inside mr. putin s head, perfectly. and know exactly what his long term objectives are, even his medium turn objectives. it is clear to us he wants to focus on the south. what we do know is they are just putting more enablers in their, and adding more troops. that s why we re more focused on giving the ukrainians the kinds of systems and capabilities that we believe, and more importantly they believe, are gonna be useful to them in that fight. tonight, that fight has russia ramping up offensive operations in the donbas region of eastern ukraine, as the war approaches its third month. one russian military general said russia was aiming to capture all of the southern region in this new phase of the conflict. but nbc news reports that it is unclear if the conflict has official policy for the russia s objectives since launching the eastern offensive. with ukraine broadening its assault, nbc s gives us a glimpse into the toll that is taking on the ukrainian people.
unclear if the conflict has official policy for the russia s objectives since launching the eastern offensive. with ukraine broadening its assault, nbc s gives us a glimpse into the toll that is taking on the ukrainian people. we spoke with this mariupol residents who says she was arrested with her husband, and held for a month in russian captivity. she is too frightened to show her face or let us use her name. they did let us sleep, give us food or water, or let us use the bathroom. she says. she describes being beaten, and being forced to recite pro-russian propaganda on video. she fears her her husband who is still in captivity. for herself, she could hear her husband being beaten. you heard your husband voice screaming out? the last time i heard him he was screaming, begging for help. she said. then i think he had a heart attack because the russians tried to scream for medical help. still more pain.
flagship news hit by two ukrainian missiles and this eastern offensive is not going as quickly as vladimir putin would ve hoped what is happening here so far. it s worth pointing out that on the 9th of may, victory day as it is known in russia and there is a feeling that president putin wants to have something, some kind of victory to trumpet at home on that day. so, while we by the constant shelling of the constant shelling of this nearly 500 km front line now and the east, there is an expectation are certainly trying to step things up even further, so he has something to bring back to the russian people to save face in the russian calendar. thank you very much. a new $8 million package for ukraine. he will include more tactical drones and bidens is the nature of the warfare on ukraine s eastern front means
from the war zone. matt, thank you very much. now to russia s escalating offensive in eastern ukraine. our chief international correspondent, clarissa ward, is covering it for you. i know you traveled to one area in the region where civilians are struggling to stay alive. wolf, russia appears to have settled on a tactic in this new eastern offensive. shell a town relentlessly, inch forward, keep shelling the town even more, inch forward. we spent the day with a brave volunteer who is risking his life to go into these towns and try to get civilians out safely. it s a road few are willing to take anymore. but every day, volunteer alexander makes the dangerous drive towards russian forces in his hometown to rescue fellow residents from the heavy
the top of the show tonight that is taking place tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. east coast time. we re going to be keeping an eye on that. in tomorrow s news, given the stakes in that contest but i ll see you again here tomorrow night. way too early with jonathan lemire is up next. russia puts new pressure on the last pocket of resistance in mariupol as moscow looks to secure an early victory in its new eastern offensive. meanwhile, the west is rushing to send in new and heavier arms. we ll get a live report from ukraine. plus, the latest in the battle over mask mandates. the biden administration now saying it likely will appeal the ruling that lifted the mandate on planes and other public transportation. and after losing subscribers for the first time in a decade, netflix considers something it has tried its best to avoid. running ads.