the mounting humanitarian crisis. and the growing impact of sanctions. the u.s. today freezing russia's central bank as the ruble crashes. panicked russians lining up at atms for cash and tonight the new data on pfizer's covid vaccine. how effective is it for kids 5 to 11 it comes as several more states announce they're lifting their mask mandates in schools. what parents need to know and the stark warning on climate change what a new u.n. report says must be done right now to avoid the worst impacts. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening, everyone ukraine's army of soldiers and citizen soldiers have stunned the world with their tenacity and resolve but russian troops are not rolling over, but in fact, rolling forward. peace talks going nowhere today as ukraine's second largest city, kharkiv, came under intense shelling attack.

satellite images capture a miles-long russian convoy of armored vehicles that could soon be headed to the capital of kyiv russia now bringing to bear three-quarters of its invasion force as it tries to regain momentum and choke off ukrainian cities but russia feeling a squeeze of its own more nations of the world, including normally neutral switzerland, stepping up to isolate the russian economy. tonight, as the number of refugees flowing out of ukrainian cities reaches half a million, the international criminal court says it's opening an investigation into possible war crimes. our correspondents are in place overseas and here in washington richard engel starts us off from the front lines. >> reporter: many u.s. intelligence officials predicted the ukrainian military would have collapsed by now but as russia's assault is intensifying, so is ukrainian resistance ukraine's military claims this drone video shows it taking

out a convoy of russian forces while ukraine's president zelenskyy defied president putin's demand that his country sever ties with the west, signing an application today to join the european union, a process that could take years the u.n. now says at leave seven children have been killed in the russian onslaught. officials in kyiv say among them is a fourth grader named polina. peace talks along the border have concluded for now. russia saying progress is being made. ukraine agreeing to more talks but with low expectations as putin denounced the west as an empire of lies, after earlier raising alarms saying he was ordering russia's nuclear defenses on higher alert. although tonight a senior american defense official says the u.s. has seen no movement of russia's nuclear forces and that 75% of russia's troops along ukraine's border are now in the country. one of their main targets today, the

eastern city of kharkiv. russia attacked the city with what looked like indiscriminate fire to the south, the small port city of berdyansk was also attacked the mayor says russian troops took over the city but even then, people didn't give up protesters confronting the russian troops and heckling them, shouting "berdyansk is ukraine. but russian forces seem to have a bigger plan in mind this convoy of russian equipment and troops reportedly stretches for 17 miles outside of kyiv. but russia's advance has been plagued by logistics failures some russian vehicles literally running out of gas a ukrainian man pulling alongside this armored vehicle. broken down, he asks the diesel is out, the soldier says i can only tow you back to russia, the ukrainian says and the soldier laughs in kyiv, residents are preparing for fast as they can fill

bottles. >> we are fighting for our freedom, for our self-reliance, for ourselves, our houses, our children we'll stand till the end. >> reporter: we followed volunteers who brought the fire bombs in wheelbarrows to nearby checkpoints. manned by ukrainian veterans and anyone else with a gun and who's trusted in the neighborhood >> i am living here. this is my home. all people in this district, we save it >> reporter: many ukrainians are staying, determined to die fighting rather than lose their nation >> richard, there's understandably a lot of concern tonight about that russian convoy heading into the capital where you are. do we know, does this represent a change in tactics by the russians >> reporter: it seems to be. this convoy is big, dangerous, and heading this way up until now, russia has tried to use small unit tactics and precision strikes, and it hasn't been going so well. and after what we saw

in kharkiv today with this convoy, it seems that now they're going to a more traditional russian strategy of siege and destruction. >> all right we wish you and your team continued safe passings thank you, richard. in another major ukrainian city, kharkiv in the northeast, not far from russia, devastating new attacks and fighting today and more casualties matt bradley spent weeks there. he's got the latest for us tonight >> reporter: tonight, a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in kharkiv. ukraine's second largest city today the scene of street-to-street combat that left at least nine people dead, including three children and dozens injured. >> this is a residential area with no military object. >> reporter: and added to mounting evidence that vladimir putin's war has put civilians in the cross hairs a school destroyed not far from the center of the city missile fragments inside a residential apartment building today the international criminal

court launching a probe for war crimes against humanity maria, a kharkiv resident, shot this video inside kharkiv at a children's clothing factory do you feel as though the russians were deliberately targeting civilian targets >> for sure they did it deliberately. >> reporter: she said russia did much of this bombing while negotiating peace talks. >> this will happen with all enemies who will come here we are actually on the verge of a large humanitarian crisis. >> reporter: of most concern is the site of cluster munitions, bombs that open in midair and spray smaller bombs. >> it's clearly a cluster munition attack we think that cluster munitions should never be used at all >> reporter: they're banned by 110 countries, though not by russia or the u.s still, the u.s. hasn't used them since the first gulf war over 30 years ago. they're used by the russians in ukraine. another sign of this war's growing savagery matt bradley, nbc news, uman, ukraine.

and people from kharkiv are among the half million refugees the u.n. says have poured out of ukraine since the invasion began. many are making their way to western ukraine to try to cross the border tom llamas is there and spoke with some of them >> reporter: tonight, fires burning outside of the lviv train station in western ukraine. inside the station, the massive exodus comes to light this is what it looks and feels like to try to escape ukraine right now. these are families trying to board trains to poland. these entranceways are filled with people it is sad. it is desperate, but this is one of the only ways these families can get out who are you traveling with here? >> i'm with my daughter. >> reporter: she and her daughter, emma, are trying to reach poland but what truly breaks this mother's heart is that her husband is there to say good-bye. he says he's going back to help defend his country.

men of fighting age are not allowed to leave. >> i'm so scared about my husband i don't want to say good-bye >> reporter: russia's victims in this war stretch farther than the battlefield. >> it's a wonderful city, kharkiv. >> and it was being destroyed. >> yes, sir. russia destroyed all. >> reporter: svetlana and her son, david, have traveled from the east to the west, trying to find a way out. tomorrow, they leave for romania. david has an i.d. card in case they are separated. he's only 9 years old but already understands some of the realities of this war. >> putin, monster. >> putin is a monster. >> yes >> he kill us. he just kill >> reporter: as hundreds of thousands flee for safety, so many others staying put and preparing. >> it makes

temperature of fire more high. >> reporter: in an old and unmarked warehouse that smelled like a gas station, we met igor you're going to use this to take on the russians >> yes. >> reporter: he's crafting these molotov cocktails around the clock. how many of these cocktails have you made >> 2,500 bottles >> 2,500 >> yes. >> reporter: and he says he's not alone. if you could talk to the russian troops, the russian military, what would you tell them >> go away go out from ukraine. [ bleep ] off from us. they have their own country. why they're going to us >> tom, it's interesting to note this is not just one-way traffic we're looking at there are people trying to get into ukraine, correct >> reporter: that's right, lester. ukraine's president has called on any foreigners who want to help them fight russia to contact the ukrainian missions in their respective countries and sign up. and just today, we encountered a group who had traveled in from the uk. they told us they're ukrainians who have come back to fight the

russians lester? >> tom llamas tonight, thank you. and the u.s. and its allies are ramping up sanctions against russia and sending ukraine new military aid. all of it comes as president biden prepares for tomorrow's state of the union address. kristen welker is at the white house. >> reporter: tonight, as russia wages war against ukraine, the united states and its allies are unleashing an increasingly tough response, imposing unprecedented sanctions aimed at choking the russian economy and stopping vladimir putin, who put some of his nuclear forces on higher alert the russian ambassador to the u.n. today. >> so that is a kind of deterrence that we're exercising. >> reporter: the u.s. says it's not changing its nuclear alert level. president biden pressed by a reporter on the nuclear threat. >> mr. president, should americans be worried about nuclear war? >> no. >> reporter: today the u.s. targeting the country's central bank with sanctions, cutting it off from accessing u.s. assets and dollars. even neutral switzerland announced it will join in, imposing new penalties on putin it comes on the heels

of the u.s. and its allies expelling some, though not all, of russia's banks from the s.w.i.f.t. financial system, effectively barring them from international financial transactions still, some want the white house to go even further. >> i believe we should have used more of these tools prior to this brutal escalation to deter putin and to weaken his capacity to wage war >> reporter: the biden administration also announcing another $350 million in military aid to ukraine, including anti-aircraft systems and ammunition countries like sweden are sending in anti-tank missiles the eu sending fighter jets and the administration is sending $54 million in humanitarian aid. all of it comes on the eve of the president's first state of the union address. in a new poll, only 33% of americans approve of the president's handling of the ukraine-russia crisis 47% disapprove and a majority of americans say the president cannot be trusted in a crisis. ukraine now another

crisis in focus tomorrow night. >> is he rewriting it to have it focus on this moment? >> every state of the union address is an opportunity for the president delivering it to speak directly to the american people about what is happening in that moment, the progress that's being made, and also, the challenges we're facing >> kristen, we just learned the biden administration is expelling 12 russian diplomats. do we know why >> reporter: well, lester, press secretary jen psaki said those diplomats were engaging in espionage, which is a clear violation of their status here. lester? >> kristen welker, thank you. make sure to join us for special coverage of the president's state of the union address tomorrow night at 9:00 eastern time, 6:00 pacific. this evening, some russians are reacting with increasing concern about the war and the global sanctions rippling through the economy. but despite those sanctions, russia maintains an export economic lifeline. keir simmons is in

moscow now with that part of the story. >> reporter: tonight, protests are growing, and so are signs of panic amongst some middle-class russians. crowds lining up at banks, many hoping to withdraw dollars or euros. tonight, the russian ruble has fallen to a record low the russian stock market suspended all week with fears it could crash. in a mall, we find more lines at atms >> everyone's scared now. >> reporter: and meet musicians marina, who lived in boston for six years, and natalie. >> my husband was trying to buy foreign currency yesterday he didn't get a chance to do that. >> couldn't get any? >> no. >> reporter: now they fear they may be banned from europe a new iron curtain between russia and the west >> we don't want war >> reporter: but there are few signs president putin is listening, meeting morose-looking central bankers today at a distance though putin does have support, including a thumbs up from this man. putin is a world leader, he says. others openly questioning the russian leader's reasoning. >> no war from

ukraine. >> and what do you feel about president putin's nuclear threats over the weekend? >> i think he can because i think he's crazy now. >> reporter: but president biden and the west left a carveout in these sanctions that likely still benefits president putin. oil and gas is still allowed to flow out of russia, a trade worth hundreds of millions of dollars a day lester >> keir simmons in moscow tonight, thank you. in just 60 seconds, the propaganda war over ukraine. are social media giants doing enough to combat disinformation? and as masks come off in schools, we look at the covid vaccine in younger kids with new questions being raised tonight about the effectiveness.

the battle for ukraine is not only being fought on the ground, it is also being fought online. facebook and twitter saying they're taking action to stop the spread of disinformation but is it enough we get more on this

from jo ling kent. >> reporter: these are faces of the russian propaganda effort. irina and vladimir appear to be journalists, except they're not real people their images are computer-generated to create fake social media accounts targeting ukrainians on facebook and instagram. they're part of two pro-russian covert influence operations disclosed by twitter and meta, facebook's parent company >> these actors, what they're essentially trying to do is undermine trust in the ukrainian government, suggest that the war is going very poorly for ukraine or to praise the work of russian actors. >> reporter: meta says 40 of these fake profiles, pages, and groups were taken down over the weekend twitter tells nbc news it permanently banned similar accounts facebook also revealed a separate hacking campaign linked to belarus, targeting real ukrainian military members, public officials, and journalists. are facebook and instagram users safe as this invasion continues on your platforms?

>> i think everyone needs to take steps to make sure that they're safe online. we're taking every step that we can to make sure our users and our platforms are safe. >> reporter: meta says it doesn't know how long the users behind these accounts have been active but believes the group is linked to other trolls who spread misinformation about the 2020 u.s. presidential election and the covid vaccine. despite tech giants taking action, bad actors often work across platforms like this account, called ukraine today, removed by facebook but still active on google news. google did not respond to our request for comment. >> the challenge is they oftentimes don't know what they're public/private partnerships, social media companies working withments to try to figure out who's really behind the accounts. >> jo, speaking of concerns about what's happening online, ukraine received a major delivery from elon musk today. what was it? >> reporter: yeah. that's right, lester 48 hours after ukraine's digital minister asked elon musk to help with internet access that's been disrupted by this invasion, musk appears

to have delivered. the minister tweeting this photo saying, thanks for these starlink terminals they're small devices that connect users to satellite internet services from spacex and musk replying, you are most welcome lester? >> jo ling kent with that, thank you. and the backlash to russia's invasion has now grown to the world of sports. russia will miss out on the world cup now that it's been suspended indefinitely from international soccer it comes after olympic officials called for russia to be excluded from international events the nhl also announcing it is suspending ties to russia, and russia has been barred from hosting sanctioned boxing matches there's news tonight about the covid vaccine and children a new study casting doubt on the effectiveness of the pfizer vaccine in children 5 to 11 our kate snow has more on that tonight. >> reporter: for parents of young children, unsettling news new data from new york state shows the only covid vaccine children 5 to 11 can take, made by pfizer, offers

almost no protection against infection. the findings have not been peer-reviewed, but researchers found the vaccine's effectiveness in that age group dropped from 68% in mid-december to just 12% by the end of january as omicron was spreading. 5 to 11-year-olds now less protected than teenagers. why do you think we're seeing such a difference for this age group? >> the dosage of this age group, 5 to 11, is a third of the dosage that 12-year-olds and above received for the pfizer vaccine so it could be dose-related. >> reporter: today's news coming just days after the cdc relaxed its guidance on mask-wearing california, oregon, and washington today saying mask mandates will soon end in schools. new york's governor announced the same yesterday. today, some connecticut students returned to class maskless >> they were so excited today to not have to wear the mask. >> reporter: just two weeks ago, pfizer said it was postponing

seeking fda authorization for a vaccine for kids 6 months to 4 years old after trials showed it didn't work well now today's news about the vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds not being as effective. >> parents might be skeptical and hesitant and say that a vaccine does not help due to this data, but that's not true it did still protect against death and serious disease, and it did not show any safety issues. >> reporter: pfizer says it's now evaluating a third dose for children 5 to 11 years old, and vaccine makers are already developing new formulas more effective against omicron as parents try to keep their children safe with different approaches and guidance evolving. kate snow, nbc news. up next for us tonight, the new warning about immediate climate threats. what scientists say must be done now

a dire new warning today from the u.n. and hundreds of scientists around the world on the dangers of climate change. they say time is running out to avoid the worst-case scenarios. tom costello explains. >> reporter: from horrific tornado damage -- >> it just looked like a battle zone. >> reporter: -- to historic flooding -- >> you couldn't see anything but water nothing but water. >> reporter: -- and raging wildfires >> got everybody out, but it's heartbreaking. >> reporter: the u.n.'s latest, most in-depth scientific report on climate change warns the dangers are immediate and growing more acute with millions of people worldwide potentially losing access to clean water, facing starvation, and disease.

so far, humanity has taken incremental, often superficial, steps to mitigate climate change >> action must take place now in order to prevent the most severe impacts from being experienced. >> reporter: global temperatures have already risen 2 degrees fahrenheit in just over 100 years. the u.n. report warns if temps rise by another 2.7 degrees, vast stretches of coral reef will die off. more species will go extinct. rising sea levels will threaten cities. and fish, livestock, and crop yields will drop, threatening millions in vulnerable countries and sending food prices higher for everyone >> we do have a window of opportunity to get global warming under control, but that window is getting quite small. >> reporter: scientists say if humans can keep the planet from warming ees fahrenheit this but the planet is already on track to exceed that with devastating consequences lester

>> all right tom, thank you up next, the world has been moved by so many acts of defiance and inspiration in the heat of war.

finally tonight, the people of ukraine are resisting oppression and sending a powerful message around the world erin mclaughlin is there. >> freedom for ukraine! >> reporter: around the world, a sea of blue and yellow from berlin to prague to seoul. the colors of the ukrainian flag now a call to action >> don't stay at home. choose your voice. go out. >> reporter: as ukraine suffers a relentless russian assault. >> it's madness. it's world war iii it's a war not only on ukraine. it's a war on everyone. >> reporter: protests even happening across russia thousands detained across dozens of cities some saying they'd rather risk arrest than live with guilt i want the whole world to see that we don't want it, this woman says powerful signals of an awakening to

aggression and injustice. but it's the actions of people inside the country inspiring this global response. >> no, i'm not really afraid i believe the world is on our side. >> reporter: from a video posted to social media, a villager's defiance in the path of a russian tank, to the president who refuses to leave his capital, holding ground when faced with extraordinary danger >> secret tunnels. >> reporter: inside lviv at an old world war ii bunker turned nightclub, an all-out effort to help refugees in need, offering food, supplies, and a place to sleep why is this important? >> this is important to stay together, to support people, to support everyone who was forced to leave their homes. >> reporter: the bar owner is a lebanese ex-pat who tells us he'd be willing to die for his adopted country. what is it about ukraine? >> it's the people it's the -- i don't know

it's like the energy of the people. it's like you want to do something, and you don't want to do one thing. you want to do many things that's it. ♪ >> reporter: in the city center, the sound of the anti-conflict song "zombie." a call for peace now echoed around the world. erin mclaughlin, nbc news, lviv, ukraine. that's "nightly news" for this monday. thank you for watching i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪

>> kelly: what's up, y'all, welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." we are starting things out a little differently today, because well, to be honest, i got almost to zero sleep last night, and my voice wasn't cooperating, and luckily we pretaped a couple songs this season just in case a day like this arise because generally in a season a day like this arrives and the day is here so we are looking you up with a "kellyoke" special, one of my favorite songs from when i was a kid called "love takes time" by mariah carey. [applause] ♪♪ i had it all but i let it slip away ♪ ♪ i couldn't see i treated you wrong ♪ ♪ now i wander around ♪ ♪ feeling down and cold ♪ ♪ trying to believe that you're gone ♪

♪ love takes time ♪ ♪ to heal when you're hurting so much ♪ ♪ i don't wanna be here ♪ ♪ i don't wanna be here alone ♪ ♪ you might say you don't miss me ♪ ♪ you don't need me ♪ ♪ but i know that you do ♪ ♪ and i feel that you do inside ♪ ♪ oh love takes time ♪ ♪ to heal when you're hurting so much ♪ ♪ couldn't see that i was so blind to let you go ♪ ♪ i can't escape the pain inside ♪ ♪ cause love takes time ♪

♪ i don't wanna be there ♪ ♪ oh, i don't wanna be there alone ♪♪ [cheers and applause] >> kelly: all right, so we have someone in the audience who is also a huge fan of that song. pedro, what is your connection to "love takes time"? >> hi, kelly, thank you so much for singing that. i love this song because it is about learning to love again and for a very long time, i had left side of that vehicle actually recently just came out, and i was actually engaged to a woman for four years before i came ou. this song really just speaks to me, those feelings of not loving yourself and being true to who you are. luckily, you know, we are still best friends. she literally was so excited i was going to be on the show and everything and i just love that this song is literally about self-love and healing. [applause] >> kelly: well, congratulations. >> thank you, thank you, i appreciate that. >> kelly: that's a big deal.

people and friends with, it's not always easy, it's still coming to this day, in 2022, unfortunately, to come up with your family, so congratulations. >> thank you so much. i felt such a relief and freedom ever since then. >> kelly: i think around him kind of relate to the fact there is something in your life that this needs to happen, it happens, that relief, that freedom that comes with it is priceless. congratulations, pedro. good luck on love. all right, thank you so much, pedro. everybody, we have a good time for y'all to pay. from the hit nbc series "grand crew," justin cunningham is hanging out with us. [applause] then our friend danielle kartes is teaching us how to make the first perfect twice baked potato. i'm not a potato fan generally. plus we are going to meet a red teenager helping kids in las vegas have new clothes that they love beer but it is a really cool story and possibly be able to help out with. and up and up-and-coming pop artist carlie hanson is performing a song from her debut, full-length album.

[applause] all right, everybody, let's get it going with our first guest, she continually brings you the best entertainment with her shows "access daily" and "access hollywood." check your local listings for where you want to watch. please welcome kit hoover! [applause] ♪ ♪ >> kit: i'm a hugger. >> kelly: i know, we are both huggers. then i got afraid because i am showing my arms and i am super white so they painted them and you have a pretty white blouse on. >> kit: kelly's tan all over you. >> kelly: it's great to see you again. >> kit: you too, thank for having me. >> kelly: thank you for coming. how are you doing? >> kit: everything is so good. the kids, i've got two out of the house now, one at home, saw at that time on my hands. >> kelly: only one -- >> kit: only one, and i miss them so much.

the house is so quiet. i'm going to come to your house for back time. >> kelly: you get time to read? >> kit: i do, i read these things called books. >> kelly: people are like, what are you reading? still the same novel. >> kit: i've had the same one on my nightstand, right? >> kelly: can't get through it, not enough time. >> kit: i miss at that stage where you are, bath time, i'm feeling for it all. >> kelly: oh, my gosh. my kids are very independent at this point, they like doing it alone, 5 and 7, no, mom, we got it and they love being able to do their whole routine and i support independence. [laughter] i read my shows why they are doing that. and then my son at home, he is a freshman in high school, it's just us staring. we miss the lively house. >> kelly: that's awesome, and all you have to prepare for whenever he goes. >> kit: you will see this, many parents know, elementary school goes slow, first through eighth grade, high school flies by. >> kelly: i think it all flies by.

i just took a picture, it is crazy, it seems like such a cliche to say but it just flies by. you recently posted this, and it's awesome so we want to show it. like, take it in, people. first of all, is that a real town? because that is a good tan. >> kit: let's be clear, 1988, no self tanners back then, that is baby oil and laying out on my roof in atlanta, georgia. [applause] that's not good, you cannot be applauding. no sunscreen. in the '80s. and how about the bad white taffeta dress, the bana clip -- >> kelly: bad? that is amazing. >> kit: the choker -- >> kelly: and taking it all in. >> kit: can you hear the john hughes soundtrack playing? >> kelly: that's why i love it. >> kit: those are my two best friends from elementary school, noodle and goose, we blurred them out. >> kelly: noodle and goose, it is like you are in