♪ GOOD MORNING. I'M JOE FRYER. AND I'M SAVANNAH SELLERS. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS OUT OF UKRAINE AND A POSSIBLE SETBACK. THE KEY CITY OF KHERSON APPEARS TO BE IN THE HANDS OF RUSSIAN FORCES HAS BOTH SIDES MEET TODAY FOR A SECOND ROUND OF TALKS. IT'S A STRATEGIC PROVINCIAL CAPITAL IN UKRAINE, SOUTH. >> OVERNIGHT, THE CITY'S MAYOR SAID RUSSIAN TROOPS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION AND PEOPLE THERE HAVE REPORTED SEEING RUSSIAN TROOPS INSIDE THE CITY. >> HOWEVER, THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT CONFIRMED THE CAPTURE. THIS COMES AS RUSSIA INTENSIFIES ITS ATTACK ON SEVERAL OF UKRAINE'S BIGGEST CITIES. SOME PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO STAY NOW WAITING TO FACE THEIR ENEMY. >> I HEAR THE SHOTS AND EXPLOSIONS ME AND MOM IN AND THAT HAPPENS LIKE A LOT. WE WANT TO BE. >> ANDREY WHEN WE NOT SCARED. >> AND THIS MORNING THIS STARK NUMBER FROM THE EU WHEN AT LEAST 1 MILLION REFUGEES HAVE NOW FLED UKRAINE TRYING TO ESCAPE THE WAR. MANY FORCED TO LEAVE LOVED ONES BEHIND. >> IT EVEN PRETTY MUCH GETTING YOUR SOUL TO ALL ARE ENTITY ARE BROKEN TO BE HONEST, I DO VERY EVERY TIME I SEE THAT YOUR SOUND OR ANYTHING. I START SHAKING. >> DESPITE THE CARNAGE AND POSSIBLE SETBACKS A DEFIANT MESSAGE FROM UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY AND UKRAINE OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT ONLY DEFENDING THEIR COUNTRY BUT ALSO LAUNCHING COUNTERATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIAN FORCES. NBC NEWS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT MATT BRADLEY KICKS OFF OUR COVERAGE THIS MORNING FROM THE WESTERN UKRAINIAN CITY OF >> YEAH. JONES HAVANA. IT'S A BIG DAY. ONE WEEK INTO THAT RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ONLY MADE MODEST ADVANCES. SO FAR. THEY'VE ONLY REALLY TAKEN ONE CITY OF ANY CONSEQUENCE. AND THAT'S JUST TODAY WE JUST HEARD THAT CURSE ON THE CITY IN THE SOUTH THAT SITTING ON PEARL RIVER, A STRATEGIC CITY, AN IMPORTANT LOCATION FOR THE RUSSIAN STRATEGY HERE IN UKRAINE HAS FALLEN TO THE RUSSIANS. NOW THERE'S BEEN SOME BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ACTUALLY FALLEN. BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, THEIR TANKS IN THE THE RUSSIANS HAVE TAKEN OVER SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MINISTRY OF BUILDINGS WE'VE SEEN VIDEO. IT SEEMS THAT LIKE I SAID, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSE. THIS CITY IS NOW IN RUSSIAN HANDS. NOW, IMPORTANTLY, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE RUSSIANS HAVE MANAGED TO TURN ON THE CAN. NOW THAT RUNS FROM MAINLAND UKRAINE DOWN INTO THE CRIMEA PENINSULA THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN. REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THE RUSSIANS INVADED BACK IN 2014, UKRAINIANS CUT OFF THAT CANAL AND NOT CREATE A LOT OF PROTESTS FROM FARMERS IN CRIMEA WHO UNABLE TO WATER THEIR NOW THAT CANAL IS BACK ON. THAT WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE MAJOR GOALS THAT THE RUSSIANS HAD IN UKRAINE AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, REGIME CHANGE IN KIEV. BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THESE ELEMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN SEEM TO HAVE WANTED HERE, FALLING INTO PLACE. AMONG THEM, CREATING A LAND BRIDGE FROM THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE RUSSIAN BORDER IN THE EAST NEAR MARIUPOL. A NEAR THOSE SEPARATIST ENCLAVES OF DONETSK AND LUHANSK AND CRIMEA THAT AREA THAT, AS I MENTIONED, HAVE BEEN ANNEXED BACK IN 2014 BUT THIS THIS TOWN OF PIERCE ON. IT'S ONLY ABOUT 300,000 PEOPLE AND IT SAYS SOMETHING THAT ONE WEEK INTO THE FIGHTING. THIS CONFLICT THAT A LOT OF WESTERN ANALYSTS AND MYSELF INCLUDED HAD ASSUMED WOULD BE OVER BY NOW THAT THE RUSSIANS WITH THE OVERWHELMING FORCE WOULD HAVE TAKEN OVER THIS WHOLE COUNTRY VERY QUICKLY. IT ONLY MADE MODEST GAINS CARE SOME IS A MAJOR CITY, BUT IT'S PRETTY MODEST. ITS RATHER SMALL. YOU KNOW, IT FELT JUST TODAY, ONE WEEK INTO THIS CONFLICT. IT'S REMARKABLE. THE RESISTANCE OF THE CRANES HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP THE RUSSIANS GUYS. MATT BRADLEY IN LIBBY BATH, THANK YOU. >> LET'S NOW BRING IN NBC NEWS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RAF SANCHEZ IN MOSCOW RAFT. GOOD MORNING. SO WHAT'S IT LOOKING LIKE RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE SOUTHERN CITY. THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHAT COMES NEXT. OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CAPITAL OF KIEV SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW THIS RUSSIAN CONVOY STILL HEADING TOWARDS KEY. 40 MILES LONG IT'S IT'S ENCOUNTERED SOME LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT STOPS. NOW, RUSSIA'S MILITARY FORCES HAVE MET RESISTANCE. ALSO FROM UKRAINIANS. WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS POINT ABOUT VLADIMIR PUTIN STRATEGY. >> SAVANNAH, GOOD MORNING. PUTIN WAS LOOKING FOR A KNOCKOUT BLOW IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS WAR. AND THAT GOAL WAS REFLECTED IN HIS TACTICS LIGHTNING ADVANCES BY LIGHT ARMOR BY ELITE TROOPS HOPING TO BREAK THE RUSSIA. THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS OR SO OF THIS FIGHTING. NOW THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AS THE KREMLIN CLEARLY UNDERESTIMATED THE RESISTANCE OF UKRAINIAN FORCES OF THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT AND FRANKLY OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS AND PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE PATH OF RUSSIAN TANKS. THE PENTAGON SAYS THE RUSSIANS ARE NOW SWITCHING TACTICS. THEY SEEM TO BE REGROUPING AROUND KIEV. WE SEE RUSSIAN FORCES ENCIRCLING THE CITY AS THAT ENORMOUS CONVOY GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE CAPITAL AND WE ARE ALSO STARTING TO SEE THEM HEAVILY BOMBARDED, NOT JUST KIEV BUT OTHER CITIES LIKE OUR KEITH AND THE BIG QUESTION LOOMING IS WILL THE RUSSIAN MILITARY TURN TO THE KIND OF SCORCHED EARTH TACTICS THAT WE'VE SEEN THEM USE IN SYRIA. WE'VE SEEN THEM USE IN CHECHNYA WHERE THEY EFFECTIVELY LEVEL OF THE CITY'S. THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE SAVANNAH, OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME AS THE COUNTRY IS INVESTIGATED. >> FOR WAR CRIMES. SO THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON NOW RUSSIA. THAT'S IMPORTANT OUT THERE. RUSSIA HAS JUST NOW RELEASED AN OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL FOR THEIR TROOPS IN UKRAINE. TELL US HOW MANY THEY ARE SAYING HAVE DIED. OF COURSE, I'M EMPHASIZING THIS BECAUSE IT IS IN CONTRAST TO WHAT UKRAINE IS SAYING. AND THEN ALSO TELL US WHAT THE KREMLIN IS SAYING ABOUT THIS DEATH TOLL ABOUT THE BOSS TRIPS. >> YES. SO THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY NOW SAYING 498 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF FIGHTING IN UKRAINE IN SAVANNAH. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE RUSSIAN PUBLIC HAS GOT A SENSE OF HOW MANY OF ITS YOUNG MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS WAR LAUNCHED IN ITS NAME. NOW, AS YOU SAID, THERE'S REASONS TO BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS OFFICIAL RUSSIAN TOLD WESTERN AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THE REAL TOLL IS PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER. BUT JUST ASSUMING FOR A SECOND THAT THAT NUMBER OF 498 IS ACCURATE. THAT IS MORE TROOPS THAN THE U.S. LOST IN THE ENTIRE FIRST YEAR OF FIGHTING IN IRAQ IN 2000, 3. IT'S MORE TROOPS THAN BRITAIN LOST IN 20 YEARS OF FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN. SO THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE SCALE OF LOSSES. NOW, THE KREMLIN HAS SAID THIS IS A GREAT TRAGEDY FOR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. BUT THE RUSSIAN FORCES WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING AGAINST WHAT THEY SAY ARE THE NEO-NAZIS OF THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT. THAT'S A CLAIM THEY'VE BEEN MAKING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SAVANNAH, WE SHOULD POINT OUT THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE IS IN SELF JEWISH RAF. NOW THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS RUSSIA'S GOVERNMENT. >> HAS RESTRICTED NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THROTTLED INTERNET SERVICES HAS WAYS TO TRY TO CONTROL INFORMATION INSIDE RUSSIA ABOUT THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE. WHAT IS THE KREMLIN DOING IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA OUTLETS COVERING THIS INVASION. >> SO THE KREMLIN HAS BANNED INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN MEDIA OUTLETS. THE FEW THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE FROM REFERRING TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE AS A WAR, AS AN ATTACK, AS AN INVASION. THE KREMLIN'S TERM IS SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION AND THEY ARE CENSORING ANY RUSSIAN MEDIA OUTLET. THE DEVIATES FROM THAT LINE. THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST TO THIS CRACK DOWN ON RUSSIAN MEDIA. THEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT EARLY. I WANT TO READ YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT. THEY SAY RUSSIA IS ENGAGED IN AN UNPROVOKED WAR ON UKRAINE AT HOME. THE KREMLIN IS ENGAGED IN A FULL ASSAULT ON MEDIA FREEDOM IN TRUTH AND MOSCOW'S EFFORTS TO MISLEAD AND SUPPRESS THE TRUTH OF THE BRUTAL INVASION ARE INTENSIFYING TONIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S A POPULAR RUSSIAN RADIO CHANNEL HERE WHICH SPLITS ITS TIME FIFTY-FIFTY BETWEEN MUSIC AND NEWS. ONE OF THE ANCHORS WENT ON THE AIR YESTERDAY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO STOP GIVING THE NEWS BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO SPREAD THE LIES. THE KREMLIN IS FORCING US TO TELL SAVANNAH AT TAKES BRAVERY THERE. ALRIGHT RAF SANCHEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING. >> NOW THE U.S. CONTINUES TO WALK A FINE LINE IN UKRAINE PROVIDING ARMS AND AID BUT NOT ACTUALLY JOINING THE FIGHT WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NIGHTLY NEWS ANCHOR LESTER HOLT, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SPOKE ABOUT THE STAKES AND THE REALITIES ON THE GROUND. >> WATCHING THIS. THIS CONVOY. IT'S GOT THE WORLD'S ATTENTION. IT WAS REPORTED IT WAS STALLED. SURE. WE READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT. IS IT STILL A POTENT FIGHTING MACHINE. >> THERE'S A LOT OF COMBAT THAT THE RUSSIANS STILL HAVE AVAILABLE TO. SO THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF GOING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS BY THE WAY, LAST BUT PUTIN CAN CHOOSE IS THAT HE CAN CHOOSE TO DE ESCALATE AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO. PURSUE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION AND WE HOPE THAT THAT HE DOES THAT. I THINK THAT THE WORLD HAS BEEN STUNNED. SOME PART OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN BY UKRAINIAN TROOPS AND CIVILIANS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL. >> BUT IS IT TIME? IS IT NECESSARY TO DO A REALITY CHECK ON WHAT THEY'RE FACING THE SIZE OF THE RUSSIAN FORCE. >> WE'RE BY WHAT WE FROM THE UKRAINE, NOT JUST UKRAINIAN FORCES BE CRYING PEOPLE. IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHICH WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO GO. I'M SURE THAT THE RUSSIANS WOULD HAVE NEVER PREDICTED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A PLACE THAT THEY ARE IN AT THIS POINT. OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. TO PROVIDE AS TO THE UKRAINIAN SO THAT THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE REPORTS OF RUSSIAN TROOPS SIMPLY WALKING AWAY SURRENDERING CAN CONFIRM THEM OR YOU'RE WEARING THEM. WE DON'T HAVE THE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR OVER A UKRAINE. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TO CONFIRM. THANKS FOR WHAT I WILL TELL YOU AS A A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY TAKE SERIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF RECOVERING IT'S FALL. AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FROM AROUND BUT THIS JUST THE WAY THAT THE BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED AND WE'VE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS. THE BODIES OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS APPARENTLY HAD BEEN LEFT THAT AS AS A GENERAL, AS A AS A SOLDIER AND EVENT SHOCK YOU. I THINK THAT'S BEYOND DISAPPOINTING. IF THAT IS THE CASE. IT'S FROM MY YOU KNOW, I LEADERS OWE IT TO THEIR TO THEIR TO TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO TO RECOVER THE UKRAINIANS AND OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR THIS IDEA OF A NO FLY ZONE TO BE PATROLLED BY THE U.S. TO KEEP THE RUSSIAN AIRPLANES OUT OF THE SKY. IS THAT A NONSTARTER FOR YOU. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN CLEAR WEST YOU KNOW, WHERE U.S. WANT LONG FIGHT RUSSIA AND UKRAINE. IF YOU ESTABLISH A NO FLY CERTAINLY A NEW IN ORDER TO ENFORCE A NO FLY ZONE YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE A RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD PUT AT WAR WITH RUSSIA. WE HEARD WLADIMIR PUTINS WORDS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY ACTIONS TO BACK UP THOSE WORDS. ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTS A NEW POSTURE TOWARD THE WEST AND RHETORIC ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT ONUCLEAR WEAPONS DANGEROUS. I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD AVOID IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I THINK IT CREATES A OR CREATES THE CONDITIONS FOR A GROSS MISCALCULATIONS. WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. I AM VERY. COMFORTABLE WITH OUR WITH OUR POSTURE AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WEEKEND. WE CAN NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT OUR ALLIES AND OUR PARTNERS MUST SENATOR, YOU AND I ARE BOTH CHILDREN OF THE COLD WAR. IS THAT FEEL BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR YOU NOW TO SEE THIS CONFLICT WE CERTAINLY ENVISION BEING HERE IN YOU KNOW, AND EUROPE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE. THIS IS A CHOICE BY ONE MAN. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE RELEVANCE OF THE NATO ALLIANCE. I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE WAY BUT COUNTRIES HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR COMMON CAUSE. >> IT CERTAINLY IS. OUR THANKS TO LESTER HOLT FOR THAT INTERVIEW. >> LET'S BRING IN NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT JASON BEARDSLEY, HE'S THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE U.S. NAVY. JASON, GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JUST SAID IN THAT INTERVIEW WITH LESTER THAT THE U.S. HOPES PUTIN WILL BE ESCALATE AND EXPLORE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION THERE IS A SECOND ROUND OF TALKS HAPPENING IN BELARUS TODAY. SO WHAT WOULD A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. EVEN LOOK LIKE AT THIS POINT WITH SO MANY UKRAINIANS ALREADY KILLED AND SO MUCH DESTRUCTION. >> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION MORNING. I THINK THE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN IS SIMPLE. HE NEEDS TO SAVE FACE WHILE WALKING AWAY. WELL, THIS MUCH CONTROL AT LEAST NOMINALLY OF SOME OF THE EASTERN PROVINCE IN UKRAINE. THAT'S THE DONBASS REGION. I THINK BECAUSE HE'S GOT FORCES ONLINE, DIDN'T CARE OF AND OTHER PLACES HE'D LIKE TO KIND OF WALK AWAY WITH PEELING BACK SOME OF THE SANCTIONS. THAT, OF COURSE, ARE HURTING THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY. SO A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION FOR HIM MEANS HIS TROOPS ARE STALLED OUT ON THE GROUND. THEY'RE LOSING THIS WAR HE GAMBLED. HE LOST THAT GAMBLE AND NOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK FOR A WAY TO KIND OF FACE AND REMAIN IN POWER. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS IF HE'S VERY CLEVER AND SO FAR WE'RE OR WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OVATIONS IN THAT DIRECTION. BUT IT'S GOOD THAT THEY'RE TALKING. IT HAS BEEN ONLY 8 DAYS SO FAR. BUT UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY AROUND 2000 CIVILIAN LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST SO FAR. UKRAINE IS PUTTING UP AN INCREDIBLE FIGHT NOT JUST THE MILITARY BUT ALSO CIVILIANS. HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THEY CAN KEEP THAT UP. WE WENT TO IRAQ WITH OVERWHELMING LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WAR IS ABOUT NUMBERS. IT'S NOT ABOUT MATH. IT'S ABOUT SPIRIT THING. REAGAN ONCE SAID THERE'S NO WEAPON IN OUR ARSENAL IN THE WORLD THAT CAN MATCH THE FREE SPIRIT OF PEOPLES FIGHTING FOR THEIR HOMELANDS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE AND BEEN IN COMBAT AND WATCHING IT ON THE GROUND. DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TANKS YOU HAVE OR HOW MANY TRUCKS, IF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT UNTIL THE LAST SCRAP OF HER. SO RUSSIA IS NOT FACING OF A VERY EASY A SOLUTION HERE AND THEIR BEST MOVE IS TO TAKE WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY GOTTEN SORT OF EARNED UP BY THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY IN THE EAST AND WALK AWAY. AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT SPIRIT IS A WEAPON. WE PERHAPS DON'T TALK ENOUGH I WELL, WE HAVE THAT. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT CHINA DOES NOT JOIN IN ISSUING SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA. WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT DECISION HAVE ON WHO AND DO YOU FEAR AT ALL. CHINA MAY LOOK AT THIS AND PERHAPS FOLLOW RUSSIA'S LEAD ITS GROWING TENSIONS WITH TAIWAN. YEAH. WHAT A GREAT QUESTION. CHINA'S A REAL A PLAYER IN THIS. NUMBER ONE, THEY'VE I THE PROVINCES THE UKRAINE THEMSELVES UP FOR THEIR SILK ROAD INITIATIVE. THEY'RE EYEBALLING THE FACTORY AND CHAPEL RE SHUT DOWN BY UPPER RIVER PRODUCES THE MOTOR SICK A FACTORY. THE ENGINES FILL THEIR PLANES AND HELICOPTERS. CHINA IS NOT AT THE END OF FOR RUSSIA TO ACTUALLY TAKE ME ALL THE CONTROL HERE. THEY KIND OF WANT CONTROL THEMSELVES AND THE BETTER THAT PUTIN DOES THE EASIER IT IS FOR THEM TO LOOK ACROSS THE STREET A TIME ONE. HERE'S THE LESSON, THOUGH. LET'S GET TAIWAN READY. AND ON THE FIRST WE WERE TOO LATE ON UKRAINE STINGERS TOES JAVELIN MISSILES. ALL THAT STUFF HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE INVASION BEGINS IN THE UNITED STATES HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO REINFORCE WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS FINALLY SAYING UKRAINE, WHICH IS IT'S TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. JASON, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THIS MORNING. THANKS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. >> NOW THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS AT LEAST 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FLED UKRAINE SINCE RUSSIA INVADED LAST WEEK CREATING A REFUGEE CRISIS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT JAY GRAY JOINS US NOW FROM POLAND ALONG THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S RECEIVED THE MOST OF THESE REFUGEES. JAY, GOOD MORNING. SO YOU WERE AT A TRAIN STATION I KNOW YESTERDAY WHEN WE SPOKE WITH YOU MORE THAN 2000 CHILDREN, INCLUDING ORPHANS ARRIVED FROM UKRAINE AT THE TIME THAT YOU WERE THERE. TELL US WHAT WAS THAT LIKE. AND WE'RE HEARING NEWS ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE GETTING OFF OF THESE TRAINS EXHAUSTED FRIGHTENED. HOW ARE THESE CHILDREN, WHAT DID YOU SEE AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOW TODAY. >> YOU JUST SEE THE STUNNED FACES OF SO MANY WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO SAFETY. BUT LEAVING EVERYTHING THEY KNOW OFTENTIMES LOVED ONES BEHIND. YOU CAN SEE WE'RE AT THE BORDER, THE CROSSING RIGHT HERE. BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING. WE CONTINUE TO SEE A FLOW OF PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CHILDREN FOR FAMILIES LIKE THESE AND THEY WALKED WITH SUITCASES WITH PLASTIC, RIGHT. YOU SEE THE KIDS HERE WITH THEIR STUFFED ANIMALS AND HERE WAS A VIOLENT. >> THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU JUST SEE WHAT HE EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE A SON AND HE'S EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO USE TO START OVER. >> THEORY BY HAND AND WALKING THE BORDER. IT TRULY UNFATHOMABLE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND WITH SO MANY I THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL OF THAT. THIS IS A BACK THAT WE'RE SEEING AGAIN, JUST OVER AND OVER. WALK ACROSS THE BORDER CHE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT. >> THEY HAVE THESE BAGS. IT'S ALL THEY HAVE SO KIND OF 2 QUESTIONS HERE. AND IN YOUR EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME THAT PEOPLE'S PLAN IS TO RETURN HOME. IF AND WHEN THEY POTENTIALLY CAN. AND ALSO WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN THEY GET THERE. THEY FINDING FAMILY. IS THAT VOLUNTEERS WHERE THE GOING. WHAT'S THE PLAN? >> YEAH, THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE, SAVANNAH AND ADDED JUST GOT WORD THAT THIS FAMILY IS FROM THE COASTAL TOWN OF THE AND THAT IS SO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. SO TO MAKE THAT JOURNEY FOR THEM HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT WE'RE NOTICING ALREADY TODAY WITH INFLUX PEOPLE COMING OVER IS THE VIOLENCE GETS MORE EXTREME. SO DOES THE WAVE OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND SO AS THEY CONTINUE TO WALK ACROSS THE BORDER HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AS WE MADE OUR WAY CLOSER TO THE BORDER. WE SAW WHAT WAS A MAKESHIFT TENT CITY IN A PARK THAT PEOPLE WOULD JUST SET UP WHAT THEY COULD, WHERE THEY COULD AND FINDING A PLACE FOR THESE FAMILIES, FOR THESE PEOPLE. IT IS FAST BECOMING A PROBLEM HERE AND EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WILL THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE. SO DIFFICULT WERE ALREADY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT UKRAINE AND HEADED TO BORDER COUNTRIES. MOST OF THEM COMING HERE TO POLAND. WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE. >> THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON THE WAY. THE I MEAN, THE UN'S ACTUALLY PREDICTING 5 MILLION PEOPLE IS WHAT IT COULD GET UP TO DURING THIS WAR. WHAT IS A PLACE LIKE POLAND DOING TO PREPARE FOR AN INFLUX OF EVEN MORE THAN THAT, NEARLY HALF A MILLION THAT THAT COUNTRY ALONE HAS SEEN. >> YEAH. WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS IS PEOPLE COME ACROSS THE BORDER AND GET A STAB LISH. THEY'RE MOVING THEM OUT SOME GOING TO WARSAW, SOME GOING TO CRACK. ALSO GOING TO OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. BUT THEY'VE GOT TO GET A MORE DEVELOPED SYSTEM IN PLACE AND YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE FAMILIES ARE GOING TO WANT TO GO US ME EARLIER ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME. SO MANY OF THEM DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. NONE OF US DO IN REALITY. BUT THEY THEY WANT TO STAY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE IN CASE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK IN. AND THAT'S THE GOAL FOR EVERYBODY HERE. AND SO KEEPING THEM CLOSE IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE SO DIFFICULT TO AGAIN. THERE'S JUST A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE. AND THIS AREA IS BEING OVERRUN BY PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE HERE FOR. >> SAFETY REASONS. JAY GRAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY POWERFUL REPORTING FROM THE GROUND. STAY SAFE. >> BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE OUT OF UKRAINE WILL CONTINUE. BUT WE'RE ALSO FOLLOWING SOME OTHER BIG STORIES THIS MORNING AFTER THE BREAK, AMERICA'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID ENTERING A NEW PHASE AS THE CDC ROLLS BACK SOME OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS. PLUS, THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL, INCLUDING NEW CLAIMS OF CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOU'RE WATCHING MORNING NEWS. >> WELCOME BACK. YOU'RE SEEING SCENES OF DEVASTATION IN KIEV THIS MORNING AS THE CAPITAL OF UKRAINE COMES UNDER INCREASING ATTACK FROM RUSSIAN FORCES WERE MONITORING THE LATEST, OF COURSE, OUT OF UKRAINE THIS MORNING AND WE'LL HAVE MORE COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. BUT WE DO WANT TO GET SOME OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES THIS MORNING. >> THE CDC IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDING UNIVERSAL CONTACT TRACING A MEASURE THAT MANY HEALTH OFFICIALS RELIED ON TRACK COVID OUTBREAKS AND TRY TO KEEP NUMBERS STAFF. THE DECISION WAS MADE IN PART BY THE OVERWHELMING OMICRON SURGE AGENCIES JUST COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH TESTING RESULTS. THE CDC ALSO FOUND COVID TESTING WAS NO LONGER AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO TRACK OUTBREAKS. THE MOVE COMES AS THE WHITE HOUSE COVID TASK FORCE UNVEILS ITS PLAN TO TURN THE CORNER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC THE PLAN FOCUSES ON TREATING CASES AND PREPARING FOR NEW VARIANTS BALL. ALSO AVOIDING SHUTDOWNS. LET'S BRING IN DOCTOR BOB, WHAT HE DID. FOR MORE ON THIS. HE'S A PROFESSOR AT THE HACKENSACK MERIDIAN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RHEUMATIC DISEASES AT SAINT JOE'S OF HEALTH. DOCTOR BOUGHT, ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WALK US THROUGH THIS DECISION TO STOP CONTACT TRACING, WHAT IS THE CDC GOING TO FOCUS ON INSTEAD IT. AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EVERYDAY TESTING. >> WELL, PEOPLE ARE TESTING AT HOME. NOW, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OVER 75% OF THE POPULATION. AND SO WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS POSITIVE AND WHETHER THOSE POSITIVE PEOPLE WILL EVER BE KNOWN TO ANYBODY UNLESS YOU WIND UP IN THE HOSPITAL WERE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. JOE. SO THE CDC IS NOW CONCENTRATING ON THINGS LIKE SEWAGE EXAMINATION TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY BLIPS OR ANY NEW VARIANTS WITH GENOMIC TESTING THAT THE NEW FUNDING FOR GENOMIC LABORATORIES. AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN AT THE PRESENT TIME. >> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. IT SAYS PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE AMERICAS HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID THEIR MORTALITY RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER COMPARED WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. SO NOW THAT THE VIRUS IS RECEDING IN THE U.S. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE FOCUS ON FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AND WOMEN'S HEALTH. HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE TO RESUME SOME OF THEIR ROUTINE CARE. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WOMEN DO GENERALLY BETTER THAN MEN WHEN THEY GET INFECTED WITH COVID BUT IN THE AMERICAS. AND THAT'S THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA. THE 72% OF THOSE PATIENTS WERE WOMEN WHO WERE PREGNANT AND THERE WERE SOCIAL FACTORS THAT PREVENTED THEM FROM GETTING BE CARE AT JUDGE OR BECAUSE THEY WERE INFECTED IN THE THE AGENCIES THAT DID THAT KIND OF CARE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN TREATING THEM TO ABOUT 3,000 AT A 365 OF THOSE WOMEN DIED IN THE AMERICAS. AND ACTUALLY THAT'S THE ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE THE THERE'S A BUMP UP LIKE 16% INCREASE IN INFECTIONS IN JAMAICA, TRINIDAD COUNTRIES LIKE TOBE A SO IT IS A BIG PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE COMPLACENT AND SAY THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS GOING DOWN IN INFECTIONS LIKE WE ARE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES FINALLY DOCTOR, BOB, I WANT TO ASK YOU VIRGINIA SENATOR TIM KAINE. HE REVEALED HE SUFFERING FROM LONG COVID SYMPTOMS HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR 2 YEARS SINCE HIS DIAGNOSIS. HE'S NOW INTRODUCED A BILL TO FUND RESEARCH INTO THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COVID AND EXPAND TREATMENT RESOURCES. HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS MYSTERY OF LONG COVID. THIS IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT AND IT'S ALSO SCIENTIFICALLY AND MEDICALLY. FASCINATING. JOE. >> FIRST OF ALL, ALONG CALLED LONG WHOLE COVID CONSISTS MOSTLY OF MUSCLE ACHES FATIGUE SHORTNESS OF BREATH BRAIN FOG. >> BAD RASH THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON. 35 1% OF THOSE WITH COVID HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED AFTER 3 WEEKS, 10% GO WAY BEYOND 3 WEEKS. AND LESS THAN 10% GO ON FOR YEARS. SO YOU LOSE YOUR TASTE, YOU LOSE YOUR SMELL. IT'S A CHRONIC COMPLEX MULTI-FACTOR CONDITION AND WE IN MEDICINE HAVE ALL ASKED WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS OCCURRING IN CERTAIN PEOPLE. NOT EVERYBODY. AND IT FAVORS MEN IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE MEN SEEM TO SUFFER GREATER. AS I TOLD YOU IN THE PRESS IN THE PAST NOTE THAT MEN TEND TO GET COVID IN WORST FORM THAN WOMEN. SO THIS IS A BIG ISSUE. YEAH. THOSE ARE BIG NUMBERS AND SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE WRESTLING WITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME. DOCTOR BOB, WHAT HE DID AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TURNING NOW TO THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL. THERE'S A COUPLE PIECES OF NEWS HERE IN A NEW COURT FILING THE HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE INSURRECTION CLAIMS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MEMBERS OF HIS CAMPAIGN WERE PART OF A CONSPIRACY TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS. THIS COMES AS THE FIRST TRIAL RELATED TO THE ATTACK GETS UNDERWAY. OPENING STATEMENTS TOOK PLACE JUST YESTERDAY IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM IN THE TRIAL OF A TEXAS MAN GUY REFFITT NBC NEWS CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT ALI. BUT ALI JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST. ALI, GOOD MORNING. SO FIRST LET'S START WITH THIS COURT FILING AND SORT OF EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE. WHAT THEY MUST HAVE IN ORDER TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS STEP AND I KNOW IT REALLY FOCUSES ON THIS TRUMP ALLY LAWYER TELL US STILL COMING OUT HERE. >> YES, THIS IS MAJOR. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT TECHNICALLY IT'S A COURT FILING TRYING TO GET THE DOCUMENTS OF JOHN EASTMAN WHO WAS A TRUMP ALLY WHO WAS ADVISING HIM ON WAYS THAT HE CAN HELP TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS. EASTMAN HAS ARGUED REPEATEDLY WITH THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE THAT HE CAN'T TURN OVER DOCUMENTS BECAUSE OF ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR EVEN TALK ABOUT SOME OF HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH TRUMP. AND WHAT WE LEARNED IN THIS LEGAL FILING IS HE'S ONE OF THOSE ALLIES WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD COME FORWARD AND PLEAD THE 5TH IN THE COMMITTEE. THERE'S A TRANSCRIPT INCLUDED IN THIS REALLY LEAVE THE TROVE OF FILINGS HERE MAY INCLUDE PART OF THESE MINUTES TRANSCRIPT WHERE HE DOES PLEAD THE 5TH OVER A 100 TIMES IN THAT BRIEFING. BUT WHAT'S REALLY STUNNING HERE IS THE PART OF THE FILING WHERE THEY SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND OTHERS COMMITTED CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES. I WANT TO READ JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT FILING WHERE THEY SAY THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS A GOOD FAITH BASIS FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF HIS CAMPAIGN ENGAGED IN A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES. SO AGAIN, THE FILING ITSELF, WHICH WILL BE ARGUED NEXT WEEK IN CALIFORNIA THAT FILING REGARD IS IN REGARDS TO JOHN EASTMAN TRYING TO GET HIM TO TURN OVER DOCUMENTS AND TO CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH THEM. BUT THE HEADLINE HERE IS IT'S SORT OF A BACK DOORWAY INTO SAYING THAT THEY THINK THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL, SOMETHING CRIMINAL WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE IN HIS EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT AFTER A FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NEVER BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMES. BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS EVENTUALLY IT SORT OF SHOWS US WHERE THIS HAS BEEN GOING. WHAT WE'VE IMAGINED, WHERE IT WAS GOING ALL ALONG, WHICH IS EVENTUALLY COULD FALL AT THE FEET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND MERRICK GARLAND TO DECIDE ARE THEY GOING TO BRING A CASE HERE. AND THAT'S A PRETTY STUNNING MOMENT IN HISTORY IF AND WHEN WE GET THAT POINT AND ALSO AS PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT SO MUCH LACK OF COOPERATION HERE. IT SHOWS US A STEP BEYOND SUBPOENAING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. >> ALRIGHT, LET'S NOW TURN TO THAT FIRST TRIAL. AS I MENTIONED RELATED TO THE ATTACK UNDER WAY. NOW, WHAT IS THIS PERSON GUY REFFITT THIS TEXAS MAN ACCUSED OF WHAT'S HIS CONNECTION TO THE ATTACK AND WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY GOT UNDERWAY. >> YEAH, THIS IS THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE 100 SO THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED FOR WHAT THEY DID AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH GUY REFFITT IS THE FIRST OF AND HE DIDN'T GET INTO THE BUILDING BUT THE ALLEGATIONS HERE ARE THAT HE WAS IN THE WORDS OF THE PROSECUTOR, THE MATCH THAT LIT THE SPARK RIGHT. BELIEVE THAT FROM LOOKING YEAH. MATCH THAT STARTED THE FIRE IN PART BECAUSE HE HAD A HE WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE A PISTOL ON HIS HIP BUT ALSO THE PROSECUTORS IN THEIR OPENING ARGUMENTS YESTERDAY THEY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MESSAGES THAT RAFIK CONSENT. WHAT HIS LAWYERS THAT WERE ARGUING ARE THAT HE IS SOMEONE WHO IS PRONE TO HYPERBOLE AND THAT HE WASN'T ACTUALLY GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE THINGS THAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO AND IT REALLY DOES LAY THE GROUNDWORK HERE BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST WATCHING THE WAYS IN WHICH BOTH THE GOVERNMENT ARGUES ITS CASE USING SO MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE FROM MESSAGES FROM THESE FOLKS BUT ALSO VIDEO EVIDENCE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THAT DAY. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE WAY THAT THE DEFENDANTS ARGUING THEIR CASES HERE AS WELL. REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE HUNDREDS OF THESE GO FORWARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND YEARS 100 SO MUCH TO WATCH FOR. WE KNOW YOU'LL KEEP US UPDATED ALLEY VITALE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GET A CHECK OF MORNING NEWS NOW WEATHER WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME FOR BILL KAREN'S TO JOIN US ON THIS THURSDAY. HEY, BILL. >> DO KNOW IS 84 DEGREES IN KANSAS CITY YESTERDAY. NO RIDICULOUS. THAT IS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. FAR BIKIE WEATHER. SAY GOT A SUNBURN AND BEGINNING OF YES. SO RECORD HIGHS ALSO ST. LOUIS WAS 82 FOR A RECORD HIGH YESTERDAY. SO THINGS ARE CHANGING, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT MARCHES JUST AS WILD ROLLERCOASTER, STILL HAVE ALL THAT COLD AIR UP IN CANADA AND EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE WARM AIR SURGES FROM THE SOUTH. BUT THEN THE COLD AIR COMES RUSHING BACK AND THAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING. SO WE WENT FROM YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW, 84 IN KANSAS CITY TO RIGHT NOW. IT FEELS LIKE 30 DEGREES. WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE BECAUSE THAT COLD AIR IS MOVING DOWN FROM THE NORTH AND INTERNATIONAL FALLS. A WIND CHILL OF NEGATIVE 16. SO THERE'S SOME REALLY COLD AIR OUT THERE IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY EVEN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND SYRACUSE NY BURLINGTON, VERMONT ONE AND THAT COLD AIR IS NOW MOVING INTO NEW YORK CITY TUESDAY. YORK CITY ONLY HAD ONE MILE SAYING THAT WAS IT. BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IT'S GOING TO STAY WARM TODAY. OKLAHOMA CITY STAYS AT 77 DENVER 75 AND THIS CONTINUES FROM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTH, RIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. >> TOMORROW, 80 IN AMARILLO. SEE 80'S ALL THE WAY DOWN THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI TEMPERATURES EASILY 10 TO 20 DEGREES WARMER THAN THEY SHOULD BE AND MAKE YOUR WEEKEND PLANS OUTSIDE OUTDOORS ATLANTA 77 ON SATURDAY, 80 ON SUNDAY. HOW ABOUT WASHINGTON, DC A BEAUTIFUL 64 SATURDAY AND THEN YOU GET TOASTY ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 70'S IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. SO RECORD WARMTH TODAY TEXAS POSSIBLE TO THE CAROLINAS. BUT. JOE MINNEAPOLIS 25 DEGREES. THIS IS LIKE IF YOU LIVE IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY TO BE ART. YOU JUST BETTER OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO AND THE WEATHER ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WAIT PATIENTLY AND HOPEFULLY NOT BEING FRUSTRATED LIKE SOMEONE THAT'S SITTING RIGHT HERE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN THE SPRING IN MINNESOTA. WE WOULD HAVE TO SHOVEL THE TENNIS COURTS TO GO PRACTICE.
SO YOU KNOW, YOU SEEMS LIKE SO YOU KNOW, YOU SEEMS LIKE MAYBE IT'S JUST NOT TIME IT WAS ALL RIGHT. THANK I WAS THROWING BASEBALLS IN APRIL AND THE SNOW SO >> AND COMING UP ON MORNING NEWS NOW UNDERSTANDING THE OLIGARCH E AS WAR RAGES IN UKRAINE. WE LOOK AT THE SMALL CIRCLE OF BILLIONAIRES WHO ARE HELPING TO FUND THE ATTACKS AND 1 MILLION REFUGEES IN COUNTY. HOW ONE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE IN UKRAINE. >> WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FLEE THEIR WAR-TORN COUNTRY. >> TASK FORCE KLEPTO CAPTURE IS A NEW INITIATIVE SET UP BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO GO AFTER RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS. YEAH. WE'VE HEARD THE TERM A LOT LATELY. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS AN AND HOW THE PEOPLE GET SO RICH AND SO POWERFUL. NBC NEWS NOT INCUR. HOLLY JACKSON HAS SOME ANSWERS FOR US.
>> THE MODERN RUSSIAN >> THE MODERN RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS STORY STARTS BACK IN THE WALL FELL AND SOON AFTER AND 1991. SO DID THE SOVIET UNION EASTERN EUROPE IS FREE. >> THE SOVIET UNION ITSELF IS NO MORE. >> THIS IS A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AFTER ALMOST 70 YEARS OF RUSSIAN COMMUNISM WHERE THE STATE CONTROLLED EVERYTHING THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE SAW HUGE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT FOR MOST REGULAR RUSSIANS. THIS SEISMIC SHIFT WAS CHAOTIC. BUT FOR A SELECT FEW BUSINESSMEN KNOWN AS OLIGARCHS. THEY MANAGED TO RISE TO THE TOP. THE WORD ITSELF IS GREEK DERIVED FROM OLIGARCH E AND MEANS RULE OF THE FEW AND OLIGARCH IS ONE OF THOSE FEW WITH THE STATE NO LONGER CONTROLLING MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS. RICH MEN WHO HAD BEEN GAINING WEALTH OFTEN IN RUSSIA'S LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES AND ALLEGEDLY IN THE BLACK MARKET STOOD READY TO TAKE CONTROL IF THEY HAD POLITICAL CONNECTIONS AND MANY OF THEM DID 1996. IT LOOKED AS IF THE COMMUNISTS MIGHT RETURN TO POWER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. OLIGARCHS STOOD TOGETHER TO HELP BORIS YELTSIN'S REELECTION INFIGHTING INSIDE THOSE ELITE CIRCLES HELPED BRING ON THE RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 19 98, WHICH IN TURN HELP THE RISE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN AT THE TIME. THE FUTURE PRESIDENT WAS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE KGB REPORTEDLY GATHERING INFORMATION ON THESE OLIGARCHS AND THE ILLEGAL WAYS THEY GOT RICH. THE OLIGARCHS LARGELY STOOD IN LINE WITH PUTIN AS HEROES IN THE POLITICAL RANKS TO PRIME MINISTER. THEN PRESIDENT AND THEY'VE STAYED IN LINE. BUT THAT MAY BE CHANGING. MANY OF THESE SO-CALLED OLIGARCHS HAVE INVESTMENTS IN THE WEST. SOME CALLING FOR NEGOTIATIONS TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OTHERS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE WAR ALTOGETHER. >> ALL RIGHT. OUR THANKS TO HOLLY JACKSON FOR THAT EXPLANATION WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ABOUT THAT STAGGERING NUMBER OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED UKRAINE A MILLION SO FAR. IT IS A RAPIDLY GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS IS LEADING ITS OWN EVACUATION OPERATION IN UKRAINE. >> IT'S CALLED PROJECT DYNAMO. A PRIVATELY RUN ORGANIZATION A LARGELY MADE UP OF CURRENT AND FORMER U.S. MILITARY AND ITS RESCUED MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE FROM UKRAINE. SO FAR. THOUSANDS MORE, THOUGH. >> ARE REQUESTING HELP. JOINING US NOW IS PROJECT DYNAMO, CO-FOUNDER BRIAN STERN. BRIAN, GOOD MORNING TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WE'RE GLAD TO CHECK IN AGAIN WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. YOU'RE YOU'RE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR 6TH RESCUE MISSION WHICH YOU NAMED AFTER THE APOLLO MISSIONS. SO TELL US, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THERE ON THE GROUND IN AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE LAST WEEK. >> WELL, FIRST OF TRACK TO REPORT THAT WE'VE CONCLUDED OUR 6TH RESCUE OPERATIONS SINCE YOU GUYS GOT THE DATA WERE JUST SHORT, I THINK OF A 100 PEOPLE THAT WE'VE GOT NOT SO FAR. WE WE MAY ACTUALLY BE OVER A 100 AND IT'S NOT TRACKING IT. WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND THIS IS AN OPEN CUT. THIS IS OPEN WAR ZONE. WE ARE IN CONFLICT HERE. I'M LIKE ANY OTHER CONFLICT. IT'S DANGEROUS. IT'S SCARY. INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. THE SOLDIERS ON EACH SIDE ARE FIGHTING IN DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR INTEREST. BUT THE CIVILIANS ARE KIND OF CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP. >> NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF CIVILIANS WHO ARE REQUESTING HELP FROM ORGANIZATION SAYS AROUND 2000 PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTED EVACUATION. JUST TO YOUR WEBSITE. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS BUT ALSO PEOPLE FROM THE U K NIGERIA AFGHANISTAN, FRANCE ELSEWHERE. >> TELL US EXACTLY HOW THIS IS WORKING. TELL US ABOUT THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES YOU'RE FACING. I MEAN, WE'RE JUST SEEING THESE IMAGES OF TERROR OF OF CONVOYS ON THE ROADS OF OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY'S. HOW IS THIS WORKING THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE OUT. SO MANY PEOPLE. AND IN FACT, ANDERSON, EVEN SOME OF THEM WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE. >> IT'S PROJECT. DYNAMO WAS FORMED IN THE THE SHADOWS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AFTER THE EVACUATION OF AFGHANISTAN IN KABUL. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED. WE'VE BEEN AT THE I DIDN'T THINK WOULD BE THAT. WE I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE OUT OF THIS LONG. BUT WE HAVE BEEN AND WE WE HAVE SOME REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD TACTICS. TACTICS, TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES THAT THAT ENSURE TO THE GREAT EXTENT POSSIBLE SAFETY. THIS IS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. AGAIN, IT'S THE DATA IT CHANGES CONSTANTLY WHERE WE'RE DRIVING STEADILY 29,000 REQUESTS. VERY, VERY, VERY QUICKLY. WE ARE WE ARE WITH YOU KNOW, WE'RE BUSY. WE'RE DOING OPERATIONS WERE RUNNING WE DO. WE NEED TO DO SO. THE THE LOGISTICS DO THESE THINGS IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN AFGHANISTAN. I CAN'T USE AIRCRAFT. THERE'S A LOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCES IN THINGS THEY CAN'T DO. BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS THEY CAN DO AS AN EXAMPLE. THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. >> OF UKRAINE HAVE THOSE BORDERS ARE OPEN AND THEY'VE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY GENEROUS. I WAS IN ROMANIA YESTERDAY. >> AND THE UKRAINIAN FOLKS AND THE ROMANIAN BORDER FOLKS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH IT WITH A TRULY OVERWHELMING SITUATION IN THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT IS THEY'RE DEFINITELY IN IT TO WIN IT. SO. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WHILE IT IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION AND IT IS HARD AND IT'S LONG AND FRUSTRATING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO A CRISIS. I'M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT EVERYONE IS DEFINITELY ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THAT'S FOR SURE. >> CLEARLY A FOOD SITUATION, 9,000 REQUESTS AROUND A 100 PEOPLE RESCUED. SO FAR YOU'RE INSPIRING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS MESSAGE, PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW MIGHT BE WONDERING HOW CAN THEY HELP. >> YEAH. THE TO THE 2 THINGS THAT WE NEED IS A NUMBER ONE. IF IF YOU DO NEED HELP, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE FROM US IN UKRAINE. PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE PROJECT DYNAMO, DOT ORG. AND THERE'S A FORM THERE'S A BUTTON. YOU PUT THE FORM IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, I WE CAN'T FIND YOU. AND IF WE CAN FIND YOU, I CAN PULL YOU OUT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT LIKES TO PLAY CYBER GAMES AND STUFF AND TURN OFF EMAIL AND COMMUNICATION CELL PHONES. THE OTHER THING IS PLEASE DONATE. PLEASE DONATE WERE DONOR FUNDED EVERY DOLLAR, EVERY DOLLAR HELPS EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE GOES SAVING A LIFE. NONE OF US TO PAY THEM A BOND HERE, PLEASE DONATE. >> ALL RIGHT, BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING WILL CONTINUE TO CHECK IN WITH YOU. BE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING IS SEEING THOSE SELFIES OF PEOPLE SMILING US ARE RESCUING THEM FROM A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS JUST REALLY SO POWERFUL. BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE'RE FOLLOWING NEW DEVELOPMENTS THIS MORNING CONCERNING THE PARALYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING AFTER MORE FALLOUT FROM THIS WAR IN UKRAINE. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER JOINS US WITH MORE ON THAT AND SOME OF THE OTHER LATEST UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. JANICE, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. ABOUT-FACE AT THE PARALYMPIC GAMES WITH INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE. NOW REVERSING A DECISION SAYING THAT THEY WILL ATHLETES FROM RUSSIA AND BELARUS FROM COMPETING AT THE GAMES WHICH ARE SET TO GET UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND. NOW, JUST A DAY AGO THE SAME OFFICIALS SAID SAID THAT ATHLETES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE AS NEUTRALS THAT THE BACKLASH OVER THAT DECISION WAS SWIFT. IT WAS SEVERE AND IT WAS WIDESPREAD ATHLETES HAVE SINCE THREATENED TO PULL OUT. THERE WERE WORRIES ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE GAMES AND ACTUAL SAFETY CONCERNS WITH EMOTIONS RUNNING SO HIGH, THE UKRAINE TEAM HAS 20 ATHLETES HERE WITH 9 GUIDES. THE OPENING CEREMONY IS SET FOR TOMORROW NIGHT TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN IS DONATING A MONTH'S SALARY TO UKRAINE RELIEF EFFORTS FOR REFUGEES. THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CUT OF TAIWAN IS GOING TO. DONATE AS WELL. THE WAR IN UKRAINE HAS GENERATED A LOT OF FEELING AMONG TAIWANESE WHO SAY THEY UNDERSTAND THE THREAT OF A POWERFUL NEIGHBOR TAIWAN WILL ALSO SEND 27 TONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE. AND IF YOU'RE CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT'S SALARY IS SAID TO BE ABOUT $14,000 A MONTH. >> AND WITH RUSSIA BEARING DOWN ON UKRAINIAN CITIES. ANIMAL SANCTUARIES ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ANIMALS TO SAFER, PLACES WORKERS FROM A ZOO IN POLAND ARE SAID TO BE WAITING UP THE BORDER TO TAKE ANIMALS FROM THE SAVE WILD SANCTUARY NEAR KIEV. >> THERE WERE SOME PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK SHOWING A LION IN THE CAGE IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK. NOW ROADS, OF COURSE, ARE VERY UNSAFE. BUT THE ANIMALS ARE APPARENTLY BECOMING STRESSED BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSIONS. AND AS WELL, UKRAINE'S ONLY GORILLA IS FEELING LONELY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE VISITORS. >> REMINDER SO MANY FACETS TO THIS CRISIS. JANICE, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. APPRECIATE IT. COMING UP ON MORNING NEWS NOW. WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HUMAN SIDE OF I DON'T THINK I DID. >> WHEN WE RETURN HERE FROM ONE UKRAINIAN WOMAN FORCED TO FLEE AFTER LOSING LOVED ONES IN THE INVASION. THAT'S NEXT. WEEKDAYS AT 5 ON NBC NEWS NOW. >> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH ONE REFUGEE STORY DETAILING HER ESCAPE FROM UKRAINE. IT'S BEEN A HARROWING WEEK WITH TRAUMA AND LOSS. BUT SHE HAS A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO THE WORLD. HERE'S CAL PERRY WITH THE EMOTIONAL STORY. >> AT A REFUGEE CENTER IN LOVE. THE WE MEET 24 YEAR-OLD KATRINA. BUT >> LIKE SO MANY UKRAINIANS. SHE'S NOW HUNDREDS OF MILES
FROM HER HOME IN PART OF 2 FROM HER HOME IN PART OF 2 DAYS AGO AND MY HOUSE I LOVED ONES. SHE SAYS HER FRIENDS WERE KILLED AS THEY SHELTER TOGETHER IN A BASEMENT. RUSSIAN BOMBS, DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT PRETTY WHOLE SCENE IS FOR HER SURVIVING THE ASSAULT FEELS LIKE A FATE WORSE THAN LIKE TO SEE YOUR FRIENDS TIME. ♪ ♪ OTHER BE ME. >> NOT SEEN A AND ME SEEN YOU >> SHOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU >> IN THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT. YES. CARRIES ESCAPE FROM HARKEY A HARROWING BUT VITAL JOURNEY, HER TRAIN STOPPING IN KIEV. THE VIOLENCE ALL AROUND HER. THE EXPERIENCE LEADING HER FOREVER CHANGED MENTALLY. HOW DID YOU SURVIVE? >> I DON'T THINK I DID. I MEAN, ALL ARE ENTITY ARE BROKEN. AND TO BE HONEST, I DO VERY EVERY TIME I SEE THAT YOUR SOUND OR ANYTHING. I START SHAKING AND MY FRIENDS, THEY BRING US SOME MEDICAL STAFF TO GET BACK TO CONDITION. CATARINA HASN'T EATEN OR SLEPT PROPERLY FOR 6 DAYS, BUT SOMEHOW HER MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING IS
CRYSTAL CLEAR. WE DO CHERISH. CRYSTAL CLEAR. WE DO CHERISH. >> CLEAR SKY. >> POWERFUL >> IMAGE RIGHT THERE THANKS TO CAL PERRY FOR THAT REPORT. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TAKING MORE ACTION TO ISOLATE RUSSIA FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM AMID THIS ONGOING INVASION OF BERTHA COOMBS JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THESE ACTIONS THE SANCTIONS. >> MEAN, FOR RUSSIANS AND THEIR MONEY HIGH BIRTH. A GOOD MORNING. >> HEY, GOOD MORNING, SAN ANGELO. THE EUROPEAN UNION IS EXCLUDING 7 RUSSIAN BANKS FROM THE SWIFT MESSAGING SYSTEM. THIS IS A MISS AND MISS MESSAGING SYSTEM THAT HELPS FACILITATE PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS AS THE WEST STEPS UP SANCTIONS ON MOSCOW THE U.S. UK EUROPE AND CANADA PLEDGING LAST WEEKEND TO REMOVE SOME RUSSIAN BANKS FROM SWIFT. IT ACTUALLY DAMAGING RUSSIA'S ECONOMY AS WELL AS ITS TRADING PARTNERS. THE EU LIST INCLUDES RUSSIA. SECOND-LARGEST BANK VTB AND SURE BUCK RUSSIA'S LARGEST LENDER. THEY ARE ARE NOT ON THE LIST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MAIN LINES FOR PAYMENTS FOR RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS, WHICH EU COUNTRIES ARE STILL FINE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO. >> RUSSIA'S BIG BANKS ARE DEEPLY INTEGRATED ON THE IN THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM. SANCTIONS ARE ALREADY BEING FELT BEYOND RUSSIA'S BORDERS. SURE, BANKS. EUROPEAN ARM HAS BEEN FORCED TO CLOSE AFTER A RUN ON THAT BANK. MEANTIME, HOW IT'S IMPACTING STOCKS THIS MORNING. IT LOOKS LIKE WALL STREET IS GOING TO OPEN KIND OF FLAT SLIGHTLY LOWER AFTER STOCKS RECOVERED YESTERDAY. MOST OF TUESDAY'S LOSSES. FED CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL TELLING CONGRESS THAT THE FED REMAINS COMMITTED TO FIGHTING INFLATION TO RAISING INTEREST RATES DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY THAT WE'RE SEEING IN UKRAINE. HOW SIGNALING THAT THE FED WILL LIKELY RAISE RATES BY A QUARTER PERCENT LATER THIS MONTH. MEANTIME, OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO SEARCH TODAY TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE 2008 ON FEARS OF SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS FROM THE WAR IN. >> UKRAINE THAT. SO IT'S ONE THING TO WATCH THE OIL PRICES ARE REALLY, REALLY GOING MAKE EVERYONE'S JOB MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO EVEN A LOT OF FOLKS WORRIED ABOUT ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COMING UP ON MORNING NEWS NOW RESPONSIBILITY IN REPORT. YEAH. NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW MEDIA FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE COVERING THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND HOW IT'S SHAPING PEOPLE'S VIEWS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. THAT'S NEXT. ♪ >> MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE IN UKRAINE COVERING THE ATTACKS ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. WE WANT TO BRING YOU A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROCESS BEHIND THE SCENES. HOW STORIES GET COVERED, WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS JOURNALISTS IS IN A TIME LIKE THIS. AND ALSO THE RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA MACHINE. JOINING US NOW IS BETH NOBLE. SHE'S AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY. SHE'S ALSO THE FORMER MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF FOR CBS HI, BETH. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. BEFORE WE GET TO THE WEST AND JOURNALISM IN AND HOW OUR PROCESSES WORK. LET'S START FIRST WITH THIS RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA MACHINE. I MEAN, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SEEING THIS BEING REPORTED ON EVERYWHERE. BUT ALL COVERAGE IS NOT THE SAME. AND THAT CERTAINLY TRUE WITH IN THE BORDERS OF RUSSIA. IN FACT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS SAYS THAT RUSSIA IS ENGAGED AND A FULL ASSAULT ON MEDIA FREEDOM AND TRUTH FOR SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW HAS NOT HAS NEVER IS LIVING IN THE WEST HAS NEVER CONSUME THIS INFORMATION. EXPLAIN JUST HOW BIG THIS PROBLEM IS. THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON THIS WAR AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON RUSSIAN CITIZENS. >> YEAH. THANKS TO I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN MEDIA AND OUR MEDIA IS THAT THE BULK OF RUSSIAN MEDIA IS EITHER OWNED OUTRIGHT BY THE STATE OR IT'S CONTROLLED BY A ALGAR TO OUR FRIENDLY TO THE KREMLIN AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT MOST RUSSIANS ARE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR CENTER VIEW OF THIS WAR. THE OUTLETS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CAN TO USE WORDS LIKE WAR OR INVASION TO DESCRIBE WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE. AND I NOTICE THAT THEY ARE PEAKING IMAGES THAT FAILED TO SHOW THE REAL SITUATION JUST WATCHING THE RUSSIAN NEWS THIS MORNING. I NOTICED THAT THEY WERE SHOWING THINGS LIKE MINE ARE SHOTS OF DAMAGE IN SMALL TOWNS LIKE BROKEN WINDOWS AND BULLET HOLES IN FENCES RATHER THAN WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN LARGE CITIES LIKE ARE GIVEN IN KIEV WHERE THERE'S BEEN MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DESTRUCTION OF THE CENTER OF THE THEY SHOWED A COUPLE OF TANKS TODAY ON A HIGHWAY HEADING TOWARDS RATHER THAN THE LARGE COMBO VOISIN A FULL OUT WAR THAT ARE GOING ON IN SOME PARTS OF UKRAINE. THEY'RE ASKING IF ANYTHING, THEY CAN TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD IS ACTUALLY ON THE SIDE OF RUSSIA HERE, NOT UKRAINE BUT LAST NIGHT THEY WERE SHOWING REPORTS ABOUT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO AND SOME OF THE COUNTRIES WHO HAVEN'T BANNED RUSSIAN AND SO THE MESSAGE HERE FROM THE RUSSIAN SIDE IS THAT THE BAD GUYS ARE THE U.S. AND >> WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN RUSSIA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN THE WEST. HOW DO YOU THINK WESTERN MEDIA IS DOING COVERING THIS CRISIS AND WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY RIGHT NOW. >> YEAH. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE MEDIA, YOU KNOW, COULD LEARN A LOT OF LESSONS ABOUT HOW TO COVER WAR FROM THE U.S. MEDIA. I REALLY MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE WAR ZONE. I THINK AMERICAN PRESS HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF REALLY GETTING TO A LOT OF PARTS OF UKRAINE AND TO THE AREAS AROUND UKRAINE THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED AND GIVING A REALLY GOOD VIEW OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND AND OF COURSE AIDED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL OVER UKRAINE ARE UPLOADING VIDEOS TO SHOW US WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR AREA. A CRANE IS A HUGE COUNTRY AND IT'S HARD FOR WESTERN JOURNALISTS TO BE EVERYWHERE. >> YEAH. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THE WAY PEOPLE GET INFORMATION NOW THAT SO DIFFERENT FROM FROM WORLD WAR 2, OBVIOUSLY VERY QUICKLY, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS IMPACTED HOW COUNTRIES RESPOND TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE. >> YEAH, WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION IN WORLD WAR 2 WHERE PEOPLE WERE GIVEN GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM OUR FROM THE PRINT MEDIA, FROM NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES AND FROM THE NEW MEDIUM OF RADIO WHICH REALLY TRUE GATED LIVES NEWS AS WE KNOW AND SO I THINK WE'RE INCREDIBLY LUCKY NOW THAT WE HAVE NOT ONLY SO MANY NEW SOURCES OF OUR OWN. BUT THAT WE CAN CREATE NEW SOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE IN RUSSIA OF WHO MAY NOT BE GETTING A GOOD NEWS FROM THEIR OWN SOURCES. I READ LAST NIGHT THAT THE METER SHIP OF THE BBC RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SERVICE IS UP 3 TIMES FROM A YEAR AGO. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE WEST IS TRADITIONALLY DONE SOURCES OF TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THEM IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES. NOBLE SUCH IMPORTANT INFORMATION HERE. >> AS WE CONTINUE TO COVER THIS UNFOLDING SITUATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS HOUR OF MORNING NEWS NOW. BUT THE NEWS CONTINUES RIGHT NOW.
