[Scuitto:] We're learning more now about a deadly shooting in Afghanistan inside the Kandahar Palace, several senior officials including Americans there, the gunfire erupting just moments after a meeting between the U.S. commander of all forces in Afghanistan and a top Afghan police chief. Thankfully, the U.S. commander uninjured. However, we're learning that the police chief was killed, two American service members also injured in the shooting. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joins us now with the details. Do we know the circumstances of this attack now, Nick?
[Nick Paton Walsh, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] It is a startling breach of security, frankly. Inside the Kandahar Palace where the governor holds key, very secure, very heavily fortified meetings where the top U.S. commander Scott Miller was clearly involved in a substantial gathering with major local Afghan officials. Now, the police chief who died, General Abdul Raziq, he is young. He's pretty notorious, accused of frankly unethical conduct to some degree, but a massive power broker in that vitally important southern Kandahar region. It's unclear exactly how this incident played out. It appears to be Afghan on Afghan. That's parlance for one Afghan soldier or official turning his gun upon other Afghans. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. They often do. We don't quite know who carried out the attack just yet. But they say that General Miller was also the target as well as the other General Raziq. But it's a startling situation frankly. Now 17 years into the war, to have a meeting like this violated. It's a massive security breach. I have to say though, when it comes to these attacks by Afghans on Afghans, there is very little that can be done. The Taliban have been shown themselves able to infiltrate it seems here the most secure parts of the Afghan security bubble. The Key issue here though, General Miller appears to have been out of the way when this attack occurred or at least injured by it. There were two citizens from the United States who were injured, unclear exactly what their role are. We're days away though from vital Afghan parliamentary elections, record violence, record numbers of Afghan soldiers and civilians being killed and near record American bombs being dropped on the country. The war is reaching its peak. And an instance like this just shows you exactly where it's going. Poppy?
[Harlow:] And exactly the risk, Nick, that Americans are putting themselves in continually there, 17 years in.
[Sciutto:] Every day.
[Harlow:] Every day.
[Sciutto:] Absolutely every day.
[Harlow:] Nick, important reporting. Thank you so much. Also this, new satellite photos obtained exclusively by CNN show Russia ramping up its military presence along the Baltic Sea. The U.S. military says it is preparing just in case any NATO ally needs protection. Our Fred Pleitgen has more from onboard a U.S. war ship just off the Atlantic coast.
[Frederik Pleitgen, Cnn Senior International Correspondent:] The USS Iwo Jima off the coast of Iceland, in the hangar deck, marines gearing up for an air assault. Retaliation if there's an attack on a U.S. ally. Corporal Derek Hussinger is part of the invasion force.
[Col. Derek Hussinger, U.s. Marine Corps:] When we get our guns situated, put the tripod down, set the gun up, and you know, stable platform.
[Pleitgen:] The exercise also a deterrent, as the north Atlantic region becomes more contested. With this exercise, the U.S. and its allies are practicing their response in case a friendly nation gets attacked. On the adversary in this exercise is fictitious, but it comes as a time when growing tensions with the U.S. and Russia. As the Marines raced to the Icelandic Coast, new evidence that Russia is beefing up its capabilities right in the heart of Europe. CNN has exclusively obtained satellite images from the Israeli firm image sat international, seemingly showing massive construction work at Russia's bases in Kaliningrad upgrading a nuclear storage facility there, adding new bigger ammunition bunkers and upgrading the military air field. Is Vladimir Putin building up his military in Kaliningrad. Russia's defense ministry didn't respond to CNN's request for information, but the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa tells me there's a pattern of Russia upgrading its capabilities in the region.
[Admiral James G. Foggo, Commander Of U.s. Naval Forces Europe-africa:] They're putting a lot in their modern weapon systems, anti-cruise ship missiles, radars, the S-300 and S-400 in there.
[Pleitgen:] Sending a message of strength to Moscow, the U.S. and its NATO allies are gearing up for an even bigger exercise in Norway.
[Foggo:] If they want to challenge us, we will challenge them. We're not going to be intimidated by those systems that are out there.
[Pleitgen:] And that challenge is now playing out in the north Atlantic region, with an increasingly assertive Russia and the U.S. showing it won't back down. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, aboard the USS Iwo Jima in the Atlantic Ocean.
[Sciutto:] Alarming developments along the coast there. Michael Cohen's transformation from ally to adversary of the president, what exactly does he know?