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Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Phosphorous Bombs; Andrei Kozyrev is Interviewed about Putin; Manhunt Continues in Subway Attack; Ukraine's First Lady Speaks to CNN. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired April 13, 2022 - 08:30   ET

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

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[08:32:41]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. We have new video of what appears to be explosions from cluster munitions in Kharkiv. The latest attack by Russian forces on civilian targets in Ukraine. At least four explosions there, seconds apart, can be seen in this video.

And this morning, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy accused Russia of using phosphorous bombs to terrorize Ukrainian civilians.

CNN's Kylie Atwood is live for us at the State Department with more.

Kylie.

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Brianna.

This morning, President Zelenskyy claiming that the Russians have used phosphorous bombs as part of their assault on Ukraine. Now, these are highly toxic. They create extremely, extremely horrific injuries if they are used. But, technically, phosphorous bombs aren't actually chemical weapons. We have heard President Zelenskyy talk about phosphorous bombs being used in recent weeks. He hasn't provided any actual evidence they have been used. But, of course, this is something that the international community that the Ukrainians are keeping a close eye on and looking into in addition to these phosphorous bombs claims also unverified reports that chemical weapons were used by the Russians in Ukraine.

Now, this is something that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other U.S. officials said that the Russians could use as part of their assault on Ukraine. And we heard just yesterday from the secretary of state saying that they could not yet verify these claims that chemical weapons have been used in Ukraine at this point, but he said that the United States does have information that the Russians may in fact mix together these chemical weapons with other forms of riot control.

Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents that would cause stronger symptoms, to weaken and incapacitate entrenched Ukrainian fighters and civilians as part of the aggressive campaign to take Mariupol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: And we also learned yesterday from the spokesperson here at the State Department that the United States has provided protective equipment to the Ukrainians, to protect them from the possible use of chemical weapons.

Now, that would be protective gear, gas masks and the like. We're trying to figure out exactly how much of that equipment has been provided to the Ukrainians and how much more they are asking for.

[08:35:05]

Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, Kylie Atwood, live from the State Department, thanks for that.

I do want to speak now with Andrei Kozyrev, the former Russian foreign minister and he's also the author of "The Fire Bird: The Elusive Fate of Russian Democracy."

Sir, thank you so much for being with us.

I want to touch first upon this arrest of Viktor Medvedchuk, who is someone that President Zelenskyy has referred to as your man, meaning Vladimir Putin's man, here in Ukraine. How significant is it that basically the secret service here arrested him?

ANDREI KOZYREV, FORMER RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Brianna, just allow me to express my admiration for you being there and your colleagues and you are doing great job. Thank you so much.

And the arrest of this guy, he's allegedly, according to Russian sources, he was a kind of secret organ (ph) of Putin and he also received funds, probably very considerable funds, to organize or buy, rather, a protest against Zelenskyy and welcoming (INAUDIBLE) what they call anti-Maidan (ph). You remember Maidan (ph), when the Ukrainian people revolted against a pro-Russian president and now they wanted to create an anti-Maidan to show that people in Kyiv and in Ukraine at large are for Putin and welcome Putin's invasion.

But all that, of course, failed. And now they are, in Moscow, they are searching for that money, how it was stolen because it was definitely stolen. Like a lot of money appropriated for the army was recently stolen because it's a kingdom of corruption which Putin created. He's in power more than 20 years already and corruption is rampant in Russia.

So, I don't care actually much about this guy. What I care, though, Brianna, if you allow, is arrest of Vladimir Kara-Murza (ph). Kara- Murza is (INAUDIBLE) Russian hero. He speaks truth on ever radio, every TV show. He was in Russia despite that danger. And is now under arrest and that should be in the focus, I think, of every one of us.

We need just to raise voice to free this outstanding person. He is outstanding journalist.

KEILAR: Yes, and, sir, I will tell you, we -- yes, we have been -- we have been covering his plight, and we will continue to cover that.

I wanted to get your insight, which I think is unique insight. When Vladimir Putin saw what happened with Russian troops having to withdraw from around Kyiv, is that something that you think he experienced humiliation over?

KOZYREV: Well, you know, he should be humiliated by all his years in power, as I said. Corruption is there. Russian economy have been stagnated for more than ten years already. And it's still overdependent. Germany is dependent on Russian gas and oil, but Russia is overdependent on exports of oil and gas because they are in a very bad economic situation. So that's the result of his efforts, so to say.

But he's not ashamed. But what is important in his statement is that he demonstrated that he does not need those busy (ph) parties in the west who are looking for an off ramp for him. He already said, oh, OK, that is under our (INAUDIBLE). I'm just withdrawing troops from that area. And everything is OK. And he feels OK.

So, I mean, for this guy to lie and for this guy to offer him an off ramp, what you have to offer him is more and more advanced weapons to Ukraine because otherwise, whatever compromise Mr. Macron has in mind and still apparently continues to offer, it won't stand because this guy will say, OK, I got what I wanted, whether it was -- or not, it's OK, but he will go -- go back and start again.

[08:40:14]

So (INAUDIBLE) he has to learn a lesson and NATO, being so powerful, uncomparably more powerful than Russians, should do that.

Sir, we really appreciate you being with us.

Andrei Kozyrev, thank you for your time.

KOZYREV: Thank you.

KEILAR: This just in. A CNN team in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region witnessing intense shelling of a residential area with a local official saying that Russia seems to be stepping up attacks amid a new phase of military operations.

Berman.

BERMAN: So, here in Brooklyn, this intense manhunt underway for the person who opened fire on a New York City subway, firing 33 shots. We have new clues this morning on what and who investigators might be zeroing in on.

This is CNN's special live coverage. We are in Brooklyn. We are in Ukraine.

Stay with us.

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[08:45:13]

BERMAN: All right, I'm John Berman, live in Brooklyn this morning.

There is a manhunt underway. The search for the gunman who opened fire on a subway almost exactly 24 hours ago from this moment, terrorizing commuters right here in Brooklyn, where I'm standing. Thirty-three shots fired, ten people hit, 29 injured overall. We should remind you, miraculously, no one was killed.

At this point, police say they are searching for a person of interest. Sixty-two-year-old Frank James. They're not calling him a suspect, a person of interest. They found keys to a rented U-Haul connected to him at the scene of the crime.

As I said, 29 people were injured in this attack.

I want to go to Alexandra Field. She's standing by live at NYU Langone Hospital, where many of the people who were hurt were transported.

Alexandra, good morning.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is truly extraordinary, John, that none of the injuries are considered life threatening. But the trauma and the wounds are real and they will stay with the victims who were onboard that train. Among them, five children between the ages of 12 to 18, according to New York state's governor, Kathy Hochul, who visited with some of them in the hospital.

In all, 33 shots fired in the train cabin, ten people struck by bullets, seven of them male, three female. We're hearing from witnesses who were on board that something fell to the ground, the cabin quickly filled with smoke, people started to run to one side of the train. That's when they heard a popping noise that many people thought was firecrackers going off.

Through the shock and the literal fog, they say they started to hear people screaming and crying for help. Noticed the blood seeping into the ground. And that's when the reality of the situation set in.

When the train finally arrived at the station, passengers say they scrambled to get off and to help the wounded, taking off jackets, tearing up grocery bags to try to staunch some of that bleeding before emergency responders arrived.

John, while so many people are beginning the healing process this morning, they do it without the peace, of course, of knowing where the shooter is. BERMAN: That's right. People getting on the subway, even right here

behind me where the shooting took place, with whoever did this still on the loose.

Alexandra Field, thank you so much.

We are getting new details this morning about the sole person of interest in this case. What is being done to track him down as the investigation continues.

Brianna.

KEILAR: Ukraine's first lady speaking exclusively to CNN's Christiane Amanpour about the last time that she saw her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in person, and how she feels about being the second highest target of the Russian forces. Christiane is with us, next.

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[08:51:39]

KEILAR: The first lady of Ukraine speaking to CNN's Christiane Amanpour about her experience of Russia invading her country. In an exclusive interview via written correspondence, she says helping others is what helps her stay strong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLENA ZELENSKA, FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE (through translator): It's like walking a tight rope, if you start thinking, how do you do it, you lose time and balance. So, to hold on, you just must go ahead and do what you do. In the same ways, as far as I know, all Ukrainians are holding on. Many of those who escaped from the battlefields alone, who saw the death, say that the main cure after the experience is to act, to do something, to be helpful to somebody. I am personally supported by the fact that I try to protect and support others. Responsibility disciplines.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: She also shares her thoughts on her husband, President Zelenskyy's leadership and her message to the world.

And Christiane Amanpour is with us now live from London.

Christiane, what else did she tell you?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, Brianna, I wasn't able to actually meet with her in Kyiv because of the security situation. So, it was a real team effort, my team, her team, to get -- to get this written exchange, which, obviously, we narrated. She talked -- I asked her specifically, you know, her husband was known for a whole load of things before he came into office, and he's risen to the occasion in the eyes of the world in the most extraordinary way. And she said, you know, he's always been an incredible partner, father, husband, and now the world can see what an incredible leader he is as well.

And then I asked her, he has tried to directly address Russia through his own, you know, selfies, speaking in Russian, but also to a group of Russian correspondents. They were banned from airing it on Russian television. So, I asked her what she thought about the attempt to get the message from Ukraine to Russia, and this was her answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLENA ZELENSKA, FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE (through translator): The level of Russian propaganda is often compared to Goebbels' (ph) propaganda during the Second World War. But in my opinion, it still exceeds because in the Second World War there was no Internet and access to information, such as now. Now everyone can see the war crimes. For example, those committed by the Russians in Bucha, where the bodies of civilians with their hands tied, simply lay in the streets. But the problem is that the Russians do not want to see what the whole world sees. And it is important that our war does not become habitual, so that our victims do not become statistics. That's why I communicate with people through foreign media, don't get used to our grief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: And that is quite the line, don't get used to our grief and don't normalize our war. And, again, you know, her main concern, of course, as a mother, is for her children, but also helping Ukrainian children. She, along with the first ladies of France and Poland, arranged for an evacuation of some of the very seriously ill Ukrainian children to try to get treatment in other countries, which was unable, you know, to happen inside Ukraine.

And as we know right now, there's a window of opportunity for NATO and allied nations to provide the real kind of heavy weaponry.

[08:55:05]

And this is what the president is asking for, President Zelenskyy, to Ukraine, to be able to fend off the latest Russian invasion plans of the east.

Brianna.

KEILAR: Fascinating interview, Christiane, thank you so much for sharing that with us.

John.

BERMAN: All right, the breaking news out of Brooklyn, where I am, there is this intense manhunt underway, not just here in New York City, not just in Brooklyn, across the nation for whoever opened fire in the subway, the station right behind me. Ten people hit, 33 shots fired. Whoever did it is still on the loose this morning. Police have named a person of interest in this case. We'll have an update on the search and the investigation.

CNN's special live coverage continues right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)