area where the russian-backed separatists in this region have raised the possibility of using chemical weapons to clear out that factory. is that likely? well, unfortunately as with many things that depend on putin s personal decision at this point, we just don t know. they ve certainly hinted that that might be the next step. we just have to hope that that won t happen. it s heartbreaking to see the footage that you just showed of children sheltering in the basements there in the azovstal steel plant, unable to go out. the families are terrified that if they were to surrender, they might be deported like other ukrainian families have been deported to russia, where they re essentially untraceable. and i would point out that those families that we saw in the basement there were speaking russian. it s not a war to protect
was hit by two anti-ship missiles. photos show large black holes on the port side of this guided cruiser just above the waterline. now in the coming hours, u.s. president joe biden is expected to hold a call with allies to discuss continued support for ukraine and efforts to hold russia accountable. this comes as the u.s. state department accuses russia of launching a campaign of terror. the fact is that russia, more than just launching an invasion, more than just launching a war, has launched, is undertaking a campaign of terror, a campaign of brutality, a campaign of despicable aggression against the people of ukraine. a small number of ukrainian fighters continue to hold out against the russian offensive for the key port city of mariupol. a u.s. defense official believes about a dozen russian groups are committed to this fight and are
donbas. i think that it s happened because we was very young country. we was a very young independent country. we have not this experience. reporter: the experience but not the nato membership and not the protected airspace zelenskyy has asked for. while the international community has given massive financial backing to ukraine, including more than $14 billion from the u.s., yermak says ukraine needs a new system. all systems of the security not work, and i can say not exist. of course we do our best to talk with our partner, the united states, great britain, germany, and turkey, other countries, to create this new system. and of course after this war, after this heroic fighting of ukrainian nations, we have
war right now? well, they re holding up the russian advance. it s really almost the last spot that the russians have to take to establish this land bridge to crimea. so the heroic resistance of these fighters in mariupol has delayed the russian effort to take this strip of territory. it s been really six weeks that they ve been struggling over what they initially thought would be a very limited, straightforward operation to take this town. and it s proved once again just how faulty the intelligence was on which the russian plans were based. we re also getting word from those ukrainian fighters there that there are women, children, the elderly, civilians also holed up in that steel factory and that the russians continue with the attacks there. that clearly is not a surprise, but the concern is this is one
reporter: russian forces have put zelenskyy s leadership to the test with near constant shelling, including in and around ukraine s capital, kyiv. when the invasion began and the united states offered president zelenskyy a way out of the country, he said, i don t need a ride. i needh ammunition. was there ever a moment where he thought of leaving just so save his own life or the life of his family? no. no. i didn t i came to the office on the morning of 24th. the president already was in his cabinet, and all these 50 days, he s in the office of the president. if he hadn t stayed, do you think this war would have gone differently? do you think maybe the ukrainian people found inspiration in fighting because he stayed too? absolutely. 100%. it was so important. we hear in the office of the president and other government bodies, we are working.