Yucca Valley man fears for his family in Ukraine
Fedor Rogovets lives in Yucca Valley, but much of his heart and mind are in Ukraine.
He tells News Channel 3's Marian Bouchot that he has been in constant communication with friends and family who live in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, he says he hears bombs go off during their phone calls. The family sends back images and videos that horrify him.
"I'm out of the frustration. I'm just here and there is no way I can help right now," said Rogovets. "When there is no connection I always feel like-- are they in a basement because there's no connection? Or are they being killed because there's no connection?"
His ex-wife lives in Kyiv and she called as the first bombs went off.
"She says she's so scared because any minute she doesn't know what's going to happen. They can be killed or not and you know the missiles can go through," said Rogovets. "[She does not have] enough strength even to go to the basement because she's so tired of going back and forth and just-- out of the frustration just sit and wait-- if they're gonna kill her right now or not."
Rogovets' brother-in-law is in a wheelchair and can't get down the stairs on his own.
"Whenever the sirens come you have to go to the basement. He said I'm not gonna be able to do that. I'm just gonna lay here and wait until it's gonna happen," said Rogovets. "I usually don't cry, but soon as I hang up the phone, that's when I'm crying."
Back in Yucca Valley, Rogevets is overwhelmingly frustrated there isn't more he can do to help.
MORE: Local family raising money to help relatives in Ukraine who are running low on supplies
Zelensky urges Biden to send strong message on Russia and says: 'I'm not iconic. Ukraine is iconic'
By Matthew Chance, CNN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US counterpart Joe Biden to deliver a strong and “useful” message about the Russian invasion at his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with CNN and Reuters from the bunker in Kyiv in which he is leading his military’s response.
In the rare interview on Tuesday afternoon, Zelensky said that as long as Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian cities continued, little progress could be made in talks between the two nations.
“You have to speak first of all. Everybody has to stop fighting and to go [back] to that point from where it began five, six days ago,” Zelensky said. “I think there are principal things you can do … If you do this, and that side does this, it means they are ready for peace. If they (are not) ready, it means you’re just wasting time.”
Zelensky has drawn global praise for his response to the invasion, having refused offers to evacuate and instead delivering frequent messages to Ukrainians as Kyiv comes under Russian assault.
Earlier on Tuesday he received a standing ovation for an emotional address to the European Parliament via video link, telling delegates: “We are fighting for our life.”
Asked by CNN about his transformation from comic actor to world-famous wartime leader, Zelensky responded: “It’s very serious, it’s not a movie … I’m not iconic, I think Ukraine is iconic.”
“Ukraine is the heart of Europe, and now I think Europe sees Ukraine is something special for this world,” he added. “That’s why [the] world can’t lose this something special.”
Fresh strikes rocked Kyiv on Tuesday, with Russia ramping up its assault on the capital and other key locations. There are fears that Russia is attempting to knock out the city’s communications infrastructure after hitting an area near Kyiv’s TV tower, taking out broadcasting hardware, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Ukrainian leader appeared tired and stressed but was friendly with crews from CNN and Reuters. He said he hadn’t seen his family for three days; asked what his typical days are like, he said: “Work and sleep.”
