in a convoy with russian forces and vehicles with u.n. logos. no such relief for the people left behind. the attacks have been relentless and there's no pause. sara sidner joins me now from kyiv. united nations listed the official death toll less than 3,000 but that sounds far short than the reality. >> reporter: i think it is. if anything tells you how short it is when you look at the vi owe that we have obtained. cnn got video of just outside of mariupol and it shows rows and rows and rows of grave sites. freshly dug grave sites and the people said they don't expect to stop burying people. many unidentified. no tears. no remembrances. no final good-byes. just dust to dust. burial is over. >> translator: we bury 50 people a day. today we have done two lots of 18 bodies and another 10. 46 in total. >> reporter: grave diggers can barely keep up the pace at the cemetery. once marked with a sign the bodies have yet to be identified by family. >> translator: people come and find the loved ones and bring crosses and a board. >> reporter: cnn is not present in the region but footage obtained and satellite images show dozens of fresh graves. 600 in total. images show graves have been dug en masse at two other brurl grounds. this is one of them. they have been bringing bodies every day for a month. bit by bit. here, too, footage shows rows of freshly dug graves and indications bodies have been buried before being identified. >> reporter: each body is given a number. >> reporter: a separatist soldier said -- >> translator: the city funeral service works to organize the burial. >> reporter: cnn could not independentlier have ifty claims but local authorities say the majority of those here were killed in the siege on mariupol. moscow sieged most of the city but some forces continue to hold ground at the steel plant. so far the kremlin didn't report an official death toll but ukrainians say it is in the thousands. >> translator: by our es mags more than 20,000 people, women, kids, elderly died on the streets of the city. >> reporter: the mayor of mariupol said. because the death toll is likely to rise the work continues. about 100 freshly dug graves ready for the dead. ukrainians not just murdered by strangers but also buried by them. even with the news of those 100-plus people who have finally been able to leave that labyrinth underneath that steel plant worried about oxygen and food and water. they are safe for intents and purposes now and out of a terrible situation. as this is going on there's an unexpected visit, unannounced visit from the now highest ranking u.s. politician to show up here in kyiv. nancy pelosi was clear to make sure they knew how much and how strong the bond is now between the united states and ukraine. >> we believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom that we are on a frontier of freedom and the fight is a fight for everyone. so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. >> reporter: zelenskyy was very happy to see this powerful support from one of the highest ranking people coming from the united states and of course he has been asking for more and more equipment so that he can finally in his words win this. pam? >> sara, live in kyiv, thank you. an unknown number of ukrainian soldiers made a stand at the steel plant in mariupol defying russian forces that offer humane treatment to captives. matt rivers found evidence to the contrary in the story of a fighter apparently captured epa killed by the russian. the story contains disturbing images and content. >> reporter: a clear message to the last remaining defenders of march poll. the video says we'll say your lives and guarantee humane treatment. such will be the case with this man a captured ukrainian soldier. the 25-year-old member of ukraine's defense force was captured at a steel complex. the last remaining pocket of resistance in the city. it's an area northwest of the plant. a russian soldier detailing how they will be treated. as you are captured we'll treat you with honor and with understanding. the videos published april 20th. five days later he was dead. this picture of his face hauntingly lifeless sent to his mother by officials. we redialed the numbers and hung up on once we identified adds journalists. they sent a picture of his chest with the tattoo on the body clearly matching the one seen on him still live in videos. >> when you first saw that message what wept through your mind? >> translator: nothing. i just screamed. there was nothing. no thoughts. >> reporter: we met his mother near where she is staying in kyiv. she fled mariupol two weeks ago with her family. her sister-in-law reeling from the photo of her nephew. >> translator: i have that photograph in front of my eyes. it is constantly in front of my eyes. >> reporter: he was dead and his body picked up on sunday. cnn can't confirm how he died but it was after custody. do you think that the russians killed your son? >> translator: yes. i'm sure. >> reporter: russia's ministry of defense did not return the request for comment on how he died. for weeks cnn heard from soldiers inside the steel complex that will not surrender for fear. the death only hardened the sentiment. does it reinforce the notion that the soldiers there won't surpder? >> don't you think it confirms the fear and expectations what russians did today? this is a war crime. >> reporter: we asked his mother anna if she is angry. the answer honest and gutting. >> translator: for now i only feel enormous pain, pain and emptiness. that's it. >> reporter: matt rivers, cnn, kyiv. >> russian occupied kerrson is in the line of fire. there's at least 120 cars with families fleeing the violence. they were seen crammed in with pets and the elderly. now a heads up on the big cnn interview tomorrow. the first interview since u.s. diplomats returned to ukraine. that's tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. eastern. parts of texas and new mexico under a tornado watch until late this evening. near hurricane force winds and softball sized hail are expected. jean norman joins me now. how bad are the storms? >> we have reports of hail like this. baseball and larger working into the evening and there have been reports of tornadoes on the ground. one north of fort stockton. also some of these storms produced lightning that have set off grads fires in west texas. what they look for in west texas, tornadoes some intense with hail and the winds approaching hurricane force. areas in red the tornado watch until 10:00 tonight across west texas. yellow box areas are severe thunderstorm watches. take a look here near the raleigh area. that will continue for a little while longer. walk you through the evening. notice these storms here out in west texas will intensify and really impact the middle of the country over the next couple of days. we have back to back severe storm threats why kansas to oklahoma and missouri for tomorrow. big storms there and then they'll push to the east on tuesday. where it is not storming in new mexico unfortunately are the area that could need the rain the most near the big fires, especially the calf canyon fire over 100,000 acres. containment was 32% and now 30% and the fire danger continues for tomorrow why no good news there but big storms in west texas why following them all night. >> all right. gene norman, thank you. we are joined by nfl union pla players representative who just got back from ukraine. what the medical world learned about long covid. brand new reporting coming up next. celebrated reporter april ryan gets a major shout out at the white house correspondents' din every. she joins us live. >> 25 years, miss april! as a white house correspondent. you go, april ryan! 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>> i think so. >> reporter: this doctor is a medical director for mount sinai center for post-covid care. are you able to predict who's most likely to develop long covid? >> those patients submitted to the hospital with the most severe symptoms the risk of long lasting symptoms is higher but doesn't mean if you have mild symptoms at home you are immune. >> reporter: the impacts are vast. from the brain to the hearts. a study of patient who is had covid early on are 60% more likely to develop any cardiac issues including heart disease and cardiac arrest a full year out. but the idea that even if i didn't get that sick so i could have lost lasting symptoms i don't want to overstate this but how frightening is that? >> very frightening. it's like stepping up to a gambling table at vegas and risking losing everything. >> reporter: that's what makes it all the more puzzling. it is not clear who develops long covid, who recovers or why it happens in the first place. 30% of covid patients have symptoms three months after infection. >> the thing that surprised us the most is really the breadth of the disease. why so many different symptoms? >> reporter: there are just theories. an immune system trying to fight the virus. perhaps bits of the virus still hidden in the bodies. or the wreckage from the virus that causes blood clots, choking off blood supply to everything from the nose to the toes. >> i had the bizarre symptoms, trembling arms and legs. i started to walk with a cane. >> reporter: she saw dozens of physicians trying to address an organ of the body. none made a difference until she got to mt. sinai she said focused on her as a whole patient. >> instead of being dismissed my doctor could finish sentences for me on how the symptoms were affecting me. >> reporter: even here though there are no easy answers and long covid does remain a mystery. for her she found relief with steroids and physical therapy why she has brain fog at times and the movement is limited but back to work and on the feet. >> i can exercise, compared to a year ago i would say i'm running a marathon right now. >> there are still so much we don't know about long covid. the reality is we are probably dealing with a brand new disease and textbooks will be written about this. may have similarities to lyme disease. we are not sure what's causing it and theoryings out there. nih is investigating what causes it and potential treatments and a bright spot is several studies show people vaccinated or vaccinated after symptoms do develop some protection against developing long covid. shortening the duration of their symptoms in the long run so that's a bright spot. >> for sure. dr. gupta, thank you vladimir putin plan to attend november's g20 summit very likely to cross paths with president biden. how should the u.s. and allies handle it? a guest joins me with perspective next. we hit the bike trails every weekend shinges doesn't care. i grow all my own vegetables shingles doesn't care. we've still got the best moves you've ever seen good for you, but shingles doesn't care. because 1 in 3 people will get shingles, you need protection. but, no matter how healthy you feel, your immune system declines as you age increasing your risk for getting shingles. so, what can protect you? shingrix protects. you can protect yourself from shingles with a vaccine proven to be over 90% effective. shingrix is a vaccine used to prevent shingles in adults 50 years and older. shingrix does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients or to a previous dose. an increased risk of guillain-barré syndrome was observed after getting shingrix. fainting can also happen. the most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, and upset stomach. ask your pharmacist or doctor about shingrix. shingles doesn't care. but you should. grillin', chillin', spillin', dillin'. bec-ing. never brie-ing. smokin', yolkin', flippin', dippin'. if you're not oozing, then you're losing. tater totting, cold or hotting. mealin', feelin', pie-ing, trying. color your spread. upgrade your bread. pair it. share it. kraft singles. square it. if i go to sleep right now, i will get four... hours and eighteen minutes. so great. taha, that's funny. it's messing with me now. i know exactly what it's doing. ok. ok. i'm ben affleck, and i want to thank you for joining me and supporting paralyzed veterans of america. i joined the navy to serve my country as a navy seal. while parachuting with my platoon my parachute didn't open. i broke my neck, it left me paralyzed. paralyzed veterans of america was by my side from that moment on. please call or go online now to pvahero.org your gift of only $19 a month, just $0.63 a day will provide the life saving help our paralyzed heroes need now. specialized medical care, fight for the benefits they've earned, and the accessible vehicles and homes they need. call or go online right now and receive this pva team t-shirt to show that you are fighting for our paralyzed veterans. our veterans fought for us. let's fight for them. call or donate online at pvahero.org today. our veterans need you. the brutality of putin's war in ukraine is shocking. last week pentagon spokesman kirby got emotional while answering a question about the russian leader. >> it's difficult to look at the -- sorry. it is difficult to look at some of the images and imagine that any well-thinking serious mature leader would do that. so i can't talk to his psychology but i think we can all speak to his depravity. >> my next guest might be able to shed light on the psychology and the depravity, a former close friend and business partner of the russian president known as the only perhap to have sued and collected money from russia. hi. thank you for making time to talk to us. you know putin very well. you used to be close and friends with him. what do we not know about him? >> well, i think we all have the same problem. we tend to overthink who vladimir putin is and why he is doing what he is doing. vladimir putin is a person that has divided the world and he did so to meet his own needs. the needs is to stay in power and to stay in power he started a corrupt government system that funds those that will help him. he doesn't go to war for strategic reasons but to stay in power and to keep control. >> we have seen putin being compared to other murderous dictators from history. what do you make of those comparisons? >> what he is doing is sounding which is so unimaginable i call it the pearl harbor effect. but he is doing that so he can stay in power. this is only motivation. he has absolutely no empathy for anyone. he doesn't care how many people get cared of his own or of the poor people in ukraine. >> how do you know -- just walk us through the insights on putin where you can say so confidently that this is all about power, all he cares about. what do you know from the personal interactions? >> vladimir putin always was very interested in keeping a control of certain situations. you must understand he started out in the kgb as a recruiter and someone to keep a watchful eye on the opposition. when he was working as deputy mayor of st. petersburg he kept the boss the first democratically elected mayor out of trouble because of the corruption going on in the city and he had two things to qualify him for bigger things, the absolute loyalty to whoever he worked for and the fact not accept bribes for himself. that landed the first job. he went off to remove obstacle for the yeltsin family stopping an investigation by the prosecutor against the yeltsin family for corruption with a scandal. there was a company that won contracts to renovate the kremlin and paid back $60 million to the yeltsins so he compromised the -- and then promoted to become the first prime minister from st. petersburg and then of course replaced by the president and won election in 2000. >> i want to ask you. he is expected to attend the g20 in november and there is a very good chance that president biden and president putin will cross paths. what do you think the u.s. should do. how should it handle that? >> i think if he really attends which i doubt that he will because he doesn't want to be confronted with anything that might look zsh might make him look bad on screen in front of his own people or the world. i think they should best ignore him. >> all right. thank you. really interesting to hear your perspective given the fact you were business partners with him. thank you. >> thank you for having me. a lot of jokes at the president's expense. he even roasted himself. >> i'm really excited to be here tonight with the only group of americans with a lower approval rating than i have. ♪("i've been everywhere" by johnny cash) ♪ ♪i've traveled every road in this here land!♪ ♪i've been everywhere, man.♪ ♪i've been everywhere, man.♪ ♪of travel i've had my share, man.♪ ♪i've been everywhere.♪ ♪ new poligrip power hold and seal. clinically proven to give strongest hold, plus seals out 5x more food particles. fear no food. new poligrip power hold and seal. the war in ukraine is half a world away and people in the u.s. who want to help are getting creative in the efforts to do the part. this week i spoke 0 a-year-old girl and her mom who worked together to fill backpacks with art and comfort supplies for ukraine children in harm's way. were you watching tv and see the kids and worry about them? >> in the houses. there's nothing in the hands. nothing to do. >> so what did you want to do for them? >> give them sun flower packages. >> so this is the sun flower bag and you drew this. right? >> yeah. uh-huh. >> tell me about this. so griffin expressed she wanted to do something for the kids? >> she did. she wanted to give all her toys and then wanted to send firewood so people would stay warm. and then wanted to send wood to help rebuild. so we agreed upon the sun flower bags. that was -- we filled with art supplies and comfort supplies. >> so how did it all come together? because it is one thing to have an idea but as a mom you want to -- you're hearing your child wants to do something for the kids suffering. how do you get from there to getting the sun flower bags to the kids in poland? >> once she said she wanted the wood to rebuild i felt like i wanted to move. >> wasn't going to stop? >> she is quite tenacious. i wanted to make certain we were able to fulfill the mission. the first thing we did was we spoke about immediate use funds. how important that is and we did that with a fund we set up in my dad's honor called the 72 fund and then the next step was to send the sun flower bags. and it was tricky. because you can't just -- ngos need funds and can't just send supplies and ironically right before the war started ukrainian artist on etsy sent us some educational art supplies for our son and i contacted her and she got right back to me and thought art would be a great idea and turns out the sister and the niece who's 9 years old fled to poland so i said how many children are there in that area? it was 54. so we had the ages of 7 months to 13 years old. >> wow. >> so we chose different items for each of the age groups that were appropriate. >> what was that like when you worked so hard on the project to help the kids, the bags finally arrive in poland and you see the videos of the kids opening up the bags? what did that make you feel? >> feeled like happy. >> you felt happy? >> uh-huh. >> megan, what was that like for you? >> i felt very proud of griffin but also i -- it's pretty amazing when you have something in the living room and then you see it in the child's hands and to see how happy they are. that was -- it went to show you how the whole mission was one child reaching out to another child and that's what she did. and so it's quite special and shows that every dollar counts and every idea counts. >> to see a child so innocent and clapping to have that -- chalk and crayons and art supplies and to see that joy is -- it's just something that all kids should have. so to know that he probably had that three weeks prior and then to have that taken away and to see that joy and also the fact that art supplies can be used therapeutically, helps to get your mind off of i hope what is surrounding them at the moment and to have ownership of a backpack that's water proofing and protecting the art supplies, just their own items. >> nothing can take that away. >> no. >> in each bag is a little bunny. it symbolizes the easter holt day and her grandfather and the design on the bag is ukraine. good job to griffin inspiring us all there. president biden takes on the role of comedian in chief at the white house correspondents' dinner. >> i'm not here to roast the gop. that is not my style. besides there's nothing to say about the gop that kevin mccarthy hasn't already putt on tape! ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) check out this vrbo. oh man. ♪ come on. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ mission control, we are go for launch. um, she's eating the rocket. ♪ lunchables! built to be eaten. the president was part of last night's return to pre-pandemic washington. the capital press corps mingled at the white house correspondents' dinner. more than 2,000 people were there including april ryan. she was honored as the longest serving black female white house correspondent in history. >> for seven decades the black women who cover the white house like april ryan who's down in the center -- [ applause ] 25 years, miss april! as a white house correspondent. you go, april ryan! [ applause ] >> we're proud to have april as a cnn political analyst and a guest with us tonight. april, i know it is just a whirlwind for you and so happy. i was at the dinner last night and giving you a standing ovation. tell us what that was like. >> i was in shock. i didn't expect it. you know, the room was so packed and my fiancee told me to move. to the other seat because i kept getting hit in the head by all the servers coming through and i sat right there on the aisle seat and then gayle was discussing the new award that was being given posthumously to alice dunning began, the first black women to ever cover the white house and then mentioned me being the longest serving black female journalist to cover the white house, 25 years, i still get chills over it. to be recognized by your colleagues and for the whole room to sand. gayle king told me at the celebration that we had with mary j. blige, she said, the whole room stood. from my vantage point i saw a lot of people. she said the whole room stood. >> yeah. >> the whole room of people who are of all walks of lifer. politicians, celebrities, people who -- news organizations want to bring in that room. and it was something. the world saw it. if you want to say something, giving someone the flowers while they can smell them, i can smell them. >> i'm so proud. we covered the white house together. >> yes, we did. >> well deserved. it was the first time in three years that the event is held due to the pandemic and first time in six years as president biden noted that a sitting president attended. take a a listen. >> this is the first time a president attended this dinner in six years. [ applause ] >> it's aunls. we had a horrible plague followed by two years of covid. [ laughter ] >> so what did you think of president biden's performance? >> he was very strong. his jokes landed very well if you will. a plague followed by covid for those six years. i believe the president, you know, he wanted to make sure that he in his address, in his roasting, he wanted to make sure the press knew we were important and in the midst of a pandemic he said he had to come and he even abbreviated his appearance by coming after the dinner portion. but he wanted to be there particularly at a time when there are journalists losing their lives all around the wournt and world but particularly when it comes to ukraine, russia's war on ukraine. pam, he was the first one to stand after the memorial for those reporters who were killed in the war. and he started a slow clap and he went into this applause. and others stood as well. he was the first one. and that's the big piece. that was my takeaway last night. the big takeaway for me. >> he also i noted laughed at all the jokes about him. >> yes, he did. >> he was laughing really heartily. he was on the receiving end of several jokes and here's one of them from the host trevor noah. >> ever since you've come into office things are really looking up. you know? gas is up. rent is up. food is up. [ laughter ] >> everything. last month he caused a huge international incident saying that vladimir putin should be removed from power. it was very, very upsetting to russia. yeah. until someone explained to them that none of the stuff biden wants actually gets done. >> you know, april, the "new york times" has an article today reporting that biden's polling team has data showing inflation as one of the biggest issues hurting the president with voters. i have to imagine that, you know, as he laughed at them the jokes hit extra hard when there is this big grain of truth at the core. what did you think about his ability to laugh them off? >> i was struck by how he was able to laugh at all. how he was able to take it. because, one, the jokes had a lot of truth in them. all his numbers are off, yes, inflation, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. and those are pocket issues. that's when politics is personal. and the president has to lift those numbers. but he had to go there. and his presence had to resonate with the american public in particular. he had to seem like he was someone who could give a joke and take a joke. even in the midst of the worst times and these are some the worst times as we are hearing from financial experts there could be a recession. so the president's numbers are going down because, again, inflation is going up. supply chain still has a kink in it. but the president has to do something about it. and it's like that old saying, and maybe the janet jackson song "what have you done for me lately" is what the american public is looking for in the midterms. >> all right. april ryan, congratulations again on your achievement and thanks so much for joining us tonight. >> thank you, pam. take care. be well. still ahead, new video of ukrainian civilians finally escaping the hell that russia has created in mariupol. plus, a ukrainian diva's defiant curtain call after replacing a russian soprano at new york's metropolitan opera. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ andrea: this is the hardest thing we will probably ever have to go through. st. jude has given us transportation, treatment. to know that we don't have bills, they take every other stress off of your shoulders. ♪ ♪ shhhhh.. when my genetic reports told me about my heart health, i was able to take action. and i got a kit for my mom, too, so she can get her own meaningful health info. this mother's day, start a new health journey together with mom with $50 off every kit. grillin', chillin', spillin', dillin'. bec-ing. never brie-ing. smokin', yolkin', flippin', dippin'. if you're not oozing, then you're losing. tater totting, cold or hotting. mealin', feelin', pie-ing, trying. color your spread. upgrade your bread. pair it. share it. kraft singles. square it. ♪ ♪ we believe there's an innovator in all of us. ♪ that's why we build technology that makes it possible for every business... and every person... to come to the table and do more incredible things. this is xfinity rewards. our way of showing our appreciation. with rewards of all shapes and sizes. [ cheers ] are we actually going? yes!! and once in a lifetime moments. two tickets to nascar! yes! find rewards like these and so many more in the xfinity app. a powerful moment at new york's metropolitan opera last night. [cheers and applause] when the ukrainian soprano took her curtain call draped in the ukrainian flag as you see right here. she performed last night as a replacement after the opera house dropped the show's original star for associating with russian president vladimir putin. this weekend stanley tucci is back. a lot of you have been waiting for this. he is taking us around italy with new episodes, new food, and new discoveries. his first stop this season? venice. >> so it's a three stage process, one of them very messy. >> just very gently because you don't want to break the sack, you see? >> where is the sack? if you try it at home be prepared to repaint afterwards. >> i broke it. >> great. >> anyway. if there were people that knew what they were doing here it would work. >> squeeze it. >> as well as this, we bought fishtails and other bits we'll use to make a stock in the rice. aren't those pieces too big though? >> they will break down to fiber. >> okay. >> and become super, super tender. >> okay. white wine? >> go ahead. that's good. now we can put a little bit. not too much. remember, it is all about the black ink. we put the stock. >> okay. >> you can cover until it becomes nice and tender. >> the next hour of cnn newsroom starts right now. >> we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, for our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done. >> translator: as of now the special rescue operations being carried out by the regiment, we get civilians out of the rubble with ropes. we hope this process will continue and we will be able to