As Russia pounds Ukrainian cities, Kyiv tries to turn the tide with battlefront innovation

By — Nick Schifrin Nick Schifrin By — Veronica Vela Veronica Vela By — Daniel Okay Daniel Okay Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-russia-pounds-ukrainian-cities-kyiv-tries-to-turn-the-tide-with-battlefront-innovation Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio Massive Russian attacks across Ukraine overnight killed at least 22 people nationwide and wounded more than 130. Russia has stepped up the size and pace of its attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, but on the battlefront, Ukraine is trying to turn the tide. Nick Shifrin reports on Ukraine’s efforts, and speaks with retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Hamilton for more on the war. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Geoff Bennett: Russia launched massive overnight attacks across Ukraine, but focused again on the capital, Kyiv. Nationwide, at least 22 people were killed, more than 130 wounded. Russia has stepped up the size and pace of its attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months. But, as Nick Schifrin tells us, on the battlefront, Ukraine is trying to turn the tide. Nick Schifrin: This morning in Kyiv, the attack Ukraine had feared. Russia rained down a massive strike, leading to thunderous explosions. Across several cities, more than 70 missiles and 650 drones lit up the predawn sky. By day, walls became windows into what used to be a family's home, a child's drawings thrown by a direct Russian strike into their parents' bedroom, the kitchen and a family's memories ruined. In this building, at least three people died. And across Kyiv, the attack sparked fires in the middle of residential neighborhoods, entire apartment buildings battered and blackened, a scene that residents called hell; 35-year-old Olha Mudra pointed to her destroyed apartment and her daughter, saved by her mother's protection. Olha Mudra, Kyiv, Ukraine, Resident (through interpreter): We heard a sound, and then everything was in smoke. We crouched down. I covered my daughter. We couldn't understand if it was the apocalypse or what. Nick Schifrin: Olena Dniprovska left shell-shocked, she and her cat in need of comfort. Olena Dniprovska, Kyiv, Ukraine, Resident (through interpreter): Now I have nowhere to live. The apartment is completely destroyed, no doors, no windows, no balcony. The exit is right from the room onto the street. Nick Schifrin: The attacks followed more than a week of Russian threats that diplomats and foreigners should flee Kyiv. And, in recent weeks, Russia has expanded its punishment of Ukraine's cities, unleashing some of the war's largest strikes. Ukraine does not have enough Western air defense, including American Patriots, to protect its cities and critical infrastructure, leading to a renewed request tonight from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through