Matthew Chance Encounters Russian Troops in Kyiv

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Matthew, that was some drama there. And you came face to face with the airborne paratroopers. What transpired from that encounter, and what more can you tell us about the encirclement of the capital, where you are?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, it was an unexpected encounter. I can tell you that, Christiane, because we were proceeding towards that air base, which we knew had been the scene of some fighting between Russian airborne troops and Ukrainian forces. But we had been told by Ukrainian officials that the airport was — the air base was back in Ukrainian government control. So, we went there anyway to the gates. There were soldiers at the gates directing traffic away. And I went up to them. I said, look, can we do a quick live shot outside here, a quick report on CNN? And they were like, no, no, it’s far, far too dangerous. Remember, this was in broken Russian that he was speaking in. And I said, look, who’s in control of this airport? Is it the Russians or the Ukrainians? And they said, what do you mean? And I said, who is it? Who’s in control? They said, it’s the Russians. And I said to them, where are the Russians? And they said, well, we’re the Russians. And it’s only at that point that I looked down at the insignia and realize that these were the special forces, the airborne troops that had been sent in by Vladimir Putin to secure that air base a few hours before, and had fought off a defense of it by the Ukrainian military forces there and had pushed them right back. You saw some video you just played there of a firefight that broke out in the minutes after we spoke. We took cover, obviously, and caught that glimpse, and did that live report with those Russian troops, the first glimpse that we have had of them, basically, face to face in this massive nationwide deployment. It’s not just they’re based as well, Christiane. They’re based in other places. There are units like that at air strips at other places in strategic locations around the Ukrainian capital. And, of course, it raises the concern that what’s happening here is that Ukrainian — Russian forces are surrounding this city. In fact, that’s what Ukrainian officials say that they know fear. Within days, that could happen, they say. The plan, they fear, according to Ukraine officials, is that Vladimir Putin is going to come in, he’s going to topple the leadership here, and he is going to install a pro-Russian government. That’s what their concern is tonight.

AMANPOUR: Yes. And we have heard that from international officials as well. And just briefly, before I let you go, hearing nothing more tonight, right? I mean, you might be hearing something in the overnight hours. But, right now, is it quiet where you are?

CHANCE: Yes, I mean, it’s not — it’s quiet, in the sense there are no big explosions behind us. But I’m hearing jets in the sky, not right now. But over the past couple of minutes, I have been hearing jets pass overhead. I’m assuming they’re Russian jets, because the Ukrainians just don’t have that capability.

(CROSSTALK)

AMANPOUR: And not only that.

CHANCE: But let’s see what the coming hours bring.

AMANPOUR: Yes. The Russians, we’re told, have total superiority of the air right now.

CHANCE: Yes.

AMANPOUR: Matthew, thank you so much.