casualties. Syrian and Russian officials have repeatedly denied those accusations.
EVELYN FARKAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE MCCAIN INSTITUTE: In Syria, they were able to prevail by essentially bombing civilian housing units, by bombing hospitals, by bombing the White Helmets, which was a -- which is a humanitarian organization -- is a humanitarian organization in Syria.
TODD: Surovikin's penchant for cruelty was also seen in 2004, when according to Russian media accounts, and at least two think tanks, he berated a subordinate so severely that the subordinate fatally shot himself.
A book by the think tank the Jamestown Foundation said during the unsuccessful coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, soldiers under Surovikin's command killed three protesters, leading to Surovikin spending at least six months in prison.
The Jamestown Foundation says Surovikin also once received a suspended sentence for illegal arms dealing, a conviction that was later overturned.
FARKAS: That does tend to square with what my understanding is of the Russian military. The fact they performed so poorly on the battlefield, that does tell me that there is a high degree, likely, of corruption in the Russian military.
[03:39:57]
TODD: Analysts don't expect Vladimir Putin's appointment of General Surovikin to turn the tide of the war significantly, other than possibly prompting a more relentless wave of attacks on civilian areas. But one expert believes it does reflect the pressure Putin has been under recently.
KENDALL-TAYLOR: His appointment, to me, reflects the ascendancy of a lot of hardline voices inside Russia. Calling on Putin to make changes, and to bring in someone who would be willing to execute these ruthless attacks. These are people inside Russia who believe that the key to winning this war is by terrorizing the Ukrainian public to get them to back down.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (on camera): Analyst Andrea Kendall-Taylor says she doesn't think this appointment will change the dynamic of Vladimir Putin micromanaging the Ukraine war, making many of the tactical decisions himself. A state of command which analysts believe likely will not reverse Russia setbacks on the battlefield.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
KINKADE: Joining me now from Canberra, Australia, Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst of defense strategy and capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Good have you with us.
MALCOLM DAVIS, SENIOR ANALYST, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: Thank you very much.
KINKADE: So, this week we have seen the biggest expansion of the war since Russia invaded back in February. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy describing it as a new wave of terror. Why are we seeing this now?
DAVIS: Look, Putin is staring defeat in the face. The attack on the Kerch Bridge I think was a huge blow to his credibility and to Russia's military effectiveness in that region. And so, he's lashing out in the only way that he knows how, which is to attack civilians. He knows that he can't win on the battlefield militarily.
Russian forces are basically unable to respond to Ukrainian attacks. They have poor morale, they're poorly equipped. And so, Putin is basically falling back on what he knows, and what the people around him know, which is to attack civilians with long-range missiles. This sort of thing is going to continue.
KINKADE: And Malcolm, you mentioned the Kerch Bridge, that of course connected Crimea to Russia. It was key in resupplying Russian forces. What impact will the destruction of that bridge have on Russia's fight on the ground?
DAVIS: I think what it does is it brings greater peril to Russia's ability to support forces in Crimea. So, it's not an immediate impact per se. But what it does is force Russia to deploy additional forces, perhaps from the Donbas region, south towards the Kherson region, to prevent the Ukrainians from continuing their advance, potentially capturing -- capturing Melitopol that would once again interrupt Russian logistics flows into Crimea.
If the Ukrainians can essentially interrupt and cut those ground lines of communication, then Crimea becomes vulnerable, and you could then see in the northern spring in 2023, a Ukrainian advance into Crimea itself.
KINKADE: And Malcolm, you mentioned some of the issues, the problems facing the Russian military. I've heard of the low morale. We've seen hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Russia to avoid Putin's partial mobilization. We've also seen Russia turn to prisoners to boost numbers on the front lines. What are the main challenges facing Russian forces?
DAVIS: The main challenge is that so many of them that are there don't want to fight. Those that are there are poorly equipped. They're running short on food, basic necessities such as that, as well as ammunition.
You have video footage on CNN a few days ago, Russian forces sleeping in pig pens. Now, this is not good for supposedly a professional army to maintain their morale. So, I do think that you have a severe problem now with the Russians, in terms of their ability and their willingness to fight. And that is going to continue through the winter, which is going to be incredibly harsh. And into the northern spring, when supposedly, all these conscripts are going to turn off from that mass mobilization. Most of those will not want to fight. Most of those will not be
effectively trained or equipped. So, I do think Russia is staring defeat in the face.
KINKADE: Malcolm Davis, good to get your perspective, thank you so much for joining us from Canberra.
DAVIS: Thank you very much.
KINKADE: Still to come, Tropical Storm Karl has developed in the Gulf of Mexico and may pose a potential threat to Mexico. CNN's weather team is following the storm.
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KINKADE: Parts of Eastern Australia may have seen a break in the rain, but authorities warn that downpour may return and make recent flooding even worse. Standing water remains across parts of new South Wales. Officials warn its dams and rivers, as well as those in nearby Victoria are already full.
Meantime, we're keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Karl in the Gulf of Mexico. A tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of Mexico's coast. Karl is forecast to strengthen as it moves north.
Well, CNN meteorologist Britley Ritz is following the path of the storm. What can you tell us, Britley?
BRITLEY RITZ, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Currently winds around the center, a very undefined center of Tropical Storm Karl are 65 kilometers per hour. A gust of 85, you see there in loose convection. All -- most of it off to the north and east of the center. We are not really going to start to feel the effects until Thursday as we bring in tropical storm watches. Vera Cruz, included along the eastern coast line of Mexico.
So, the system itself being trapped into the Bay of Campeche, we got that area of higher pressure, so pushes it down by Thursday. We're talking winds of 75 kilometers per hour. And then it hits the mountain range there, and completely starts to weaken the system itself.
So, there's that area of high pressure blocking it down. And holding most of that rainfall over towards Vera Cruz. You're seeing the reds, that's roughly 100 to 150 millimeters of rain, just within two days' time.
Speaking of a lot of rain, Australia, Sydney one of the bigger issues here had been the flooding. In 2022, so far, we have picked up over 2,200 millimeters of rain. Which, by the way, shatters a previous record of over 2,100 millimeters back in 1950. And that just happened between September 23rd and October 6th.
So, 13 of the 15 days we've had record amounts of rainfall. And on the big issues here comes with being so warm. Our atmosphere is much warmer than it has been. It also holds a lot of moisture here, that warmer air. Which of course can lead to more increased rainfall. And that's exactly what has happened.
So, the next area of low pressure starts to wind up through here by the end of the week and into the weekend. So, yes, there is still more rain involved. A lot of it is staying down over towards Melbourne, where we could pick up an additional 50 to 100 millimeters of rain.
But again, Sydney, still picking up some rain. And the problem is the ground is already saturated, so it doesn't take much. By the way, number one here when it comes down to the top five wettest January through April for Sydney.
KINKADE: Yes. Britley, my friends and family in Sydney are sick of the rain. They are ready for it to move on. Thanks so much. Britley Ritz there.
Well, fans around the world are mourning the loss of actress Angela Lansbury. When we return, a look back on the incredible legacy she's left behind.
Plus, watch a dramatic rescue of these three fishermen who are lucky to be alive after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico.
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KINKADE: Welcome back. Three fishermen are lucky to be alive after a weekend trip turned into a boating nightmare. They battled sharks and rough seas for more than 24 hours after their boat sank off the Louisiana's Gulf Coast.
CNN's Randi Kaye has the story of their dramatic rescue.
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UNKNOWN: Going down.
RANDI KAYE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER (voice-over): Twenty-eight hours, that's how long three Louisiana fishermen were stranded in shark infested waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is what they told ABC News.
PHONG LE, RESCUED BY U.S. COAST GUARD: We made a distress call on the VHF radio to the coast guard, and let them know that we're taking on water, we're taking on water, our vessel is sinking. And not even seconds after that, the boat with nearly halfway underwater.
KAYE: Halfway underwater, and no land in sight. The only thing they could see were sharks, lots of them.
LUAN NGUYEN, RESCUED FISHERMAN: We took the life vest. And it did not touch me. It bit the vest. And boom, it hit it. And I punched him in the face. And I think that's where I think I caught these fingers, I mean, these injuries on my hand. They wouldn't leave. So, I took my two thumbs and jab them in the eye, and it took off.
KAYE: The men had tied a couple of coolers together to form a raft. They tried to stay afloat, and out of reach of the sharks.
NGUYEN: That was critical in a surviving, tying the ice chests together.
KAYE: But time was not on their side. The men had set out for a fishing trip from, Venice, Louisiana on Saturday morning. When they didn't return home, friends and family began to worry and called the U.S. Coast Guard. And somehow, in a stroke of luck Sunday, one of the fishermen was able to text a friend his location in the moment before his phone died.
LE: I sent my location to my friend. And it was only 2 percent left. The minute I sent it, I see him trying to reply to me, and the phone cut off. I ran out of battery.
KAYE: That friend alerted the coast guard, which search for the men by air and sea. The search area spanned more than 1,200 square miles, slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. And then, another lucky break, the men had been in the water for more than 24 hours already, but within two hours of receiving the text for help, they spotted the men from the air, 25 miles off the Louisiana coast. By now, it was around noon on Sunday. One man was hoisted up to the chopper with the help of a rescue swimmer.
UNKNOWN: He's halfway up.
ANDREW STONE, SEAMAN, U.S. COAST GUARD: And the fixed wing aircraft saw the other two men floating about a mile away. That's when we sprang into action and spread the boat up to go get these guys. We pulled up to them, and they were getting harassed by sharks when we pulled up.
KAYE: He says the sharks were about four feet long.
STONE: One of the men had been beaten up on his hand, as you saw, he was bleeding into the water. His life jacket, his orange life preserver had been ripped about halfway down by the fish. So, we got him on board first, pulled him out of the water.
KAYE: All three fishermen suffer from hypothermia.
UNKNOWN: They had multiple lacerations on their hand. Almost down to the bone. We actually were able to recover one of the lifejackets that had been eaten through by a shark.
[03:55:01]
KAYE: A nightmare fishing trip with a happy ending, one these men will never forget.
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KAYE (on camera): And all three men were taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans. They are recovering. But of course, one of them, no surprise, is saying he is in no rush to get back into the water. Just imagine those conditions, three-to-five-foot waves, surrounded by
sharks. The water was cold. They had no idea if anyone was actually coming to get them. They were 25 miles off shore. And they might not have even known that. Luckily, they had those coolers, which had some water in them. So, they were able to stay hydrated. But again, just imagine, 28 hours or so in those waters wondering if help was ever going to come.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach County, Florida.
KINKADE: Well, NASA says the world's first ever mission to change an asteroid's motion in space was a success. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART as it's known, happened late last month when NASA slammed a spacecraft into an asteroid, alternating its orbit around a larger asteroid by 32 minutes.
This image taken by the Hubble Telescope study shows the debris, which broke off the smaller asteroid. No asteroids are currently threatening Earth, that's because the test was a watershed moment for planetary defense, and all of humanity.
Well, Angela Lansbury, an iconic star of the stage and queen for nearly eight decades has passed away. The star's family says she died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles, just five days shy of her 97th birthday.
The actress got her big break back in 1944 earning her first Oscar nomination at the age of 19 for the role in the movie "Gaslight." She's possibly best known for her role as America's favorite TV sleuth, the Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote. And she of course is the popular voice of Misses Pots in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast.
Angela Lansbury was 96 years old, dying just days before her 97th birthday.
Well, thank you so much for joining me. I'm Lynda Kinkade. The news continues after a short break. Stay with us.
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