a with done yet public official, same arguable is now almost completely controlled by russian forces and of the battle may soon be over. an rti corresponded on location, meet with a tank crew falling an attack on the ukrainian, neo nazi as of battalion with western media reports accused russia of abducting multiple residents and sending them to labor camps and remote russian regions. that to mid evacuation efforts. as more people flee to the east, we have some refugees. what they think of the claims. it's not like that at all. no claims about people being enslaved or not. since i'm here because i ran from the

war. we tried very hard to get into, but no one forced us. we'll have all passed but to now hands oldest. think most of the country allies with masters can steal your money over. russia top diplomat says on a visit to india, that bilateral trade will grow in the countries national currencies and emphasizes that western attempts to derail moscow's close ties with you. delhi are doomed to fail ah, broadcasting my direct my studios in moscow. this is our t international. i'm john thomas. certainly glad to have you with us. first, let's break down. what's happening in the war in ukraine gives top security official, has denied allegations of conducting an air strike on a civilian fuel depot in the western russia of belgrade. about 30 kilometers from

the ukrainian border and russian authority say 2 workers at the facility were injured when a duel of ukrainian military helicopters conducted the attack. early on friday morning, video of the aftermath showed terminals ablaze with smoke, billowing skywards emergency workers have since extinguished the flames. meanwhile, intense fighting continues in marble with local authorities, saying that the city is no longer under control of the ukrainian forces. the head of the don, yet, the people's republic says that the battle for the city is almost over amid reports, only scattered pockets of resistance forces remain argued corresponding what god give reports on location. following a russian tank crew fighting against ukraine's neo nazi as a battalion. the battle for mary hugo is in its last act. the cost has been enormous. it still is, but it is ending. most of mario bell has been liberated fighting. he is now centered on the left bank of the city, and i wrote exceed here under

a monument to the troops and the soldiers who fought in the 2nd world war, who threw back the nazi hoards again. the grand children are doing much the same here in mario bull. fighting back the thousands of as of nationalists and neo for neo nazis that have made the base inside the as of steer block, which is a few 100 meters to the west of us. that you may see the distance, the huge smoked screen at his ware time could be blasting away. how's? off? forces flies, his position. we met the crew of one such tank as they stopped to rearm and re supply the children. what's happened here? we were hit by an anti tank grenade dug up when we hit on a week ago, but the gunner survived you, but i didn't penetrate the tank. it did,

but the gunner was really lucky tags here. i used to flush out otherwise indestructible ukrainian nationalist positions. but they set up machine guns and guided missiles at the top of an apartment building. for example, firing had russian troops and civilians without discretion. that's when tanks are called in last night. of course there's fear, there are emotions, but this is our land. we're defending our land. oh that, ah, put yourself into the ground. least on they were answering an infantry distress. cool. as of fighters had set up in a high rise building behind thick concrete walls. infantry is no match for them, but a tank ease ah. throughout

mario pal, you'll find hundreds of civilians stay a night outside their homes. those who refuse to evacuate. they keep shifts, and link arms to block entrances in order to keep ukrainian troops from breaking into apartments and firing at russian forces, making targets of people's homes. sometimes it works sometimes as of nationalists just shoot them dead. le horses any were in a bad state this we've been living in the basement since march 10th. sometimes we stick our heads out. our building was on fire. it took a day to put out the blaze on the 1st floor. everything was destroyed with the roof, the nationalists split up into groups of 10 or so people. they took up positions in housing blocks. they came here and set up in the night. you can tell where they've been by the condition of the buildings. if the building is all black and burned out,

then the nationalists were there. if the house is untouched, then they weren't allowed in their russian tags avoid firing at low floors. that's where baseman saw usually crowded with terrified civilians. mario bo was always a pro russian city, and people here as seen as the citizens of the didn't yet people's republic. much like the tank crew. again, yes, of course, violet. we've waited for so long. our patience has run out yet. this is my 3rd tank . we'll win eventually. justice is on our side. we've been fighting for 8 years since 2014. most of the troops here, a locals veterans who've held back the ukrainian army and increasing hordes of radical nationalists for years. their families have lived under bombardment and shelling for the better half of a decade. and now, is that chance to end it once and for all? or i'd guys the of r t for mario po, than yet people to republic,

russian official say more than 110000 people have been safely evacuated from arguable to the east with more than 3000 residents fling to russia within the past day. the embattled cities, deputy mayor says, however, ukrainians are being abducted and forcibly deported western media has been quick to support the cranium position, saying civilians are being sent to labor camps in remote russian regions that need menial workers. archie correspondent, roman cousin of investigates the claims due to the ongoing special military operation in the ukraine. schools here are currently closed and their facilities are being used to temporarily. how's the refugees that come in here are from mario, paul, and sell that to go and speak to a some of them and ask them what they think about the headlines in the west that are saying that there have been kidnapped from their own city by russian military

at the new thought that the sim need. doug, it's not like that at all. no claims about people being enslaved or nonsense. i'm here because i ran from the war. we get food hair 3 times a day and were treated well, who is understanding relatives in russia? expecting many of the people here, they come and pick them up from the check point of view. there was mashini, i feel outraged because those headlines are complete nonsense. i'm going to moscow with my grand daughter to get away from the house where we're in. were left in the basement for 21 days. we had nothing to 8, but didn't it brad for 2 weeks. so we decided to walk tank la metis to the border. there were 3 families now group. we tried very hard to get on the bus. no one forced us. we all have our passports in our hands, oldest statements to the country allies. i've rarely seen any western journalists here in don boston. why that picture coming out of the nest people's republic is sometimes very skewed, but it's not inside

a true because there's some western journalists. i have been the be working here for the last 8 years. and one of them is maximilian clark, who's been working for the last 8 years. the impression i guess if people have family or friends on this side have done on as they can just go there freely. no one really checks the camps for the for the people have nowhere else to go. people are leaving to russia. jennifer chung, but this notion of local people being drafted offs of skip russia does not marry was the experience i found speaking to people. daily outrage is probably the best word to describe the feelings of the refugees here in the nest for the right from a reasonable outrage about the western headlines that claim. and they have been kidnapped by the russian army and will be forced into slave labor somewhere in russia, as i've talked to them. and they told me that they hear on their own will. and all

they want is for this conflict to finally. and so they can return back to their homes and live a normal peaceful life. roman cosser f r t. though next, russia's top diplomat has said that trade in national currencies will intensify between moscow and quote, strategic partner india. on a visit to new delhi sergey lab, i've explained that western control financial systems have shown that they can no longer be trusted. the reason for moving. ready to national gallon systems, again, absolutely. the reliable nature of the bars. we don't want to bend over here still, which would be close and you don't want to give masters can steal your mind over. so today the russian, mr. surgeon that the pos for the distance was

also us to dive the one military defense energy and also just like the other the think would be also this was all of the national interest issues and the western countries. and this also comes on the backdrop of you keep on tickets. we live with sort of who sort of ocean india to counter the dependency on russia. the energy demand, it's important that we double down on the sanctions. the u. k. wants to see more sanctions put in place on banks on the ability for russia to use gold clothing, access to ports for all vessels around europe in the americas, and all se, tackling the dependency on russian oil and gas. the doctor insisted that

the di with india continue as they are specially when it comes to the strategic partnership over the military or the admission which comes from russia to india. and let me tell you that this has continued to continue on because of a privilege. and i have confidence that despite pressure on india from the west are relations will not suffer. partnership does depend on a legal message as dick tat and blackmail, an opportunistic considerations with regard to russia, india, and china. it is completely pointless to apply such a policy as for the current to china and then india. i think this is a completely natural route. if you are not joined, the list of the country in pressing sanctions against russia has also not given into the demand by washington or london to press for the sanctions on the country

has also taken a very strong result not entering into any sort of negotiation, but these countries either and yet remains committed to fostering it started with russia. a was 7 strategic partnerships. britain is not the only state warning india against cooperation with russia. senior us national security advisor sing has threatened to new delhi with quote consequences if it circumvent the western sanctions against moscow. we have very keen full countries, especially our allies and partners, not to create mechanisms that pop up the rubel and those that attempt to undermine the dollar based financial system. and yes, there are consequences to countries that actively attempt to circumvent so back fill the sanctions. that was the language of person and it's a language usually used a towards trying steve russell states. india finds it easier to get

a lawyer from russia using the alternate alternative trade mechanism. and this is not the 1st time that india then that india then back on 2 occasions in the past with iran, americans that impose sanctions on iraq to i think it is, are, it is not a new to the practicalities of using a mechanism to trade with countries that have come under sanctions as pressure on the eastern world, intensifies the, was asking china to maintain that neutrality over the ukraine conflict with the european commissions president warning beijing not to interfere with the west sanctions against russia. european council says china should abide by the when's general position denouncing russia's actions in ukraine, china to not to the blight i to risha violation of international lo,

these principles enshrined in the un charter and principled sacred to china. so we also made very clear that china should, if not support, at least not interfere with our sanctions. it would lead to a major reputation or reputational damage for china. here in europe. china as prime minister has responded by telling you leaders that beijing would push for peace quote in its own way. china's president has emphasized that the global community should support dialogue between russia and ukraine and not add fuel to the fire. beijing has traditionally close ties with moscow relationship strengthening and recent years we heard from a senior politics lecture at bath university park new wong, who says china is seeking peace in ukraine while trying not to undermine relations . china already said that is going to seek peace on the you're going to

contract only on terms. china would not be couple or trying to undermine the european union's position in new china. what we're trying to tell you, what is the chief of the problem that you saw program, of course in the you can war has to do with how the you another thing that the behaving because the united states has been trying to and teased the european ewing to and tardy the couple from russia, and this new crane conference was already plan has since by the time doing the obama administration. if brussel is going to recognize that then they would need to revise astrology or a policy in, in how to do with united states in the future. while china and india pursue a neutral stance over the ukrainian conflict, they marked the 72nd anniversary of their diplomatic relations. on friday, the chinese ambassador said both the countries should stick to a long term perspective and a cooperative posture. we discussed the improving relations between india and china

with benjamin chown, a senior fellow at the center for china and globalization and g kamara, john, an editor at the magazine, india today. both china and india. i still have you very steep code of growth and development. there is really no plug to, not to cooperate. he's got economies which are dominating the war in terms of economic growth in terms of, you know, emergence of sort of a total open population, very large consumer base. the other biggest consumers off russia, oil, the other biggest consumers of middle east oil. one of the objectives the prime is channel china, is to also formally invite most of the prism or did you attend to brakes or something which china is holding. they do, you know, what was originally caught up at

a grouping of emerging economies and market is not essentially a very strong force to balance the views of the west. obviously, we've had some water problems which came up recently between the 2 countries and which has not been resolved. and that was one reason when the last week, for example, when one geek, the chinese foreign minister came to india. we had long docks between the 2 countries, but the border issues they did not catch up on friends to india and china and china year together is 36 percent of the world's population and tried to present to him told judy p nominal tubs. so russia offers and defense to india, and russia offers oil to china. and they have since john, hence against us seems a tree $12018.00 china india has $100000000000.00. a trade between the, between the 2. in fact, india, russia only $9000000000.00 trade. so yes, that is

a growing closeness and because of the economic sanctions, and this a fight between, let's nato was a russia, then try to build an order to forum via the bricks, in which, as i said, india, russia is already very close in the china, a trying to closer to chrome and says russia won't immediately cut off. gas applies to the e. u if importers fail. busy to switch to paying and roubles, giving companies until the 2nd half of april or even early may to accept rushes terms. let him put, it has declared that countries imposing sanctions against moscow, including member states, must pay for gas in ports in russia's national currency. top diplomat, sir, lab robin has explained to the reasoning behind that position my for a degree which provided the

scheme as far as i could understand acceptable to do with him. don't use the rules because with us. so this futures be present of use their notice los off to give the payment eventually in the rules and that was the original. well, there is a huge amount of concern despite the fact that that russian gas is still flowing on friday. and even though the ad deadline has been passed and there is, you know, what we've heard from germany, that this has been described as a black male. this idea that you could be threatened with having its gas supplies. i turned off if it doesn't pay for russian gas in rubles, and businesses in particular, very concerned this, especially countries like germany and austria,

which are the ones that have to launch a use of the russian energy that comes in. and of course, germany is the engine house of the european union. so when businesses are concerned that then there is a problem. and some businesses from both countries have been issuing some put stock warnings, giving up russian gas is impossible if we are not ready to accept the huge consequences . some countries could do it, but for austria, it is not possible this year. banning russian gas and ports comes at a cost this could lead to the worst crisis in the german economy since the end of world war $2.00. we heard in germany's leader as well as leaders of other e u countries. ringback they will not pay for russian gas in roubles. they say that that would be a breach of contract because the contract specifies payments in euro. so we will have to see how this plays out. however, both germany and austria, in particular,

are preparing for a complete ceasing over russian gas coming through. they've triggered emergency measures, which would see the reduction in consumption of energy when it comes to industry. but they have said that hospitals in residential care homes would be shielded for even the worst impact if that comes to pass. now, other you countries are also grappling themselves with war, whole to russian energy supplies would mean for them. now, in france are already some plans in place that could see were tating blackouts across the country. thus, despite the fact that france is one of the least dependent on russian energy out of the countries in the european union. but really does have also been giving general advice about how you can reduce your consumption. so we've heard from people like france timmons, who said, you know, put on extra jumpers, extra sweaters. others have said, you know, you could turn the heating down and not to,

to in your home. and then another you commissioner has this nugget of advice. everyone is asking, what can i do? you can do 2 things. ah, control your own and your teenagers are showers. and when you turn out that what you say, take that putin in the u. k. there's also a cost of living crisis that's unfolding their households and businesses seem to be grappling not just with the huge increases in energy, but also price rises in other areas, whether that be food but also from april. first increases a council tax to broadband bills along with many other hikes, and they could be even more on the way we've heard from both the e u. m, the u. k. that they are still possibly new sanctions that can be leveled against russia. and as we know those sanctions do have a blow back for countries in the west. the ones are imposing them in the 1st place

. so if there are more sanctions than they could be bigger problems, yet to come, the executive vice president of the racial center, rural rasmussen says that sanctioning russia, such an integral part of international supply chains could cause a global economic collapse. i think the, you know, we know about the energy side, i mean the huge impact on energy. and i understand that the u. s. is trying to get the europeans and others not to buy into boycott rushes, gas and their energy. so what's going to, what's going to happen it'll, it'll force further, economic hardship, not just energy prices but, but that will ripple into the manufacturing community manufacturing sector in, in europe. the other side is, is food we talked about food, 50 percent of the food comes from that region into europe. we've got most of that

food into the, into the south global south comes a lot of that come from, from russia. ukraine, bella, ruse, area. fertilizer like 70 to 80 percent of fertilizer. so that's going to impact that as well. the, the other side, we don't talk about too much, a semi conductor market. it's, it's in the supply chain. but neon and other elements that are used for, for semiconductor manufacturing come from ukraine, russia and that region as well. that's going to impact the supply chain that fx manufacturing of semiconductors. so okay, we may not ship some a conductor. so russia, but we may not be able to make them for ourselves anyhow. so we have a global, you've got a major player in the global supply chain that we're sanctioning and not thinking through the ramifications. basically getting towards a towards the global collapse. international energy agency members have agreed to release oil from their reserves in an effort to bring down prices. but the measures

appear to not have had an immediate impact. and i made a lack of information about the amount of oil being provided us presidential barton previously announced an unprecedented use of oil reserves in response to widespread criticism about the skyrocketing prices are cheese. rachel blevins explains this is the 3rd time president biden has approved a release from the us strategic reserves, and this time around it's a $180000000.00 barrels that to be released over the next 6 months. now biden is saying that this is a way to tackle some of those storing gas prices. however, he has been met with heavy criticism, both from experts in the field and even for former president donald trump. it's supposed to only be used for large scale emergency or conflict. now i see where bitin has just announced he's going to take what we so carefully and magically built and what will be a futile attempt to reduce oil and gasoline prices. they will soon bring it down to empty again, it just never ends. now the by an administration has tried to celebrate this move

on twitter with the white house chief of staff, even saying just how historic it is. however, that criticism has followed them to social media and many have been quick to point out that even though this has never been done before, there may be a reason why it has never been done before. you guys are actually bragging about having to release record amounts of oil from the strategic reserves akin to the historic al, if from afghanistan, the biden admins, historic events are unprecedented in their terribleness. this is not what the strategic oil reserves is for when rather than by then came into office, he championed his green energy policies and talked about how he was going to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuel. so as a result of that is repeatedly called on opec plus over the last several months to increase production in order to tackle the storing prices. however,

they have repeatedly said no. so now it seems like by then is turning que domestic producers here in the us. however, it remains to be seen whether they are going to. 2 follow through with his demand and increase investment on there and in order to increase production. now, if you're wondering whether biden is taking responsibility for any of this, well, he was very quick to say that he blames all of it on russian president. our prices are rising because of food is actually, there isn't enough supply. and the bottom line is if we want lower gas price, we have a more oil supply right now. all across social media. there have been post showing stickers placed on gas pumps across the country. which feature not only by then space, but also the word i did that it's become a picture of just how frustrated american consumers are with this entire situation . and now experts are saying there's no guarantee that the latest moved by the vitamin ministration is actually going to lower prices on long term. and in some

cases it could make the situation even worse for boarding and washington. rachel blevins, r t. let me put in the national approval ratings have hit an all time high, according to a recent survey by it. popular independent pollster, the russian leaders, popularity has sword. since the country began its mil campaign in neighboring ukraine and approval of numerous other government institutions is up as well. the last time the president's approval ratings were as high was in 2014 when russian incorporated crime mia. the latest survey was conducted in recent weeks among 1600 adults across russia by the reputed lovato center poster. the russian presidents, popularity flies in the face of western sanctions and other measures to undermine moscow. political commentator steve gill, believes that the west attempts to isolate the country have actually caused russians to rally around their leader. russia and president put it under fire,

feeling isolated by the entire world community over the ukraine fight. so i think there's going to be a natural impulse by any country that have citizens rally around their leaders when they're in a conflict when they feel like they're being isolated from the world community. and certainly that's, i think most russians feel, and they're going to step up and stand up for their, for their support for their own country. and whatever leaders are in place at that time. there's a, a sense, i think, among the russians that they are, the ones that are being attacked. and that's certainly how it's being played in the russian media or isn't the western media. it's completely the other side. i think what you're, what you're seeing in the west in europe is, you know, the, the videos that the news that they are getting about how things are going. and ukraine is very one sided. and that's going to tell the way people have an impression of both how the, the war is going and how to, how to see president putin and the russians 29 minutes. that's what i'll be back with another phone.