let's go live to gabriel elizondo in cave . and gabriel at what time have we heard from senior officials in moscow? what more can you tell us about these potential referendums? what we are just getting word that is a very high probability that russian president vladimir putin will address the russian people this evening in a video address where it's expected that he will address this exact issue on events in ukraine and give more detail. so we have not gotten official confirmation from the kremlin yet that these referendum boats will take place. but it is certainly looking as that will be the case, given the fact that we've been hearing from russian imposed officials in all 4 regions. you just mentioned all saying that both are planned for the 23rd through 25th of september. so just 3 days away, starting this friday, this was unexpected. this was not expected by anybody here. and it appears that it was hastily called. and the reason we say that is because, for example, in that patricia, the local official there said that the vot

how does arrows gabriel elizondo reporting live from ukraine's capital? keith gave many thanks. indeed. here with the news out from odyssey or a still to come on the program, he's in the real estate you. donald trump, hits out of president jo by be during his 1st rally since the f b. i searched his florida home and will be reporting from liberia, where food prices arising so fast that the un is warning of a crisis. but in sport of the gold from barcelona do come up with a brilliant form continue. so we'll have a little bit later to the spanish league later in the program. ah, falls open in chile as voters decide whether to adopt a new constitution of 15000000 chileans will take part in a referendum to replace the 1980 constitution which was approved under the military leader augustus pinochet's. the new document is being described as one of the worst progressive in the world. it'll guarantee abortion rights and protections for indigenous people of the environment. our latin america editor, lucille newman reports from santiago for the 1st time, every chili

or as gabrielle elizondo, as more from the ukrainian capital in jeopardy reesha. and didn't know yes, in both of those regions, russia only holds roughly about 50 percent of the territory. their local officials have said that they only plan to hold this referendum vote in the part of those regions. the russian forces do currently hold hello. it's really unprecedented to try to hold some sort of referendum such as this in an active wars zone is exactly what they're facing right now. it also appears that this was hastily organized or put together, given the fact that one of the local russian imposed officials in desperation said, well, we're going to hold this referendum by the internet voting and by mail. even though in that area, both mail and internet service are very unreliable at best and in most cases not even available. so. busy still lots of questions to be worked out here. we do expect or we are hearing, at least that russia is president vladimir put potent, could be addressing the russian people in a televised address. so be watching that closely to see wh

well, let's go live to gabriel. elizondo and keith. i know ukrainian forces continue to gain ground on the front line don't though they are especially in the northeast where ukrainian counter offensive there continues and it continues to push east, remember copy on sc and is you him the 2 cities in the, the how to cave region that were recaptured by the ukrainians and last week and now the ukrainians have moved east from there about 25 kilometers east. ah, from those 2 cities, which means they are now in to the don't ask region of ukraine. they are now and a counter offensive and based on what we're hearing from a reports from the front lines, ukrainians are now on a counter offensive around a city called lehman city of about 25000 people. a town if you will. but it's critical and strategic because it is in don't ask what is considered potentially an area that the russians have wanted to gain full control over. and it's also a town with the major rail line that runs through the transit hub if the ukrainians can recapture lemon. which a

quite in russia. accuse each other of attacking the facility in risking nuclear catastrophe. gabriel elizondo brings us more now from keith. the security and the safety situation. our vote both very tenuous down in the upper region nuclear power plant at this very hour precisely because there was this main power source on the plant, the last remaining permanent power source. there. as you mentioned, the 3 others had already been knocked out during the war. this one went down. that's the bad news. the somewhat good news is that there's backup power system was able to kick in. and that is what is providing power to the nuclear facility at this hour. the last leader of the soviet union, mikhail gorbachev has been lay to rest at moscow cemetery next to his wife, reisa. thousands of russians, young and old falls, passed his open casket to pay their respects ahead of the burial. but present i deem fusion stayed away from the ceremony, saying he was too busy. the death toll from pocket stones catastrophic floods continues to rise and now live 57 deaths have been confirmed. 25 of them children. warre

they base their findings on interviews with a $150.00 victims and witnesses. gabriel elizondo is tracking the story from keith gabriel. this is damning and it is a very comprehensive assessment of what's been going on since the beginning of the war. it really is, and it's incredibly troubling as well among some of the claims by the un team they visited investigated these war crimes here in ukraine are, according to the un russian soldiers perpetrated rape and torture against ukrainian children. this was a un investigative team that was in ukraine in june for nearly 2 weeks. visited. more than a 100 different villages and towns on the north outskirts of keys, as well as in the northeast region. and said that they talk to many people, dozens and dozens of people, and concluded that there were war crimes perpetrated by russian troops when they were occupying certain towns before being kicked out by ukrainian forces during counter offences. they said that there were the crimes committed against ukrainians, aged from 4 years old, all the way to the ukrainian civilians up to 84 years old. now t

and if so, what that would look like out here is gabriel elizondo reports from keith on a recent day and downtown keith with ukraine seizing the momentum. we asked people to define victory in the war against russia. when our territory was crimea. dom boss and carson will be training on again. when all the russians occupies will be back to russia, nebo believe the truth bought a whole may be the will convict that. because that'll kill in our people. crimea. for many years, victory includes reclaiming the southern peninsula, annexed by russia. 2014. we need to make the whole country free, including crimea. i know there are many people in the european union which, who still do not believe in that i believe. and we believe that it happens time pass. and the, this happens for some, it's about joining military alliances. i yada is sure. oh, yeah. in my opinion we have to join nato as soon as possible, but only with the support of our partners. can we guarantee our independence and wellbeing this war made us stronger, more powerful? we started to believe in ourselves more weakness, finishin

taking over new settlements everywhere we returning the ukrainian flag and safety for our people. gabriel elizondo has more from keith. the ukrainians have broken through the russian defences in the northeast region of how to keep and ukrainians are pushing east their re taking more than a dozen towns and villages. and instead of just holding them and taking up a defensive posture, the ukrainians continue to push east. it's clear that the russians have been caught off guard. the ukrainians now have encircled a key town called co. piano gets a town of about 27000 people, about a 120 kilometers. east of hud. keith city, the ukrainians are on the cusp of potentially retaking this town and it would be critical because there is a main railroad line that runs through there. that has been a main supply line for russian troops in the region of ukrainians retake it. it would cut off that russian supply line route. it's clear that the russians are in trouble, and it's also clear that they realize that because they're on a confirmed reports that russia is sending in heavy equipment and more troops to try to

but russian separatists later admits fighting has been difficult, and the de nit screeching gabriel elizondo has more from cave. ah, it's an ambitious ukrainian military offensive in the northeast. that is retaking land and towns occupied russia military that is now in retreat by saturday night and cleans had reached a zoom about a 120 kilometers southeast of the regional capital. how to keep city leveled over a, you know, rock, bottom of the reconnaissance group. and the special forces are already here in a zoom is for a to ukraine. the soldier said, is soon home to a major rail line is strategically important and was a russian military stronghold for months. no more. russian forces in the city fled as ukrainians closed in video showed ukrainians also recapturing compliance. another key supply line, city and invalid. clear re taken by the ukrainians a day before. a top commander raised the flag as a sign of victory to day where completing the liberation of balak lea, a because big city in our offensive annual funding, i'm sure this is not de la city, but the war has taken its toll up in the

landscape says troops and making advances in the counter offensive to retake cities from russia. gabriel elizondo is following developments from.

in the north east focusing its efforts on the earth surrounding its 2nd largest city. hockey. gabriel elizondo has more from the capital cave. we're seeing fierce battles in many parts of the front lines of this war. in the last 24 hours. it was just 24 hours ago that you created military launched this offensive in the northeast, around how to keep the 2nd largest city city that ukraine's have held since day one of this invasion by the russians. however, there had been a lot of shelling from the russians in and near how to keep, and that is why the ukrainians launched a counter offensive and we're starting get a better sense of how that is shaping up. now. it appears that ukrainian military has made advances as they are going east and south of how to keep and we're seeing. busy anecdotal evidence from telegram channels, from videos, even from some ukrainian military personnel and officials in the fight that ukraine appears to be either recapturing villages or very close to recapturing villages and towns. one in particular is ballot clear. it's a city of pre war population, about 25000 people a

estimated $15000.00 russian troops have been killed since the invasion began. anders there is gabriel elizondo reports now from ukrainian capital . keith. with battle, you've lost his mountie. m. ukrainian counter offensive advancing russian president vladimir says now was the time to mobilize more troops, yet as a she the mission to protect up motherland its sovereignty and territorial integrity to ensure the security of our nation and people of the liberated areas. i consider it necessary to call for a partial mobilization in russia. for the defense minister says as many as 300000 russian reservists will report for duty immediately. but more could be called up if necessary, thought and also confirmed that he would push a head with a referendum in for regions of ukraine, including the don bass. the referendum will ask one question. do you want to join the russian federation? that referendum, often a precursor to full annexation of territory, could happen as early as this week. he might go. president blood amused lensky urged allies to focus on what is important for ukraine. the drum kit is ru

zalinski says troops and making advances in the counter offensive to retake cities from russia. gabriel elizondo is following developments from keith ukrainians. have been pushing the russians back in the northeast or around how to keep and that at least you're getting cautious. optimism signs from ukraine is that this has been a very successful initial stage of this counter offensive. and as we're also seeing from russian bloggers and, and russian sort of micro book bloggers and analysts who have been watching this counter offensive, they appear to indicate that this is definitely that we also indicating the successes so far by the ukrainians. but the fighting there is very, very strong, both sides taking casualties. meanwhile, the united nation says, days, credible evidence rush in forces have sent ukrainian children to russia for adoption. the u. s. as the forced re location and deportation program amounts to a war crime. iranian diplomats and embassy staff are preparing to leave. albania is capital to run a oh, baby, a 7. it's diplomatic ties with the run on wednesday for an alleged cyber at

the whole current situation confirmed that they want to be master of their own fate. zera's gabriel elizondo has more from the ukrainian capital in separation and in no yes. in both of those regions, russia only holds roughly about 50 percent of the territory. their local officials have said that they only plan to hold this referendum vote in the part of those regions the russian forces do currently hold how though it's really unprecedented to try to hold some sort of referendum such as this in an active wars zone is exactly what they're facing right now, it also appears that this was hastily organized or put together, given the fact that one of the local russian imposed officials in desperation said, well we're going to hold this referendum by the internet voting and by mail. even though in that area, both mail and internet service are very unreliable at best and in most cases not even available. so. busy still lots of questions to be worked out here. we do expect or we are hearing, at least that russia is president vladimir put a potent could be addressing the russian people in a televised

plant is now functioning earlier. russia accused ukrainian forces of shelling near the facility. gabriel elizondo has more from keith. well, the security and the safety situation are very both very tenuous down in the separation nuclear power plant at this very hour, precisely because there was this main power source on the plan, the last remaining permanent power source there. as you mentioned, the 3 others had already been knocked out during the war. this one went down. that's the bad news. the somewhat good news is that there's backup power system was able to kick in. and that is what is providing power to the nuclear facility at this hour. but that is not the ideal situation. this is essentially running on backup generators, if you will, to put it in sort of simple terms and you never want to be doing that at a nuclear power plant such as this, especially one is large as this is the largest in europe and provides over half the energy to all of ukraine. so this happened now also at a very critical juncture, was just about 48 hours ago that raphael grossi the director general of the internation

asking ukrainians to be patient. meanwhile, civilians near the front lines are taking cover. gabriel elizondo has more from keith it's sunday in the southern ukrainian city of because lived usually a day for people to rest. but there is no time for that now. only clean up a debris after the city came under russian showing the night before. a medical clinic and a research institute or 2 of the buildings damaged by the nearby artillery strikes just provided. when you pull it inside of each room, the equipment, the computers, the f ross is the furniture of a ceilings. they've all been damaged in nickel hall, another southern ukrainian town. local official say residential areas are under constant russian shelling, fearful and was nowhere else to go. my a cheer knish, a math teacher, rushes to set up a makeshift camp on the outskirts of town was a boy who was the russian to shelling at night when people are sleeping. how we've, during the last days they started to shout during the day the 2 cities are both near where ukrainian forces are about a week into a counter offensive to retake near by her

nearby shelling could cause a nuclear disaster. gabriel elizondo reports from keith. the head of the united nations international atomic energy agency has arrived to vienna following his visit to ukraine's besieged separation nuclear power plant and had this to say, i was able to see myself and my team at impact hold markings on, on buildings, off of him. so we need that the physical off, the policy has been violated, not once, but several. raphael grossi flatly denied that russia who occupy the power plant, denied him the right to move freely, saying he was given full access by the russians to the site, and was able to inspect everything he requested to see. he also confirmed his agency would keep 2 staff members at the plant permanently and at the i. e. a would issue a full report in the next week on their findings. earlier on friday, moscow again accused ukraine of showing the power plant, but reserved judgment on the i. e. a mission, good touched, should we positively view the fact that despite all problems and difficulties caused by the ukrainian sides productive

i'll just here as gabriel elizondo lived there and ukraine's capital keith. but he thinks the deep g 7 finance ministers of agreed to set a price cap on russian gas. the group made the announcement on friday, adding that it will revisit the price if necessary. moscow has responded by saying it will stop selling oil to countries that agree to a limit. it poses a problem, particularly for germany that submitted. but it's not ready to replace it, supply it from russia. russia and china have started a week of war games of the sea of japan. the boston 2022 exercise evolves, will been 60 warships and will run until the 7th of september. more than 50000 soldiers from former soviet nations and india, laos, mongolia, nicaragua, and syria. also gathering the drills on land, we'll get a weather update next here on al jazeera, ben as massa prepares to launch, it's most powerful rocket to the moon, florida's space coast. hope sits tourism industry would experience a liftoff of its own and india commissions its fast domestic aircraft carrier becoming one of the few nations

live in berlin, dominic, many, thanks and did, let's go to ukraine's capital keefe out there as gabriel elizondo is there, gave what's ukraine saying about the energy crisis in germany and in europe? well, they acknowledged that there could be a very long and hard winter in germany, and the rest of europe and ukraine is worried about it as well. they're worried because they believe, and i think it's pretty well accepted that russia is intentionally perhaps trying to spike energy prices in order to punish european countries that are helping ukraine and that have been helping ukraine. this is of top of mind for the government here, and they want to try to address this straight on. and that's why keith is offering to potentially give some excess energy supply that ukraine has to germany to help offset potential shortages there. well then you ask yourself why it is ukraine have so much extra potential energy supplier or 2 or 2 to give to anyone else. and that's because of the exodus of millions of ukrainians. over the past 6 months, we've left the country and the economic downturn, the industry here

russian separatist leader mit fighting has been difficult in the danny ask region out there is gabriel elizondo has more on this now from keith these if ukrainian advances are really an incredibly fast blitz that have been going in the how to key region pushing east and the face of this war and the lines of this war have totally changed in the northeast of, of ukraine in the last 24 hours. as the ukrainian forces push forward, retaking cities or towns and villages of the russian main defense lines appear to be crumbling. and the russian defense is, or at least in some parts of the north seat, northeast in total disarray. the big one though, is a zoom. that's a city of more than 50000 people about a 130 kilometers a south east of the regional capital. how to keep. this is a city that the russians fought for 6 weeks to take it in april. and now it looks like the ukrainians are going to retake it in the matter of 24 hours because the russian soldiers and it were entrenched in his zoom appear as they saw the ukrainians moving forward. fast in his blitz towards that city, the russians simply ran awa

we will do everything for the cpr and al jazeera, as gabriel elizondo has more from keith. while officials, they're uneasy and are now going through this mass grave area. forensic experts are there on seen right now. they say that they are going to go through and zoom every single site and examine every single remains that they can find to try to figure out names, ages identities, to get to the bottom of this, the officials. they're already signaling that they believe these are all civilians . and they also are signaling at least early on in this investigation that there are potentially women and children among the dead. this was a sight in him in a forested area. what they found were wooden crosses, with no names on them, unmarked graves only numbers on all of the crosses. this comes as ukrainian reintegration forces. these are people that come in after the military is swept through and retaken towns and villages from the russians. then another group of you creating officials comes through to try to re establish services to cities that have been reclaimed by the ukrainians

sides in the south in this counter offensive have some not while thank you very much for that. gabriel elizondo reporting that my from ukraine's capital key. now, while russia has become increasingly isolated because of its invasion of ukraine, president putin will be looking to strengthen ties with regional allies or a summit in those becky st on 8 leaders for attending the shanghai corporation organization meeting in summer. cons. 14 is expected to hold bilateral talks with china's president, she's paying on the sidelines that's bringing in resource. hey, donna, who is covering that summit for us in the respect city of summer con ray. so, so she's been, we'll be meeting with the russian needed for the 1st time since the war and ukraine began. what do we expect? what do you think is going to come out of those discussions? yeah, well the aspect in there did a meeting between shipping and pretend to, to take place early afternoon. so based on the information that you're getting from sources of ukraine is definitely going to overshadow, or the whole not only the whole summer, but also the meeting

i'll be here as gabriel elizondo is in keith whitmore on ukraine's eastern advance. remember copy odds and is you know, the 2 cities in the how to key region that were recaptured by the ukrainians in the last week. now the ukrainians have moved east from there about 25 kilometers east from those 2 cities, which means they are now into the don't ask region of ukraine. they are now and a counter offensive. and based on what we're hearing from reports from the front lines, ukrainians are now on a counter offensive around a city called layman city of about 25000 people at town if you will. but it's critical and strategic because it is in don't ask what is considered potentially an area that the russians have wanted to gain full control over. and it's also a town with the major rail line that runs through the transit hub if the ukrainians can recapture lima. which appears like they are trying to do at this very hour, that would be another victory for the ukrainians. and again, put the russians on defense in don't ask. they only control about half of don't ask right now. a

this could live that a key vouchers here as gabriel elizondo is the 1st one more to we know about these reports, game of the plant being taken offline. based on our calls and reporting here over the last several hours. we just don't think those reports are incredibly, are very credible. and this is why because it came beaver, from an official in the region who was appointed by russia. and no official. russia official from russia has backed up these claims. and also we haven't heard from any of the ukrainian nuclear energy officials here as well. they simply just haven't had any sort of comment about this. and certainly if the power plant was taken offline, they probably would have commented about it also. and this is important. the i e a still has some members of their team they're, they're going to keep 2 members of their team. they're permanently, they say, and the a has not had any comment about this either. so the big picture is, what we're getting here is again, this is what we've had in the past, and this is what we're going to have in the future claims of something that's happene

how does, here's gabriel elizondo reports from cave. at this army training center near keith, ukrainian soldiers run through combat drills. they're practicing skills. they'll need when they're deployed to the front lines. the instructor is 23 year old deanna . her nickname is sledge hammer. perfect, then long was it the, when i was growing up, i didn't have any thoughts about joining the army. but my brother joined when rushing invaded. i couldn't stay aside and watch. so i joined to there are 50000 women in ukrainian military of which 10000 are on the front lines. after russia invaded ukraine in february, there was an increase in women volunteering to join the military. like natalia san inch go a 38 year old hospital worker who on the 1st day of the war, signed up for the military when she was told, 90 percent of soldiers die in combat from bleeding. she is now training and how to translate her knowledge in 1st aid to the battlefield. her brother was killed by russian forces doctor clinton within the better. the reason i want to be on

let's speak to gabriel elizondo. he's joining us live not phone keith . i'm how the ukrainians, reacting to the steel gate in a word ecstatic. this is a big victory for most ukrainians who wake up this morning getting this news. and they are thrilled, quite frankly. and the reason is, is because these soldiers that were released by the russians in his prisoners swap, any soldiers would have been considered a victory for ukrainians. but this is particularly bitter sweet for them if you will use that terminology because of who they were. more than the majority of these $215.00 for prisoners that were released or soldiers, as we mentioned, from the as off regiment that held out for weeks and weeks at the as a stall, a steel plant in my to you full. they are considered and have been considered for many months now national heroes for what many ukrainians consider their incredible bravery. during the early and middle stages of this war, you can see it all over the city. in fact, right behind me, you can actually see this is the city hall building here and keep

a pro russian separatist leader admits fighting has been difficult in the doughnuts . crecia gabriel elizondo has more from keith it's an ambitious ukrainian military offensive in the northeast. that is, retaking land and towns occupied russia military that is now in retreat by saturday night and cleans had reached resume about a 120 kilometers southeast of the regional capital. how to keep city abroad o'geary in a broad bottom of the reconnaissance group. and the special forces are already here in assumed it's laurie to ukraine. the soldier said, is soon home to a major rail line is strategically important and was a russian military stronghold for months. no more. russian forces in the city fled as ukrainians closed in want video showed ukrainians also recapturing copy, ask another key, supply line city. and did by clear retaken by the ukrainians a day before a top commander raised the flag as a sign of victory to day where completing the liberation of balak lee. they chose big city in our offensive annual fund. and i'm sure this is not the last se, but the war has taken its toll up in the r

the 6th unit from the power grid out 0 is gabriel elizondo reports where the ukrainians continue. this ambitious, offensive in the northeast that has, according to a lot of independent observers, ah retaken up to 300 kilometers of land that was captured by the russians. essentially the big picture is, is what took the russians months to capture the ukrainians are retaking in a matter of days. that gives you an idea of how quickly and how fast the russian lines have completely collapsed. essentially, the poorly equipped and trained russian soldiers that were on the front lines were quickly overrun by ukrainians in the past 48 to 72 hours and the more well equipped and entrenched russian soldiers that were in towns and cities, they seemed to just flee immediately. once the ukrainians started to approach the outer rims or outers outskirts of those towns, it's an ambitious ukrainian military offensive in the northeast that is retaking land and towns occupied by russian military that is now in retreat. by saturday night ukrainians had reached zoom about a 120 kilometers southeast of th

let's go live to gabriel, elizondo and cave. gabriel. what more can you tell us about these a potential referendums? well, it came as a surprise, that's number one and it appears to be hastily analyses. who will, referendums apparently will run from a september 23rd to september 27th to the voting. would start 3 days from now on friday. this was announced by local russia, imposed officials in all 4 of these regions. wheaton, it's important also point out that we are still awaiting official confirmation from the kremlin and from vladimir putin himself. ultimately, he is the decider on the sort of things and we expect to hear potentially from poo, confirming this within the next few hours, maybe even tomorrow. but it does appear that this is the being pushed by moscow and that day he's referendums will go forward. but it's certainly very interesting because in don't ask for example, and zappa asia, 2 of the 2 of the regions where is a boat is apparently going to happen. i russia doesn't even control those entire areas yet. they only contro

they've gained 2000 square kilometers since they counter offensive began earlier this month . gabriel elizondo has more from cage. music. ukrainian advances are really incredibly fast to blitz that have been going in the how to key region pushing east and the face of this war. and the lines of this war had totally changed in the northeast of ukraine in the last 24 hours. as the ukrainian forces push forward, re taking cities, towns and villages. the russian main defense lines appear to be crumbling. and the russian defense is, or at least in some parts of the northeast, northeast in total disarray. the big one though is a zoom. that's a city of more than 50000 people about 130 kilometers south east of the regional capital. how to keep this is a city that the russian spot for 6 weeks to take it in april and now it looks like the ukrainians are going to retake it in a matter of 24 hours because the russian soldiers and that were entrenched in his room appear as they saw the ukrainians moving forward fast in his bliss towards that city. the russians simply ran away. they have left and retreated f