Sirens blare in battered Odesa as Russia unleashes new attacks

 

The key

Ukrainian port city

of Odessa as residents

there prepare for a fourth consecutive

night of major Russian attacks.

CNN's senior

national security correspondent

Alex Marquardt is on the ground

for us there.

Alex, you've witnessed

these attacks up close

since the first night.

What's the latest

Well, Wolf,

this city is anxiously awaiting to see

whether Russia intends to target again

after these

three nights of intense attacks.

These were the worst strikes

over the past three nights

that this city has seen

since the beginning of this war.

We just heard from President

Zelensky in his nightly address

saying that over the past four days,

some 90 had drones have been fired

at southern Ukraine

and some 70 missiles just last night.

We saw Russia use four

different kinds of cruise missiles,

long range strategic bombers.

They fired all of these drones.

At least three people were killed

last night

in both

the city of Micallef and here in the city

of Odessa.

A wolf

we went to one of those sites

that was struck by a missile

earlier today in downtown Odessa.

It was right next to the port.

But this was just a normal civilian

administration building.

This this had nothing to do with the port

or the green infrastructure.

This had nothing to do with the military.

This was a multi-story building

that was taken down by a Russian missile.

At least one person killed inside.

We saw a fire

still coming from that rubble.

Firefighters

trying to put those fires out.

There was all kinds of destruction

for blocks around there.

Their windows shattered, trees

knocked down.

There is dust all over the place there.

Both countries,

Ukraine and Russia,

going back and forth over

what they say is the reason

for these Russian strikes.

Russia says that it is retaliation

for Ukraine's attack

on that Kerch Bridge, the bridge

that is connected to Crimea.

Earlier on Monday,

they argue

that the sea drones

that were used to attack

that bridge came from here in Odessa,

while Ukraine, Wolf,

says that it is the green structure,

the green infrastructure

that Russia is targeting,

since they've now pulled

out of that green deal.

They're going

after these different ports, going

after the grain infrastructure

because it is from these ports

that Ukraine sends its green

all around the world.

And so much of that is bolstering

the Ukrainian economy.

And keeping up the global food supplies

Wolf.

Alex,

I know you also have some new information

involving those U.S.

provided cluster bombs to Ukraine.

What are you hearing from your sources?

Well, we have multiple sources

saying that Ukraine

is now

using those very controversial

American cluster munitions.

Sources telling my colleagues,

Oren Liebermann,

Natasha Bertrand and myself

that they have been used.

We had reported

we broke the news last week, Wolf,

that those cluster munitions

are now in country.

We now know that they are being used.

The question is how effective

they will be, Wolf,

there is a debate over that.

I spoke to a Ukrainian general last week

who said that

they would

radically impact the battlefield.

Others say that they have to be used

strategically, say if

Russian groups of Russian

soldiers are gathering,

that's the kind of target you would use

for cluster munitions.

But, Wolf,

everybody agrees that there is a shortage

of artillery ammunition

and so no matter

what kind of

artillery ammunition is sent to Ukraine,

whether it's the more standard artillery

or these cluster munitions,

that is certainly a help

in this artillery fight

during this counteroffensive Wolf.

Alex Marquardt in Odessa for us.

Stay safe over there, Alex.

Thank you very much.

I'm joined now by two guests

to discuss all these late

breaking developments in Ukraine.

CNN military analyst

retired General Wesley Clark.

Also joining us, William Taylor,

the former U.S.

ambassador to Ukraine,

Ambassador Taylor Odessa.

Nikolayev, our

are brutally being destroyed right now.

How much are Ukrainians bracing for?

I assume they do anticipate

this is about to get even worse.

This is about to get worse.

Wolf, you're exactly right.

And I'm sure there are efforts to bolster

the air defenses around Odessa

and other ports.

This is a cynical move by the Russians.

They can't do anything

very well on the ground.

All they can do is fire missiles

and these drones.

They're failing in their military effort.

They what they try to do is attack

civilian targets, including these

these ports.

They apparently destroyed some 60,000

tons of of grain

that was going to the world.

So this is a cynical move

by the Russians.

Certainly is.

General Clark, I know the U.S.

has announced

it's sending more sophisticated

air defense systems to Ukraine,

at least in the long term.

But what does Ukraine do now

when it's only able

to shoot down

a small percentage of the missiles

the Russians are launching

against these civilian targets?

Zelinsky just said Russia's used

almost 70 missiles

in the south these past few days.

Wolf, the only thing they can

do is assure,

as Ambassador Taylor said,

they can redeploy some systems.

They're not going to redeploy

the patriot systems

because Ukraine is key.

And so if you don't defend

if you don't defend Ukraine

of the other cities, Dnipro and Odessa

and other cities

in the Ukrainian heartland,

they may be getting

some additional systems.

The United States says

we're going to provide

a couple more nations

systems that are medium

range of air defense systems,

but they're not there yet.

And so for now,

Ukraine's going to suffer.

But but, Wolf,

you have to look

at the bigger picture of this.

There is a Russian force

build up in the Northeast.

The Russians have held on the south

and Russia,

including stripping

some of their own assets out.

That's why

the 58th combined arms army

commander was complaining

and then fired because of it.

Frank Ocean is now in Belarus.

We don't know what he's doing there,

but he's got troops.

He's got a big encampment.

We've seen pictures of

And so

you have to believe

there is a Russian strategy here.

And I think

when we say that it's all over, it's lost

and the administration

seems to think

it can coast into an easy into this

and then go to negotiations

sometime in the autumn.

Not necessarily

so as we always point in the military,

the enemy as of all, end

and Putin, there's no indication

thus far that Putin believes

he's out of options Yeah, good point.

General Clark, Ambassador Taylor,

thanks to both of you.

Joining us now,

the Ukrainian ambassador

to the United States, Oksana Makarova.

Ambassador,

thank you so much for joining us.

As you know, Odessa and Nikolayev,

they haven't seen a barrage like this

in a long time.

I know you heard that.

President Zelensky says almost 70

Russian missiles

and 90 Iranians share

Iranian shithead drones

have hit southern Ukraine

over the past couple of days.

Do you feel you fear this is about to get

even worse?

Thank you all for having me.

And thank you for drawing

attention to this.

It's very important not only to Ukraine.

I mean, yes, it's brutal work.

And let's be very open.

The only reason for

this is not retaliation for something.

The only reason is a criminal intent.

And the criminal war

that Russia has started

in 2015 and restarted in 2022.

They have no business

being on the territory

in Ukraine, occupying Ukraine

or shooting at Ukraine.

But with this horrific attacks

on Odessa, Odessa region on Nikolayev.

Not only are they brutally destroying

the civilian infrastructure,

not only they're killing people, injuring

including five children

injured and one child killed.

But also they are attacking 200 million

people globally

who rely upon Ukrainian supply of food.

And this is a continuation of their

war crimes,

in addition

to them

pulling out from the grain do,

which again send grain and other produce

to 45 countries

during even this war time.

So this is attack against us,

a continued war crime against Ukraine

but also attack on so many countries,

including African countries,

including Asian countries

where Russia would like

to at least increase the prices

but also feed hunger.

And it's up to all of us,

not only Ukraine, but,

you know,

we are calling on all of our partners

and friends in the U.N.

and the auspices of U.N.

and in a bilateral formats to clearly say

no to Russia,

no to war crimes, but also no to them

attacking and destroying food,

which is so much

needed in so many places.

The U.S., as you

know, Ambassador, is working

to send more sophisticated air

defense systems

to Ukraine,

including more of the top of the line

NASA's air defenses.

In the long term,

that will be significant, I'm sure.

But what about right now?

What immediate support does Ukraine need?

Yes, thank you, Wolf.

As you know,

you know, we were discussing it

on a bilateral format,

literally on a daily basis.

There was Rammstein meeting recently.

Our ministers pooled our fjords,

discussed with each other.

We need all the supplies

that we can get,

all the air defense that we can get

but we also need all the artillery

in order to advance

so that we can get Russians out

from Ukraine as soon as possible,

which will also have an attack on

have an effect on their

ability to shoot.

Now, also today,

and I want to praise the State Department

and the Treasury for, again, announcing

a very comprehensive package

of additional sanctions,

additional banks, additional

companies that involved

that are involved in manufacturing

this missiles, drones

and everything else.

We need to do more of that.

This is a time when

when I understand

that the production is not as quick,

but we have to double down in providing

all the support,

but also sanctions

in Russia, sanctions

for each of these actions

and denying them

not only opportunity to make money

to conduct this work,

but also buying all the spare parts

and the

equipment needed

for the military production

Ambassador Oksana, of a good luck to you

Good luck to all the people of Ukraine.

Thanks very much for joining us.