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Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure In Strikes; Trump Takes Midterm Campaign Blitz To Arizona, Montana; Vatican: Pope Leo's Surgery Recovery "Proceeding As Expected". Aired 1-1:30a ET
Aired October 15, 2026 - 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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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead here on CNN Newsroom, Ukraine's president says he feels betrayed by the U.S. President. His latest message to Donald Trump as he heads to meet E.U. allies.
Plus, new polling and high inflation overshadow President Trump's campaign blitz for Republicans.
And we'll have the latest on Pope Leo's recovery and his first message after his lung cancer surgery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Well, Russia is intensifying its attacks across Ukraine, launching missiles and drones on Wednesday from Zaporizhzhia in the southeast to Lutsk in the west. A Ukrainian official says at least six people were killed in Lutsk when a drone hit a wholesale warehouse.
Hours earlier, Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure. All this playing out as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed after President Trump announced a new deal to buy Russian fuel.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: It's a pity that we are losing. We are losing a strong partner. So this is my opinion. And --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think you're losing America?
ZELENSKYY: Yes, but not because of us. We -- I mean this -- we can't be weak, otherwise we can't survive. That's why it's painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side. But we are OK that he's in the middle, but if you're in the middle, you have to stay in the middle. Not on the wrong side. This is not the right side of history.
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CHURCH: Zelenskyy is also speaking out about restrictions on the military-grade version of Elon Musk's Starlink, called Starshield. Ukrainian officials say those restrictions, which caught them off guard, are now disrupting operations. Musk took to social media to say Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that any limits are set by the U.S. military and President. Zelenskyy says it's clear Russia is trying to take advantage of the problem with Starlink.
Zelenskyy is set to attend a two-day E.U. summit kicking off in Brussels in the hours ahead. Leaders in the European Council are expected to discuss continued support for Ukraine, which includes operational needs for its infrastructure ahead of winter. Pledges of support also coming from the U.K., where the Ukrainian president met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday. Zelenskyy also sat down with Britain's King Charles. Burnham had this to say ahead of the meeting.
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ANDY BURNHAM, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What I have to do in my role is try and repair bridges so that the support comes back. And therefore, I should, at this moment in time, be careful in terms of laying the ground to bring people back together. That is the role I intend to play. It's the right role for me to play in this moment. I will listen to President Zelenskyy carefully, but he won't be going away from Britain today empty-handed.
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CHURCH: Joining me now from Kyiv is independent journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk. I appreciate you talking with us.
NATALIYA GUMENYUK, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST: Thank you for inviting me.
CHURCH: Of course. So despite President Trump's talk of an energy ceasefire, we are still seeing Russia continue to carry out deadly attacks across Ukraine, including civilian targets and energy facilities. What more are you learning about those strikes? And what's the situation on the ground in Kyiv where you are?
GUMENYUK: So it's quite a specific moment because within these weeks, the attacks are definitely very much intense. And they are, first of all, aimed against civilians to kind of create a terror with minimal military gain, what we can say. Because what's happening also and is not in the news is that in the battlefield, Ukraine has initiative and there is a progress.
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So somehow part of the whole campaign, which is also very, very harmful to the Ukrainian civilians, is to downplay the Ukrainian military successes, more or less to create this impression that Ukraine needs to back down. However, at this moment, the Russia is in the moment of vulnerability. So we are unfortunately also inside of this kind of a Russian information campaign.
But what is also said that there is obviously the moment of vulnerability with some of the lack of the air defense. And therefore, there are more attacks, especially during the daytime, on civilian infrastructure, on civilians, which obviously kill people. And that's very tragic, but they do not change anything in the terms whether Ukraine would like take another piece of the territory or would be capable further to stop some of the Russian war machine. So it won't kind of force Ukraine to give up or something else, because it doesn't make any sense.
CHURCH: And on Wednesday, President Zelenskyy said that he feels betrayed by President Trump for making a deal with Russia to buy its diesel fuel, a deal that's received bipartisan backlash here in the United States. How do most Ukrainians feel about the U.S. President making this deal with Russia's president while they cope with deadly strikes from that country every day?
GUMENYUK: So I think I've never heard President Zelenskyy saying kind of being betrayed. He has like it's pity and painful than a lie or goes, is it not to the middle or even further to the wrong side. So what we are also now, Ukraine is currently building the own capabilities to stop one of the Russian ways of the attack beyond the ballistic missiles, jet-powered drones. And that exactly was a moment of vulnerability, where -- but also regarding the ballistic missiles.
And some of the U.S. capacities can help save Ukrainian lives. By that we mean that early warning and some of the intel can help Ukraine to understand early enough that there is a ballistic missiles. And we for the first time had the situation when Ukrainian air defense wasn't aware of. We also had the situation which we know from the, we'd say, reliable sources. We're speaking about the advisors to the presidents in terms of the defense.
Quite a famous analyst who are writing that, for instance, yesterday there was a decrease in the speed of the use of the Starlink, which, first of all, affected some of the military operation. But we need to understand Starlink cannot be used in Russia. It's not allowed for Ukraine to use Starlink for the operation further in the Russian air. So we're speaking just about Ukrainian territory.
But the problem was that Ukraine was developing this new technology to intercept Russian jet-powered drone using some of the facilities of the Starlink speed. So that was like another option to save human lives. And what we understand, Ukraine was not warned that there would be the limit for some of the speed. I understand from some of the comments that Ukraine tried to fix this problem. So that's where we are.
And therefore it also, unfortunately, feel for Ukrainians that there is a moment in the U.S. elections where there are a lot of rough actions by President Trump, including his deal with President Putin. But while there is politics played, possibly inner politics, these are the Ukrainians suffering, especially those who are trying to be defended on their soil, on their peaceful towns.
CHURCH: All right. Yes, President Zelenskyy was talking to Piers Morgan, saying that he did feel betrayed by the U.S. President. So there is that interview. But, Nataliya Gumenyuk, thank you so much. Appreciate you joining us. Thank you.
All right. Now to CNN exclusive reporting. The White House is considering using the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal against Iran. That is according to multiple U.S. officials who spoke exclusively with CNN. They say the so-called mother of all bombs could be used to strike Iran's nuclear sites and energy infrastructure.
But multiple sources say it's unclear whether the weapon would achieve the stated U.S. strategic objectives or tip the balance of the war. One source told CNN President Trump has ordered military leaders to develop options that could include using the bomb, but the source also says the phrasing of the order indicates the administration could try to use those strikes to declare victory and pull out of the war.
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Yemen's internationally recognized government says it won't negotiate with Houthi rebels or agree to a ceasefire. But will instead press ahead with its dawn of Yemen offensive. The country's foreign minister said there can be no lasting peace as long as the Iran-backed Houthis still have weapons. Houthi media posted footage on Wednesday showing what appeared to be military vehicles burning near the Red Sea coast.
The World Food Programme warns the renewed fighting and shifting front lines are preventing some 800,000 people from getting humanitarian assistance. The agency warns more than 18 million Yemenis face acute food security.
Well, this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is speaking out on Israel's war in Gaza. Navi Pillay is a human rights pioneer and lawyer who took part in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and later served as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She recently led the U.N. commission that found Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has strongly denied the allegations in the commission's report.
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NAVI PILLAY, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT: As a long-time judge, I'm not surprised when defendants deny the charges against them. I point to the work we did. It's a two-year examination of evidence. We received the support of organs inside the United Nations, including satellite footage. We had our own team. And refreshingly, the evidence came from inside Israel, where NGOs have been blocked by the government from cooperating with us and with the international court.
So first I can tell you that we verified the facts and we stand by this finding that genocide has occurred and is occurring. And until a court of law, that's the International Court of Justice, pronounces on this matter, ours is the most authoritative statement on this. So compared to that work, any state that's named there should immediately investigate these charges. Of course, they didn't let anyone in to examine, to investigate.
They didn't let us in. They didn't let international journalists. But now they have a comprehensive report. They should now look towards carrying out investigations and prosecutions themselves.
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CHURCH: This year's midterm elections in the U.S. are now officially the most expensive in the country's history. The tracking group AdImpact says spending has now surpassed $10 billion. Meanwhile, a leading Republican Super PAC has cut ad spending on battleground House races in Texas, Iowa and New Jersey. The Super PAC is focusing instead on key races in Michigan, Florida and North Carolina.
U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico is locked in a tight race in Texas with State Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Democrat took questions from voters at a CNN town hall on Wednesday covering a wide range of topics including Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security. Talarico says he does not support abolishing immigration and customs enforcement, known as ICE, but he also doesn't want a secret police force terrorizing communities.
President Trump will be back in Washington in the coming hours after two campaign events out West. The President rallied Republican voters in Arizona and Montana. CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak has details.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: President Trump wrapped up a two-day swing through the American West here in Montana and the goal in all of these stops was the same, to try and get rural voters, people who voted for the President overwhelmingly during his own contest, to turn out to vote in this year's midterm elections.
And when you talk to Republicans, that is a big concern, that these voters will just not go out to the polls in an election where the President is not up himself. And you hear him repeat that at his rallies over and over to pretend that I'm on the valet. He said it in Alaska, he said it in Arizona, and he repeated it again here in Montana.
Now, here the real marquee race is for the House. This pits conservative radio host Aaron Flint against firefighter and a union leader Sam Forstag. He's the Democrat, Flint is the Republican. Now, before the president arrived, I spoke to Flint, and he was frank. He acknowledged that they have identified thousands and thousands of voters in this district who vote during presidential elections but don't turn out during the midterm. And he said that the goal in accompanying President Trump and in appearing with him here was to try and get those people to vote.
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But, of course, the real risk for any Republican appearing alongside the President is that he's very unpopular and that that could potentially be a liability for them. Now, Flint kind of dodged that question when I asked him about it. But certainly, President Trump is unpopular in Montana. His approval rating has slipped. That's in part due to the Iran war. It's in part due to the economy.
And Democrats are really trying to seize on that. The big issue here is housing. You know, out-of-staters have moved to Montana, and that has had the effect of driving up housing prices. I talked to the Democrat in this race, Sam Forstag, and he acknowledges that the Democratic brand in Montana has slipped. He says that people are pissed off at the Democratic Party. That was the word that he used.
But he said that he did not think that President Trump coming here would necessarily help Republicans. Now, in his speech, President Trump said that his only job here was to get good candidates across the finish line, and he said that he would be out for the next several weeks trying to get Republicans elected into the House and Senate.
Kevin Liptak, CNN, Kalispell, Montana.
CHURCH: And as Kevin mentioned, inflation remains a key issue for Americans. U.S. inflation rose faster than expected last month. The Consumer Price Index found prices were up 0.6 percent from August. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that brought the annual rate of inflation up to 3.7 percent. Inflation has now outpaced wage growth for six months straight.
Well, meanwhile, average U.S. gasoline prices have now been stuck at $4 a gallon or higher for 167 days this year, which is the most of any year in history. Gas cost just under $3 a gallon before the war with Iran. The previous record was 158 days of $4 a gallon gas in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. But prices dropped much more quickly back then after supply disruptions proved tamer than feared. Meanwhile, diesel prices have yet to drop despite President Trump's much-hyped deal with Russia.
Well, long before President Donald Trump won Florida by 13 points back in 2024, the state's Cuban-Americans were loyal Republican voters. But now, just weeks before critical midterm elections, rising costs and immigration policies are fueling discontent among this key constituency. CNN's Carolina Peguero talked to people in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood and has this report.
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BARBARA LLUIS, CUBAN AMERICAN REPUBLICAN VOTER (through translator): Trump promises a lot, like everyone else. But when it comes down to it, nobody does anything. They say what people want to hear.
SANTIAGO CASAMAYOR, CUBAN AMERICAN UNDECIDED VOTER: Everyone is complaining about the same thing, rent. Housing is very expensive, and so are interest rates.
CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are Cuban- American voters from Little Havana in Miami, where in Florida's 27th district, President Donald Trump won by nearly 15 points in 2024. But today, the high cost of living, inflation, and Trump's recent policies are causing discontent among some voters. But will this dissatisfaction matter in the midterm elections? MAGALY CIERRA A., CUBAN AMERICAN REPUBLICAN VOTER (through translator): Honestly, I like Trump. But he has done some things I don't like, and he still hasn't gotten things done with Cuba.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Here, Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is seeking re-election against Democrat Eliott Rodriguez. Among young voters like these students at Miami Dade College, the economy is also a major concern.
PAISLEY HERRERA, YOUNG VOTER: Right now, the economy, it's very bad. I mean, the gas prices, they've gone up to like almost $7 here, and grocery stores, like a lot of food isn't affordable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I work two part-time jobs, and I still can't afford to live by myself.
DANIELA CREATZO, YOUNG VOTER: You still continue to raise our rent, and for what? Because nothing changes. The maintenance is the same. Our utilities are the same. So I really don't understand what the point is.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Nearly three out of every four residents in District 27 are Hispanic. According to an NBC News and Telemundo poll, 69 percent of registered Latino voters in the United States disapprove of the President's performance. Salazar, who has supported the President, has also distanced herself from some of his immigration policies. She challenged him directly by posting this video.
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REP. MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR (R-FL): Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far.
PEGUERO (voice-over): But criticizing Trump has also drawn criticism from some voters in her own district.
CIERRA A. (through translator): Maria Elvira Salazar is someone I thought was different, but her true colors came out. I don't like that she is fighting Trump over the deal he's making with Cuba.
PEGUERO (voice-over): We requested an interview with Salazar, but so far it has not been possible to arrange one. Meanwhile, Democrat Eliott Rodriguez, a former news anchor, is trying to unseat Salazar. We spoke with him in front of Miami's iconic Freedom Tower, where thousands of Cuban refugees were received in the 1960s.
ELIOTT RODRIGUEZ (D), CANDIDATE FOR U.S. HOUSE: Our constitution is in danger. Our right to do process is in danger. And even the truth is in danger. And that's what I dedicated my career to, is telling the truth, being honest, and just delivering facts so that people can make up their minds based on reality. That's what's happening now. It's so distressing.
PEGUERO (voice-over): And that is one of the questions here in District 27. Will what these voters think about Trump today also influence how they vote for Congress? Carolina Peguero, CNN, Little Havana.
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CHURCH: And we are keeping an eye on Asia markets, which are in red territory at the moment. The Kospi is down more than 7 percent. The Nikkei is off more than 4 percent. And that is as investors seem to be growing more skeptical about how long the A.I. boom will last. U.S. stocks dropped on Wednesday after a hot inflation report fuelled concerns that the Fed could raise interest rates again soon.
Wall Street was down across the board with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, each posting their worst day since July. Investors are also concerned with China's development of advanced memory chips, which could give Beijing a leg up in the A.I. race.
We have much more to come here on CNN Newsroom. Pope Leo shares his first message after undergoing lung cancer surgery. The latest on the pontiff's health, next.
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CHURCH: Major floods swept through Istanbul on Wednesday after heavy rains across Turkey. This video shows the floodwaters were so powerful, a woman fell while trying to cross the street and bystanders rushed in to keep her from being swept away. In other parts of the city, floodwaters were so high that parked cars became submerged and only the tops of the vehicles could be seen. The floods were caused when a major creek in Istanbul overflowed after heavy rain, causing roads to collapse in two districts in the city. There have been no reports of serious injuries, according to the Associated Press.
Pope Leo thanked fellow Catholics for their prayers in his first message after undergoing surgery for lung cancer in Rome. The Vatican says the pontiff is recovering as expected and will remain in the hospital for a week. In his message, the pontiff wrote, I thank you warmly for your prayers and for the work you have done together. Your sharing of experiences and attentive listening are indeed a gift to the whole church. I ask you please to pray for me as I pray for you.
More now on the Pope's recovery from CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: So it's a waiting game here at the Gemelli Hospital as Pope Leo continues his recovery. The crucial thing is the results of the tests that will determine what treatment Pope Leo may need for this lung cancer diagnosis. Also if the cancer has spread. And I think that is what everyone is waiting and focused on.
The signs though are encouraging around Pope Leo's recovery from that surgery that removed part of his right lung and led to that revelation that he has the cancer diagnosis. He did take part in a celebration of mass here at the Gemelli Hospital on the 10th floor where the Pope has a special set of rooms.
But the bigger picture here is that the news of the Pope's diagnosis has come as a real shock for people in the Vatican. You know, one cardinal said it's like a bolt from the blue. It's something that people are still processing. And of course there's alarm across the Catholic world. Pope Leo is expected to travel to Latin America early in November, from the 6th to the 17th of the month. But that trip is facing a number of questions.
And also I think the view in the Vatican is this is worrying. I spoke to an Archbishop outside of St. Peter's Square today who'd been in the Vatican for a big meeting that the Pope had convened but then couldn't really take part in because of the health problems. He said he was concerned about it. There's also hope that the Pope can recover.
He is still relatively young. He is someone in good shape. So a lot of uncertainty, but also hope that the Pope's recovery is progressing well.
Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
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CHURCH: New video shows the aftermath of a strike that sank a Singaporean ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Videos verified by CNN show the vessel taking on water before sinking. Officials say the contain ship, GFS Pride, was hit by an unknown projectile. It's crew members were safely evacuated. This satellite image appears to show scattered containers and a small oil slick. Ameritime tracking group says Iran has hit at least 18 ships over the last two weeks.
Want to thank you so much for your company, I'm Rosemary Church, The Story Is with Elex Michaleson, is next.
