Ukrainian forces are claiming new successes tonight against Russian
invaders. A counter offensive has retaken a strategically important
town west of Kiev and the southern ports city of Mariupol continues
holding out
Despite being hammered from air, Land and sea. Meanwhile, the White
House announced that President Biden will unveil new sanctions when
he meets with allies this week in Europe.
And the top Kremlin spokesman said that Russia would use nuclear
weapons only if its very existence was threatened. But we begin again
tonight with Jane Ferguson, who starts a report in southwestern Ukraine.
The people of Nikolayev are forced to run for cover as they come
under attack by the Russian army.
This time, the explosions are closer than ever.
We heard not only the air sirens, but now these alarms and people
telling everybody to get into the bunkers. Up Until now. It's been
mostly fighting and shelling on the outskirts of town. But
These rockets are now starting to land right here in the center.
The Russian military is trying to move west from the nearby city
of Kherson, one of the few urban centers they control in an effort
to take all of Ukraine's southern black Sea coastline.
This time, a Russian rocket crashed straight through a small hotel.
It was closed owing to the war, but residents in the apartment building
behind it were left shaken.
Cleaning up the damage to their homes
have here we are out in just arrived and this is what happened. They
called us on the phone to tell us what happened. Haven't got inside
yet.
We are too afraid to go inside. Now we'll clean up. There is a lot
to do.
That collective sense of initiative is seen in this village, also
to the east of Nikolayev, and in the way of the Russian army as it
tries to advance towards the city.
Local volunteers hand out food donated by individuals and aid organizations.
Our town is on the front line today in almost every day we are being
shot at so we cannot go to town to shop for food. Also, the businesses
that were here are now closed. The prices of food are rising every
day, and people cannot provide for themselves.
That's why we decided to set up the center. This will help people
at least a bit
6000. People used to live here now. Only about 2000 remain local
people tell us as homes have been destroyed and life becomes simply
too dangerous.
What the
people of Meghalaya are even donating food to the city. Zoo items
not fit for humans are being dropped here to keep the animals alive.
Like these sheep killed in the fields by the fighting and brought
in by a farmer. Absolutely all sort of people in organizations help
us, including ordinary citizens, Old ladies, bring a sack of apples
or some bread. NGOs donate hate to us or any other food that could
not have been used for people, But they are bringing it to us to
the zoo. Others use from across your
Have also donated specialist food to US. Victor
is the lead biologist at the zoo. Animals are afraid.
Some of them refused to eat, especially when the explosions are constant.
Three rockets have landed in the compound, including one right by
the tiger enclosure, but the zoo hasn't lost any of its residents
so far.
Zoo is 120 years old, Ukraine's oldest, and it hosts its most diverse
collection of animals.
Residents of the city are trying their best to preserve it. Some
volunteering here to help prepare food for the animals.
As all across the country, Citizens of Ukraine continued to collectively
resist Russia's invasion.
And on most battlefields, Ukrainian troops are holding their ground.
We have everything we have javelins. We have all we need in the south,
the government said today. Its soldiers are trying to take back your
son.
The first city to fall under Russian control.
And the Ukrainian counter offensive around Kiev continues its efforts
to drive back the Russians from the outskirts of the capital. Ukraine's
military also said it retook the strategic town of mockery for about
40 miles west of Kiev, a senior U. S defense official said Russian
forces have not moved closer to the capital, even though parts of
the suburbs of European buka and hostile remain under Russian control.
But White House National security advisor Jake Sullivan said today
Moscow will never truly win the war, whether Russia takes the city
or takes a town or takes more territory.
They are never going to be able to achieve the purpose that they
set out which was to subject this country to bring this country to
hell. Because the Ukrainian people have made very clear that they
will not be subjugated no matter what it takes, and President Vladimir
Zelensky is also willing to do whatever it takes to defend his country.
Last night. He said Ukraine could consider dropping its bid to join
NATO if Russian troops withdraw and Moscow guarantees Ukraine's security.
But he said any peace deal must be approved by the Ukrainian people.
To be honest, the issues of security guarantees You're talking here
about constitutional changes change of Ukrainian law.
Whatever happens, this will not be decided only by the president
and Jane Ferguson joins me now, Jane, so many fronts to watch here.
We know the capital city has been on lockdown again through tonight,
the mayor saying they anticipate more attacks.
Tell us what you know about the situation in Kiev right now.
It's been Judy, another 36 hour lockdown or curfew across the city.
That's the third extended lockdown since this war began. Almost four
weeks ago, The mayor had said that they had expected increased attacks,
although it was actually quite a quiet day in the city. No, we were
able to get out using our press accreditation and drive around. There
were checkpoints everywhere, otherwise the streets
Utterly abandoned and it was relatively quiet from from a perspective
of artillery fire. But the Ukrainian authorities are often saying
and those that we talked to within the Ukrainian military say that
they are continuing to arrest what they call Russian saboteurs inside
the city or those who have been planted here by the Russian government
as part of the original plan to try to destabilize and take over
Kiev.
Now, just as we come to a rare we've actually heard a massive uptick
in shelling on the outskirts of the city just behind me in the distance,
and we can hear the booms really fairly constantly right now, and
that happened. It just started about five or 10 minutes ago. We did
have an air raid siren at a couple of hours ago, but this is really
just the beginning of what seems like some pretty heavy fighting
just outside the city.
And Jane. How significant are these push backs that you're reporting
on tonight? Again in your piece? I mean, is there a sense that the
Ukrainian resistance is holding on?
The Ukrainian resistance has been holding on across the country pretty
well. But what we're seeing now is this counter offensive, pushing
Russian forces back from certain cities.
That's very important for several reasons. First of all, trying to
get their artillery positions further back helps to try to protect
the cities from certain types of weaponry to try to push them beyond
the actual reach of the city. The other thing, of course, is the
psychological element here. If they can get the Russians literally
on the back foot and not just have them stalled, then that could
At least from a morale perspective, really change things on the ground
here.
Jane Ferguson reporting for us again tonight from Ukraine. Thank