land where ukraine says it's fighters, and some 200 civilians have been sheltering for weeks. underground. russian forces are trying to finish off the last offenders of the strategic port city in what could be an attempt by president vladimir putin to present russians with a battlefield success ahead of its victory day celebrations. on monday, i'm claire richardson in berlin. we will have all of that and more on the day. ah, we are currently going through the most difficult stage of our history when the faith of our state is being decided. and i think it's a historical woman were the history of the 25th, 24 centuries overtree. they have not taken over ukraine. president putin is not going to be marching through down the street. the heath tailed along wanted to cross was asked to rule was no one there with so many politicians determined to

be quiet and convenient has become i've told you we will win as simple as that because we have no other choice. also on the j. russia's war on ukraine is also targeting the countries identity as a nation. the defense of that heritage is existential. museums contain proof. scholars, priest at the ukrainian nation exists. not only do they keep tangible written sources, but also items that can be seen untouched. ah, hello and welcome to the show, ukraine's army says russia is trying to destroy the last remaining soldiers inside the as of stall steel plant. in mario poll, moscow denies reports that its forces have storms the plant. a 3 day cease fire

announced by moscow is due to begin on thursday to allow the evacuation of more civilians. but the ukrainian president's address at the destruction of the steel plant has made it harder for any one to leave. he said, russian bombardments had left concrete debris, trapping civilians and underground bunkers. and if they would have to be dug out, the battle for as elf style has been relentless. this footage, released by russian backed forces shows how determined moscow is to take these steel works. a mary, you poll, the plant is become a symbol of ukrainian resistance in the people out of those placements out of those underground shelters is zoom away. moscow says it will allow a 3 day cease fire to help the remaining civilians get out. but with heavily armed troops on the ground, it is unclear of the fighting will stop and whether more civilians will get out

alive. and i'd like to take a closer look at the russian fault on avo stall and bring in bradley bowman from washington, d. c. he's a former us army officer now with the foundation for the defense of democracies think tank. thanks so much for taking the time to join us. heavy fighting around the algo stole steel works. it has become the last remaining pocket of ukrainian resistance in the strategic port of mario paul, which has otherwise been battered. why do you think russia still hasn't managed to capture the fight? thank you for the up to join you. thanks to the question. you know, i think the primary answer your question is the determine resistance of the ukrainian people defending their homes. and you know, as many of a fed from the beginning, you know, you should never underestimate the determination of a free people fighting in aggressor and defending their homes. so i think that's a large part of it, you know, but when, when students have history look at this, or, you know, a reminder, a bit of motley, where you had

a small remnant of spartans defending a path against overwhelming odds are americans might think of the alamo, i mean, this is just really incredible stuff that the russians have been incredibly brutal and killed many, many there and in, in variable. and i think computing seems determined to establish an unimpeded land bridge from russia to crimea. russia occupied crimea and to secure his grasp on a warm water port. they're mary paul and the sea of the new york times has reported that the united states has applied intelligence to the ukrainians, which has been used to target and kill russian generals. get your reaction to that, you know, in the early stages of the following rushes unprovoked invasion of ukraine, the united states was, was slow in providing intelligence to ukrainian forces for purposes of targeting, invading russian forces. i and others called for that. and i'm happy that over time, us has started to systematically provide just that intelligence can use to target

russian forces. now, given the problems that the russians have had with logistics and sustainment and combined arms operations. and frankly, the absence of a non commissioned officer corps like the ukrainian tab, like americans have many russian generals and had had to come to the front lines. and when they've done that, they've often been using insecure communications, whether it be actually phones or radios. and so there are many of them have been killed, some reports say a dozen or more russian generals. and so whether we've specifically provided intelligent target generals, i've been clear to me, but we certainly provided information intelligence to target rushing forces. and those russian forces include general officers and some of them will be killed in the process. i was gonna ask you how decisive is this ability to gain information on target and hit them during this phase of the war. i think the provision of us intelligence and intelligence from our western partners is incredibly important. it

helps ukrainians react in advance of russian offences and, and it helps the cranium employed their office of capabilities more effectively. we can give them the best weapons in the world. but if they don't know what to shoot out or when to shoot or where to shoot at the whole different thing. so it's really a powerful combo. when you take the bravery of the koreans, the weapons that have brought it by the west, and then you combine that with intelligence. that's a formidable combination. speaking of weapons, german press reports that the german government is preparing to send 7 health propelling howitzers to ukraine by the end of june. is that the kind of equipment that's needed and why isn't the u. s. a providing it for them? it absolutely is. the equipment that ukraine needs and the united states is providing an equipment that we've committed to providing and much of it has already provided 90 of the self propelled 155 millimeter howitzers. and that's exactly the kind of weapons of ukrainians will need, as the battle shifts from keith. as we've seen in recent weeks to the east and the

don boss, which is which is more open, it will be more of an artillery battle. a long range fires battled dependent on her chill re howitzers, counter radar intelligence, france reconnaissance. so i'm so pleased that the germans are doing not. america has done a lot already sending 90 howitzers. i hope we send more. i hope our european allies send more because this could be a long fight and ukrainians, going to need all the year tillery, they can get with that in mind. as russia focuses on the east of ukraine, in this latest phase of the war. what conditions do you think will be most important in determining who ultimately when you know, winning a will, you know, you have to define winning, right. i mean, the russians have already taken roughly 20 percent of ukrainian territory, but they've lost 25 percent. are of the assembled forces in the process. and so i think this is a long term grand strategic disaster for vladimir. the primary victims are the ukranian people. the secondary victims, frankly, are the russian people and russia,

which is more isolated and weak than ever. but i do fear that this is going to last a long time, and we're gonna have to watch that may 9 anniversary very closely to see whether de escalate or escalate. if past is prologue, i fear you'll escalate. so in your assessment, not just the invasion of ukraine, but specifically russian progress and it's renewed offensive in the dawn bus should be seen as a disaster. this unprovoked invasion by russia's absolutely a disaster. so many have died. and let's not forget the russia invaded and ex crimea in 2014 fueled a separatist movement in the dom boss. since 2014 were roughly 14000 ukrainians have been killed. and now we've seen the largest invasion in europe since world war 2. and a lot of the images that were seen of places like mary poll, remind many of us of the images from world war 2, honestly, often from nazi aggression. so it's quite ironic who is using the fraudulent

argument of the knots of buying ukraine when he's doing undertaking many of the same tactics that nazi germany used against russia. bradley omen. former u. s. army officer. now the foundation for the defense of democracies. thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us on to the news. thank you. ah. over 3000000 refugees from ukraine have arrived in poland since the beginning of the war. the majority are still in the country and many have found homes with poles who took them in spontaneously. but now living space is getting scarce and many volunteers are just exhausted. the polish government is demanding more money from the you to help integrate the refugees. a small gesture of gratitude for agnes casea. it's become a daily ritual. ever since she took refugees from ukraine into her home. her family of 4 has been joined by 8 more people to have something broccoli or dutch sacha,

which shall so, but i wanted to give this room to 3 people. but then a driver arrived in the middle of the night with 8 without the children were coughing and the women started crying because they didn't want to be split up. i felt weak in the knees. the post as is it like, but i said, yes, i live in alberta or spontaneous gesture has become a long term solution. her family is exhausted. other work missions. and even though he's not scott, for 2 months, i have not known what it's like to come home and just hear silence. not a minor. so maybe we need to get that slowly back to norma. but sometimes that was at the go for at miller, her sister and a friend came from western ukraine with 5 children. voices being helpless makes them uncomfortable. yesterday with their youth neza saying if nancy now lizzie, her lightly her family from it there used to being together so now suddenly having 8 people is very difficult. tell me that's good enough. and i'm even

a shame that all of the work falls on a jessica and her husband being, you know, they buy everything them, all one is the food and everything we need for the children to buy a glass leaded book set in order to help host families the polish government wants to pay monthly grants of around 250 euros for refugee. but it miasca hasn't received any money yet. oh militarize earn some extra cash cleaning houses. yes, but you cannot afford her own apartment. visit on the door and go back. they get more than i have 3 children, many, even if i work as a single mom, it will still be very difficult for me because given the cost to poland, the government in warsaw is hoping for more help from the u. z o europe asked us of a plea. european union has allocated large sums to refugees, but it's a drop in the bucket groups from the point of view of the policy government. it would be important to set up

a fund that would manage this aid for the you and cover the costs of refugees you're new to appraise. typical promote, so at least 12 hours there's probably what's agnostic. i would be happy if at least some money came soon, but she doesn't regret helping. many parents feel the same way and like the ukrainian guests, they hoped that the war will end soon. ah . well, the war is also threatening, ukraine's cultural heritage un says dozens of cultural sites have been damaged since russia invaded dw correspondent emanuel charles's in the western city of la vive, where she met the people, trying to protect its monuments and artifacts from destruction. the historic center of the vive is protected as one of unesco world heritage sites. ukrainian authorities are working hard to ensure the centuries old monuments here are

protected from airstrikes, sand bags, wooden and metal partners. there remind everyone here that they are countries at all. most of the girl with or at least something has been done to look after a future. some one who has no history also has no future historian her my or my voicemail nor given a messiah doesn't choose where it lands. so of course i'm one humans can also be here. so i think that live live is facing the seemed the angela's mario ball may be even worse, because russia won't just stop and on bus, it will keep on going. and i'm not sure. so them, in my opinion, people in the viv are already used to seeing this. we don't feel the same here as people do in eastern ukraine. i'm for sure. sure that we're already used to us from us when you get used to everything. loved all or so as recursion in their city museum romance, melick has brought over 6000 objects and paintings to safety. despite a constant threat of airstrikes,

he wants to keep the cities cultural heritage accessible to the public. the the walk which is mazacco. ready her muscle at the request of our president and government for more to help support the economy for unsatisfied, the cultural needs of displaced people. we decided to partly open some exhibitions with philadelphia marshal, look at it just or most of the exhibition rooms are closed because of the war. but the collections remain accessible. digitally preparing for the west. employees are working around the clock to digitize as many artifacts as possible. following the russian invasion, museum personnel from the west, effective wages. so chattering vive, now their work to highlight the importance of safeguarding ukrainian culture. rosie is very high. the museums contain proof. proof that the ukrainian nation exists. if possible, not only do they keep tangible written sources,

but also items that can be seen and touched, they prove historical facts prove the existence of the ukrainian people of the long time existence of its territory. you're in, rawlings, who run in the secret authority. many here say that the west is sealed to come, but by safeguarding ukraine and his 2 in identity. cultural institutions are playing a part in defeating russia's invasion. ah, let's go to the united states now where authorities in washington have fenced off a supreme court building after a series of protest this week. the demonstrations took place after a draft opinion from the supreme court was leaked. a document indicated that the justices would overturn the landmark roe v wade decision and allow individual states to ban abortion. and workers moved in after nightfall on wednesday to put up barriers around the building. the question of abortion rights is one of the most

charged in us politics. although a majority of americans say they support that right. and the roby wade rolling, which guaranteed the right to abortions nationwide was handed down 49 years ago. at the time president joe biden, a practicing roman catholic, said the ro, case went too far. now he finds himself at the head of a movement to defend abortion rights. here's the head of the pro choice group and narrow on his changing views. you know, joe biden is not alone in his evolution. i do think he's evolved i, i think it's hard for a lot of catholic americans. i think this is a tricky issue for a lot of americans of faith, but what it comes down to and why, what's important is that joe biden as president of united states the leader of the democratic party, understands the fundamental freedoms and understands the difference between his personal view and what he would do in his personal life and what he and his party stand for in terms of protecting freedoms for the american people. and i think he's

been pretty clear unequivocal about that for quite some time. so over the past few days we've been speaking about the impact this will have on women's health. if ro is overturned as expected. i want to look now at where things go from here with michelle goodwin. she is a professor of law at the university of california, irvine and the founding director of the center for biotechnology and global health policy. professor, welcome bite and now finds himself on the frontline of one of the most polarizing issues in us politics. as he promised as to defend women's rights to choose when the highest court in the land looking set to overturn the right to abortion. what about the legislature? can congress quantify protections as president biden has called for? yes, congress is able to clarify these protections, justice congress codified protections for civil rights and voting rights in the 196964 voting rights act. 1965 voting rights act, 964 civil rights act. and so the congress can't quantify row through the women's

health protection act. it is one such piece of legislation that is making its way through congress. if this is not the 1st time that the bill has been introduced, it's been introduced several times before. but there's momentum that is gaining for the enactment of central law, especially in the wake of this leaked draft opinion that was circulated this week 1st by politico and now picked up by a number of news organizations. and congress can do something about this. now ladies say it's when was polarizing issues in u. s. politics and that leaked draft driving a wedge even deeper. do you think this bill will be successful? i think we have to understand that actually abortion is not a wedge issue, but it's framed. is that because the are willing majority of americans actually support reproductive freedom, but it has been an wedge issue for a work that originally started off as

a kind of fringe minority during the 19 seventy's. and that has been able to galvanize resources and influence within one of the leading american parties are 2 democrats and republicans. and they've made substantial leaps within the republican party. and it's possible that there would be a congress moving this bill through it on the way to the president signing it. but there are some impediments along the way republicans no longer galvanized around reproductive rights in the way in which they used to roe v. wade was a 72 opinion, 5 of those justices when republican appointed prescott bush, the founder of george w bush, one of the republican president was the treasurer for planned parenthood. so that is the history of it. and there are republicans that still do care very deeply about abortion rights, whether they are in congress and insufficient numbers in congress to sign on to this legislation is another matter. so can you help us understand more about these social groups,

which happens so invested in seeing ro overturned at why are they so influential? this is a very good question. 2 we've seen it is a sophisticated turn of the evangelical movement that was oppositional to reproductive rights. that movement along some ways aligned with those who are very conservative about racial rights to that. we're also discriminatory laws that oppress people of color. we're also being dismantled at the same time that sex discriminatory laws were being dismantled and in some ways you see an alignment between those were anti abortion and those that are part of white nationalist movement in the united states. and they've been able to gain momentum. originally, their movement was quite violent since the night early 1970 s. we've seen 50 clinic bombings in the united states, doctors killed, et cetera. but the movement became far more sophisticated and investing in

supporting economically political candidates. and those political candidates have come to deliver on the issues that concern this very far right? exaggerated stream of evangelicals, given the influence on those candidates. and the way that this does cut down, partisan and religious lines. is it wise to make it an election issue going into midterms in november in the united states? well, it's not unwise in that more than half the population will be affected by whatever it is that the supreme court does. and if what the supreme court does is to dismantle roe v wade and planned parenthood be casey and the legacy of cases that have held abortion rights, which is highly unusual for the court to shriek constitutional protections rather than to expand them. then we're talking about an obligation on the part of, of these political parties, an obligation on the part of people who are running for office to seek to protect

the people in their states. and so the timing of it in some way, some articulate couldn't be better given that the majority of americans actually support a woman's right to be able to make her own reproductive determinations. and if those people come out to vote and vote on those issues than it may mean a seismic change in what we're seeing in terms of american politics, i will say this, this is the same supreme court that is helped to dismantle some level of voting rights and so that makes it a bit difficult to actually go to the polls and actually be able to do the kind of voting that we expect for people to be able to do that kind of voting. that is supposed to be constitutionally protected in some ways that's more illusory than real and some states in the united states. if, of course, not just at the federal level, overturning roe v wade means throwing the issue back to the states decide for themselves. and what are you expecting to see ahead in mid term battles there?

well, this is less alluded to in this draft opinion that these matter should be, or its fact that explicitly stated that these matter should be in the hands of the states and their we've seen significant gerrymandering taking place in the united states drawing of maps that really helped to oppress in some ways, the vote of black and brown people in some states and, and it has been sad and it is true that those will be most effective if ro is dismantled, will be black and brown people. and so the outcome of the mid term elections, many people have been thinking that the democrats will not fair. well. however, with the league of this draft opinion, it may actually do the work of galvanizing people to go out and vote and vote for people who would support a woman's ability to be able to make her own determinations. with regard to reproductive liberty and freedom right will remain to be seen will be covering it

for you here on dw michelle good when professor of law at u. c. irvine, i want to thank you again so much for taking the time to talk to us. thank you for having me on your show. that was the day as ever the conversation continues online . you can find us on twitter at units and clare richardson in berlin for me in the entire team working behind the scenes. thanks for watching. with

oh is the end of the pandemic in sight. we show what it could look like a return in the normal and we visit those who are finding it difficult with success in our weekly coping 19 especially over 90 special next on d w. into the conflict zone with sebastian more than 2 months into the war in ukraine on both sides and taking heavy losses. my guess this week is less here, buffy line co polity. humans human rights lawyer who joins me from clear what makes us so sure. mister clinton wouldn't press who's nuclear

conflict on 60 minutes on d. w. oh, it started, we shook intimidation and transformed into an orgy of hate and violence. the history of the ku klux klan, the oldest terrorist organization in the united states, its members fight for races, state ruled by white supremacy. what we're talking about here is not only disorganized violence, it's not only terrorism. it's politics. founded over 150 years ago. it's repeatedly died out, but always been resurrected. the ku klux klan starts may 11th on

d. w. ah ah. and roll, the number of covert cases is going down. well, white are we finally getting the upper hand? will the pandemic cbs that? well, not in china, although beijing is sticking to its strict 0 cove at policy, the number of infections there is rising. welcome to new kevin 19 special. 7 among other things, we have a report from shanghai we're entire citizens are still locked down and millions of people are not allowed to leave their homes.