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Putin, Russia Escalate Disinformation Campaign Amid War; Syrian "White Helmets" Group Ready to Advise Ukraine Against Russia; Stranded Kyiv Ballet Troupe In Paris Dance For Their Country. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired March 11, 2022 - 05:30   ET

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

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[05:33:24]

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN ANCHOR: As Russia has ramped up its war, it has cracked down on independent media organizations in an effort to try to control the narrative about what's going on here in Ukraine.

Now, one media organization that has been in the Kremlin's crosshairs for quite some time is the investigative website IStories. According to IStories, the Russian Ministry of Justice recently declared them to be an undesirable organization, in their words, even though IStories closed its operations in Russia just last year.

Now, that's when the Russian authorities arrested and detained one of IStories investigative journalists -- his name is Roman Anin -- after his reporting on the financial dealings of close allies and family members of Vladimir Putin.

So joining me now is the IStories editor, Roman Anin. Roman, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

Now, what impact do you believe that this crackdown on independent and social media is having in terms of Russians' understanding of what's going on here -- of the war? Are people still able to get the truth?

ROMAN ANIN, RUSSIAN JOURNALIST, EDITOR OF INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA OUTLET ISTORIES (via Skype): Well, it has become more complicated because even before the crackdown there were not so many independent media left in the country because Vladimir Putin has been cracking down on the independent media for the last 20 years.

And now when they block all the major media outlets -- I mean independent media outlets where they proclaim other media outlets such as ours is undesirable, or when journalists have to delete the articles about the war.

[05:35:00]

Of course, the majority of the Russian audience can get information only from the official sources like the Ministry of Defense. And, you know, what the Ministry of Defense is not information; it's propaganda. So what they're trying to do is they try to monopolize the narrative and to actually hide the truth from the Russian audience.

MARQUARDT: Well -- and they have been quite successful. We keep hearing stories about Russians who don't believe that there's a war going on in Ukraine, or if they do then it's just that the Russians are targeting military targets.

So, how convincing is the disinformation that is being fed to the Russian population by the state-run media, which is really the primary way that Russians do get their information right now?

ANIN: Yes. I mean, it's one of the biggest tragedies in Russia because according to independent polls, 56 percent of Russians actually support declaration and they don't believe that there is a war going on in Ukraine.

And we see by comments on our articles and our posts -- you know, when we do a story about a Russian airstrike on a hospital, nobody believes us because people don't see. They just watch T.V. and that's like what kind of the picture that they see.

And to be honest, it is not so much room left for journalists. Because imagine -- I mean, today, if the Russian media calls this special operation a war, they can be sentenced -- journalists can be sentenced to 15 years in prison. So the word -- the word -- the word "war" is even prohibited in Russia. And that's what the Kremlin tries to do -- to kind of leave them the one picture for the Russian audience.

MARQUARDT: Even if they're not getting the right media and even if they don't believe what's going on in Ukraine, they have no choice but to feel the effects of the sanctions and of the businesses that are pulling out. If they can no longer buy Apple products or go to McDonald's, or that kind of thing.

How do you think that is impacting how they are viewing President Putin and the war that he has declared here in Ukraine?

ANIN: Well, even though this station that is kind of feeling that we've got to be with our country and with our army.

But I think that near future -- and we're talking about months -- people will start feeling the consequences of the war when hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs. And I am not exaggerating because if you look at the list of companies that left Russia we're really talking about a huge number of people. And without jobs, without money, they will try -- they will start asking themselves questions -- what's going on?

And since the mainstream media doesn't answer these questions since the mainstream media doesn't even disclose the number of losses in Ukraine, I think people will start seeking for the truth and this is where our job will become even more important that it is today.

And I think that the audience will be growing because people -- in all the times, people want to know the truth. You know, there are some bad times when the state makes it really difficult but still, there is -- I feel that there is a desire from the Russian audience to know what's going on and we need to (audio gap).

MARQUARDT: What about the oligarchs -- you know, the wealthiest people in Russia? You've done some reporting on those who are close to Putin who have billions and billions of dollars. Do you feel like the pressure on them can have any impact on Putin's decision-making and his ability to stay in power?

ANIN: You know, it's complicated because, on the one hand, I do understand why the west is imposing sanctions on the oligarchs. And it creates a lot of problems for them because they can't go to western countries, they can't go to western hospitals, and they can't live the life that they're used to. That's on the one hand.

On the other hand, I feel that nothing has made the inner circle more united than sanctions. Because before 2014, the inner circle was really in this constant shape of war. Sanctions -- I don't know (INAUDIBLE) people close to Putin that were constantly fighting for resources, and we caught (ph) it in Russia. The wars of clans. And now you don't see -- you don't see it that much because sanctions made them more united.

So I think the mistake the west is making is kind of -- is not -- the west should leave an opportunity for them to stop the war. And if they can't go to the west and they can't -- if all of them are under sanctions, you don't leave any options to them. So I think that there should be a smarter approach. I would say kind of case-by-case.

And the last thing --

MARQUARDT: Right.

ANIN: -- still, I feel the oligarchs are not -- the majority of them are not happy with what's going on. I see it from the sources. And you can see from the public statements of people like Fridman, of people like Tinkoff, and others. Like the biggest businessmen in Russia --

[05:40:01]

MARQUARDT: Right.

ANIN: -- they expressed they are concerned.

MARQUARDT: Yes. I mean, if President Putin has done anything well it's uniting people, but against him.

Roman Anin, we have to leave it there. Thank you for everything you do. It is critically important --

ANIN: Thank you.

MARQUARDT: -- especially in this moment. Thank you.

ANIN: Thank you.

MARQUARDT: Now more on our breaking news. Explosions reported in three Ukrainian cities this morning as the Russians appear to be shifting tactics. Plus, as Russia uses its gruesome playbook from Syria, the humanitarian group that is known as the White Helmets is standing ready to advise Ukrainians -- even on how to defuse bombs. That's coming up.

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BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: The Syrian humanitarian organization the White Helmets expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, posting this video online.

[05:45:05]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Speaking foreign language)

TEXT: The thousands of victims who we rescued during our work in Syria are still fresh in our memory and we cannot forget them or forget the pain they experienced. The people of Ukraine are living through a tragedy similar to the one that the Syrians have lived through and still face.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (Speaking foreign language)

TEXT: The people of Ukraine today are experiencing a war similar to the one we have been living through for 11 years. Nations and people must stand in the face of these wars and their voices must be heard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The group of emergency responders have spent the past 10-plus years responding to Russian bombardments in Syria and providing medical aid to civilians. They now have some practical advice for first responders in Ukraine.

And joining us now is a board member of the White Helmets, Ammar al Selmo. Ammar, thank you so much for being with us.

And I imagine as you're watching what's going on in Ukraine there are so many similarities and you realize you have all of this knowledge from the last decade to share. What can you tell us?

AMMAR AL SELMO, BOARD MEMBER, THE WHITE HELMETS (via Webex by Cisco): Well, thank you for having me.

Yes. First of all, I would like to give a briefing background of our organization. It is a grassroots humanitarian organization made up of almost 3,000 residents (ph) in Syria. We lost 10 percent of our volunteers in the airstrikes by Russia and the regime. So we have almost 10 years of experience dealing with the Russian airstrikes in Syria. We believe that we have a little bit to share with the Ukrainians.

I, myself, have responded to numerous effects (ph) by Russia and I know firsthand the level of destruction and despair that the Ukrainians are facing. White Helmets want to share good practice and training materials to

ensure that Ukrainian first responders, first of all, to saving lives. We know the tragedy and the horror and the destruction that war leaves behind.

But a Russian war is different. It's completely different because Russian have no principle. The troops have no principle. They disrespect human rights or international humanitarian law. The Russian (INAUDIBLE) did not protect us in Syria -- war against -- crime against humanity.

Again, we believe that the Russians commit a crime against humanity and the Russians repeat it again and again because they are protected by veto.

KEILAR: And Ammar -- and I --

AL SELMO: Yes.

KEILAR: I'm sorry -- I'm sorry to interrupt you on that. But, yes -- to your point. I mean, we're watching apartments be hit. We're watching hospitals be hit.

You mentioned double-tap strikes. This airstrike on, say, a civilian area -- hospital, apartment, whatnot -- and then when the rescuers go in -- when they respond, another strike that takes out the responders.

In your opinion, how much time do Ukrainians who are responding to these strikes have before there may be a second strike?

AL SELMO: Yes. According to the -- to the aircraft in the sky, sometimes just immediately -- after two minutes. We have a team -- special team to you can say observe the sky. Because you cannot work to victims from the (INAUDIBLE) without watching the sky.

This is also the drone. The drone observe you from the sky to give notification to the (INAUDIBLE) or to the -- to the aircraft that are you again.

This is -- you can -- you can say this is (INAUDIBLE) war. So why connect Syria to the Ukraine? Because what happened in Syria -- we did not -- like now in Ukraine, you can say the dress rehearsal of the -- of the -- of the war in Ukraine have been in Syria. So we are witnessing the same thing.

The most dangerous event in Syria was hospital. Hospital -- even if the hospital gives coordination to the United Nations and (INAUDIBLE), Russia uses this coordination to attack the hospital --

KEILAR: Yes.

AL SELMO: -- and to attack schools, to attack markets.

So, yes, as I said, we stand with Ukraine because we feel that they are -- we've been because we can show them they are bussing at the same we (INAUDIBLE). KEILAR: Ammar, you've learned so much -- so many terrible lessons. It is amazing, though, to watch you sharing them and reaching out to Ukrainians. Ammar al Selmo with the White Helmets, thank you so much.

AL SELMO: Thank you.

[05:50:00]

KEILAR: Russian forces, this morning, appear to be shifting their tactics as new explosions are being heard in several cities and troops encircle the capital. Plus, a Ukrainian ballet troop stranded in Paris as their friends and family at home are under attack. We'll have their stories ahead.

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[05:55:00]

MARQUARDT: So, what do you do when you're stranded far from home when war breaks out in your country? Well, if you're an artist your natural instinct may be to help your country through your art. And that's exactly what a troupe of Ukrainian ballet dancers is doing right now in Paris.

CNN's Jim Bittermann has their story.

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JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 34 dancers of the Kyiv City Ballet troupe practiced and trained for weeks before coming to France on tour. But no rehearsals could have prepared them for the news that they saw the day after they arrived in Paris. Their country was being invaded and they found themselves with no direction home.

In the days that have followed they've nearly completed their scheduled tour but stranded abroad now, they face an uncertain future.

Director Ivan Kozlov says all of this troupe, some as young as 18 years old, want to go back because of families and friends who are now under fire at home, but he knows how dangerous that would be.

IVAN KOZLOV, BALLET DIRECTOR: The most good thing they can do as a dancer to provide Ukraine -- to show Ukrainian heart, to show Ukrainian culture from the stage to show to audience. To share our culture. And we call ourselves the warriors on the stage.

BITTERMANN (voice-over): But if they are warriors, they are warriors practically without uniforms.

BITTERMANN (on camera): The dancers came here expecting only a brief tour with only the costumes for the Nutcracker performance and no scenic backdrops or stage props. For now, they'll continue performing around France by borrowing everything, right down to replacement ballet shoes. BITTERMANN (voice-over): Olga Posternak and Mykhailo Scherbakov, two of the ballet company's star performers, have toured abroad before, but this is different. Neither can stand being apart from their families knowing that they are increasingly under the Russian boot.

MYKHAILO SCHERBAKOV, BALLET DANCER: At this moment, I understand that I'm safe here. But still, I want to return home.

BITTERMANN (voice-over): Olga says there are times when she steps off-stage and breaks into tears.

OLGA POSTERNAK, BALLET DANCER: All my family is in Ukraine. What am I without my family? Nothing. Sometimes I feel like I am ashamed because I'm here. I want to help them.

BITTERMANN (voice-over): But as the mayor of Paris said at the ballet's fundraiser, "Creativity is its own form of resistance."

The French are helping the dance company stay, lending them what they need, trying to arrange performances, and giving them a dance home at one of the most prestigious theaters in Paris.

The dancers from Kyiv closed out the program not dancing but singing the words to the Ukrainian National Anthem -- the kind of cultural identity and patriotism Vladimir Putin wants to crush. But in their own small way, a thousand miles from home, the dancers are helping to keep it alive.

Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Really unbelievable.

MARQUARDT: Our thanks to Jim Bittermann for that story.

Brianna -- yes, I think -- you know, it's obviously so incredibly difficult for people to go through what Ukrainians are right now in the country. But it's also so difficult for people who are from this country outside to watch what's going on and to feel powerless.

KEILAR: Yes, definitely. And the fact is, though, watching that, they're not powerless as they're there in Paris spreading that message and allowing people to participate in it. That's the power that they're bringing to this.

MARQUARDT: Yes. It's really just a remarkable story. And there are so many Ukrainians around the world watching with such pain what's going on in their country right now.

CNN's breaking news coverage of Russia's war here in Ukraine continues right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

KEILAR: Good morning to viewers here in the United States and around the world. It is Friday, March 11th, and I am Brianna Keilar with Alex Marquardt in Lviv, Ukraine. And John Berman is off this morning.

We are beginning with breaking news. Three major cities in Ukraine now under siege. There is Dnipro in the center of the country, Ivano- Frankivsk which is in the west, and Lutsk which is in the northwest -- all taking heavy fire from Russian forces. Fatalities are being reported following a series of explosions and airstrikes.

In Dnipro, Ukraine's emergency service says that three airstrikes hit a kindergarten, an apartment building, and a shoe factory -- all civilian targets there.

CNN is live on the ground from Dnipro here in a moment.

And in the meantime, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense said moments ago that Russian forces continue to make limited progress advancing toward the capital city of Kyiv. They could be preparing for a fresh attack against the capital here in the coming days.

A senior U.S. Defense official said that some troops are now within.