home depot so big it was seen for miles the moment employees rushed customers to safety >> get out of the building >> and the worker who rescued a dozen dogs from the veterinarian next zmoor the price of eggs rolling higher just days before easter and passover as bird flu des mates poultry farms, why prices may crack a new high. tiger woods with a different kind of win in masters sunday. where he says he is playing next. plus, imagine. john lenin's son swore he would never perform the song ♪ imagine all the people ♪ >> the powerful reason he sang it last night. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow good evening in ukraine tonight it is about what is about to happen and who is in charge that has the nation and the world fearing the worst. russia's vladimir putin has put a new general in charge of ukraine operations who is best known by his nickname the butcher of syria for the vicious way he conducted that war russian troops poised for a deadly new offense in eastern u.s. navy seal after 50 people died on a train station on friday jake sullivan revealed today that u.s. intelligence shows there were plans at the heist level of the russian government to target civilians and after a surprise visit by the british prime minister to ukraine this weekend the white house is weighing in on whether president biden will visit ukraine. we begin tonight with that. >> reporter: tonight a dangerous new phase of russia's invasion underway as putin's forces prepare for a fresh assault across the east these satellite images show an eight-mile column of russian tanks and artillery amassing near kharkiv. and in mariupol invading troops now closing in on a city in ruins after weeks of bombardment led by a newly appointed general with a reputation for brutal tactics. but ukraine's forces flush with victories of recent weeks now digging in and ready to resist. there will be a lot of troops here, he says there will be a fight. >> ukraine won the battle for kyiv. now another battle is coming the battle of donbas every day matters and things might be supplied on a daily basis to strengthen our defense capability >> reporter: even after the attack where at least 57 were killed, including children, ukrainians still rushing to flee by train 10 million have been already forced from their homes, many arriving here in the relative safety of lviv the trains have been a lifeline for the ukrainian people dilute the war, ferrying them to safety even as the balls fell now there is real fear. >> they don't have souls, i think and they don't think that we are people. >> reporter: after british prime minister boris johnson surprise visit to kyiv, the white house saying today president biden has no current plans to visit the capitol and in the suburbs of kyiv, every day yields new horrors and potential evidence of war crimes i have no more tears, says a woman who lost her nephew my heart is cramped. i don't sleep anymore. losses too terrible to bear >> it's so heart breaking we're hearing russian forces might be running out of soldiers >> reporter: kate, british intelligence says the russians are getting increasingly desperate, call on recently retired soldiers and recruits from maldova to join the fight. kate. >> all right, raf, thank you. that new general in charge of russia's war has a reputation for brutal tactics in previous wars. anne thompson with more on the man some call the butcher of syria. >> reporter: the brutality inflict bid russia in bucha and mariupol with the targeting of ukrainian civilians is only expected to get worse. now that this man, general aleksandr dvornikov, is russia's new ground commander in ukraine. >> he will be another author of crimes and brutality against ukrainian civilians. >> reporter: the 60-year-old dvornikov, in the chechen war and syria. >> he is the goon called in by vladimir putin to floaten cities like aleppo and syria. he is the worst of the worse. >> reporter: called the butcher of syria for his leadership of russian forces in support of syrian president bashar al asad. >> his agent in war is simply attacking innocent civilians, flattening apartment buildings, bombing schools. every imaginable war crime can be laid at his feet in syria. >> reporter: for his service, russian president vladimir putin awarded dvornikov the hero of russia medal this leadership change after ukrainian officials say they killed seven russian generals and russia failed to take the capital kyiv now russia is retreating, moving east, expected to try and expand its control in the donbas region ukraine's foreign minister promises the russians will encounter fierce resistance. >> we have our strategy and this strategy is based on the assumption that we will win this war. >> >> reporter: no matter who leads on the other side anne thompson, nbc news, london. a covid outbreak that has impacted dozens of the country's leaders grew bigger today new york's mayor has now tested positive for covid. he is the latest to come down with the virus after attending a big dinner in washington last week kelly o'donnell reports. >> repo canceling all his events, eric adams announced he is covid positive add his name to a list of prominent political figures hit by the virus in the past week the speaker of the house, the attorney general, secretaries of agriculture and commerce, members of congress they attendied same event in washington eight days ago mayor adams was there, too, for the return of 137-year-old d.c. tradition. paused because of covid for two years. a formal event that for generations brought together bipartisan power players in white tie and tails. at least 72 dinner guests, more than 11%, said they later tested positive, though a direct link condannot be determined president biden did not attend the event but his sister valerie did and she, too, has covid. this week the white house noticeably changed how it talks about the president's own risk. >> there may come a time where the president tests positive for covid. >> reporter: saturday mr. bidenen, who is double boosted, was again wearing a mask. >> it's important for him to be able to continue his presidential duties now and even if he tests positive in the future. >> reporter: covid led by this ba.2 subvariant is springing forward in 24 states and our nation's capital hospitalizations are up in nine states and covid deaths have climbed in eight. >> we are watching it very, very carefully and there is concern that it's going. hopefully, we are not going to see increased severity. >> kelly joins me now. this seems to show the new subvariant is more contagious, kelly? >> reporter: they believe it's one and a half times more transmissable. that accountfor the spread we're seeing. here in d.c. health fishes say of the test results they have tracked, to more than 60% of the positive cases have been this ba.2 variant. >> kelly o'donnell at the white house. thank you. we are learning more about a massive fire in a northern california home depot late yesterday and the desperate efforts to evacuate crowds of shoppers and dozens of workers. steve patterson has that >> reporter: from above a molten fireball erupting in the sky, cop suming thousands of square feet burning for hours, turning the hardware store's content into kindling, shrouding suburban san jose into a plume of black smoke. on the ground panic. breaking out at 5:30 saturday night 30 workers and shoppers scrambling to escape. >> rvacate, vacate, vacate the building. fire through the roof. we are change to go a defensive strategy. >> reporter: the five-alarm fire so massive it was spotted from a national weather service satellite in space raining debris reported from residents three miles away tonight crews still stabilizing the scene, working to make sure the wreckage is safe for investigators. fire officials telling nbc news they believe it started it an area where lumber and drywall was being stored. >> with this many people inside when the fire progressed they want know why wand what happened tore sure. >> reporter: a pet hospital forced to evacuate sam quickly rounded up 13 dogs in just two minutes, packing them into this car. >> it happened so quick. within about two minutes we had to be out of the building. >> reporter: in total, 60 animals rescued and thankfully no one hurt man or best friend steve patterson, nbc news tonight marks the end of the masters tournament tiger woods is going home without the green jacket, but he left fans with an inspiring message. mor morgan chesky reports from augusta. >> reporter: tiger woods in his trademark sunday red pulling off a victory unlike anything we've seen before the five-time masters champion finishing in 47th place, playing today to prove what's possible 25 years after his record-breaking victory here for his first major, tiger returned as only tiger could. >> and there is tiger woods. >> reporter: his victory and every swing and painful step, limping on a right leg bound by metal plates and pins, crushed in the accident that could have killed him barely a year ago. >> i felt good the idea was to keep pushing but keep recovering and that's the hard part. >> reporter: the days ahead proved harder. >> i could not get a feel for getting comfortable with the ball posture, feel, my right hand, my release. i just couldn't find it. >> reporter: a rough showing for woods, but not without promise. >> he showed me enough this week where i think he can contend in major championships and get another win. >> reporter: tonight tiger leaves augusta national as he arrived. a competitor. >> never give up always chase after your dreams. i fight each and every day. each and every day is a challenge. wake up and start the fight all over again. >> reporter: tiger giving us a hint at what's going to come, he plans to play in the open championship this july and is still deciding on the pga championship this may. >> thank you. still ahead tonight, easter egg price hike the cost of eggs has spiked we'll tell you why it might go high early. test tes test test test test test test test test we're back with an update on the high price of eggs and with easter and passover days away the news is not good here's jesse kirsch why prices are high now and could go even higher. >> reporter: as millions of americans get their seder plates and easter baskets ready, a crucial ingredient could cost you more. >> this is the highest prices we have seen on eggs we are sitting at double the price. >> reporter: according to the u.s. department of agriculture, the price of eggs since february jumped 11% from the previous year >> it's tough on the working man when you see gas prices, price of your groceries going up like they are. it's a terrible thing. >> reporter: experts say inflation has been driving the price hikes throughout grocery stores now bird flu is decimating poultry farms in the midwest iowa alone losing more than 11 million egg-laying hens. >> it's going to take a little while to get there before the consumer really sees that higher price there. >> reporter: in fact, usda says the price wholesalers are paying for large eggs has doubled in the last month. those rising prices may soon find their way to consumers and food pantries like new york city harvest are already under pressure. >> when prices go up to the degree they are today, we see less food being donated. >> reporter: still some shoppers aren't letting the sticker shock get in the way of holiday traditions. >> with the way prices are right now, woo think twice before boiling a bunch of eggs to paint them >> not really. no i mean, if i had some company over, i would like to color the eggs, yeah it's fun. >> i like to color eggs, too. impact of bird flu to hit? >> that industry analyst telling me because of the lag time we could see another price hike ourselves in may or june this is far from over. kate. >> thank you so much. when we come back, the new police mission to make sure survivors of domestic violence feel safe for jeyears after the incident firefighters are trying to put out a wildfire spreading in south texas. it started yesterday at a military base in san antonio. you can see the flames and smoke blowing towards nearby neighborhoods. is it's a challenge for crews battling hot, dry conditions and winds about 25 miles per hour. overseas now france's presidential elections were held today. emmanuel macron and marie appear to be the leading candidates in the first round of voting the final outcome will have global significance because of the war in ukraine. macron and le pen are divided over sanctions on russia. the two are now on track to face each other in a runoff later this month. now to a topic that's often difficult to discuss domestic abuse and the terror, anxiety, and nfcousion that survivors feel long after the incident now at least one police department is trying to help with that, training officers on how to better respond to these types of calls, and even more importantly, staying in touch with survivors year after year kristen dahlgren reports. >> dallas police >> reporter: in dallas a domestic violence call officers on the scene. a carefully staged scene. >> it is our responsibility to investigate as much as we can. >> reporter: designed to teach the recruits the delicate nature of domestic violence incidents. >> maybe sometimes they feel like there is nowhere to go >> reporter: police departments nationwide may have domestic violence units in dallas all prolice recruits get special training and handling these incidents. >> this year almost 20% of the murder has been some sort of family violence related. >> reporter: dpd fields close to 15,000 domestic violence calls a year often repeat offenders. with victims who can be terrified to speak up so officers are trained to look for repeat violence. >> make sure you're okay. >> reporter: scan for injuries that may be hidden. >> how would you define these marks marks across her neck. >> reporter: from january to august of 2021, family-related aggravated assaults were up almost 8%. last fall the department added detectives and started working more closely with local advocates and aid organizations, visiting victims well after the initial call >> oftentimes, you have victims that somewhat feel captive in this that environment. we need to do our best to ensure we have the holistic approach to get them the help they need. >> reporter: on this day with a representative from a local shelter along they check in on alex aguilar, who was beaten and strangled by a boyfriend did you think you were going to die >> yes yes. >> reporter: her attacker was convicted of assault, but the family violence unit hasn't forgotten her. >> i didn't know how to prepare for court i didn't know how to leave my house i didn't know where i should go. and because of the detectives i was able to navigate through much of that. >> reporter: how much does it mean to you to have them coming to check on you. >> because you are so broken down from the abuse itself when somebody takes time to ask you, hey, how are you? is there anything i can do for you it makes you feel like you matter and it's huge. >> reporter: julie is one of the unit's new detectives. >> i know victims feel as if we get cases after cases after cases and they are just pushed to the back so to have a unit that will follow up with them and stick with them, i think that's so important >> reporter: a new way to police domestic violence, offering hope fewer victims fall through the cracks kristen dahlgren, nbc news, dallas >> so important. if you are or anyone you know is a survive of domestic violence, there is help out there. the number for the national domestic violence hotline is 800-799-7233. when we come back, john lennon's lasten legacy why his son julian decided the time was finally right for "imagine." ♪ a legacy of peace. john lennon's son julian taking a stand for ukraine with the legendary song he wouldn't perform publicly until now ♪ imagine there's no heaven ♪ ♪ it's easy if you try ♪ ♪ >> reporter: it is one of the most recognizable songs in the world. ♪ no hell below us ♪ ♪ above us only sky ♪ >> reporter: a stirring anthem of peace and hope. ♪ imagine all the people living for today ♪ ♪ >> reporter: and last night at a benefit for ukraine, john lennon's son julian honored his father's legacy performing "imagine" publicly for the very first time, something had vowed he'd never do ♪ nothing to kill or die for ♪ >> reporter: of his decision he writes the only time i would ever consider singing "imagine" would be if it was the end of the world, but also because his lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide. ♪ living life in peace ♪ >> reporter: the solemn candlelit performance a pledge to help end the suffering for the millions under attack fleeing ukraine. ♪ because i'm not the only one ♪ >> reporter: now channeling his father's vietnam era appeal. ♪ i hope some day you'll join us ♪ >> reporter: for acceptance and love. that conflict a catalyst for john lennon, who became a vocal anti-war activists, holding non-violent protests for peace. but in is1980 he was gunned down. julian then, then 17, devoted his life to music. the song "imagine" never felt right for him to sing, until now. ♪ until the world wil live as one ♪ >> that is "nbc nightly news" on this sunlight lester holt is back with you tomorrow. i'm kate snow. for all of us here at nbc news, stay safe and have a great night. ♪ imagine all the people ♪ large out-of-state corporations have set their sights on california. they've written a ballot proposal to allow online sports betting. they tell us it will fund programs for the homeless, but read the fine print. 90% of the profits go to out-of-state corporations, leaving almost nothing for the homeless. no real jobs are created here. but the promise between our state and our sovereign tribes would be broken forever. these out-of-state corporations don't care about california. but we do. stand with us. we begin tonight with breaking news out of oakland. the chp has shut down part of interstate 580 because of a possible shooting. this is a live look from our nbc bay area skyranger. you see the car in question. they've got it surrounded. there's talking about it, looking at it, pointing at it. this happened near 580 and state route 13. all westbound lanes of the interstate are closed. traffic is being diverted. traffic is being sent to state route 13. the chp imploring people please stay away from that area. it's unknown at this time how long the interstate will be