nick paton walsh is in the eastern ukraine. this is not the first time the russian president has threatened nuclear weapons. ukraine would be the center of this, what's the reaction. >> reporter: there always have deep concerns, but also a reality is setting in, possibly a leader in defeat and possibly using rhetoric where he doesn't have capacity, but it doesn't reduce the fear this was essentially response -- there have been none, but also key -- one of the words he said was using the weapons about mass destruction. we're also hearing about a possible -- after weeks of ukraine announcing continued progress on the battlefield. it's still happening now as i speak in this area around me, as russia appears to be making progress. they've faced huge manpower issues, but that 300,000 is wishful thinking at best. they struggled to keep 150,000 russian troops properly fed, equipped and commanded, so there's an idea there's in magical reserve that experienced fighters who can simply be put on the front lines to make the turnaround russ

they gave up the vital town of vovchansk, wolf. >> cnn's nick paton walsh on scene force.very much. and joining us now, democratic congressman jason crow of colorado. he is a key member of both the armed services and intelligence committees. he is also a veteran of the wars in both iraq and afghanistan. congressman, thanks so much for joining us. thanks for all of your service to the united states. as you know, cnn's nick paton walsh got this exclusive access where ukrainian troops have pushed nearly all the way toward russia's border. how does the u.s. help ukraine sustain this very, very powerful and dramatic sonoma. >> well, it's good to be with you, wolf. and you're right. ukrainians are doing a remarkable job. this counter-offensive that started earlier in august is meeting with tremendous success. and it's being success for two reasons. number one, the courage, the bravery, and the grit of the ukrainians and the ukrainian fighters, which is really unbelievable. history is going to go down as some of the best fighters we've seen. but second is because of the leadershi

yet another year will come. >> and nick paton walsh joins us now from kharkiv.amazing to see you there so close to the russian border, given how close it is and given how crucial you say railways are to moscow's war effort, is there a concern that russia is going to try to take that town back? >> you don't feel it when you're there. you see, really, what the russians left behind in such a hurry, including their own dead. even according to a western official speaking there isn't an abiding fear that russia can come back. i think what is startling is how quickly that force crumbled. even ukrainian officials saying today some of the units that fled around kharkiv have in fact been disbanded, essentially taken apart because of the damage done to them and the levels of casualties they've sustained. no real fear in that town russians are coming back. but they are so close that when they originally took vovchansk, it probably felt pretty much effortless. it's simply just a case of absorbing that territory as they move to targets further inside ukraine six months ago. a

nick paton walsh, keep your team and yourself safe. we will speak with you soon. some u.s. officials are dismissing russia's plans to call up more troops, making it clear that the results as well of these referenda planned in occupied ukrainian territory will not be recognized on the world stage. cnn's barbara starr joins me now from the pentagon. for months now we have heard from officials and other observers that the russian president would not dare to mobilize nationally because he doesn't have the public support for t here we have him doing so at least partially as some have described t i wonder what the response is from the pentagon. >> well, i think they're watching to see if it actually happens. if putin can carry through on this promise. just think about the supply lines, food, fuel, spare parts that would be necessary, vehicles to get that number of troops into eastern ukraine anytime soon and to be able to support them to operate on the battlefield. that is a very tall order. it is not to say that russia doesn't have considerable military power and capacity it cou

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cnn's nick paton walsh reports. when the blast pause, and we're quiet. are few blessings to count. most arbiter. one is here. a familiar scene of private worlds tone open. by a russian rocket two days earlier. but if place that might persuade you to believe in miracles. 19 people, were trapped appear, when rubble blocked the stairs. but somehow, not one of them was even injured. a five great latter going all out. but not even survivors, like battalion ohio. >> illinois, i blink twice and couldn't see. the back door flew open a trash fluid. i'm terrified of flames, and i realize we're on the seventh floor and it is collapsing. that someone screamed, don't come out, as there's no way. it is a miracle, i can't call it anything else. >> as putin's fake referenda, just a few miles away, threatened to get worse here. just now, the shelling has finally become too much for some. >> rescuers are evacuating nina, 73. after six months, living alone, without water or help. >> we are told, she's the last person to leave for block. [speaking non-english] [speaking non

night cnn's nick paton walsh gives us a look at a battle for key city in ukraine, where russia forcese in, ukrainian forces are fighting here's his report. >> the mood here is black and old, from a time past, ukraine didn't feel it was winning, taking heavy losses and struggling to hold on. but the russian enemy is something new. >> this is the very front line with russian positions literally 100 meters away from where i am standing. >> the kremlin really wants the city of bakhmut, so here on its edges, it is sent ruthless groceries from the wagner group to fight. the shelling endless. we are taken up their vantage point from where they see the wagner fighters rush at them, leaving the ukrainians to open fire. >> it's just over there. they say the russian wagner mercenaries appear to try to run at them, exposing ukrainian positions, so the russian artillery can hit where they are. >> the field between them charred and pockmarked. they're almost eyeball to eyeball. the next attack is imminent. we can see a mortar unit, the drone operator says, they're preparing to fire at us. down in a

our international security editor, nick paton walsh joins us from kramatorsk. nick, what can you tell us from the ground? >> reporter: yeah, certainly, these -- i can't even call them "votes," to be honest, handing out of ballots appears to be underway. images showing that in multiple areas. it's important to point out that this is happening under wartime conditions, under the gun, certainly, and that these ballot boxes are being taken to people's homes, essentially, an occupying force going to your front door and saying, do you want to vote "yes" to join part of russia or not? pretty clear what the outcome would be. as they used to say in the soviet time, it doesn't matter who votes, it's who counts the votes. we don't even see that many people even voting here. there's only one day over the next four days where in-person voting at ballot stations seem to be even happening. but this follows a long pattern, frankly, of how russia functions in what it used to call managed democracy, much less of a pretense, frankly here. the concern is what happens when the resul

nick paton walsh, thank you.o live to cnn's richard quest so i can wake up refreshed. neuriva think bigger. (coughing) hi, susan. honey? yeah. i respect that. but that cough looks pretty bad. try this robitussin honey. naturally sourced honey you love, plus the effective cough relief you need. mind if i root through your trash? robitussin. the only brand with real honey and elderberry. with directv i can get live tv and on demand together: football, housewives, football, housewives... whoops. i just want to talk! get your tv together. call 1-800-directv to save up to $120. technically when enamel is gone, you cannot get it back. but there are ways you can repair it. i'm excited about pronamel repair because it penetrates deep into the tooth to help actively repair acid-weakened enamel. i recommend pronamel repair to my patients. your record label is taking off. but so is your sound engineer. you need to hire. i need indeed. indeed you do. indeed instant match instantly delivers quality candidates matching your jo

nick paton walsh joining us. at least one of four regions say voting has ended.ussia will try to an sex these areas? >> reporter: it's going to be in a matter of days. at this stage we're getting preliminary results, all suggesting approval in the high 90s. i should point out again this is not a democratic process. these are people in occupied areas being asked by the occupied military force whether or not they want that military force to allow them to become part of russia's territory. of course, anybody faced with a gun is going to likely say yes. high 90s approval numbers, what we always expected. that will probably get formalized in the hours ahead. the russian leaders of the areas saying they're going to go to moscow to begin the formal process of recognition of these areas being part of russia. importantly, these areas are changing in the size that russia holds because of ukrainian advances on the front line as we speak. the clock is certainly ticking on that. a suggestion from the british military defense that they putin might use a speech on friday to ann

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back to you. >> nick paton walsh.g testimony in the alex jones trial. a witness said he knowingly lied about the sandy hook massacre to get more viewers online. that's coming up after a quick break. >>> join us for "champions for change". >> come on, girls. keep your knees up. >> cnn journalists shine a light on those who inspire them. >> it is a huge commitment in sacrifice and generosity. >> the changemakers. >> i love it so much, man. . >> it comes down to everybody playing their role the right way. >> the dream makers. >> i wanted to make a difference in the world. >> he's a champion for change because he's actually making the change. >> hi. thanks so much. >> "champions for change" all next week on cnn. frustrated with occasional digestive upsets? align 'c naturally helps promote a balanced gut and soothe occasional digestive upsets. plus, it supports vaginal health. it's recommended by gastroenterologists two-times more than any other probiotic brand. try align. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ there's a different way to tre

nick paton walsh reports from ukraine. >> reporter: really the day in which the rubber hits the road for putin's high stakes gamble. i should point out for ordinary ukrainians the siren you're hearing now is the sign that the constant bombardment continues in front line areas. but people waking up in moscow they are seeing the potential of people they know who are not in the army being asked to go to the front line here. so we are seeing ticket sales, men trying to get out of russia. seeing protests and possible as many as 1,300 people arrested around those protests. when they chant no to the war this is after 6 months of the war and possibly the thing that put them on the streets is the fact that ordinary russians who haven't been impacted are going to be rushed to the front. russia hasn't overcome the problem, how do they supply people on the front line, equip those new recruits and come up with an effective strategy that means these lives aren't potentially wasted in poor decision making on the front line. but ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy wasting no time during a speech

nick paton walsh reporting live from ukraine.nk you so much, nick. >>> so the federal reserve is raising interest rates again, and many worry that another my. wu what all of that means for to your wallet, fwic. this. is. fantastic. and only at panera. $0 delivery fee for a limited time. ["only wanna be with you" by hootie & the blowfish] discover is accepted at 99% of places in the u.s. ♪ ♪ this... is a glimpse into the no-too-distant future of lincoln. ♪ ♪ it's what sanctuary could look like... feel like... sound like... even smell like. more on that soon. ♪ ♪ the best part? the prequel is pretty sweet too. ♪ ♪ allergies don't have to be scary. spraying flonase daily stops your body from overreacting to allergens all season long. psst! psst! flonase all good. life... doesn't stop for diabetes. be ready for every moment, with glucerna. it's the number one doctor recommended brand that is scientifically designed to help manage your blood sugar. live every moment. glucerna. ♪ ♪ true loyalty doesn't come around often. but if you're

nick paton walsh was there and spoke with residents who have been forced underground. >> reporter: as russia forces a fake choice and a sham vote on occupied ukrainians, elsewhere igor and xena make the daily, deadly choice of their own. they must brave the shelling to go and get food. they've heard of russia's staged referendums here in bakhmut, but moscow makes itself fair here with artillery rather than imposing a ballot, likely having entered the city's east. streets in a strange quiet, as if in the eye of a storm where nobody is in control. they will still have to fight their way in. a sign of how things are changing fast here. ukrainian forces have blown the bridge in the middle of the city in the last day or so. russian forces getting close. the people left ask us not to film the outside of shelters as the russians will target them, and they've already gone underground as much as they can. saying some of these things are taken from buildings that have been bombed and brought to there. a lot of people want the back of their head filmed, possibly because they're concerned in the

nick paton walsh reports one 73-year-old's struggle to survive without water or help, living six monthsre. >> reporter: when the blasts pause and rare quiet, there are few blessings to count. most are bitter. one is here, a familiar scene of private worlds torn open by a russian rocket two days earlier. but a place that might persuade you to believe in miracles. 19 people were trapped up here when rubble blocked the stairs. but somehow not one of them was even injured. a fiber grade ladder getting them all out. not even survivors like natalia know how. >>. >> translator: a noise, i blinked twice and couldn't see. the balcony blew up, i'm terrified of flames, and i realized we're on the 7th floor and it's collapsing. someone screamed don't come out as there's no way. it's a miracle, i can't call it anything else. >> reporter: as putin's fake referenda just a few miles away threatened yet worse here, just now, the shelling has finally become too much for some. rescuers are evacuating nina, 73, after six months living alone without water or help. we're told she's the last person to leave h

fredricka. >> nick paton walsh, thank you so much. >>> still ahead, the corgis and the queen.nions were by her side spanning her 70-year reign. a look at what happens to her beloved royal pups. welcome to my digestive system. it's pretty calm in here with align probiotic. you see... your gut ha good and bad bacteria. and when you get o balance, you may feel it. the bloatingthe gas - but align helps me trust my gut aga. plus, its recommended by doctors nearly 2x more than any other probiotic brand. just one a day naturally helps promote a balanced gut. and soothe occasional bloating gas and discomfort. align probiotic. welcome to an align gut. becoming a morning person starts the night before with new neuriva relax and sleep. it has l-theanine to help me relax from daily stress. plus, shoden ashwagandha for quality sleep. so i can wake up refreshed. neuriva think bigger. [zoom call] ...pivot... work bye. vacation hi! book with priceline. 'cause when you save more, you can “no way!” more. no wayyyy. no waaayyy! no way! [phone ringing] hm. no way! no way! priceline. every trip is

cnn's nick paton walsh is live for us in eastern ukraine with the latest on what's happening not onlyr in russia. >> reporter: yeah. i mean, startling, those images. a country that russia invaded in 2008, now the place of which russian men are seeking some sort of asylum or escape from being involved in russia's next invasion of ukraine, and this, of course, is stories how badly mobilizations continue to emerge. you mentioned those two attacks in recruitment centers, women a l . well, in the past days, a leading talk show host how it's handled with idiocy, a paraphrase, scientists leaked part of this almost and beginning to question how appallingly this is going. as we also see ukrainians trying to get away from the likely time now when hours or days ahead russia will declare false results positively suggest referendums meaning they falsely want to join russia. that's changed potentially on the battlefield and ukrainian officials say in kherson one of those areas, it's impossible for ukrainians to flee. seen other areas, too, where a fear of escalation and continued shelling means ukr

cnn's nick paton walsh is in ukraine. so, nick, where do things stand?rter: well, as it stands, it is remarkable to learn that in one of the occupied areas of ukraine there is occupied by russia where the sham vote is happening at the barrel of a gun often, in fact, with our men taking ballot boxes around people's houses. in donetsk, early figures suggest 19,000 people have in fact already voted. only 550 of those did so actually in that occupied part of the ukraine. the rest were voting inside of russia. that gives you an idea really as to kind of how the integrity of this vote, even under official statements, is playing out. but we saw ourselves exactly what it means for ordinary ukrainians in areas held by ukraine, that's the vast majority of the country, what life was flierk them when the occupation was being forced to take part in this uranium. the ordinary ukrainians were still experiencing shell fire. russia forces a fake choice in a sham vote on occupied ukrainians. elsewhere, igor and zina make the daily deadly choice of their own. they must bra

let's bring in cnn's nick paton walsh, who's in kramatorsk, ukraine, where ukrainian troops are continuingnto occupied territory that moscow has just now falsely claimed as part of russia proper. that includes, nick, where you are standing right now. what's the reaction among ukrainians there? >> reporter: yeah, look, there's been no difference for this town, kramatorsk, from the this morning, when it was par of ukraine to this evening, where russia now thinks it's part of russia. what we saw today in moscow was startling messaging by a kremlin that's really been on the rocks for the past week or longer. a real sense of them wanting people domestically to know that they're on the course towards victory. the ground matters won't changed by vladimir putin standing on stage with a paper, with the four moscow-appointed leaders of occupied territory here in ukraine. but it was essentially a chance for him to say, we would like a cease fire. that isn't going to happen, because ukraine is on the front foot here. talk about negotiations. nobody really trusts russia at the negotiating table at this

nick paton walsh takes us to the eastern ukrainian town to find more evidence of russia's cold-blood edit ed torture tact >> reporter: there's no respite or victory here. a battle still shaking the question. this occupation slogan, we are one people with russia, seems comic. now the ukrainians have chased the russians across the bridge and further south. a shell has landed under 100 meters from us. another swiftly follows. it's unlikely moscow can retake places lost in the past weeks. so this is about vengeance and spite. this prisoner, this claimed to be local but they think he's a russian soldier deserting or left behind. what else moscow left behind is far uglier. these tiny rooms in their detention center where as many as 400 prisoners were held at one time we were told. eight or nine prisoners per cell. booby traps now in their place, a warning written next to this room. >> so he's writing grenade there on the wall. as they move through these cells, they're finding booby traps left, it seems, by the occupying forces. that one in there, a grenade left under a tray of half-eaten f

cnn's nick paton walsh got access to an eastern town under constant shelling, as they russians beginfelons into their ranking. >> reporter: the mood here is black and old. ukraine took heavy losses, struggliing to hold on, but the russian enemy is something new. this is a very front line with russia positions literally 100 meters away from where i'm standing. the kremlin wants this city, so here on its edges, it's sent ruthless merits norcenaries. they see the fighter leading the ukrainians to open fire. they say the russian mercenaries prefer to try to run at them, so the artillery can hit where they are. the field between them, charred, pock-marked, almost eyeball to eyeball. the next attack is imminent. we can see a mortar unit, the drone operator says. they're prepare to firing at us. down in the shelter, the commander says they have captured russian convicts who were recruited to fight. it's get shot or surrender, he says. they act professionally not like usual infantry units. shells continue to land all around them. the city is a mess. russia edging towards it, but not inside.

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. >> cnn's nick paton walsh is live for us in ukraine with more. sd >> reporter: certainly a stark change about their messaging around the possibility of nuclear conflict provoted by vladimir putin's comments last week threatening that. but very different from back a few months ago where most western officials would say the idea of nuclear conflict was something simply photo going to happen. over the weekend, the russian foreign minister said any areas that have been formalized as part of russian territory would get, quote, full protection from russia. part of this bid by moscow suggests in the middle of of next week when they likely declared occupied areas of ukraine to be part of russia, there's the possibility they might go deeper into the unconventional parts of their arsenal to protect it. there's also a possibility about trying to force ukraine into a diplomatic solution over russia keeping these areas. that's something that both kyiv and washington said they are simply not interested in. so we're into a dicey week ahead. all that to one side

here is cnn's nick paton walsh. >> there is no rest for victory here, and i'll till rebuttal still shakingone people with russia seems comic. now, the ukrainians have changed the russians across the bridge towards the south. [noise] the shell has landed under 100 meters. another swiftly follows. it is unlikely moscow can take places left in the past week. so this is about vengeance and spite. this prisoner is claimed to be local, but they think that he is a russian soldier, deserving -- what else moscow left behind is far uglier. these tiny rooms, with their detention center, where as many as 400 prisoners were held at one time, we are told. eight or nine prisoners purcell. booby traps now in their place, a warning written next to this room. >> so he's fighting -- because, as they move through the cells, they are finding booby traps left. it seems, but the occupying forces. that one in there, a grenade, left under a tray of have eaten food. and it just shows you the hazards, the ordinary people are going to find coming back. a place like this, sure uses a key detention center by the russia

. >> cnn international editor nick paton walsh is live for us in ukraine. nick, start with this referendum vote. officials say that some ukrainians are being forced to vote. how is that being done? >> reporter: yeah. some of this is clearly because of the implied pressure of being occupied by a military force of russia or in terms at time the direct pressure that appears. at the moment, ballot boxes are being brought to people's homes, suggestions they walk to polling stations. there is a great confusion on how this would play out, thought in in-person voting would happen on the last day. it appears to be much more haphazard and people are simply being asked to put their mark on a piece of paper. none of this of course is anything relow temperaturely approaching democracy and being, done under the pressure of military occupation. probably the middle of next week there will be a round endorsement, an extraordinary high percentage number of people in occupied areas we're likely to see that will endorse the coming part of russia. why does moscow need that? they

. >> nick paton walsh is there in kharkiv. what is happening where you are, nick? >> reporter: we're seeing the blackout, characteristic with a city fearing bombardment but less over the past days but that visit to the city itself startling, frankly. a characteristic i would say near the front lines of president zelenskyy visiting a city which still you could hear explosions while he talked to cameras in the distance saying how the people there needed to look after themselves, they were ukraine's greatest asset and saying how the destruction around him startling as it was was something he was familiar with after russian forces pulled out near the capital kyiv. it is remarkable frankly the speed of the russian retreat here. some western officials saying perhaps this is in fact sanctioned by the russian general staff and a kind of ordered retreat but the feeling is of collapse and chaos. often ukrainian forces were trying to work out how fast they can mover into the land vacated by russians to the north of kharkiv where i'm standing. we saw in may the violence, the e

so mason, i'm still shaken by watching nick paton walsh's report.. the bottom line is russia is losing ground in parts of ukraine. senator rich told me russia is losing this war. are you concerned that he could resort to chemical or nuclear weapons? >> i think that's unlikely at this stage. as you noted, the ukrainians have been doing very well the last couple of weeks and i think the initiative is firmly in their hands at this point in the war. the kremlin is still dedicated to sending in additional troops and seeing what effects the winner will have on european support for ukraine as russia leverages its energy weapon, so to speak. i agree it's jaihighly unlikely that putin elects to use a chemical or nuclear weapon in the ukraine. i don't think that would happen. i don't think a nuclear strike on a ukrainian city would force the ukrainians, who have shown incredible resolve throughout this conflict, to back down or surrenders and would likely lead to pretty immediate retaliation against the remaining russian forces by the u.s. or nato. >> preside

our thanks to nick paton walsh for that incredible story.f the video you filmed of some of these bodies. can you describe what you saw? >> this is horrible, horrible to see and horrible to hear what the people, the witnesses say. because this mass grave where more than 400 graves were found and now we were told that about 50 were already exhume ated. it will take about seven days to find -- to dig out all the bodies. and the police is doing this to identify who is there and what caused the deaths. but for now what we know is that 90% of these people, they died because of the violent deaths. and it was either because of the shelling or some of them were shot. so the witnesses that i have talked to, they tell that they saw themselves, people being shot by russian soldiers just on the streets. the bodies were lying on the streets. and then later they were picked up and buried in the forest just near izyum. >> and you wrote on twitter that witnesses confirmed to you they saw people being shot on the street by the russians. what are you hearing f

cnn's nick paton walsh takes us there now. >> reporter: here is where the horror gets names and numbersa's unprovoked invasion killed many, we knew, but only now in liberated cities like izyum are we finding out who and how. and even this rain cannot erase the smell of how death haunts these pines. it's important to point out that this was a military position. these are tank positions around the city, presumably for the russians when they occupied it. burying these bodies where their troops would lay to rest and defend the city. ukrainian officials have said over 400 bodies were buried here, even children, all showing signs of a violent death. through the day, they have been exhuming dozens of bodies, most individual graves, numbered and orderly, one bearing a number as high as 398. but this, we are told, and can smell and see, is a mass grave, where 17 dead were found, a policeman here told us. ukraine officials said bodies found included a family killed in an air strike, ukrainian soldiers shot with their hands bound and bodies showing signs of torture. some of the graves are marked j

nick paton walsh is working the story for us. re, nick. >> yeah, very vocal in its criticism of the ukraine war, and its chairman falling, apparently it seems, to suicide from a sixth floor window of a hospital where he was receiving treatment. one of a number of coincidences of similar deaths or disturbing pattern amongst moscow's elite. we've been seeing a shocking number of incidents like this over the past month. >> reporter: it should sound extraordinary, but in putin's wartime russia, it's become staggeringly common. a wealthy energy executive declared dead from suicide. this time, oil executive seen here earlier with the kremlin head, died on thursday at 7:00 in the morning after falling from the sixth floor window of a central moscow hospital, where he was being treated after a heart attack, said a state media law enforcement source. they added he was taking antidepressants and committed suicide. the oil giant he chaired behind 2% of the world's crude, but tight lipped on the circumstances saying he died, quote, following

cnn's nick paton walsh is in one of them is kramatorsk in the area of donetsk. all of this it's time to sit down at the negotiating table, at the same time he's saying these annexations are in his words forever, which is a nonstarter for ukrainians. i wonder how ukrainians are reacting to this and do they see this as an escalation? >> reporter: yeah, they knew this was coming. they knew these terms were essentially the final product of days of theater we've seen of sham referenda and pieces of paper being signed. ukrainian reaction s look, don't be distracted by this, we're continuing to prosecute this war on the front line and they are seeing a lot of success, frankly. near where i'm standing in donetsk, a key strategic town of lie man is being circled, particularly have a knock on effect across the luhansk region, another one of the four areas russia says is part of its territory falsely. the issue is as russia says all these areas of ukraine are now part of our country, ukraine is taking them back off russia's faltering military. it was interesting to hear vla

cnn's nick paton walsh is covering it all for us. russia forces a fake choice and a sham vote, unoccupied ukrainians elsewhere, igor and zena make the daily, deadly choice of their own. they must brave the shelling to go and get food. >> reporter: they've heard of russia's staged referendums here, but moscow makes itself felt here with artillery, rather than imposing a ballot. likely having entered the cities east. streets in a strange quiet, as if in the eye of a storm, where nobody is in control. they will still have to fight their way in. a sign of how things are changing fast here. ukrainian forces have blown the bridge in the middle of the city, in the last day or so. russian forces getting close. >> reporter: the people left ask us not to film the outside of shelters, as the russians will target them, and they've already gone underground as much as they can. >> he's saying some of these things are taken from buildings that are being bombed and brought to here. a lot of people want the back of their head filmed, possibly because

cnn's nick paton walsh is on the ground in the war zone. >> reporter: his biggest statement since he began the war that he still won't call a war delayed 12 hours till this morning and perhaps less drastic than feared, but still a huge move by vladimir putin who until now used this sort of volunteer recruitment process declaring the first forced mobilization in russia even if it is partial since world war ii. [ speaking non-english ] >> translator: i repeat, we are talking only about partial mobilization, in other words, only military reservists primarily those who served in the armed forces and have specific military occupational specialties and corresponding experience will be called up. >> reporter: behind it all the nuclear threat. claiming the west had threatened russia and so russia would use everything it had to defend its territorial integrity. >> translator: this is not a plouffe. the citizens of russia can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, our independence and freedom will be ensured. i emphasize this again with all the means at our disposal and those

nick paton walsh reports from the front lines in the eastern city. >> reporter: the mood here is black and old, from a time past , ukraine did not feel it was winning, taking heavy losses, struggling to hold on. but, the russian enemy is something you. knew. >> this is the front line with russian positions 100 meters away from where i am standing. >> the kremlin really wants the city, so here, on its edges, it has sent riskless mercenaries from the wagner group to fight. the shelling, and was. endless. >> reporter: we are taking up to their vantage point, from where they see wagner fighters rush them, leading ukrainian forces to open fire. >> they say the russian wagner mercenaries appear to try to run at them, exposing ukrainian positions, so the russian artillery can hit where they are . >> reporter: the field between them, charred and pockmarked. they are almost eyeball to eyeball. the next attack is imminent. we can see a mortar unit, a drone operator says preparing to fire. down in the shelter, the commander says they have captured russian convicts who were recruited to fight. >>

i want to bring in nick paton walsh in eastern ukraine. what's the latest on this, nick? >> reporter: this voting -- i shouldn't even call it that -- gets under way. but it's not even in person initially. sometimes they'll be bringing ballot boxes to people's homes. imagine having a part of the occupying force coming to your home, do you want to be part of russia or not. it reminds me of the soviets saying it doesn't matter who votes, it's who counts the vote. but we expect by the middle of next week some faked mandate for these areas joining russia and how it changes russia calculus and what it thinks it can do to defend them. the biggest issue is probably the most dangerous decision putin has made in his 22 years in power. the categories that he seemed to say, reservists veterans, those with specialized skills doesn't seem to be going over well. the last six months an ordinary russian your life hasn't changed because of the war, it's something you've seen on television with propaganda telling you how ukraine is a nazi state has to be put in its place, force. but now you

. >> i want to bring in kylie atwood here in new york, nick paton walsh is live in ukraine for us. this speech we thought it was going to happen yesterday, it happened overnight, a big announcement from vladimir putin. >> major announcement. these aren't small numbers only. he's not only mobilizing russians here, but it is 300,000 reservist troops that are being put into this mobilization as the ongoing war in ukraine is happening. president putin said that he is doing this because the west has crossed all lines in terms of continuing to support advance weaponry to the ukrainians. but the context here is key. that comes as russia has suffered major losses on the ukrainian battlefield and also because this is the week when the other world leaders are gathered here in new york city for the united nations general assembly. it's key to note that putin made this announcement while that is happening. we heard yet from the secretary of state tony blinken who talked about the fact this announcement was expected and the referendums announced by the proxies, and here's what he tells you abou

let' begin with nick paton walsh listen to the u.n. security council meeting, to tony blinken just now. neither the russian ambassador were in the room not present at the table today. >> not entirely surprising that they were choosing to not be on camera, have their reactions photographed or film while that lit any of russian abuses over the past six months was run through by secretary blinken. and it is stark to listen to one man in one go, go through everything that ukraine has been through an the world has been through since russia chose to invade on the 24th of february. and the torture some of which we've reported on ourselves and the loss of civilian lives through bombing by russia, the dodge that has done to russia's standing, russia's people on one side and also too, to the world food markets and how they have it seems indiscriminately mined agriculture fields here as well so it is remarkable to have all of that spoken by secretary blinken there and i think it is a sign too that united states, despite the call for a partial mob

nick paton walsh is live in ukraine with more on this. what happened here?bout to go from the area which russia has just claimed is part of its territory but is in fact controlled by ukraine. into areas that were militarily controlled by russia. part of the zaporizhzhia region. the missile system used against aircraft but officials used in this tack-a tack landed near this convoy and the scenes are horrific. and it would be given that on thursday night vladimir putin published a decree that it is part of russia and one of the first things that they have done on the territory that they now claim is part of russia is launch this missile strike and it feeds into this bizarre parallel reality about what you've been hearing happening in the kremlin in moscow and what is happening on ground. the bangs in the background are from electrical behind us. and one of the issues certainly that feed news the sense of parallel reality is moscow is claiming territory belongs to them but is being slowly retaken by ukraine troops. particularly near where i'm standing. so, very

cnn international security editor nick paton walsh is on the ground for us in ukraine.e're looking at a very few tense days ahead. we're beginning to see these preordained results coming in occupied parts of ukraine. the numbers coming out, all the votes counted in the high 90s of acceptance, essentially because you have had armed men going door-to-door, asking people whether they endorse russia taking over the place where i that live. now, we're probably going to see russian backed officials who have been in charge of some of those areas. one of them on the way to moscow to begin the process of rubber stamping through rushi's two houses of parliament, the idea that these part of ukraine have become part of russia. in fact, the british ministry of defense suggesting that vladamir putin may use a speech on friday to formally annex these areas. that will britrigger a response from the united states, sanctions. the european union has a package of sanctions that they will wheel out. vladamir putin has been talking about the possibility of nuclear weapons to be used to defen

nick paton walsh saw the site firsthand. >> reporter: here is where the horror gets names and numbers unprovoked invasion killed many, but only now in liberated cities like izium are we finding out who and how. and even this rain cannot erase the smell of the death. it is important to point out that this was a military position, these are tank positions around the city. presumably for the russians when they occupied it. burying these bodies where their troops would later rest. and defend the city. ukrainian officials have said over 400 bodies were buried here. even children. all showing signs of a violent death. through the day, they have been exhuming dozens of bodies. most individual graves, numbered and orderly. one bearing a number as high as 398. but this we are told and can smell and see is a mass grave where 17 dead were found, a policeman here told us. ukrainian officials said bodies found included a family killed in an airstrike. ukrainian soldiers shot with their hands bound. and bodies showing signs of torture. some of the graves are marked just by a number and others have

reporter, natasha bertrand, also with us live from ukraine, cnn international security editor, nick paton walsh. natasha, let me just start with you. obviously, there are more sanctions to be leveled. every time there's yet another package of sanctions, we hear how strict this is. how will this be different? >> well, allison, essentially what the u.s. has been doing over the last several months is studying how russia has been able to circumvent the worst impact of these sanctions. and now they are trying to course correct. now they are implementing new sanctions in an effort to try to cut off the supply chain that russia has been able to continue having, from other countries, for example. so now, any countries that provide this kind of military political economic assistance to russia, in a way that is deemed inappropriate by the u.s., by its western allies, that will be subject to sanctions. and also, the u.s. has taken a very interesting step here, which is to impose sanctions on russia's central banker. that is someone who the u.s. believes has been exceptionally talented and adept at keeping

nick paton walsh takes us to the eastern ukrainian town to find more evidence of russia's cold-blood. a battle still shaking the question. this occupation slogan, we are one people with russia, seems comic. now the ukrainians have chased the russians across the bridge and further south. a shell has landed under 100 meters from us. another swiftly follows. it's unlikely moscow can

nick paton walsh is on the ground in ukraine. what are you seeing? >> i mean, staggering, really, these scenes of russia simply trying to get out. experiencing record numbers, 60,000 over the weekend, and you saw down towards georgia, essentially countries that don't require russians to have a visa. they are of course reeling from the sudden influx. this is down to the haphazard and brutal nature in which there's quote partial mobilization has been prosecuted and which it seems that people who didn't fit the category were simply swept off the street. we have seen intense protests in one of the southern republics, that's not a place where russia wants to see popular unrest. jihadist issues, local unrest in the past decades. the kremlin saying look, we accept there have been problems and we're going to fix them, but hollow words for people who have seen relatives packed on to buses. >>> now a controversy about the tough language out of the kremlin. the white house national security adviser jack sullivan using stark language to putin's latest nuclear th

nick paton walsh, cnn, svitlodarsk, ukraine. >> the case appears to be building that russia may be involvedf two nord stream pipelines. sources tell cnn, european officials observed russian navy ships, in the area, where the pipelines had been leaking natural gas since monday. it is unclear if those vessels said anything to do with two explosions, believed responsible for damaging the lines. the kremlin dismissing any suggestion that sabotage is on pipelines as, quote, stupid, and absurd. the embassy in moscow, urging americans to leave moscow, a mediately, while t there's options to do so. the secucurity comes after president vladimir putin annonounced a partial mobililization of russian men to fight in ukraiaine. the russian authorities have arrested u.s. citizezens, who participated in demonstrations, and may conscript do own nationals for military service. with that now. stay for cnn with continue coverage for hurricane ian, more devastating effects on the sunshine states west coast. more, when we come back. you are watching cnn. why hide your skin if dupixent has your moderate-to-sever

our nick paton walsh is there.ar. >> reporter: yeah, look, extraordinary scenes in moscow today. a real bid by putin to suggest victory could be something russia might actually see despite enormous international dissent of his partial mobilization and a continuously faltering campaign on the battlefield here. he suggested a ceasefire, diplomacy, things frankly ukraine are never going to accept, given they are seeing progress here and don't trust russia as an honest partner at the negotiating table. he held out the possibility of the nuclear threat, not direct but in the background in his speech. and, frankly, the key takeaway here is he stood on thephage with four moscow-appointed leaders of the occupied areas here in ukraine. and they signed pieces of paper together. hasn't changed what's been happening here today as he was standing there and over the past days. ukrainian forces are moving forward to try and encircle a key hub here at lyman where there are now thousands of russian troops, some quite well equipped.

>> nick paton walsh reporting, thank you so much. >>> cnn learned that former new mexico governor bill richardson was in moscow russia this week. cnn is told richardson and his teams held meetings. the golfs not clear. in the past richardson worked to free americans detained abroad and there are, of course, two high profile american detainees in russia, if not more. cnn's kylie atwood joins us from the state department with more. what is at stake in these meetings between richardson and russian officials? >> jake, there is a lot at stake because it comes as you said, the biden administration is trying to secure a deal to secure the release of brittney griner and paul whalen. these two americans wrongfully detained in russia and bill richardson has in the past been involved to get home americans wrongfully detained. the richardson center isn't commenting on this visit right now but it's worth reflecting on the last time that richardson was in russia. that was in february. and when he came home from that trip after meeting with russian officials he briefed white house officials according

of where the front lines are with many wondering quite where the next push will be, pamela, nick paton walsh we'll be right back. ♪ any way ♪ ♪ any way you want it ♪ ♪ thahat's the way you need it ♪ it's back america. applebee's all you can eat boneless w wings. just $12.99. flu shots at cvs are pretty...flex. schedule one for you... ...or the whole crew. plus, they're free. really? healthier is getting a flu shot on your schedule. cvs. healthier happens together. our clients come to us with complicated situations that occur in their lives. for them it's the biggest milestone, the biggest accomplishment, the sale of a business, or an important event for their family. for them, it's the first and only time. we have seen this literally thousands of times, in thousands of iterations. ♪ ♪ i am vince lumia, head of field management at morgan stanley. whether that's retirement, paying for their children's college education, or their son or daughter getting married, our financial advisors need to make sure that they are making objective decisions, every step along the way. every time you hit a mile