starts may 3rd on d, w with this is d w, news ally from berlin. ukraine warns that russia plans to expand its war across europe. president volume is lansky says neighboring moldova ease in moscow. sites after senior russian commander hinted at extending control right across southern ukraine. as russia discusses taking more territory, there are growing questions about its military capability. he w visits the scene of destruction were retreating. russian forces suffered

a defeat. and the final countdown to france his presidential election on sunday incumbent in manuel mc hall. and his challenger, marine le pen, have made their final pitch to voters. but many are unhappy with both candidates. ah, a michael o coop, it's nice to have you with us. ukraine has warned that russia plans to attack more countries and expand its war. president val autumn is zalinski said, ukraine's neighbour. moldova should be concerned about russia's latest military strategy, while dover is home to trans nice trial, which is a break away pro russian region, which borders ukraine. russia is in control of ukraine, se regions seen here in blue. now the deputy commander of russia's central military

district says it's forces want to push westwards. on friday, the official told state media quote, control over the shower of ukraine is another way to trans nice trio where there is also evidence that the russian speaking population is being oppressed. president lansky focused on the commander's comments in his nightly address. short, thick kinky. well, this only confirms what i have said many times the russian invasion of ukraine was intended only as a starter. they then want to capture other countries. of course, we will defend ourselves as long as necessary, one against law. these ambition of the russian federation, you know, but all nations that like us, believe in the victory of life over death, must fight with us all they have to help us. because we are the 1st on this path

and who is next steps. let's almost look after done earlier i spoke to our corresponded in key rebecca readers and made reports that russia might make a land grab for ukraine, south and reach a breakaway region in moldova. i asked her how people there are reacting to the news. well, you heard president zalinski, they're saying that they see you crying is potentially just the 1st stop for president potent. he's not something he said before. he said it on a number of occasions, but obviously this time it comes in response to that russian commander giving a plan of what they're intending to do here in new crime, which is of course, take most parts of the east of the country, the dumbass region in the hockey, but also the entirety of the south of the country that cities like mario pole that we've been talking a lot about. it's been heavily bombarded. but going all the way right across odessa and into that trans misty, pre trans mystery of rage. and excuse me, in moldova, as you were just saying,

obviously that shocking to people here. but president lensky really wants to make it shocking to people around the world so that you know, the other nations will step up and help you crying in this fight, saying that other post soviet nations will be coming next. rebecca, you mentioned that this city of mario pool, as you well know, thousands of people have been trapped in that port shitty. now a 4 weeks. what more do we know about the humanitarian corridors that might in fact be their last line? yeah, will of course the same coming out of mary who poll in the stories are just horrific . the humanitarian catastrophe. that's unfolding there, michael. it's still hotly contested. president putin came out and claiming victory of mary paul the other day. but zalinski and ukraine sang that still too early to coal complete victory of mario po for the russians. americans echoing those words, we've heard today that there's renewed bombardments at that as of steel plot, which is the last remaining stronghold of those ukranian soldiers is round about

2000. we believe still fighting, still living underneath the tunnels is vast tunnel network at that steel plant, as well as around up to $1000.00 civilians, also hiding out there. so they're fight. it remains to be same. what they fight will be but renewed fighting at that plant today. in terms of the humanitarian corridors, juan walls set up today, the deputy prime minister of you crime saying that they were trying, going to try to get a few 1000 people out of that city. she warned to be careful for civilians to keep in mind that russians are also trying to evacuate people out for the east. and we've heard reports around about $300.00. mary paul civilians being taken to vladivostok through russian humanitarian corridors. so cold. and so she was warning people against being confused and looking out certainly for the ukrainian wants, no word yet as to whether they have been successful. but we know in the past i have very tricky, very dangerous, and i often fail. this is the orthodox easter weekend. which both russia and

ukraine celebrate. how likely is an easter truce look it? well, there was where coals from the when last week to create to create a humanitarian sci fi over the weekend. it is now sat today is to start started on thursday. no signs of sci fi yet, in fact, we said an uptake and violence, heavier bombardments in the aisd, hot city of hot cave saying, almost constant bombardments the mayor of la hans saying the same thing. veil hans being in the don bass. he said that says almost completely on the constant shelling over the weekend. and just in the last hour, actually hearing reports also of explosions and potential bombings in the city of odessa, which has been preparing for an attack for some time, but has until now largely remained unscathed. so we are hearing of reports there, so definitely no safe fire inside this weekend. d. w. 's rebecca readers many,

many thanks, rebecca. even as russia discusses seizing more territory, western analysts say the country's armed forces have failed to make significant gains in recent days. dw correspondent mathias bellinger joined a ukrainian government media trip to region where russian forces had recently suffered defeat. this is what the russian army left behind in the village of territory isca about 70 kilometers. northeast of cave is one of the places where the russian invasion came to a halt bars. and as he calls himself, took part in the battle to see army beach. russia has a bigger army in terms of numbers and equipment. i'm not talking about the quality of the equipment, but it is a lot that means for us that we have to be better prepared and to plan more thoroughly to senior answer on the line.

experts say it wasn't just a clash of 2 armies, but also of military doctrines. heavy technology versus mobile equipment along the roads in this area. it is not unusual to find whole columns of burnt. i'd tanks taken on by modern western anti tank missiles because it says, because you just get on a peak out with a javelins and, and lows and drive to the place where you expect them to come eat them. and then you're able to leave the sing quickly that they would as a choice movie to put a chill right. in the forest, the rhine ted reeves go, you can still see the bodies of russian soldiers. russian losses are believed to have been extremely high. ukrainian soldiers describe their attacks as on coordinated, but very destructive this school was hit by a rocket symbol. thank there were tanks, there was mumble artillery. there was of ation. they sent everything that had over was all, and that he'd not care that much of this did not land on target. it was chaotic

fire shelly, without any plan. hoping they were horn. miss burton simply hoped this newborn ukraine accuses russia of systematic war crimes shelling of civilians. they say these villages lie behind the lines and were bombed from the air house after house destroyed possibly to demoralize the ukrainians. but as the next big bottle begins in the east, the commander of this unit thinks that russia's auctions have made ukrainians even more determined obama for you all and we're ready is up. and if the west act, st quickly gives us the military aid that we need more military equipment and technology than i think the victory will be ours. and it might come soon already. we will move, but a more within. so mommy, just it was a school his optimism is not shared by most experts, most expect

a long war of attrition. a look now at some other developments in the conflict. united nations secretary general antonia gutierrez, she is set to visit moscow on tuesday to meet russian president vladimir putin. hill, then head to ukraine for talk with president vladimir zalinski, who terris will discuss steps to bring about peace following russia's invasion of ukraine. u. s. satellite images appear to show another mass grave in a cemetery, east of murray, opal pictures taken in late march in mid april, suggest fresh parallel trenches were dug. ukraine has accused russia of trying to hide evidence of war crimes during their salt on the city. russia denies the claims . ukraine's as of regiment has released a video of civilian sheltering in bunkers beneath the as of style steel plant in mario pool. it's not clear when or where the video was filmed. russian president

vladimir putin ordered his forces not to storm the plant earlier this week. but ukraine, chas attacks in the area have continued french president emanuel mccall and his far right challenger marine la pen, have made their final push for votes before sundays. presidential runoff, whole show the race is much tighter than 5 years ago when french voters faced the same choice. though my call is expected to when many people say they are undecided or ambivalent. did abuse these louis reports from parish. ah, as thousands of people took to the streets in paris last saturday, the demonstrators, main message was to oppose racism. and the far right that, that didn't necessarily mean the protest as we're endorsing president. a montana call may missouri elevate from the crown in the 2nd round that i'm not happy about

it. i just want to block marine le pen from getting to power as i have been in the been manasseh douglas marion, the pen is threatening our rule of law, but that doesn't mean i'll give my vote to my cross the corpus. if i already had to do so in 2017 other than that, of course, they're not the same, but macro also has a right wing program. the adult bond is good to go to what it is. the support is of the far left candidate, johnny middle shaw who came 3rd in round one. you feel particularly frustrated, they no longer have a left wing option. my call has tried to appeal to these latest by turning down parts of his manifesto. like the plan to push up the retirement age from the current, $62.00 to $65.00, with his eyes, we can fix a lower target age. i'm open to discussion with what i can do. meanwhile, le pen has also tried to gather more support by continuing to depict herself as the candidate closest to the people. i shall fall. i want to tell every french person

that my project is tailor made for them what i want them to be happy and prosperous safe and i will defend their identity, hit the seal or the for the love donte the venue approaching. glad international topics were also on the agenda, especially during atv debate between the 2 contenders for it. and it was of a quote like that you have taken out alone in 2015 with a russian bunk. that's close to the kremlin succession, but means you're talking to your bunker when speaking with russia over body life history. and i am an absolutely free woman. aha, i am a patriot. and i have proven that all my life, my v pulls are showing that my core has increased his lead, oval append in the past 2 weeks. but with more than 10 percent of fate, us as yet on this side, it not call, hasn't secured a safe victory. yet i spoke earlier, the d w correspondence. sonya found the car in paris and asked her if there is any

talk of a surprise in tomorrow's elections. microns victory is, is really far from certain. and, and what is important to you is that macro really relies heavily on voters, on the far left at about 7000000 of them who voted for the hard left handed at john luke middle shore. in the 1st one of their, their support will be key to his victory. the problem here is that many of these voters really intensely dislike macro. you know, they, they say he's an economic liberal. they feel his policies of favor, the rich, they say inequalities of widen during this histone. so it's kind of not sure whether they will vote for macro or whether they will abstain or whether they might even migrate to the pen camp. you know, in the past, in french elections, we've always had this phenomenon where mainstream aware mainstream french bottles have really put aside the political differences to ensure that no far right candidate, whether it was marina been or her father, made it into the government. you know, this time that is not so clear, i think voter apathy and voted justine of the 2 biggest threats that macrophages,

your watching, d w news reporter is up next. looking at an afghan refugee determined to make his mark on the berlin fashion scene. remember, you can always get the latest news on our website, d, w dot com. and of course follows on social media. a michael, okay, for me in the entire news team here in berlin. appreciate your watching and do stay with what is the end of the pandemic in site. we show what it could look like. return in the normal and we visit those who are finding it difficult with successes in weekly coping 19.