This morning a new york times report reveals u.s. intelligence provided to ukrainian forces is helping them kill russian generals, according to senior american officials. ukrainian officials say they have killed roughly 12 generals on the front lines. the times report adding officials say the u.s. is not providing intelligence on the most senior russian leaders. a spokeswoman for the national security council provided a statement to nbc news in part, quote, the united states provided battlefield intelligence to help ukrainians defend their country. we do not provide intelligence with the intent to kill russian generals. moscow has also responded, saying it is, quote, well aware of the sharing of information and said nato and ukraine are not able to prevent russia from achieving its goals. meanwhile on the ground in ukraine, a final battle for mariupol is currently inside that steel plant with some civilians still stuck inside. tonight first lady jill biden begins her trip to east
One thing that really came through in our conversation was how focused he is on the battle for mariupol, the broader battle for the east. you know, when i spoke to him, he said that that battle is likely to be the tipping point in this war. he said, one side or the other will likely see its armies destroyed in that battle for eastern ukraine. and he said, if ukraine holds out, then it has a real chance of winning this war. another thing that stood out really in our conversation was, he s been in touch directly with some of the officers who are holed up there in that steel plant in mariupol. they re texting each other. they re calling each other. he said with one of them he feels like he s become friends by now. late at night he s getting their texts. he wants to know what they need, what weapon systems they need, how they re doing, how they re holding up. so, it s this constant stream of communication that they ve been able to maintain. and the main message that he s
For meetings tomorrow. it will be the most high profile visit yet of an american delegation since the war began. and it could not come at a more critical time russia today began a new assault on the port city of odesa, once a beach destination for russians and ukrainians the attacks left multiple dead, including a baby and it may be the final battle for mariupol that city has been completely destroyed by russia, but a few ukrainian soldiers and civilians have managed to hold the city now, russian soldiers are moving in on where they made their last stand. we begin tonight with matt bradley inside ukraine. reporter: tonight, a major announcement from president zelenskyy claiming he ll meet with u.s. secretary of state antony blinken and secretary of defense lloyd austin in ukraine tomorrow nbc hasn t independently confirmed the visit. weapons from the united states, everything has