heart wrenching images, a man crying next to the body of his mother after an attack in kyiv. in chernihiv, 53 people have been killed in attacks in the last 24 hours. one of the victims, american james hill, he was killed while waiting in a bread line. he was there in that city helping his partner get medical care. in kharkiv, russian forces shelled a giant market setting off a series of intense fires. the first responders still trying to extinguish those fires there. one rescuer, we re told, was killed. and president biden calling vladimir putin a murderous dictator, and pure thug after calling him a war criminal. an hour from now, biden will be speaking with chinese president xi jinping and this will be the first time the two have spoken since russia invaded ukraine. the president is expected to warn xi not to provide support for russian war efforts. cnn reporters are covering the latest on ukraine.
we re learning more details about american james whitney hill killed while visiting his partner in ukraine. he went by jimmy. he was in chernihiv, ukraine, at local hospital when it came under russian artillery fire. his partner, ira, was being treated there for multiple sclerosis. here s camilla bernal. reporter: bombing has intensified, no way out. that was the last post from american james hill before confirmation of his death. his facebook detailing a chilling account of his last days in ukraine. intense bombing, still alive, limited food, room very cold. at one point, a missile went by him and landed at a distance. reporter: according to his family, hill was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by russian military snipers. his body was found in the street
hill was with his partner ira, who s ukrainian and battling ms. he was not going to leave ira s side in her condition. reporter: we re hanging in there, he wrote on monday, very cold inside. food portions are reduced. bombing and explosions most of the night. hard to sleep. people getting depressed. in his post, he describes feeling helpless, hungry, and cold while narrating a war. intense bombing last night for two hours. it was close to hospital. machine gunfire could be heard. it stopped just after midnight. hill even encouraging political action, posting this on march 7th. for my american friends and relatives, please pressure your local representatives to expedite american visas for ukrainians, especially for families with children and skilled workers.
but the dawn thundered with the sound of cruise missiles making impact next to the airport. the regional governor, kaczynski said that what made impact were four russian and cruise missiles. each with a price tag of about a million dollars. two of them had been intercepted as they made their way toward their target here in the west of the country. they have been lost according to kaczynski off of long-range bombers over the black sea peered what they had, was the love lviv aircraft repair plan for this is the only facility according to ukrainian reporting capable of retrofitting the mig 29 for the customization they need for the air force to use them. that is a situation that appears to be the motivation with the strengths are in the western part of the country. now as we move and look at the situation and the rest of the country, the civilian blood unfortunately continues to flow. the town where james hill the american was so. the civilian casualties mounted. this is a key city becaus
those oligarchs, those generals around him and the once he has not fired. i ll imagine that there is some pressure on him right now. they are hurting financially and their images just being battered. i want to get to this. let s talk about americans for second. the state department is confirming now the death of two americans. james whitney hale, and we knew of the journalist, brent for now. president biden and congressman mccaul had promised strong action. you know, the greatest of consequences. in the event of american deaths. let s watch. we are not seeking direct confrontation with russia. i ve been clear, that if russia targets americans in ukraine, we will respond forcefully. harris: so, hill was standing in a bread line along with nine or ten other people. they were gunned down. there is no doubt about it. they were firing on people. we had other journalists hit. they know who they are heading