killed vladimir putin saying the massive strike was retaliation for the explosion that damaged a key bridge for russian supply lines our teams inside ukraine and russia also tonight, iran's oil workers joining protesters over the death of a young woman after her arrest by the nation's morality police. the violent crackdown by security forces our correspondent inside iran. in new york the tent city being stood up to house thousands of migrants sent by other states the mayor declaring a state of emergency how many people can the tents hold and where else could they be moved the new sex crimes trial for harvey weinstein getting under way in los angeles. the surprise witness just revealed. the new study raising questions about colonoscopies. how effective are they really at preventing cancer deaths? and the mom and ceo behind a popular brand helping preschoolers learn about the world in two

languages. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt good evening it is a restless night in kyiv after the ukrainian capital came under a barrage of russian missiles that struck across the country earlier today, killing nearly a dozen. officials say at least 84 cruise missiles and 24 drones were used in today's attacks that russia calls an act of revenge after accusing ukraine of being behind the weekend explosion that destroyed parts of a major bridge and critical supply route connecting russia to annexed crimea the russian strikes hitting ukraine's energy infrastructure, plunging many cities into an unsettling darkness president biden condemning russia, saying it destroyed targets with no military purpose the attack comes as vladimir putin faces growing pressure at home to take a harder stand against ukraine,

which has made major gains on the battlefield recently tonight we have teams on the ground both inside ukraine and in moscow let's start with cal perry in kyiv. >> reporter: tonight kyiv is a city once again under fire after this weekend's explosion on the bridge linking russia to occupied crimea, a vital supply line for the russians and symbol of putin's occupation there russia's president saying today's barrage of violence across more than a dozen ukrainian cities is, quote, retaliation for that bridge explosion. though ukraine has not taken responsibility for it more than 84 rockets and 24 drones fired into ukraine today the attacks hitting the capital for the first time in months striking many residential areas, a pedestrian bridge and a children's playground the power of these explosions is immediately evident when you come here to the scene. the rockets landing at the height of rush hour as people were just headed to work. it ruins what was calm in this city because

at this hour there are still residents in bomb shelters hoping that the worst is over ukraine says it shot down nearly half the rockets using military air defenses >> we need anti-rocket systems. safety right now the main priority. and that's why we tell to our partners, please, we have to defend our citizens. >> reporter: president zelenskyy releasing a video moments after the first rockets fell a dual purpose a message and proof of life russia has in the past tried to kill the ukrainian leader "they deliberately chose such a time," he says, "such goals in order to cause as much harm as possible." ukraine's energy infrastructure crippled after this latest round of strikes. rolling blackouts are already under way. and beginning tuesday the country will halt all energy exports erin mclaughlin is in the eastern city of kharkiv. >> it's nightfall here in kharkiv and the power is still out as you can see there's no lights. this bus is just stuck here and this is what many

ukrainians say they fear most, the cold, the dark, and the coming winter. >> reporter: a winter approaching quickly as civilians take cover once again >> cal, the u.s. of course has already given billions in aid to ukraine late today the presidents of both countries spoke. what is ukraine asking for right now? >> reporter: well, lester, ukraine is asking its partners for their continued military support and in their conversation today president biden assured the ukrainian president they would continue to receive those very important air defense systems. if you listen to the ukrainian president, he says that is their number one priority moving forward lester >> cal perry, you and your team stay safe. thank you. the strikes in ukraine follow the appointment of a battle-hardened general to oversee russian forces and unwavering support for president vladimir putin among his inner circle keir simmons is in moscow tonight >> reporter: tonight what president putin

called a massive strike on ukraine applauded by loyalists like dmitri medvedev once a western-friendly russian leader, who shared burgers with president obama and tested an iphone with steve jobs today he again called for dismantling ukraine's political regime in putin's world now any moderate voices are silent and many ordinary russians anxious >> people are worried about the situation in the -- in the city and in the country >> reporter: this morning's attacks followed putin's appointment of hard-line general sergei surovikin, russia's new commander of the war in ukraine. he was once jailed after pro-democracy protesters were killed on his watch during an attempted coup in 1991 more recently general surovikin was the commander on the ground in syria when aleppo was leveled "we liquidated the terrorists," he then told president putin now putin is calling ukrainian leaders

terrorists this morning's strikes the newly appointed general's first acts his arrival celebrated by other powerful hard-liners like yevgeny prigozhin, also known as putin's chef because he supplied food to the kremlin. seen here recruiting prisoners for his private army, the wagner group and chechen warlord ramzan kadyrov, who recently posted this video of his teenage sons firing automatic weapons and grenade launchers, saying he was sending them to ukraine. today may mark a change in president putin's offensive in ukraine. the question tonight, can it be sustained and how will putin and his hard-liners react if it fails? the russian leader has never faced such pressure lester >> keir simmons in moscow tonight thank you. and these are also anxious days in iran the weeks-long anti-government protests only seem to be growing with oil workers now joining in we get the latest from nbc's ali arouzi, the

only western broadcast journalist in iran >> reporter: protests and violence continue in iran, where for weeks demonstrators have been taking to the streets, erupting into anti-government slogans. iranian security forces and militia clamping down, firing shots and tear gas, beating back protesters today workers at refineries joined the protests, sparked by last month's death of 22-year-old mahsa amini, taken into custody by the morality police for failing to fully adhere to the country's strict dress code she died three days later. officials deny any wrongdoing and claim she died of a pre-existing condition. the flames of anger show no signs of ebbing, as international condemnation grows against iran as several governments discuss sanctions. the uk is joining the u.s. in sanctioning senior security officials and iran's morality police for repression of women.

demonstrations across the country are now being led by fearless and determined young iranians, with women and schoolgirls often at the helm, waving their hijabs defiantly in the air this weekend the flagship news program on iranian state tv was apparently hacked, and the president of iran's visit to a women's university backfired when he was heckled by students. an unheard-of act of defiance in this country. at another university in tehran students painted their hands red in a show of solidarity for students that have been arrested or injured since the unrest began protesters seem more emboldened, fearless, chanting "we're not scared of your tanks and bullets. but authorities keep issuing stern warnings the deputy interior minister saying harsh sentences will be handed down to demonstrators as a deterrent. lester >> ali arouzi in tehran tonight thank you.

here in new york officials are getting ready to open a new migrant tent camp after the mayor declared a state of emergency. gabe gutierrez has the latest >> reporter: tonight workers are scrambling to finish this new migrant tent camp in new york city after mayor eric adams last week declared a state of emergency >> this is unsustainable. >> reporter: the new construction comes after the city scrapped plans for another location due to flooding concerns the camp is expected to temporarily house about 500 migrants for no more than four days each the mayor says the city's burning through a billion dollars this fiscal year on what he calls a humanitarian crisis new buses like this one are arriving each day from texas >> the tent city is horrible it's just a repeat of what they're escaping right now. >> reporter: with more than 2 million illegal border crossings this fiscal year and 17,000 asylum seekers bused to new york so far, texas governor greg abbott's office is calling mayor adams an "absolute hypocrite," adding "instead of fearmongering and

complaining about a few thousand migrants in a sanctuary city mayor adams should call on president biden to do his job and secure the border." after florida governor ron desantis chartered a plane with migrants to martha's vineyard weeks ago some republicans are intensifying their campaign rhetoric ahead of this year's midterms >> joe biden's 5 million illegal aliens are on the verge of replacing you. >> reporter: norberto orozco and his two teenaged sons were bused here from texas. you didn't know you were coming here [ speaking non-english "i didn't know," he tells us, adding he feels like a political pawn [ speaking non-english "the trip from venezuela was very hard," 14-year-old ricardo says "it's unforgettable. it drives you crazy. this tent camp is expected to open in the next few days. the city is also in talks to potentially house migrants on cruise ships, lester >> all right gabe gutierrez, thank you. tonight gas prices are up more than ten cents a gallon from a week ago the average now at $3.91 after saudi arabia and other countries announced

that big cut in oil production andrea mitchell reports. >> reporter: the saudi announcement a blow to american consumers and a gut punch to president biden. despite his fist bump summit with the saudi crown prince, when the administration thought they could get a deal to keep production up and prices low before the midterms >> i was able to bring gasoline down well over $1.60 but it's inching up because of what the russians and the saudis just did. >> reporter: now even democrats blasting that riyadh summit and calling for the u.s. to withdraw troops from saudi arabia. >> you would punish saudi arabia >> i would reconsider why we provide for the security of a country that seems to have no concern for the security of ours and our allies >> reporter: that's because raising oil prices produces more oil profits for vladimir putin's war machine. the white house now

scrambling to bring prices down. one option, release more oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. but it's dangerously low. the president has already released more than 200 million barrels this year. another possibility, lift sanctions on venezuela so it can pump more oil. but that country's strongman nicolas maduro has still not delivered on democratic reforms or pressure u.s. oil companies to keep prices down. is any of this going to work? >> they've sort of run out of bullets u.s. producers won't listen to them the saudis won't listen to them again, it really is at its core a supply issue. he has to find somebody who's going to pump more and nobody's -- nobody wants to do that right now. >> reporter: the problem for the white house, most of the solutions are long term, which won't help them for the midterms. lester >> andrea, thank you in 60 seconds, the wife of california's governor set to testify against harvey weinstein. and our update on the water crisis in jackson, mississippi massive water problems and now massive bills.

a surprise twist as jury selection got under way today in the new sex crimes trial of harvey weinstein in los angeles. jennifer siebel newsom, the wife of california governor gavin newsom, has revealed she is among the accusers who will testify. her lawyer says weinstein assaulted ms. newsom during a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap weinstein has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving ms. newsom and four other women in 2020 he was convicted in a separate case in new york but has since been granted an appeal also tonight, an update on a story we have been closely following. nearly a month after a boil water notice was lifted in jackson, mississippi residents there say they still can't drink the water and are now facing sky-high water bills zinhle essamuah on the growing outage >> reporter: for virginia evans the water crisis in jackson didn't just start.

she's been struggling to fully pay her water bill for six years >> i went to the water company and they were unable to give me any information. there's nothing they could do to help me. >> reporter: evans says she stopped getting bills for 11 months when she finally received one in 2017, costs accumulated. she says to roughly $6,000 >> what do you use the water for in your house? >> i boil it basically to wash the dishes we do the laundry. and sometimes i water the plants >> but that's it >> that's it >> reporter: in jackson some residents tell nbc news they're facing inflated bills for water they can't drink or use today the city runs the water system and handles billing. in 2010 siemens corporation installed new water meters and created a new billing system some residents say this is when billing issues began the city sued siemens

in 2019, alleging that at least 10,000 of the 60,000 new meters were not functioning correctly, resulting in unpaid accounts siemens settled for $90 million. siemens did not acknowledge wrongdoing, and the company says it worked with the city to address challenging issues last week frustration boiled over. >> $1310 water bill for a widowed woman that's 82 years old. gets one check a month. come on here >> reporter: councilman kenneth stokes leading a community meeting where some individuals say their water bills surpassed $17,000. the mayor's office says inconsistent billing is due to water meter and billing software problems each issue is being handled on a case-by-case basis should residents be paying these water bills that some are saying are inaccurate for water that may be unsafe >> no, they shouldn't. why should you pay for water you can't drink?

it's not right >> reporter: councilman stokes now urging for more to be done >> you can't allow states to not make sure water is safe, clean and drinkable. you can't do that. >> reporter: as for virginia evans, she's still making water bill payments, though unsure if she'll ever be able to pay off her balance. >> i can't pay $6,000. and this is impossible >> reporter: zinhle essamuah, nbc news, jackson, mississippi coming up, preventing deaths from colon cancer a new study looks more closely at a screening exam millions get every year

prop 27 sends 90% of profits from online sports betting to out-of-state corporations in places like new york and boston. no wonder it's so popular... out there. yeah! i can't believe those idiots are going to fall for this. 90%! hey mark, did you know california is sending us all their money? suckers. -those idiots!

[ laughter ] imagine that, a whole state made up of suckers. vote no on 27. it's a terrible deal for california. we win. you lose. tonight a new study raises questions about the effectiveness of colonoscopies as a cancer screening tool. but should it change how often americans get the test anne thompson tonight on what you need to know >> reporter: in one of the largest studies ever european researchers found colonoscopy screenings cut cancer risks by 18% and made no difference in death rate does this mean people should not get colonoscopies? >> no, it doesn't mean that i think it comes down to a personal choice >> reporter: in the u.s. colonoscopies are recommended every ten years starting at age 45 >> should this study change the screening guidelines >> no. i don't believe it should change the screening guidelines i think it adds to

further evidence about the benefits and the importance of having screens completed. >> reporter: this week's study in the "new england journal of medicine" looked at 84,000 healthy people between 55 and 64 in poland, norway, sweden and the netherlands. some 28,000 were asked to get colonoscopies but just short of 12,000 did those that got the tests saw a significant difference, reducing the risk of colorectal cancer by a third and dying from that cancer by half. >> the benefit occurs if the test is done. and when it's not done what we see is exactly what we saw in this study, is that we don't expect the benefit to happen. >> reporter: colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the united states yet according to the cdc, one in five americans age 50 to 75 have never been screened the bottom line, doctors say tests are only effective if people are willing to get them anne thompson, nbc news up next, we'll introduce you to a mom

whose mission to share her children's nursery rhymes has gone global and it's inspiring america.

finally, the mom and entrepreneur inspiring young minds with the notion that when it comes to learning two languages are better than one. here's morgan radford. >> reporter: for susie jaramillo the story of success started on page 1 before the birth of her second

child. >> i started canticos when i was like pregnant and you want to raise children who are proud of who they are, who feel like they draw strength from their culture >> and then when we turn the book you have -- >> reporter: so the venezuelan american create canticos, a series of bilingual children's books featuring traditional spanish nursery rhymes when you became a mom were there a lot of books in english and in spanish >> no. not at all there were no books. there were no tech products >> so what made you say i can do something about this >> well, i'm an artist right? and i know how to build brands i know how to build teams. i can truly -- i got this >> reporter: and she did. we first spoke to jaramillo back in 2019 right when her company was first on the rise. ♪ now they've sold more than 200,000 books and grown into a multiplatform brand that includes games, videos and even learning apps. all tools that help parents like raul gonzalez and erica gelini share

traditions with their children >> my wife erica's always telling me that we should speak more spanish to the kids. i'm first generation mexican. so these books are perfect for the kids to kind of pick up on the spanish in a fun way. >> reporter: meeting a need that's bigger than ever. latinos are now the largest racial or ethnic minority group in america, spending more than $1.8 trillion on consumer goods in 2020 alone. what do parents tell you? >> they'll come up to me and they'll say oh my god, my kids are bilingual because of you. >> reporter: a new kind of story for the next generation. [ speaking non-english morgan radford, nbc news, new york that's "nightly news" for this monday. thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night

naomi: every year the wildfires, the smoke seems to get worse. jessica: there is actual particles on every single surface. dr. cooke: california has the worst air pollution in the country. the top 2 causes are vehicles and wildfires. prop 30 helps clean our air. it will reduce the tailpipe emissions that poison our air kevin: and helps prevent the wildfires that create toxic smoke that's why calfire firefighters, the american lung association, and the coalition for clean air support prop 30. naomi: i'm voting yes on 30.

i'm raj mathai, next on nbc bay area news tonight, what's the explanation following this viral video showing a woman in bikini getting out of san jose fire truck and walking into a strip club. also harvey weinstein heads to trial again, first partner of california is expected to testify. we'll explain her connection to the case and how much more time weinstein is facing in the state. >> plus -- >> opened front door, giant puddle in the hallway. >> luxury high rise flooded out. residents forced out of their homes. their lawyer joins us to explain how they're