a ah, this is dw news lie from berlin, ukrainians, or evacuating cities in the east of the country in fear that a new russian offensive is on the wet. we report from 20th where the local authorities, shame within 700 people have been killed during wreaths under siege by russian forces also on the program. emanuel mcfall seats, his 2nd term in francis presidential election. but poll show far right rival marine le pen. just a couple of points behind. ah

and welcome to our viewers around the world. i'm michael ok. eastern ukraine is bracing for a new russian offensive. thousands of people who are on the move, trying to flee before it's too late. people in the city of commer toss have been taking many buses to leave the city after a missile struck the train station killing dozens. ukrainians are also fleeing the city of lou hans satellite photos taken before the weekend show a convoy if hundreds of russian military vehicles on the move making the task of evacuating civilians all the more urgent. as russian forces refocused on the east, they have withdrawn from other parts of the country. the city of 20th was under siege for weeks, though it was never captured. the mare of the northern city said at least 700

people died in the assault. d. w corresponded alexander phenomena has traveled to geneva as it take stock of the devastation. alexandra tr. nia to say the least has been hard hit by russian forces. as far as you can tell how much of the city is left standing. all some areas of the city michael, are completely demolished to schools, a hospital residential areas. and you can just see behind me an apartment building that was also destroyed during an earth strike. and we spoke with one of the resident as she used to live in the 9th floor together with her grown up son who is now fighting on the front lines. and she was totally devastated. she burst into tears when speaking with me, she told me she doesn't have any place to go. she's now staying with her friend, but she doesn't know what to do next. and according to the mayor,

up to 70 percent of the city was destroyed by russian as tri x is one of the thousands of stores that we will hear coming out of ukraine. alexander, during that weeks long see each of the city, what were conditions like for the residents there it must have been terrible. people told us that they didn't have anything to eat. they were hungry because the city was under siege for many, many weeks. water and electricity were almost completely cut off for some period of time, no aid or was able to come in. and local officials say that at times the city buried up to $100.00 people in a single day, and they were not only killed by airstrikes. they also died because they were ill. they didn't have their medicine that they needed. and because the law,

coal cemetery was very close to russian forces and was under fire from time to time, people decided to, to bury their loved ones in long trenches behind the more i'm curious, alexandra, to what extent will evidence from attorney of help build a case of war lines against russia. well, i think that cheney give is, or one more example, ah, of how russian forces are, are deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and how they killed civilians. and this is, of course, prohibited by the laws of war and could investigate if investigated on of course, that is what the ukrainian government and also international are. teams are promising they could amount to war crimes and dos. just one incident in particular

that was very shocking. it was mid, mid march march when russian forces open fi on a line of people standing in a line to get brett that were sir d, w, corresponded alexander phenomena, inter near as always made sense. here are some other developments regarding the war in ukraine. a mass grave has been found in bush of a village near keith. the site was discovered after russian forces withdrew from the area to concentrate its forces on the east. it holds dozens of bodies adding to the mounting civilian casualties which have triggered widespread international condemnation and new sanctions. international donors have pledged more than 10000000000 euros to help ukrainian refugees at a conference in warsaw used the money is a mix of donations in loans. the funds are intended for projects run by the united

nations and local aid, or from sanctions to gray. we have british prime minister boars. johnson became the latest western leader to visit chief. he met with president the lensky and walked through the city. johnson praised the country's response to the russian invasion and offered ukraine armored vehicles, an anti ship missiles to help ensure that the concrete would never be invaded again . all the french voters cast their ballots in the 1st round of presidential elections on sunday. pole show for right candidate marine le pen. now just a few points behind incumbent emanuel mac hall, with a 3rd of voters still undecided. my call is seeking a 2nd term in office. d. w correspondent lisa louis has more. oh, as his only be campaign meeting, prison and my call in to finally talk about french domestic topics, but he could not escape the one theme that's been dominating the news and his

agenda in recent weeks. no. some law dawson law, we are he and his name in to mark by war by gravity, to remind people of the factory good at france. i still has something to say to the homeowner, nacken sallow is obviously thought the current president best suited to deal with this crisis center. so please don't. yeah. got delaney with that. he's the only president who stayed in touch with pete in to negotiate and go see him. that gives us hope. baton rouge, remarkable as the clack car is always objective. he knows how to reason with people and has the necessary careers my to face put in with you know, and then back certain others and intake sites. and don't want to get involved in this crisis. he tries a lot harder than other candidates, condo, most french people would agree that my course up to the task according to recent

polls. he has been at the international forefront of talks with russia's milady me put in. and yet, although my calls ratings went up by several points at the start of the war, they have now gone down again. meanwhile, his main opponent, the far right marine le pen, has gained ground in recent weeks. some surveys now even predict neck and neck run off fate between the 2 of them. however, western sanctions against russia have reinforced the voters, main worry, a decline in their spending power, and my call seems more and more disconnected. from that reality says this political analyst, when you and work was handled commute my call made the mistake of not entering the election campaign for long time and came across as to certain of his victory before the french are alarmed about rising fuel prices and inflation. and marine le pen has been addressing these concerns throughout her campaign. but as polls show an

extreme as president is getting likelier my cost team is hoping to win over those who are still undecided. estimates show that a 3rd of the electorate has not made up its mind yet dw correspondence. sonya saw the car joins me now from outside a polling station in central paris as sonya. nice to have you with her, sir. perhaps which most striking is at this late stage as we just heard, or 3rd of the voters are undecided what exactly explains this indecisiveness? hi, good morning. well, i think part of the problem is simply a bit of water fatigue. you know, what is the coming out of a, to your pandemic as a war, reaching in the heart of europe. the band because ultimate, that this election has been quite different in the sense that not to win the impulse and rallies have been held, not totally live debates. there's not don't beat any st. can the thing as

a convention elections. i think that is part of the reason i think many french people i've spoken to have also said that the selection feels very different from the last one. when president macro was elected as a fresh, relatively unknown face, the youngest president in the history of france, mackerel, centrist platform, also kind of, you know, up ended all traditional law loyalties offered our right and left. and i think and the seeing that many voters may shun the center and kind of vote for the extremes. and i think all that is also adding to this uncertainty. you say sion, the center vote for the extremes is a vote for marine le pen and her for right party sheen as a protest vote. and how likely are people to stick to that vote in the 2nd round? well, for rightly to marilla penn has actually kind of totally softened her appeal. she's moved, you know, she's trying to portray herself as a credible alternative as a moderate. and unlike macro, she's run quite a slick crossroads campaign where she's been traveling around the country focusing on the one issue that matters the most voters. and that is the rising cost of

living. you know, she's been appealing to blue collar voters and the right and left. seeing that, you know, she's going to create jobs, give them more money, cap prices, and i think that is resonating, i think what is different in the selection is that for many voters, there is no longer a stigma of wanting for the far right. that is really certainly new in the selection w correspondence. sonya seneca with her eye on that french election. many, many thanks. some more stories now making headlines around the world. at this hour, dozens of migrants have been rescued from the mediterranean after their boats sank off the coast of tunisia. 13 bodies were recovered and at least 10 people are still missing. recent months have seen an increase in attempted crossings, and dozens of people have drown. australia prime minister or scott morrison has announced that the country every will go to the polls on may 21st. the general election is likely to be fought over the cost of living pressures, climate change,

and political integrity and morrison's conservative party is currently trailing the opposition labor party in opinion polls after 9 years in power. pakistan's prime minister, the former caricature imran khan has been al, shit from power after losing a vote of no confidence in parliament. the supreme court on thursday restored parliament after con, tried to disband it to avoid the vote. con was deserted by coalition partners who blame him for a crumbling economy and his failure to deliver on his campaign promises. yes ma'am about residence gathered around parliament as assembly members left after the historic late night vote. some celebrated the ouster of prime minister in mankind, while others protested opposition leader shabazz sharif is likely to become pakistan's next prime minister. he's the brother of disgraced,

former prime minister in no wise sharif long shabbas sharif who leads to pakistan. muslim league praised the no confidence vote o was o. no, joanna, allah has answered the prayers of millions of pakistani mothers, sisters, daughters, other elders and youth. in the meanwhile, in mine con has accused the u. s. of conspiring to topple him over his ties with russia and china. that has angered his supporters. are ye among him? ran com has been removed through a foreign conspiracy. god willing, we will fight back to make him prime minister again. we don't, will these thieves and power? i'm a little those suffering under pakistan's crumbling economy feel it was high time for con to go. all it had to happen because conditions in the country has become very bad. inflation has reached a peak and it has become difficult for the poor man to feed his family. as pakistan woke up to a new reality,

police forces were on alert. divided opinions means protests are likely to continue until parliament meets on monday to elect a new prime minister. con has claimed he's the victim of a u. s. conspiracy to topple him. d w's from your charms. gaves us. this analysis. a opposition parties conspired with the u. s took money from the usb cable, diplomatic, which no one has rented as yet, but he has been billing, and the rest are not active that he wants to use in the next election or, or the 1st election officer reforms. so he will try to rip off this and the read to you a sentiment which is right in buckets on for various reasons. so that's what he's going to do. any credit create problems with the new and a minister. but it won't be that easy for you won't recognize the government and it

has a lot of followers. it won't be any easier for you watching d w. so next our report, a series takes us to us, where the transition to new built energy is taking place. remember, you can get all the latest news and our website, the w dot com. michael ok, thanks for watching to get a way to watch my own car and everyone with labels and every day. just kidding, are you ready to meet the gym and join me? right. just do it on d. w a story. they.