now, these are the most expensive olympics staged, an estimated $51 billion, and as abc's hamish mcdonald tells us, there's a lot at stake. >> reporter: and for vladimir putin, the president of russia, he has staked everything on being able to carry out these games successfully, but with just a few hours to go before the big event, as it were, the opening ceremony, a lot of last-minute work being done, a lot of those final bits of preparation at the venues and some of the accommodation sites is taking place, but absolutely the number one priority for russia and for the organizers is security. >> abc's hamish mcdonald in russia, thank you. >>> and we've been hearing about problems with facilities in sochi including hotels. >> yeah, here's the latest, the russian official responsible for olympic preparations said yesterday that surveillance cameras have been installed in some of the hotel shower nozzles. the same official also accused western media of anti-russian bias. now, later a spokesman said that official had simply misspoken about the showers. >>> meanwhile, the u.s. is pointing a fi

abc international correspondent hamish mcdonald tonight. >> reporter: it could land anywhere on earthcommissioned russian satelli satellite, making a high speed re-entry into the atmosphere. we can track where it's been and where it's going, but judging and exact point of impact, well, that is rocket science. this is normally the stuff of fiction. space junk hurtling towards us. but we don't need to download the movie. this is all too real. a year ago, a 10,000-ton meteor exploded over russia. dashboard cameras captured that moment and afterwards, we saw the force of it, too. we've seen similar mrr displays in the skies above america. and tomorrow, an asteroid the size of three football fields will make a close brush past our planet. tonight, we're told most of this satellite will burn up on entry. but some fragments could still reach earth. well, the russian military is monitoring this closely. they say the most likely designation is the pacific ocean. and the chance of it hitting or hurting anyone is minuscule. david? >> minuscule indeed. ma hamish, thank you. >>> coming up, the hal

hamish mcdonald is on the ground in the capital and joins us with the latest. hamish. >> reporter: martha, the ousted president is calling this whole process a coup. and then hours later was prevented from leaving the country on a helicopter. take a look at these pictures broadcast on local independent television. they claim it's security footage of him trying to escape. they can't verify it's him. in the meantime, the parliament is trying to assert authority, appointing an acting president. the speaker of the parliament. as well as that, releasing the arch rival of i canyanukovych, tymenshenko. she has been in prison. she has back problems and in a wheelchair. age.tymenshenko takes the , she began the day a prisoner and entered a key player in this country's future. she is not universally admired here, but they shout approval when they shout for justice for the ousted president. the parliament agreed to release the former prime minister, leaving her daughter in tears. and they impeached the president and hold fresh elections in may. outside, protesters are in

hamish mcdonald is in kiev.d morning. >> reporter: dan, effectively the president has gone missing. no one knows where he is. he was captured trying to leave the country on an airplane, calling this a coup. he is being replaced. the speaker of the parliament will be in that position now. it doesn't matter where you go, it's obvious that the regime has changed. the opulence has shocked so many. a day after the abandoned presidential retreat, chand leers, luxury cars, even a zoo. >> i can't believe that such a place exists in ukraine. >> protesters took full control of the capital while the parliament impeached the president. it was calm and orderly. citizen militias prevented chaos. ukraine's former prime minister was released from jail where she had been held for two and a half years. it is incredible to think that yulia was in prison just hours ago. she's being welcomed back to the capital by an adoring crowd. she is no saint, but they hear her call to keep pushing for reforms. you have removed this cancer from

hamish mcdonald is in kiev.d morning. >> reporter: dan, effectively the president has gone missing. no one knows where he is. he was captured trying to leave the country on an airplane, calling this a coup. he is being formally replaced. the speaker of the parliament will be in that position now. it doesn't matter where you go, it's obvious that the regime has changed. the opulence has shocked so many. a day after the abandoned presidential retreat, chandeliers, luxury cars, even a zoo. >> i can't believe that such a place exists in ukraine. zbl zblsh. >> reporter: prosecutors were busy taking full control of the capital while the parliament impeached the president. it was calm and orderly. citizen militias stood outside, preventing chaos. ukraine's former prime minister was released from jail where she had been held for two and a half years. it is incredible to think that yulia tumoshenko was in prison just hours ago. she's being welcomed back to the capital by an adoring crowd. she is no saint, but they hear h

hamish mcdonald, abc news. >> also unmarried citizens of countries where same-sex marriage is legal.course this doesn't impact the u.s. because russia has banned all-americans, raudless of their sexuality from adopting children from russia. that is back in 2012. and so this applies to single people in other countries, mostly europe. countries where gay marriage has been legalized. >> they are suffering because of politics. just ashame. >> itting breaks my heart. >> that's right, i went to one of new york's most amazing rf runts and learn had how to make a steak. no fuss, no muss. >> aa couple finally holding hands for the first time in a 1-year marriage. you're watching world now continue. ♪ ♪ >>> ail right. so valentine's day can be tough for a lot of people. between flowers, candy, cards, it can be hard to find the right thing to make your special someone happy. >> true. but this is our favorite story of the day. >> a little leopard can go a long way. home cooked meal. so i set out to find something that a guy can make that is both delicious and easy. all right, g guys, it is valen

hamish mcdonald. >> >> they are suffering because of politics.a shame. >> russia has already banned all americans regarding sexuality from adopting children from russia. that was back in 20 12. so this applies to single people in other countries, mostly europe, the places where gay marriage has been legalized. >> you see kids in orphanages and they're suffering because of politics. >> i know. it breaks my heart. >>> coming up. i went to new york's most amazing restaurants to learn how to make a steak, no fuss, no muss. >>> the next half hour, the amazing breakthrough that has allowed a couple to hold hands for the first time in their 13 year marriage. you're watching "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now" ♪ ♪ ♪ if you believe in love at all ♪ ♪ let's get it on baby >>> so, valentine's day can be tough for a lot of people. between the flowers, the candy, the cards, it can be hard to find the right thing to make your special someone happy. >> it's true. but this one is our "favorite story of the day." >> a little leopard can go a long way

. >> our man in russia is abc's hamish mcdonald.e in russia. and very clearly, the emphasis at this point is on security. the organizers of this game, indeed russia, have staked everything on being able to carry out this event in a peaceful and safe environment. sochi sits in the caucasus region and this is the same region where there has been a long-running insurgency. militants who have been fighting for an independent islamist state in the region carried out attacks as recently as december of last year in volgograd, just to the northeast of sochi. and they threaten there will be further attacks during the games. one statement said there would be a surprise package for visitors. u.s. security officials warned that international flights flying into this country could be at risk. that militants may try to smuggle on board explosive materials inside toothpaste containers. around the precinct where the games are taking place, there is a security ring of steel and for vladimir putin, president of russia, he has staked everything on bei