special every thursday on d. w with this is the w is live from burning the battle for ukraine's besieged port of mattie of paul reaches of decisive stage ukraine's president. warner and russia could use chemical weapons against a city already devastated by heavy bombardment and thousands of civilian deaths, also on the program. 4th of a desa fierce, it's now one of puritans top targets residents pin their hopes on the cities vast to tunnel that work to help them survive any future onslaught. and germany's

president abandons plans to visit the ukrainian capital as a gesture of solidarity after he merges that he's not welcome in keith. ah, i'm so gale. welcome to the program. russia's assault on the besieged port city of mattie or paula appears to be entering a decisive phase. u. s. military analysts say russian forces are nearly in full control of the city closing in on trapped ukrainian forces. russia says it has killed or captured almost a 100 ukrainian troops attempting to escape overnight. motion strikes have been pounding many of all 4 wigs killing more than 21000 residents. according to the mer capturing, the port would give russia complete control of the sea, of as of coastline and connected forces in crane south and east

dw correspondent nick conley is in ukraine's 2nd largest city car cave. and i asked him about the situation that was he can see her give his basically a shadow of it for myself, it's 5 pm here and it's totally empty. just a few passes by occasionally visible on the streets behind me, the regional government headquarters that was destroyed in a russian missile attack right at the beginning of this war. and the russian soldiers are still very close within a few dozen kilometers where i'm standing now. so unlucky of where it feels like some kind of cheese returning and where those russian troops have withdrawn quite significantly in recent weeks. you very much still on the front lines. basically every couple of minutes you can hear some artillery in the, in the background. so difficult to really work out where that is, but it just, you know, really bring home quite how close war is here and now still people staying here. not everyone has got out. but there is lots of speculation about where the russia will now truck up. it's attempts to take cut as well as the kind of symbolic target

and expectation of more people trying to get out in a hurry in the days to come here. ok. and then down in the south in mario paul, russia seems to be intensifying its attack cent indeed. and it seems, if the reports were getting are true that the remaining ukraine forces have been split into. and now one of the main places they still are is still works with lots of underground tunnels, lots of places to hide and to hide from shilling and bomb attacks. so with that was one of the reasons why we'd heard speakers for the progression separatists in done yet, suggesting that chemical weapons be used as a way of trying to get at those ukranian soldiers. as you printing troops still able to hide from the worth. the artillery, so that was really a sense now that they are trying to push home that advantage and to take medical instant charges as soon as possible to free up troops to then be able to attack for the north along why the front on best in places where the cranium has been holding up pretty well in recent weeks and how credible others allegations that forces used

chemical weapons were sofa. we're just getting those reports from those ukranian battalions that are effective. they say a number of people were given medical treatment with stinging and their eyes, their throats. they were having problems breathing. it seems like no one has lost their lives in this alleged attack. but it doesn't surprise anyone. this is something that, you know, even the western insurance firms have been preparing for sending ukraine large amounts of equipment to deal with chemical attacks. and after all, now have to remember that the russian general in charge of this war has previously been in charge of us and forces in syria, a conflict where chemical weapons where you get civilians. there's definitely expectation here that that is not off the table and that is something that could be used by the russian side if they feel like they're not making progress fast enough . okay, thank you for that. i nick connelly in khaki. well, after ukrainian forces re captured the region around the capital cave. military analysts believe the port city of desa is high on president pollutants,

new list of military targets. in the past few days, a data has been hit repeatedly by russian missiles. the situation is tense. residents are ready to defend their city even under ground. asked the w correspondent, young philip shoves reports. the road to safety leads deep beneath odessa. more than 20 meters below the port city is a 2500 kilometer long tunnel system. nobody knows this underground labyrinth, better than engineer roman mouser and his friend, alexander, when the 1st rocket said odessa, the pair began converging the tunnels and to shelters almost every night. dozens of families seek refuge here during air, rage alerts. we're really deep on to ground. and we don't, he has explosions on the surface. the whole house is shattering. the windows shattering is too very scary. and her here children behaves them very come.

the tunnel system is actually an old curry where limestone was mind more than 100 years ago since then. they've provided a retreat for gangsters and soviet troops during the 2nd world war. the channels were used as a hide out for resistance fighters. their messages are still on the walls to day dated 1941. this catacombs for used by partisans to fight against nazi and nowadays we also use this cat to comp in this war is new war. and i think in some times, in some time, further we have to write new inscription here, 2022 above the ground. odessa, residents are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain some kind of normality . the city was supposed to celebrate its world war to victory over the nazis last weekend, but the events were cancelled for security reasons. instead of 36,

our curfew was imposed. it's a very bitter irony at a time when people in odessa should be celebrating the anniversary of their liberation from the nazis. they have to get prepared for another possible attack. but just like more than 80 years ago, the people here are ready to defend their city to the last. the security forces in odessa, a looking with concern towards other black see cities where the fighting has been intensifying. many military analysts believed putin as planning to cut ukraine off from the c, taco desert, or des size, a very important city. we call it the pearl of ukraine. it is also a port city. this is why it's so crucial for us. and of course, also for the enemy for pooty, which in the best wishes roman moses fears defending odessa will involve many more knights spend under ground. he is even started to install an internet network in

the tunnels, in preparation for a possible long bachelor het plans for germany's president frank ralph. a shy my to visit keith have been abandoned after the murder, as he wasn't. welcome in the ukrainian capital. as in stine, ma, whose role is largely ceremonial, had close relations with russia in the past. and last week admitted mistakes in his policy towards the country present, commented on his cancelled a trip to day and a visit to poland. ma'am colleague on fonder bonus starts, was it, and my colleague and friend polish president. andre duda recently suggested that the 2 of us, together with the presidents of estonia, latvia and lithuania, travel to key of to send a strong signal of joint european solidarity with ukraine. middle kiner present non so that i was ready to do that, but apparently and a half to take note that was not wanted by keith. let us in here nick goods

as find out why wherever the w political correspondent of benjamin alvaros gruber at welcomed venue in. so what, why this apparent snub for the german president according to german tabloid to bill to 1st published, is this a report? it's just due to the closeness that franklin dashed, i may, a, has had a to russia. so there are several things. he on one side, he had a very good relationship with the russian foreign minister. it was a supporter of the controversial gas pipeline notes. dream 2, and many even see each time as one of the architects of germany is russia friendly relationship. and of course he's also very good friends. so you had a good relationship with former chancellor. gerhard schroeder, who's ties to the kremlin, are well known. and if you just mentioned, feel the best i may or last week, also apologize and said that germany should have taken

a more cautious approach when it comes to russia. so that's that of the reasons that are set now. and that led to a key, if actually in declaring them at this, on an on graph for a possible trip to ukraine. ok, so that they don't want the president, but the german chancellor, olaf shots is facing mountain pressure to go to the cranium. capital is he also likely to be similarly unwelcome? that's one of the big questions as several european lead, as have been to ukraine over the past days. we had the president of the european commission, we had you said for l as well. and several, a prime minister went also to talk to show their solidarity for ukrainian president is cilenzo. and so the pressure is increasing for all of shorts, but not only to go there for a photo opportunity, but actually to offer something. and that's why many say that if he is, is seen as a wanted person in key, if or not will depend on what he asked to offer. with many,

asking the german chancellor to take a more direct approach when it comes, for example, to gas or oil imports form ukraine. but also when it comes to the delivery of weapons, let's remember the german foreign minister. babcock has repeatedly said that germany should sent more weapons. she also talked about heavy weapons. but of course the chancellor has taken a more yeah, cautious approach to that. he was even asked this question when he was in london with a you case, prime minister boris johnson. if there was any trip in the pipeline, but he said that if there is any chip that they would know they would let people know once this time comes, of course, also due to the security concerns that mean traveling it to a wars on. so if you want it or not, will depend on several factors. and of course it's open. if the german chancellor will it travel it to keith, to med ukrainian presidency. lensky. thank you for that to benjamin l. voters group . like

a quick look at some stories away from the war in ukraine will start in the united states for 16 people have been injured in a shooting. i'm new york subway incident to place 2 in the morning commute in rockland or 30 say none are in a life threatening condition. security agencies are hunting, the suspect. why many british prime minister barak johnson and his finance minister richie sooner will pay fines for breaching covey? 19 regulations. i please have been investigating several gatherings at government offices in what's become known as the party gate scandal. opposition parties are calling on both men to reside. dozens of people have died in floods and mud slides after days of heavy rain in south africa in the city of durban. surrounding areas. local authorities expect the death toll to rise. storms of shut down major roads and land slips that lead to the suspension of trade services across quite over the town from the court in virginia has become here. the defamation case brought by

hollywood, film star, johnny depp against the amber heard. he's suing his wife and fellow answer for $15000000.00, allegedly for them for allegedly damaging his reputation. career with false claims . heard, wrote a newspaper article in 2018 saying she was a survivor of domestic abuse without the ex husband. japanese capital tokyo has begun to diminish a space age high rise once seen as an example of sustainable architecture actress to try to save the local landmark from the wrecking ball. but after half a century, the futuristic building was showing its age. this was the future, or at least one architect, vision of it. the neck again, capsule tower was held as cutting edge when it was completed in 1972. the idea was that occupants could take their 10 square meter cubicle with them. if they

ever decided to move, one of the law got killed on the vulcan guy. i think this architecture has a lot of meaning in it, but he got a gun. it reflects the philosophy of architect kesha cora cower. definitely. his aim was to create sustainable living spaces. you make a knuckle, mcnair. some fans tried to save the local landmark, but in vain. v. c u. good i. i think it's so typical of japan that it's disappearing. even though people wanted it's been around so long that it's become a cultural asset. and now it's being taken away from people's lives. egan, mooney, another unit on that. eventually, many of the units fell into disrepair. now the building will make way for new architecture. in a tokyo district, that's slated for redevelopment. that's it. you're up to date,

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