right now on "america this morning," breaking news. a nuclear power plant in ukraine comes under attack from russian force, igniting a fire. crews overnight putting out that fire, but russians taking control of the plant. >> this morning we talk to an expert about the growing concerns around nuclear safety in the war zone. plus new details overnight about what the kremlin is planning to do in ukraine after the war. and a new challenge for ukrainians. just now receiving american-made weapons. also this morning, we talk to people heading back into ukraine to fight. plus our team in russia talking to those who support vladimir putin as the russian media faces even tougher restrictions. here at home, $6 a gallon

for gas. the steady increase in prices, and what the white house is now saying. in other news, a new plan to address the homeless crisis. should homeless americans be forced into treatment? a california mother is arrested, accused of faking her abduction to go live with her ex-boyfriend. how police cracked the case. and later, americans growing obsession with trivia. how netflix is trying to capitalize on it. >> from abc news in new york, this is "america this morning." >> good friday morning, everyone. we begin with breaking news. the intense fighting in ukraine has now reached a major nuclear power plant. >> the plant came under attack from heavy shelling, which ignited a fire. officials say that fire is now out, but it raises major concerns about nuclear safety during this war. >> meanwhile, this stunning headline overnight. a senior u.s. official telling abc news that russian officials have already selected a puppet

government for ukraine to run the country after the war. it comes as russian forces made progress, taking control of more areas in southern ukraine. >> the latest from the battlefield in a moment. but first, the scene at that nuclear plant. this morning growing fears of an unfolding nuclear disaster in ukraine, where authorities say russian forces attacked the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in europe. cameras at the plant streaming the shelling of the facility live online. >> please help us. >> reporter: a spokesperson for the plant says a nuclear accident could happen at any moment after russian missiles fell directly on the facility, setting fire to one of its six reactors. that reactor is under renovation and not operating, but there is nuclear fuel inside. experts say one of the biggest concerns, the plant's crucial electrical system. >> a fire could disable the cooling systems, the electrical systems of the plant that could lead to a disruption of cooling of the highly radioactive hot

nuclear fuel and spent fuel. and if that cooling is not restored within a matter of hours, you could potentially see a reactor experiencing core melt accidents and potential releases of radioactivity. >> reporter: in 2011 a failing electrical system is what caused the nuclear disaster in fukushima, japan after an earthquake. >> this certainly could be bad. >> reporter: ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy pleading for intermediate intervention when the fire broke out, saying russia wants to repeat chernobyl, but six times worse. >> i don't think the fire is going to cause or to make the decisions within the biden administration change any differently. >> again, the fire at the nuclear plant is now out, but the mayor says the plant and the town are now under russian control. now to the battlefield in ukraine. new high resolution satellite images show that 40-mile-long russian convoy approaching kyiv.

other russian troops are gaining traction to the south, potentially cutting off ukraine from the black sea. and now ukrainian forces are running into another problem. ukrainians using american-made weapons are running into an unforeseen problem after americans sent them stinger missiles like these. a senior administration official telling abc news overnight that some of those weapons are technologically sophisticated, and there is no one to train the ukraines. and the same official says the kremlin has already selected and prepared a puppet regime to take over ukraine's government. russian president putin claims the invasion is going strictly according to plan, despite fierce resistance. on thursday, putin spent 90 minutes on the phone with french president macron. a source in the french government then saying the fear is the worst is yet to come. it comes as russian air strikes hit more civilian areas. north of the capital kyiv, this

dash cam video shows multiple projectiles about to strike as people walk down the street. authorities say 33 people were killed, and this man recording a video when a missile strikes. after taking the city of kherson in the south, russian troops are bearing down on two more cities, including odesa, an apparent attempt to seal off ukraine from the black sea. in kyiv, ukrainian forces are digging in, raising barriers to brace for an attack. abc's ian pannell is there. >> defenses are now being set up across the city, concrete barricades, tank tracks as the city prepares for a russian assault. >> reporter: later, ian met with a defiant president zelenskyy in a secret location. >> but how long can you hang on? "i don't know," he replied. and zelenskyy was adamant when asked if he would leave the country. >> no. >> after a second round of talks between russia and ukraine, both

sides agreed to allow humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians. south carolina senator lindsey graham is calling on russians to, quote, take out president putin. graham tweeted the only way this ends is for somebody in russia to take this guy out. you would be doing your country and the world a great service. critics call the tweet reckless. let's turn now to the increase in gas prices. some drivers are now paying $6 per gallon in parts of the u.s. >> oil prices have been skyrocketing since the war began, and now there are new calls from capitol hill to hit russia with even tougher sanctions. this morning gas prices climbing higher. >> $3.93 a gallon. >> reporter: and higher. >> we're over $4 already. >> reporter: and fire. >> 4:55. >> states along the west coast as well as alaska and hawaii and illinois seeing the cost average at least $4 per gallon.

los angeles now average averaging more than $5, while one gas station in oregon is charging more than $6.20. in georgia, prices are up 20 cents in the last week. one man was arrested, accused of drilling holes into cars to siphon gas. the white house blames the higher prices solely on the russian war. >> the volatility in the oil markets is a direct result of the fact that president putin invaded ukraine. >> reporter: but many republicans insist the biden administration's policies against more drilling here at home are also to blame. despite the surge in prices, some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want even tougher restrictions on russian supplies. >> i'm all for that. ban it. >> ban the oil? >> ban the oil coming from russia. >> reporter: but president biden said that would only drive prices higher. >> he looks at this through as how can we maximize impact on president putin while minimizing

it on the american people. >> reporter: president biden did announce new sanctions thursday against the russian oligarchs close to vladimir putin. >> we're announcing that we're adding dozens of names to the list, including one of russia's wealthiest billionaires, choking off access to technology, as well as cutting off access to the global financial system. >> reporter: experts say banning russian oil may not make that much of a difference any way since major companies like bp and shell have already cut ties with russia. andrew? >> all right, em, thank you. a jury in kentucky has acquitted a former police officer in connection with the botched police raid that killed breonna taylor. brett hankison was one of three officers who burst into taylor's apartment and opened fire in 2020. tests prove he did not fire the bullets that killed taylor. instead, he was accused of endangering her neighbors by firing through walls and windows. but he testified tearfully that he did nothing wrong. california's governor has unveiled a plan to offer more services to homeless people struggling with mental illness

and addiction. but it means some people may be forced to receive care against their will through court-ordered psychiatric treatment, medication and housing. many advocates for the homeless oppose the plan, call it a violation of civil rights. time now for a look at your friday weather. snow is expected in the sierra nevada today where this massive boulder is blocking highway 50 into lake tahoe after a rock slide. there is no word when the highway will reopen. on the radar, southern california will see rain and thunderstorms today up to 18 inches of snow could fall in the mountains outside of l.a. before the storm system moves into the rockies. checking today's high temperatures, 40s around the great lakes. 30s in the northeast, and mild across much of the south today, 77 dallas. coming up, the collision on the moon today. also ahead, new trouble for the teacher caught slapping a student after arguing about a

sweatshirt. and what we're learning about the california mother now accused of making up a story about being kidnapped so she could stay with her [ticking clock] stressed out? time to refresh your rhythm with trident. ♪ ♪ trident gum.

junk is set to smash into the far side of the moon today. the discarded section of a rocket could carve out a crater 66 feet wide. it could take weeks before satellite images confirm that crash. an suv plowed through the wall of this preschool in northern california. police in the city of anderson said 19 children and 1 worker suffered af injuries. one child was briefly trapped under the vehicle. investigators say the driver was not impaired. and a teacher from indiana seen slapping a student last

week has now been arrested. the one-time teacher of the year could be charged with felony battery. officials say the two were arguing over the boy's hooded sweatshirt. a school board allowed the teacher to retire early with his pension. we turn to a california mother under arrest, accused of making up a story about being kidnapped. police say it was part of her plot to go live with her ex-boyfriend. here's abc's andrea fujii. >> reporter: this morning, stunning allegations that the california mom who claimed she was abducted six years ago, made it all up. sherri papini, now in custody and faces charges of lying to police. the complaints alleging this was a false narrative that papini fabricated. she was staying with a former boyfriend and harmed herself to support statements. there was a search for papini in northern california, after she went for a run in 2016 and never came home. her husband, desperate to find his wife and mother to their two

young children. >> i'm getting angry and frustrated. and i'm scared for my wife. >> reporter: a few weeks later, papini was found by a truck driver, who saw her on a freeway, with chains and bindings around her body. >> i think she is heavy battered and is confirmed kidnapping. >> reporter: papini claimed two hispanic woman abducted her, beat her and threatened to sell her to a man while keeping her in a closet. she managed to escape. her husband, recounting the trauma he believed she went through. >> she literally lived through hell. the things she told me that she did, acting like she was protecting our kids. >> reporter: but authorities revealing in a criminal complaint, that dna evidence recovered from papini's clothing, match her ex-boyfriend's dna. and he admitted to investigators that he helped papini run away. they say the ex-boyfriend also says sherri papini created the injuries while staying with him,

including hitting herself, to create bruises and burning herself on her arms. authorities say papini, who also collected $30,000 from a victim assistance fund, continues to stand by her story. if convicted on the charges in this case, she faces up to 25 years in prison. andrew? mona? >> andrea, thank you. coming up, americans' obsession with trivia. how netflix is trying to capitalize. first, two very different views of the war in ukraine. we'll hear people traveling back to ukr putin, next.

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easily trap dust, dirt and hair... locking it in. see ya, dust! and swiffer partners with the american lung association to support clean air. if you're just joining us, the fire at a ukrainian nuclear power plant is out. the plant came under fire from russian forces on thursday. back in moscow, lawmakers today could impose new rules on the media. >> any anti-government reporting could soon be punishable by up to 15 years in jail. but the kremlin's already strict control over the media is shaping how russians view this war. this morning with more than one million ukrainians having fled their country, more men and women are rushing into ukraine to fight the russians. >> people who really want to do something. >> reporter: a display of bravery and defiance one of many seen among ukrainians in recent

days from kyiv to lviv, everyday people taking a stand against the invading army. >> it's a do or die moment for ukraine. >> reporter: citizens lining up for guns. >> there is shotguns and the expensive sniper rifles. >> reporter: hundreds staying in harm's way to help save their country. >> it's impossible to stay at home now. you just have to do something to help. >> reporter: but this invasion is not so cut and dry for those on the other side of the war. like these russians who tell abc's james longman, they support what they believe is an effort to free their neighbors from what they've been told is fascist control of ukraine. >> this lady has just stopped to us to say that she completely believes in what the government is saying they're doing in ukraine, but she wants to make it very clear they love ukrainians. they don't want to see them hurt. they love them. that's the direction they're coming at it from. this is not about hurting ukraine. they want to say that russia is trying to save ukraine.

and that is exactly what vladimir putin has been telling his people for days, weeks and months. >> reporter: for those living through the horrors of the invasion, a simple message. >> what would you say to the russian women your age on the other side? >> i think and to listen to us and maybe open their eyes, because and look to the whole world and listen to it. >> coming up in just a few minutes, we'll hear from americans joining the fight in ukraine. new video confirms a russian attack destroyed the world's largest plane. the massive cargo plane was stored outside kyiv. it was unclear if the strike damaged the plane, but new video from a news report shows it was destroyed. and coming up, the tv star heading into space. plus two bald eagle parents

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time now toe check "the pulse." and we begin with some excellent news from california. >> exactly what i was thinking. a pair of bald eagles have something to squawk about after their nestling emerged from its egg. the friends of big bear valley posted the good news on facebook writing we have a chick. shadow was on the nest for the hatching, and he is a proud daddy. >> congrats to them. all right. next stars in space. a little different, though. pete davidson may be the next celebrity to shoot for the stars. >> that's right. the "snl" comedian is reportedly close to signing a deal to blast into space with jeff bezos. "the new york post" reports details of the blue origin flight are being finalized. >> and davidson, look, he is hitting it off with everyone these days.

that includes accordingly jeff bezos. when he and his girlfriend kim kardashian went to an event at the billionaire's home. it was a lavish party. netflix now cashing in, launching a new interactive game series. >> it is called trivia quest. new episodes will be available daily. each of them will post 24 multiple choice questions on a range of subjects. >> we're told half of the questions will be on the easier side. the other half much harder. the competition begins next month. mona, you ready? >> i am ready. and finally, it's not just friday. we're also celebrating two important things today. >> it is national snack day. and according to a recent poll, the number one snack in america is broccoli. can you -- no, just kidding. it's m&m's, followed by oreos and ritz crackers. >> you had me in the first half. you should have plenty of time to snack today because it's also national day of unplugging. people are encouraged to go device-free for 24 hours. just hold on one second. just five minutes and then we'll

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in the u.s. vowing to return to help fight back against the russian invasion. the doctor who calls it his moral authority. >> i heard her peel out. kumasi: the woman accused of stealing a car with a little boy in the backseat due in court. the message from the toddler's mom after a scary situation. reggie: all of that hard work and offer. uc berkeley slashed new enrollment. kumasi: it is a wet end to the week, look outside, this is a live look seeing showers andrew says the rain is ticking around for the weekend. happy friday, march 4. reggie: we will get a start with a check in the weather. drew: wet in a lot of spots and then return windy. we will find some of these downpours along the east bay. san leander and san lorenzo down