ah ah ah ah, this is dw news life from berlin as russia and ukraine, step up their battle for control of the east nato believes keith is getting the upper hand ukraine from women. this war, nato secretary general says ukrainians, defense of their homeland and rushes miss steps could spell the feet for moscow. also coming up another potential setback for moscow as finland, unsweetened move. a step closer to joining nato. finland's president says his

country is entering a new era. rough as president has called the idea a mistake. and we meet the volunteer of risking his own life to rescue civilians in the city of mario pool. many of those he is trying to bring to safety or children. ah, i'm and you cooper. mckennan. thanks so much for joining us. ukraine says that it is bracing for a new push from russian forces in the eastern region of dumbass and in the south president vladimir zalinski said moscow could not admit that its operation was quote, as a dead end. and his comments come, as russian forces started withdrawing from the 2nd largest city of hoc, he's following a ukrainian counter offensive. but while with threat there may receding,

the civilian still left and the city conditions are dire. for the thousands of people still sheltering in hockey eaves metro system, the war is far from over. off to weeks of shelling that that much of the city in ruins some scared to leave the safety of the underground hawk basheba than i felt were very afraid to go home. but there's so many explosions, so many bombs were very afraid by it's a lot of pressure. my others say that the worst seems to be behind them. long as you live, we were finishing at the beginning. it was extremely hard. we were more because there were a lot of people here, had a lot of destruction. we all felt defeated in what were you now? we haven't heard bombs for last 3 to 4 days when the children is that we withdraw. that's likely to be down to the ukrainian counter offensive that seen soldiers

retake nearby villages like this one north of hark eve with ukraine, claiming on sunday that some of its troops had even reached the board with russia and set up the new board post caves gains in the region come as, as it started putting western supplied heavy weapons into action. ukraine's army says this is one of several recently arrived us houses. it's already using on the front line in the east, with russia still trying to advance in the don bath. there certain to see even more action in the days to come earlier i spent to our correspondent, i'm in a safe who's in levine and i asked him about the russian military's losses as it advances through the east and lance can done yet regions the ukrainian military

has called this said a devastating set back for russia, and it's backed up by british intelligence that russia has lost up to one 3rd of its military forces in the east of ukraine. this is over 10000 soldiers. also hundreds of artillery pieces um and dozen are over a dozen ships. um, now what we are seeing on the ground, as we've heard, is that har, keith has essentially been liberated from attacks by russia never fell to russian forces, but it was under attack. and this is, you can't underestimate how much this means for ukrainians. harkey is the 2nd largest city in ukraine. it was one of 3 major cities, including a key of the capital and mar, you pull in the south that came under instant attack by russians after the invasion . and now give as well as har. har keith have been liberated from attacks by

russians, but harkey. remember, is not exactly in the dumbasses bordering the region and in the don bass. russia has secured a lot of areas. it's cur. bombarding 23 cities, 23 towns and cities right now. and us intelligence kind of contradicts what we're hearing from british intelligence and ukrainians. and what they're saying is that it's become a stalemate in the don bass and that we're likely to see a prolonged conflict. there he does, he is amen. a thief reporting from levine, now at a meeting of nato. foreign ministers in berlin. secretary, generally, and shortened by delivered an up beat assessments and he cranes battle against invading russian forces. here's some of what he had to say. ukraine can win this war, ukrainians or bravely the fendy, their homeland russia war in ukraine is still going as moscow had plant. they failed to take you there pulling back from around

there, major, offensive, and almost as sold. russia is not achieving if strategic objectives. frank lead, which is our regular military analyst from oxford in the u. k. and he gave us his assessment on whether ukraine could win this war or to put it mildly, the war isn't going to plan as to whether ukraine could win. that is contingent on whether the west continues to supply you credit at the same or an increased rate . the americans are right in part. so the british, they're not necessarily inconsistent. what's developing in the south east now around the town of sarah? don't ask unless chance is a, a butler of a bottle of attrition, and that's not going to be easy at all. it's going to take several months. and unless ukraine continues to receive the munitions they need,

such as those artillery pieces use on the piece, then they will that they, they don't face to feet, but they won't be able to when one can't emphasize enough, they need those weapons to continue coming in greater and greater quantities, can we talk about the reports aware hearing that russian forces may have fired phosphorus bonds at the as of cell steel plant over the weekend? do you think it was phosphorus that was used? and if so, what does this tell us about russians? military staff strategy going forward? yes, i knew it looked to me looking at those horrendous pictures. that was phosphorus goes with phosphorus bombs, phosphorus is illegal. it's unlawful under the hague convention. so the hey series of conventions in the law of armed conflict because it's in centria, burns, and burns and cannot be put out in central weapon. it's an unlawful weapon. and it demonstrates a certain level of last resort from russia. you are escalating up the lighter of,

uh, north of weaponry. russia is fully aware of that. and it does say something. however, what we must remember is that my uncle still stands, it's likely to remain in ukrainian hands for quite some time. this is a heroic and historic military defensive action on the part of the defenders. so yes, russia russian desperation, but yes, also ukraine continues to hang on that. the british defense ministry, we're hearing a saying that bella roof has announced the deployment of special operations forces along the ukrainian board. how significant is this? would you say it's nothing new? the bell russians just finish there are spring exercises. so there forces a mobilize along that southern front anyway, and have been for several weeks. that in itself is not significant. there is no way . i think most of us would agree that beller us is going to take part in this war actively with its main force. and it's sort of main main core of soldiers. and

what they're doing, however, is fixing ukrainian forces in place, and particularly with mentions, as you said before, they're special forces that's going to require a countermeasures and the party apprentice. i'm. that means that those forces will not be reinforcing. done by so what they're doing is holding you trade in defenses in place up there. there's no way really that belarus politically can, can get involved actively looking franco, president, a veteran. he needs us forces in his country to make sure that his rather shaky regime stays in place. so we shouldn't worry about invasion from there. but yes, there are significant in the war in that they're holding ukrainian forces in place of their around military analysts. thank language. thanks as ever. thank you. now in a historic shift away from neutrality, both finland and sweden have taken steps towards joining nato. both countries want to bolster that security following russian invasion of ukraine. native men,

the turkey has reservations about the move. the supporters say they think they will be able to lay anchors concerns. russia for it's part is called it a great mistake. it's a radical break with the past one that was almost unimaginable just months ago. in finland's capital, the helsinki prime minister, santa marin, announced the country's decision to apply to join nato. after decades of non alignment, they have reached a day, an important decision in good cooperation between the government and the president of the republic. we hope that the parliament will confirmed that decision to apply for native membership. during the coming days. it will be based on a strong mandate. finland shares a border over 1000 kilometers with russia. after russia invaded ukraine, public opinion based in part on fears that it's easter neighbor would do the same to finland, moved strongly in favor of joining nato. this happened as foreign

ministers from the military alliances. member countries met in berlin, nato secretary general appeared at that meeting via video link. he welcomed finland's decision and encouraged sweden to follow. this would be a historic moment. their membership in nato would increase our shared security. the most would love naples door is open. and other gresham does not pay the meetings, host german foreign minister, and helena burbock added an enthusiastic note. she is on finland. if you are ready, we are ready. piano soon after sweden's prime minister answered the call, thus just unprovoked invasion of ukraine is, sir, not only illegal and indefensible. it also undermines the european, secure it,

the order that sweden bins. it's security on. as the member of nato, sweden will not only achieve more security, but also contribute to more support to more security. one potential problem. turkey has expressed reservations about letting the 2 nordic countries join anchor a blamed them for sheltering. curtis activists that turkey considers enemies of the state. there should be absolute security guarantees here. and this is not just about to candidate countries, but also about allied states who need to stop supporting terrorist organizations. but officials said they were certain those differences could be resolved quickly. meanwhile, nothing will change right away. the finished parliament must ratify the decision and the nato application process could take up to a year. we cross straight brussels nouns beat to kristof escal luba, the director for trans atlantic security in the scowcroft center for strategy and

security. welcome to the w. now you've been quoted as saying that 6 months ago, sweden and finland joining nato would be impossible. how surprised are you at how rapidly things have changed? i'm very surprised, and i think most people that do what i do for a living in terms of thinking about translating security are quite shocked by how quickly this is all happened. and i think it all stems from the fact that the european security environment has deteriorated quite rapidly. given the envision ukraine 6 or 7 months ago pulling in both countries publicly was about 20 percent state of membership. now it's in the sixties and seventies. of these are very careful political system. the fact that happens so quickly is directly attributable to, to russia's actions, which newfoundland has a very long border with russia. should nato a worried about angering must go by expanding or is that not really a consideration any more given what's been happening the last few months?

it's definitely consideration. i think that the rationale for finland, leading the way for potential membership and diddo comes from the fact that long border and them being worried that they could be attacked over it. however, russia has long said that the unwelcome developments apologized for by doctor the back. oh, a record from from go. oh, will oh well sweden and finland presents in nato at a time like this. but in the alliance with greater risk, what would you say that it will strengthen it? oh, it will definitely add some burnsville answers, no doubt about that offense, reduced territories is a big deal, but i was are bigger than the drawbacks being operationally,

how to protect the alliance or how did you did for the region not having the ability to use finisher sweet was it was a bit of an issue. you had a kind of laying around the, the becomes the alliance. opens up a lot of turns offensive high north. so i think overall it's a benefit except an extra rush were to attack and data were responsible for and we didn't feel and then there's oh, all right, chris escanaba from scott crow, sent us trash cane secures hey, thank you so much. thank you. we apologize for those background noises there. now for weeks, thousands of civilians were stuck in the port city of mario pulled under constant bombardment without an a food or water. ordinary ukrainians stepped into that to evacuate them, risking their own lives as official efforts to get people out. stalled dw spoke to one man who made the hazardous journey yup,

and most i understood that the city is under siege. i understood that nobody is driving there. now i'm with my employees were there, and i just promised them i would call my friends and i was willing money to buy this bus. i am on the road. i hope all will be fine and that will get there. you will stop by me a little critical. and then when i drove past the last ukrainian checkpoint in nora over i encountered the war, the mines, the burned on tanks or the horrors a, b, b. yes. to bibles here and to hear them. nonetheless, i see a wisdom there, but i drove yeah, yeah. i don't believe. well. i had a business in murray or poll. it was a club, most of the space was in the basement. it had concrete ceiling, so we transformed it into a bombshell to who there was a grill. so we could cook food and water. we would joke that this is

a 5 star bomb shelter. that's really all we did come under fire at everything that came at us. missed was something hit here and here and here is just the run down here with a car drove by that moment in that car. grandma died no rush to see the children makes me cry. they are so scared screaming. i hope god will say it's horrific. just horrific. we try our best with so it's horrible. the memory is are coming back.

oh dear as it was, what was it? the 1st opportunity we left, we took children, pregnant women and mothers with children. the local. my passengers are hello. wave into the camera. oh gosh, it was terrifying. what we came across mines and tanks, but there were lots of americans. i mean be dead. people with we told them they were mannequins, but in fact there were bodies. right, right. o. as in us, another bus has joined us. we are becoming more and more still with global a deal. oh, not on my 1st trip. i was the only one product. and on my 3rd trip i would already be standing in the queue at the check points for 40 minutes. there were so many people who wanted to help and get people out here to lose volunteers had brought thousands out of the city in their own cause. and

many did not return that of somebody to mine. you could put a some came into crossfire while driving at night. these are regular ukrainians, regular people the head of russia's orthodox church, patriarch, carroll has supported persons war in ukraine. from the start, he described those opposing the invasion as the forces of evil and urged his followers to rally against what he called moscow's external and internal and enemies. now this led to call for western sanctions on carol. it also angered many ukrainians who say carol has given his blessings to person, to kill his fellows loves so far. russian attacks have damaged as many as 92 churches and places of worship in ukraine. there have also been increasing reports of attacks against the clergy. their russians war,

it seems also has a religious dimension. much of this religious conflict has been fueled by the russian orthodox church in moscow, and in particular by its head, patriarch kero. ah, long before the start of the invasion, kara position himself and his church, a strong ideological allies of the kremlin. the hero has repeatedly cast russia as a defender of divine law, against the forces of evil, which he had done to 5 as emanating from western democracies. carol's proximity to the kremlin goes hand in hand with putin's commitment to the church. in 2012, the patriarch described pollutants political projects. as a miracle of gone. over the next few years, he became a staunch supporter of the kremlin agenda. in a sermon in march, this year,

carol rebuked members of his own church, who opposed the war. we will never make peace, he said with those who violate the law of god. for carol, the invasion of ukraine is a religious crusade aimed at defending divine law. those who oppose it are therefore enemies of god. the kremlin and its forces have effectively been granted a religious stamp of approval for their actions. many of the victims of the violence unleashed by the kremlin and blessed by the church and moscow are carol's own faithful. ukraine has almost 12000 russian orthodox parishes . many of which now stand in the way of russian munitions that report was by debbie's religion correspondent, not in gac, he told me earlier about the important supporting role. the patriot plays, the russian president vladimir petition. i think that the patriarch is actually

very important for the russian president for one thing because he actually has suffered not only political, but strong ideological proximity and backing to many of the positions. very conservative ones that have actually emanated from the kremlin. on the other hand, you have to keep in mind that the orthodox church in russia has about something in the other of 78 to 80 percent of prison among the russian people. so that means that all the way from must go to the small parishes, parishes, i'm sorry, the butter budget must go, has actually enormous penetration in terms of politics, in terms of social work. and obviously in terms of ideology. so it's an excellent promoter of the gremlins position. ok, and what was the, what's his motivation? why is carol so i suppose another person i think what darrell cease in put in what the orthodox russian orthodox church has seen in fulton for

a very long time. it is akin spirit as somebody who holds some of the same ideas in once a return to a form of, you know, very classical conservatism which actually opposes to lot of the progressive ghosts that emanate from the west. so carol, that sort of mentions repeatedly gay, gay pride parades at which in some sense his level. but on the other hand, i mean, this is actually a good example of the magin, are you for very conservative part of the country? i think it's worth saying that, you know, put in east looking also for somebody that can order has been looking for somebody that can do that for him. and so in a sense is a perfect match. now carol is on the ease and sanctions last, why sanction a priest and me? what effect would this have if this, if he were to be sanctioned? well, it seems to be the case of carol is also an extraordinarily, a rich man who has actually profited enormously from the proximity to the kremlin

desert, mostly unconfirmed reports and things that sort of circulate in, in an open source intelligence. and, and so one bed this mean so, so that carol has actually some of the profile of the inner circle of, of putting in some of the other people that had been hit by you and, and your sanctions a w religion for has correspond in math and gap will have to leave at athens and much room. all right, let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories making headlines around the world. over a 1000000 people in north korea have now been infected with coven 19 according to local state media. the country's unelected leader kim jong and has blasted health officials and ordered the army to help bring the pandemic under control. and nationwide, lockdown is now in place across the country. one person has died and 5 others were injured after a gunman opened fire at

a church in california. on sunday. authorities said church go is detained. the perpetrator, who is now in police custody. now this is the 2nd mouth shooting in the u. s. over the weekend. after a gunman killed 10 and a racially motivated attack in buffalo in new york. okay, we've just about got time for some sports news now and the women's bundis league a season finished on sunday. the title had already been wrapped up by false book, but the battle for the remaining champions league spots was intense, and in the end, by an munich and frankfort will be joining the walls in europe next season. it was a thrilling finale to the women's bundis league a season champions, valve sport thrash, labor, cruise and $71.00 to end their campaign in high style, and they savored hoisting the league trophy in front of the home fans.

the race for 3rd place came down to the wire in the end, louder for i gangs brace made sure. frankfurt secured it. they punched their ticket to the champions league for the 1st time since 2016 by a munich, finished the season in 2nd place. after beating potsdam 5 mill, that means there also champions league bound. now a full moon provided spectacular views over the weekend as to astronomical events took place at the same time, stargazers across your witness a full lunar eclipse. as the earth passed directly between the sun and the moon, turning it a shade of dark red. the event also coincided with a super moon, which is when the moon appears larger, as it passes close to earth. and in the americas, the eclipse fell at night, treating people to the full spectacle. the lunar event was visible across much of

the world with australia, one of the few countries not able to see the phenomenon spectacular pictures as well. we have time for sports. life is up next trucking, the rise of se barcelona feminine is the best women's team in europe. and you kind of look at more news and analysis on d, w dot com. i'm and you can a can and thanks for watching t w mm ah, with

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