Cronkite school of journalism at
Arizona state university.
Judy: First lady Jill Biden
arrived in Romania today, the
first stop of her tour of
eastern Europe.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on,
she visited U.S. And nato troops
deployed in the region and will
meet with Ukrainian refugees
this weekend.
Ten weeks into the devastating
conflict, fierce battles rage in
Ukraine's northeast, where
Ukrainian forces have gone on
the offensive as Russia
continues its slow but pounding
push toward the donbas.
In mariupol, a third effort to
evacuate civilians from a
besieged steel plant was
underway today, even as Russian
forces continued to storm it.
And in a virtual address to the
policy institute, Chatham house,
in London, president volodymyr
zelenskyy said a peace deal may
still be possible if Russian
troops retreat.
>> They have back beyond the
contact lines and they should
withdraw the troops.
And we will be able to start
discussing despite the fact that
they have destroyed all of our
bridges.
I don't think all the bridges
are destroyed.
Judy: One of the deadliest
sieges for the battle of Kyiv
was in the city chernihiv, north
of the capital.
Ukrainian forces stopped Russia
from advancing south.
But Russian troops left a trail
of destruction.
Nick schifrin visited a nearby
village, and reports on the
aftermath of that fight, and
signs of renewal.
>> She and her husband built
this house 28 years ago.
Municipal workers must rebuild
the life the Russians destroyed.
The damage is apocalyptic.
It was bombarded as if it was
hit by a hurricane.
In the 90's, they bought 15
acres and built for homes.
Her mother's house is now that
pile of wood.
Why have you come back home?
>> Why have I come back?
This is my home.
This is my soul.
Because I gave birth to my
children here.
They grew up here.
My mother lives here -- used to
live here.
My aunt lived here.
My mother-in-law lived here.
I had the happiest days of my
life here.
This is my home.
Despite all the destruction, I
want to be home.
My soul's longing for this
because it is mine, however it
looks right now.
It's mine.
>> The bombing started on March
third.
First her aunt's house, than her
neighbor's house, then a jet
dropped a thousand pound bomb
and destroyed what was left.
>> Look at this.
This is an aerial bomb.
Yes, this is the aerial bomb,
the remnants.
>> She can wipe her hands, but
not the memories.
>> Is this a reminder of what
happened?
>> It is painful, yes.
>> The only structure left
standing is her house, sheltered
in the basement.
>> This is the basement where
all of you hid.
Quick -- >> A seller turned
sanctuary for 17 people.
They prayed for a peace that
seems to never come.
>> He started screaming and
crying at than the grannies
would do the same.
I would never wish that upon
anyone in the 21st century.
>> Does it bother you to be
back?
>> Yes.
>> The basement, the thuds, the
screaming kids, the old ladies.
It was the scariest two weeks of
my life.
It needs to be cleaned up and
put back together.
Just not now.
Not yet.
It's painful.
>> In early March, it bore the
brunt of Russia's front.
That single missile was unguided
and killed 46 people in a
square.
One of the wars deadliest single
attacks.
They bear the scars, the cradle
that destroyed the hospital.
They are still surrounded by the
music they once played.
>> Two weeks ago, we found a
woman on the seventh floor.
>> The woman found was the
deputy governor.
>> Damages of libraries,
stadiums.
>> Invading Russians driving
south the Kyiv.
>> Different spaces.
>> Bombs.
>> Rocket remnants filled the
countryside.
They have been busy.
They search an abandoned Russian
encampment where soldiers who
failed to seize the city left
behind discarded shells.
Clearing left over munitions is
risky.
The front windows hit by Russian
shrapnel.
Russian soldiers occupy this.
Ukrainians target them with
rockets.
The total bomb disposal units
discovered 10,000 pieces of
unexploded ordinance and started
working even as Russian troops
besieged the city.
>> Our unit has been working
since the very beginning.
During the air raids, we had to
hide in the shelters.
We could only had back when it
was quiet.
It was very difficult.
>> I ask one last question.
How is she doing today?
>> We took her with us to the
city on March 11.
We had no food whatsoever.
And on day five she opened the
door and went out to get food.
There was heavy fighting in the
city.
We haven't seen her since.
>> Parts will never return.
But surrounded by death and
destruction.
>> We accept whatever has come.
I am determined that we will
rebuild.
Maybe it won't be as big or as
beautiful.
But I'm sure it will be better.
>> Resilience and renewal at the
beginning of spring.
For pbs newshour, I'm Nick
Shifrin.
Judy: A reminder that our
coverage is supported in
partnership with the pulitzer
center.