posting this video on twitter today. a baby kangaroo goes from curious to startled to suspicious in the blink of an eye. maybe we'll stick with the easter bunny. thanks for watching. nightly news is right now. see you again at 6:00. tonight, defiant ukrainians trapped inside a battered city refuse a deadline to surrender. thousands troops now prepared to fight to the end as russia closes in. there are new missile strikes throughout the country as ukraine braces for a new russian assault. plus, a bomb destroys a kitchen linked to a celebrity chef which was feeding thousands of starving ukrainians a shootout at a house party packed with teenagers two killed, ten injured. the video from inside as hundreds flee [ sound of gunfire ] it is the third mass shooting in two days clashes in jerusalem on this holy weekend. hundreds hurt. now the fear of a larger conflict brewing.

a rare spring nor'easter on track to hit the northeast. how much snow will it bring? the supply chain shutdown the extreme shutdown in shanghai halting the flow of goods. why experts say it could be worse than before the secrets of notre dame ancient artifacts found underneath the paris cathedral. the plans to open this mysterious sarcophagus. and on this eefrlt easter, a tradition brought here from ukraine eggs lik you've never seen before >> this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow. good evening, i'm gadi schwart in for kate snow on this easter sunday pope francis held his first mass back at saint peter's square this morning while it was a celebration, it was also a warning the pope condemning what he calls an easter of war amid russia's attack on ukraine. russia today showing no signs of letting up launching new air strikes against kyiv and other cities they also delivered an ultimatum to the battered city of mariupol surrender or else.

that city has withstood the worst of this war by some estimates, 95% of i has been destroyed but still, they refuse to surrender matt bradley leads us off tonight from inside ukraine >> reporter: tonight, mariupol makes its last stand only a couple thousand ukrainian soldiers still holding out in a steel factory, defying russia's early morning ultimatum to surrender. ukraine's prime minister adamant those troops are determined to stay. >> the city still has not fallen there is still our military forces, our soldiers so they will fight until the end. and as for now, they still are in mariupol. >> reporter: russia's military claims it controls most of the city's center, an assertion that couldn't be confirmed. but if the city does finally fall, ukraine's president warned of major consequences "the russians are make a huge mistake," said president zelenskyy. the destruction of all our guys in mariupol, what they're doing now

can put an end to any format of negotiations." negotiations that might have prevented the carnage in kharkiv, ukraine's second largest city, where fresh shelling today killed 5 and injured 20, according to the regions governor and destroyed a central world kitchen restaurant that was feeding thousands. but it's mariupol that has become the symbol of civilians suffering. russia's two-month siege has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians with little food, clean water, electricity or medical care hundreds of thousands have managed to flee >> on 15th of march we escaped. what i can remember are dead bodies around us, yeah we were arriving around dead bodies, so we were driving around dead bodies, dead children >> reporter: nick runs a local television channel in mariupol. dozens of his staff remain in the city

he wants to know if they're alive and well, but with all communications severed, he can't reach them >> i have 89 people. with 89 people, i don't know where are they i don't know >> reporter: like so many ukrainians, he can only wait and hope >> and matt joins us no from kyiv, where despite all that, there are actually signs of normalcy? >> reporter: yeah, gadi there's been continuous shelling outside the city and regular air raid sirens. but there are some signs that things here are getting better the mayor even shortened the curfew by a few hours today gadi >> matt bradley, thank you. we're learning more about a deadly shooting overnight in pittsburgh it happened at a party packed with hundreds of teenagers who tried to escape. some even jumping out of windows it's the latest in the string of mass shootings across the country this holiday weekend. catie beck reports >> he got a gun! >> reporter: terrified screams and rapid gunfire ring in easter sunday at this packed party in pittsburgh.

[ sound of gunfire ] it was half past midnight when police say 200 partygoers, largely underaged, began fleeing this airbnb rental, desperate to escape a hail of bullets. an estimated 100 rounds fired from multiple weapons >> we really have to figure out where these guns are coming from. >> reporter: the mass shooting claimed the lives of two, both under the age of 18. ten others were shot in the incident and several more injured with broken bones during the panicked exit >> our community is hurting right now. >> reporter: it's not just happening in pittsburgh this was the third mass shooting over the course of the holiday weekend following a mall shooting in columbia, south carolina and another at a south carolina nightclub about 80 miles west of charleston in the daylight, pittsburgh detectives get a better look at the damage, the rental space littered with bullet holes and broken glass airbnb banning the renter for life,

saying we share the pittsburgh community's outrage regarding this tragic gun violence. we hope the people responsible for this bloodshed will be found quickly. >> i've said that many times before too this is all of us. we all have to work together. >> reporter: violence and sadness falling on what many celebrate as a time of hope catie beck, nbc news it's been a violent weekend overseas in the middle east too new clashes and protests erupted in jerusalem as holidays for the three major religions converged. the violence fueling fears of even more bloodshed to come. josh lederman has more >> reporter: with tens of thousands flocking to jerusalem on this easter passover and ramadan holiday, fresh violence in the old city these fireworks set off not in celebration, but in protest. some fired from inside the revered al aqsa mosque, according to israeli police

the temple mount is judaism's holiest site and the third holiest in islam the clashes happening after israeli police entered the compound to make way for jewish visitors israeli officials say 18 palestinians were arrested for throwing rocks and fireworks, damaging the mosque. palestinian medical workers say 17 were injured amid fears of another wave of violence more than 150 palestinians injured at the same site friday earlier this month, a palestinian gunman killing three in tel aviv >> we need to find a solution that provides peace and security for the israeli people, but also safety and security for the palestinian people >> reporter: last year, clashes over jerusalem spiraled into an 11-day war in the gaza strip tonight israel's prime minister calling for calm, but warning he has given security forces a free hand to do what's needed to keep israelis safe

>> josh lederman joins us from the white house. josh, what is the white house's reaction to all this? >> reporter: the biden administration says it's deeply concerned by the violence and wants both sides to exercise restraint a state department spokesman saying the u.s. is working with israeli and palestinian officials to lower tensions. gadi >> josh, thank you after two years under the cloud of covid, today easter was back in full the pope packed st. peter's square worshipers crowded, churches and families celebrating in person. jesse kirsch reports >> reporter: a return of the masses today celebrating easter sunday with pope francis. the vatican says 100,000 filled st. peter's square in stark contrast with the nearly empty st. peter's basilica in 2020 and small masked crowd at the vatican last year. >> i feel absolutely blessed. it's a very happy easter. >> reporter: from new york city's easter

bonnet parade to churches and passover seders too, many americans also celebrating together this weekend some holiday gatherings in person for the first time in three years. >> it feels good it's good to be back amongst parishioners >> reporter: but as many ease restrictions, this staten island congregation still mostly masked in prayer their easter baskets coming with covid tests. to have them readily available to just take for free, what does that mean? >> it means that someone else cares. >> reporter: cautious as the highly contagious omicron ba.2 subvariant fuels a rise in cases across 27 states. hospitalizations are still falling, but the white house is watching in case they go the wrong way >> our vaccines are holding up really well against ba.2, against all of the omicron variants, especially if you've been boosted. >> reporter: despite the vaccine's effectiveness, some covid precautions are coming back. tomorrow philadelphia becomes the first major u.s. city to bring back its indoo mask mandate

the rule already facing a legal challenge. >> there is no such mandate in any other big city in america. >> reporter: and with millions traveling this weekend, the public transit mask mandate extended, along with broadway's too. but this easter, the holiday symbolism is clear. many returning to each other. >> now we're able to gather and we need that touch, you know. and that fellowship. >> and jesse kirsch joins us right now from st. patrick's cathedral in new york city jesse, could we see even more covid restrictions coming back >> reporter: yeah, gadi, we already are some colleges have brought back their mask mandates. and today the white house covid coordinator said these should be local decisions based on case counts, hospitalizations and hospital capacity too. gadi >> jesse, thank you. we've been reporting a lot on shanghai's strict covid lockdowns, and we could start to see massive ripple effects here in the united states as well shanghai is the biggest cargo port on the planet without enough workers to keep it going, the

rest of the world faces a shipping shutdown guad venegas explains. >> reporter: almost one month into shanghai's covid lockdown and residents are fed up growing desperation as people run out of food and medicine 25 million people confined to their homes. manufacturing grinding to a halt with little moving in and out of the largest container port in the world. >> any business that produces physical goods is being disrupted by what's happening in china >> reporter: and tonight, growing fears it could have a ripple effect on the global supply chain businesses around the world bracing for shortages with automotive and electronic suppliers already feeling the effects. tesla's giga factory shut down. apple's chip supplier foxconn open at just 60% capacity around the country, 45 chinese cities now under some type of lockdown that's 40% of the world's second largest

economy. >> this is the most serious logistical quagmire for china since the very early stages of the pandemic. >> reporter: feeling pressure, the government asking businesses to restart operations, many creating job site bubbles where workers sleep in offices for weeks. truck drivers subjected to daily testing, stuck at checkpoints for days it's only a matter of time until china's lockdown causes issues here in the u.s., which would once again disrupt our supply chain. >> for consumers, we'll see delays we'll see prices increase for some of these goods because of this logjam of goods that are not able to be produced or not able to get out of china. >> reporter: china's lockdown could lead to an unprecedented tsunami of cargo entering our country in the coming months it would look a lot like last fall, a major traffic jam at our nation's ports guad venegas, nbc news still ahead tonight, maxed out how inflation is pushing more americans

into credit card debt. also, the spring nor'easter about to hit.

there is a good chance your holiday dinner cost a lot more this year. inflation is up across the board, and it means a lot of people are using credit cards to cover everyday purchases nbc news senior business analyst stephanie ruhle now on the rise of credit card debt. >> reporter: across the country, people are paying more for

everyday expenses. >> fruit, paper goods, english muffins, everything everything i'm blown away >> i used to have savings. i don't have it anymore. >> reporter: marie dimarzio sees it every time she shops >> you're like wait, that wasn't like that a year ago >> reporter: a podcaster living in new york city, over the last year, she has been using her credit card more often, and it's adding up are you paying down any of this credit card debt? >> i was paying them down, but i'm currently just dealing with it as we go >> reporter: maria is like many americans, turning to credit to get by in february, consumer debt rose more than $40 billion, a jump of more than 11%. the highest in more than two decades credit card debt is up nearly 21% >> these balances have been rising for a few reasons. inflation is a big one. but i would also note higher consumer spending in general and the digitization of payment people are using less cash. >> reporter: during the pandemic, government aid poured into americans' bank

accounts money they're now using to pay their credit cards >> personal savings increased by about $2 trillion we stayed home and loaded up on home renovations and new tvs. now people are starting to shift, and it's more about plane tickets, meals, event tickets, things like that >> reporter: but for some, credit card bills are getting harder to keep up with and experts say it's important to act now so your debt doesn't get out of hand. their advice, apply for a zero percent balance transfer credit card. negotiate with your credit card company, or consolidate your debt with a loan that has a lower interest rate while many are still able to pay their credit card bills on time, experts warn that could easily shift. >> we can't go through that many more months and quarters of this very, very high inflation without something breaking either a recession at some point or more people losing jobs or falling behind on payments. >> reporter: stephanie ruhle, nbc news. and coming up, a

centuries old secret found underneath notre dame cathedral now the effort to solve the mystery. plus, how this massive ship stuck in the mud in chesapeake bay was finally freed.

a main terminal at boston's logan airport is finally back open tonight after a bomb scare today. take a look at this. a huge crowd of travelers ordered to testing captions for kntv. testing captions for kntv. icious item was discovered inside a piece of luggage. the bomb squad was called in, but the situation was just cleared a short time ago. crowds are pouring into boston this weekend ahead of tomorrow's boston marathon and believe it or not, there is a spring nor'easter on the way.

it's going bring heavy snow to central new york state through maine tomorrow, and major metro areas like new york city, boston, philly, and d.c. will see rain and wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour. now to paris and a secret underneath this centuries old notre dame cathedral crews rebuilding the fire-ravaged church have discovered a coffin deep underground, and what's inside is a mystery, but maybe not for long here is anne thompson. >> reporter: they rang the bells outside paris' notre dame cathedral on this easter sunday. the renovations under way inside unearthing the 860-year-old church's secrets discovered beneath the stone floor of the crossing and a 19th century heating system, this an intact lead sarcophagus, basically, a very old coffin that archaeologists think could go back to the 14th century architecture and art history professor kevin murphy what's the significance of this discovery? >> the significance is

that although we knew that notre dame would have been a burial place for important figures, it would be important to see how that burial was actually carried out. >> reporter: a window into medieval times. and murphy says there is more to be learned. is notre dame just like this onion that has layer after layer of ancient construction >> yes, because the site was first settled by the romans. and they began to build in what eventually became known as paris along the sand >> reporter: notre dame has survived renovation, desecration, and now 2019's calamitous fire on the third anniversary of the inferno, french president emmanuel macron toured the reconstruction it was good friday macron called the rebuild a testimony of hope in a difficult period of history. as the renovation

continues, hoping to be ready for the 2024 summer olympics to welcome back the faithful and the curious. anne thompson, nbc news and we have an update to a story we brought you last month. a massive cargo ship stuck in maryland's chesapeake bay was finally freed today. a vessel which ironically was called the "ever forward" got lodged in the month april 13th crews lightened its load and today thanks to high tide, tugs and barges, it is moving forward once again we should note it's owned by the same company as that ship that got stuck in th suez canal last year when we come back, symbols of hope. the elaborate easter eggs now taking on a new meaning.

finally tonight, we are honoring a special easter tradition that millions around the world will recognize and it started centuries ago in ukraine. this year with the war thousands of miles away, many here are now embracing the special meaning that goes into each one of these elaborate easter eggs they're a symbol o the season, ukrainian easter eggs called pysanka. an ancient art, they are crafted ahead of next sunday's orthodox easter but because of the war in ukraine, many here are now discovering special meaning in these elaborate designs, which are said to represent strength, renewal and eternal life for ina and her family, things like baking sweet bread and decorating pysanka now represent comforts that's because she fled ukraine just as the bombs started to drop, making the terrifying journey with her daughters into poland, ending up with family

in pennsylvania. >> they should bring people together in hope and a bright future and the best future for ukrainians. >> easter is a symbol of preserve. we have to forget our previous plans and understand that we have to make new one and like have a new life so we can help ukraine better >> reporter: sarah bahir is an american ukrainian american artist and the founder of pysanky for peace project. struggling to make sense of the war, she started workshops to raise money for humanitarian efforts in ukraine she calls it a labor of love. >> it's a recording of all of that that is written on to the egg. so those intentions are meant for prosperity, for protection, all of those things that ukraine really needs right now.

>> each egg crafted with patience and perseverance father john charest is a priest at st. peter and paul ukrainian orthodox church near pittsburgh for worshipers here, making these eggs for others is a tradition going back more than a half a century but this year, he says they are a symbol that ukraine will rise again. >> we have this symbol of hope that life is going to go on even though cities seem to be destroyed we will rebuild and it will be beautiful, and we will continue to be strong >> and however you celebrate this season, we wish you and your loved ones all the best that's it for "nbc nightly news" for this sunday i'm gadi schwartz. from all of us here at nbc news, we hope you have a wonderful night.

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