pbs.
John: Ukraine has been at war
with Russia for more than two
years now, and there are signs
that this year could be pivotal.
Ukrainian officials say they
need more munitions and support
as Russia appears to be gaining
ground.
Newshour co-anchor amna nawaz is
on the ground in Kyiv tonight,
beginning a week long reporting
trip.
Amna, what's the state of the
war now?
Amna: John, good evening.
The dire conditions Ukrainian
officials have been warning of
for months seem to be here with
some expressing concern that
Ukraine is potentially at risk
of losing the war this calendar
year.
Two forces are essentially
colliding it now.
Ukraine is facing a critical
shortage of air defense.
Russia has been ramping up air
offenses and is targeting that
energy said -- systems.
With precision we have not seen
yet in the war and they continue
to advance to the east.
Russian forces already occupy
much of the donbas region.
They've made advances in the
recent months back in February.
They claimed the key city of
Abdi vca.
Some say they are now on the
cusp of claiming another key
city of char cvr.
And, of course, they're also now
relentlessly pummeling the city
of kharkiv in Ukraine's
northeast that is Ukraine's
second largest city.
It would be a major prize for
the Russians and majorly
demoralizing for Ukrainians.
Ukraine is now facing
challenges.
-- Facing challenges on these
the fronts advancing Russian
and force, their own critical
shortages and, of course,
exhausted troops after more than
two years of fighting.
John: The shortages of munitions
can be solved by getting more
aid from other countries.
But how what's what's Ukraine
doing about the exhausting
troops sort of filling that
manpower gap?
Amna: And that manpower gap is
real.
It's been the source of much
debate and many controversial
proposals.
President Zelinsky has now
lowered the draft age from 27 to
25, potentially meaning that
thousands of more young men
could be pulled into that fight.
But you know, right now in the
capital city here, it sometimes
feels like those front lines of
the war can really be a world
away.
I mean, life here unfolds at a
sort of normalish, every-day
pace.
People go out for walks.
They walk their dogs, they go to
work.
They sit outside cafes and and
sip lattes.
But that war looms large and it
does occasionally and regularly
pierced through that sense of
normalcy.
There are, of course, burned out
Russian military vehicles from
early in the war on display in
the city center here, right
behind me.
There are memorials to the war
dead lining the city walls.
And, of course, there are air
sirens that do regularly go off
, blaring across the city and
forcing everyone to try to find
shelter nearby.
We experienced one yesterday
ourselves.
I met one young Kyiv resident
who could be entering that draft
range soon.
His name is alexey.
He works in real estate.
His best friend is serving on
the front line right now, but I
asked him about the war and
whether he feels pressure to
join up.
>> I feel guilty.
I feel guilty that I'm sleeping
in the warm bed.
I can take a shower, but from my
side, I'm trying to help.
I know that it's not enough.
And even when you died, it's not
enough, but it is what it is.
Amna: Is any part of you scared
that you might get drafted and
have to go fight?
>> My mother of course is
scared.
My girlfriend is scared.
Amna: And you?
>> Of course I am scared.
Of course.
Amna: John, of course, with
another Russian offensive
expected this spring.
Young men like alexey could be
called to join the fight.
So many questions remain here in
Ukraine, and John will be
putting all of those questions
directly to Ukrainian president
volodymyr zelenskyy when I sit
down with him for an exclusive
interview tomorrow.
We will have more on that on the
newshour tonight.
John: We look forward to that.
And all your reporting in the
weeks ahead.
Thank you very much.
Amna: Thank you.