Anderson Cooper 360

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a general known as the “butcher of Syria” when he ran operations there as the focus shifts to Eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is “ready” for a major Russian offensive in the east. CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins tells AC360 how the Biden administrations is responding to Gen. Alexander Dvornikov’s appointment. Plus, CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward spent time in two Ukrainian towns liberated from Russian forces. She shows AC360 the carnage left behind and how local residents are trying to clean up the destruction.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At least 50 people, including five children, were killed and nearly 100 more were injured at an eastern Ukraine train station after Russian forces carried out a missile strike. Nate Mook is the CEO of World Central Kitchen and was close to the scene of the attack where he was helping feed evacuees in Kramatorsk. He joins AC360 and describes the scene of missile strike “catastrophic” and says it was a “direct attack on innocent civilians.” Plus, two days after the 2020 election Donald Trump Jr. texted then-chief of staff Mark Meadows ideas for overturning the results before it was called. CNN Congressional Correspondent Ryan Nobles tells Anderson Cooper what else was in the text message from the former President’s eldest son. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

German’s foreign intelligence service told a parliamentary committee that it had intercepted transmissions from Russian troops talking about shooting Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, a source with knowledge of the meeting said. That may be evidence of the Russians committing war crimes, something Moscow has denied. CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward brings AC360 to Chernihiv, Ukraine, which has been completely cut off from the rest of the country with no food and very little water. Plus, in a historic 53-47 vote, the Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court making her the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the country. Anita Hill is a professor of social policy, law and women’s studies at Brandeis University and testified more than 30 years ago before the Senate Judiciary Committee about allegations of sexual harassment she made against then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. She tells Anderson Cooper how important Jackson’s confirmation is both politically and culturally.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden says “major war crimes” are being discovered in Ukraine as Russian forces retreat from areas around Kyiv. The White House announced new sanctions on Russia’s largest financial institutions and individuals with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including his two adult daughters. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer tells Anderson Cooper if he thinks the new sanctions will impact Putin’s ability to wage war. Plus, Polish President Duda says it’s “hard to deny” genocide in Ukraine after images came to light from cities like Bucha showing civilians brutally killed. CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash brings AC360 an exclusive interview with President Duda where he talks about how his country will continue to support Ukraine.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a graphic account of the situation in his country in his remarks to the UN Security Council saying Russians killed civilians in Bucha for “pleasure” and “there is not a single crime they would not commit there.” Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel joins AC360 to discuss if he thinks the U.S. level of involvement on the ground should change. Plus, Chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen crew were one of the first humanitarian efforts inside Bucha. He tells Anderson Cooper about delivering meals to residents and how appreciative they were.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine wants to “show the world” what happened in Bucha and his country “will not pause” until it finds those who are responsible. Shocking images show civilian bodies with gunshot wounds to their heads and hands tied. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby tells Anderson Cooper whether the images of the brutal attacks on the Ukrainian citizens changes the U.S. position on the war. Plus, Russia claims Ukrainians faked a video from Bucha showing bodies in the streets but satellite images show the bodies had been there for weeks while the town was under Russian control. David Remnick is an editor for The New Yorker and won a Pulitzer Prize for his book on the Soviet Union. He joins AC360 to discuss what Russian President Vladimir Putin could be thinking.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia is accusing Ukraine of orchestrating an attack on a fuel depot inside Russian territory but CNN is unable to verify Russian claims that the fire was caused by an air strike from Ukrainian helicopters. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has neither confirmed nor denied the attack. Retired Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard joins AC360 to discuss who he thinks is responsible for the attack. Plus, buses rescue nearly 800 people originally from the besieged city of Mariupol. CNN Senior International Correspondent Ivan Watson tells AC360 what the evacuees can expect.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden says there’s some indication Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to be “self-isolated” and has either fired some advisers or put them under house arrest. Biden did add he didn’t want to put “too much stock in that” because they “don’t have that much hard evidence.” Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor joins AC360 to discuss why he thinks Putin is "divorced from reality."  Plus, CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour tells AC360 about what’s happening in the fight for Kyiv.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian forces continue to conduct full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine just a day after Moscow said it would “drastically reduce” its military assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said negotiations with Russia are “only words, without anything concrete.” Lesia Vasylenko is a Ukrainian Member of Parliament. She joins AC360 to explain why she doesn’t believe anything Russian President Vladimir Putin says. Plus, U.S. senators received a classified briefing about the war in Ukraine. Independent Sen. Angus King was in the briefing and he shares with Anderson Cooper why he believes this is a “crucial period that we’re moving into now.”To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A U.S. official says “no one should be fooled by Russia’s announcements” that they are scaling back their military operations in Ukraine and should brace for more aggression instead. CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour is in Kyiv and joins AC360 to give an update on what she’s seeing and hearing in the capital city. Plus, Anderson Cooper checks in with Olena Gnes, who’s been hiding in a Kyiv shelter with her three kids while her husband fights the Russian forces.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices