Smoke rise from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

Russia attacks Ukraine

Full Episode

Smoke rise from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022.

Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Early this morning, Russia began a full-fledged assault on Ukraine. Multiple cities and military bases are under fire as part of Russia’s military offensive. In Kyiv, residents woke up to the sounds of blasts in and around their city. And some US military observers see the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a sort of “shock and awe” effort, aimed at cowing a possible Ukrainian resistance. We hear why some military experts think Russian troops will have a hard time stabilizing an occupied Ukraine. Plus, Turkish pop-star Tarkan just released “Geçcek,” or “It Will Pass.” On the surface, the song speaks to getting through the pandemic, but many say it’s a veiled way to express the imminent end to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule.

In This Episode

Russia attacks Ukraine, bombs Kyiv, many are trying to escape
More sanctions and more denunciations from the West. Will that deter Putin?
Inside Facebook’s Africa sweatshop
‘It’s shocking in its breadth, its scale’
Russia cultivates support in Latin America
Plastic pollution has become a major concern in Ghana.
Ghana’s fishermen are drowning in plastic. The govt is trying to tackle pollution before it’s too late.
Special Coverage
Voices from Ukraine