Russian forces retreat from Ukraine’s capital region as civilians attempt to flee Mariupol

Read the Full Transcript

• Geoff Bennett:

  Ukraine says tonight, its forces have retaken the entire region around the Capitol Kyiv. Still the Ukrainian President warned that retreating Russian forces have left in his words a complete disaster, and said residents should be aware of continued shelling and landmines.

  Meantime, efforts to get civilians out of the hard hit city of Mariupol press on. Correspondent Ali Rogin has our report.

• Ali Rogin:

  From the border in Poland to the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. And even to southwest Russia, many against their will refugees fleeing the now more than five week-long war in Ukraine are scattering across the region.

  Zina Da Mikhailenko, Mariupol resident (through translator): What plans do we have? We don't have anybody. We plan to stay here as long as possible.

• Ali Rogin:

  Many have come from the Besiege southern city of Mariupol, which Russian forces surrounded last month and has been the scene of some of the wars worst attacks. Staffers from the Red Cross were trying to reach the city today. They had to call off a similar effort Friday, when they couldn't guarantee the route was safe. About 100,000 people reportedly remain in Mariupol down from a pre-war population of about 430,000.

• Tamila Mazurenko, Mariupol Evacuee (through translator):

  I have only one question, why? We only lived as normal people and our normal life was destroyed. We lost everything. I don't have a job and they can't find my son.

• Ali Rogin:

  Meanwhile, negotiators expressed optimism following this week's peace talks, when Ukrainian official reportedly said there's been enough progress to warrant a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Kyiv Zelenskyy warned that the region around the capital is still far from safe despite the apparent pullback of Russian forces in recent days.

  Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (through translator): Occupiers are retreating in the north of our country, slowly but noticeably. After their withdrawal, the situation is catastrophic. And there is so much danger. They are mining the entire territory, houses hardware, even the bodies of those killed. There are so many tripwires and other dangers, it's still not possible to return to normal life.

• Ali Rogin:

  In an interview on Fox News, Zelenskyy repeated his plea for heavy weaponry.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy (through translator):

  We don't want a million of quality bulletproof vests, or some special brand helmets, just give us missiles, gave us airplanes.

• Ali Rogin:

  The Pentagon did announce it's providing another $300 million in military equipment, including laser guided rocket systems, drones and armored vehicles. And according to The New York Times, the U.S. will work with allies to send Soviet made tanks to Ukraine, the first such transfer in the war. For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Ali Rogin.

Improved audio player available on our mobile page