we speak to a ukrainian singer about combining old traditions with a new date. hello, i'm samanthan simmonds. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has said he is "grateful" to his air force for a missile attack that badly damaged a russian warship in the black sea. the novocherkassk was hit during an attack on the port of feodosiya in russian—occupied crimea. local officials say at least one person was killed. ukraine said the ship was destroyed. president zelensky wrote on telegram, "the occupiers will not have a single peaceful place in ukraine." james waterhouse reports from central ukraine. for ukraine, this was a high—value target. the russian novocherkassk landing ship struck by a guided missile.

the force of the blast suggests it was full. moscow claims the ship was only damaged. kyiv says it was destroyed. it's going to need more than a lick of paint regardless. crimea has been firmly held by russia since 2014, but sights like this have become more common with ukraine striking deeper into the peninsula. the novocherkassk would've almost certainly been loaded with either soldiers, hardware or both. it being taken out will hamper russia's ability to supply troops further north, as well as further weaken its naval dominance in the black sea. translation: a huge job has been done. - a big assault carrier was destroyed, and it did become part of a fleet to which the moskva missile cruiser belongs. kyiv has successfully targeted russian vessels before, including the moskva, once the flagship of moscow's black sea fleet.

what attacks like these have yet to do is apply enough pressure on moscow for it to surrender ukrainian territory it has taken, but for ukraine, for president zelensky, it is a welcome announcement against a backdrop of waning western support. in feodosiya, fragments of the ship were scattered for hundreds of metres. ukraine has only been able to liberate a few kilometres of its territory. the impact of strikes like this isn't always realised immediately, but they have slightly weakened russia's control here. the problem for ukraine is time is not its friend. live now to peter dickinson, the editor of the ukrainealert blog at the atlantic council's eurasia center. hejoins me from kyiv. welcome to you. thanks very much for being with us. what do you make of this attack on a russian warship in the crimea?—

the crimea? good evening. it's a very significant — the crimea? good evening. it's a very significant attack. _ the crimea? good evening. it's a very significant attack. it's - the crimea? good evening. it's a | very significant attack. it's one of a series of similar strikes that reflect ukraine's growing ability to hit russia's black sea fleet. this began in 2022 when the war was in its very early stages, but is escalated to diffidently over the past six months or so, with a number of serious is that either destroyed or seriously damaged russian warships and have forced russia to withdraw the vast majority of its battleships and submarines even from the black sea fleet in sevastopol to russian ports and primarily to the east of the black sea. and in effect russia has even reportedly begun work on developing a new port and occupied georgian territory in the east of the black sea, which reflects how severe the blow has been to the russian sea power in the black seat. this is clearly part of

a much bigger pattern and is showing ukraine's ability to force russia back from ukrainian coasts and to break the blockade of ukraine's on black seaports. the break the blockade of ukraine's on black seaports-_ black seaports. the uk defence minister says — black seaports. the uk defence minister says 2096 _ black seaports. the uk defence minister says 2096 of _ black seaports. the uk defence minister says 2096 of the - black seaports. the uk defence l minister says 2096 of the russian minister says 20% of the russian black sea fleet has been destroyed in the past few months douglas a bit more about what we understand not to be the russian military capabilities there. ~ ,, ., there. well, the russia fleet has been used _ there. well, the russia fleet has been used to _ there. well, the russia fleet has been used to first _ there. well, the russia fleet has been used to first and _ there. well, the russia fleet has been used to first and foremostl been used to first and foremost blockade ukraine's ports. that blockade ukraine's ports. that blockade has now been effectively broken by ukraine's operations in the past six months. the russian black sea fleet has also played a big role in missile attacks on ukrainian infrastructure through across the country. last winter in particular, when it russian warships were used to fire cruise missile attacks. that has been very notably less of an occurrence this winter largely because the ships have been forced back. and of course to play a

major role logistically helping to support the russian invasion and bring supplies across to occupied crimea antics to southern ukraine. so again this is undermining the ability of russia to maintain its invasion force essentially in the south of ukraine. and then of course there is a morale factor here. it's a huge morale boost for ukraine to be seen to be striking the source of warships for putting this kind of damage, and from a russian perspective, russia is now losing the battle of the black sea to a cutter that does not have a navy. and if you can imagine, that's pretty demoralising. interesting to net our pretty demoralising. interesting to get your thoughts, _ pretty demoralising. interesting to get your thoughts, peter _ pretty demoralising. interesting to | get your thoughts, peter dickason, thank you forjoining us from kyiv, thank you forjoining us from kyiv, thank you. israel's military chief has warned there will be no swift finish to the war in gaza. army chief herzi halevi told a news conference the war will last "many more months". the hamas—run health ministry says 240 people have been killed in 2a hours. there are again fears that the conflict could spread across the region.

the us says it has carried out what it calls "necessary and proportionate" air strikes against pro—iranian militias based in iraq. the us says they were in response to attacks on american bases in the region. the government in iraq has condemned strikes as an "unacceptable attack on iraqi sovereignty". our correspondent shaimaa khalil is injerusalem. standing in what used to be her home. "ourthings, mum, they're gone." israel's bombing of rafah in southern gaza has continued, leaving those who fled there at a loss of where to go. translation: israel claims | that there are safe residential areas, or secure zones, but this attack shows that that's a lie. israel's military operation has intensified in khan younis, also in the south. little amal was sleeping with her family. the bomb hit them and killed her uncle. "they were sleeping," she says, "then i heard a big bang. rocks landed on us." amal�*s baby sister is three days old.

baby mariam is bearing the brunt of a conflict she was born into. as the military operation deepens into gaza, tensions have risen on israel's northern border with lebanon. israel's defense minister, yoav gallant, has visited troops in the north after, he said, they'd received cross—border fire from hezbollah, with the idf targeting some of the group's infrastructure. translation: hezbollah looks at what's happening in gaza - and understands very well what we did in gaza can also be done in beirut. hezbollah operatives were also targeted by the us in iraq. the pentagon said us forces carried out air strikes against what it called iran—sponsored militias in response to an attack on the erbil air base. israel's war in gaza is not close to being over, says the prime minister, and in its wake, otherfronts grow more tense in already volatile

areas in the region. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, jerusalem. let's talk more about those us airstrikes in iraq. live now to our news correspondent sally nabil. she is in washington. hyatt, sally, and what has the us been saying about those attacks on iranian targets in iraq?— about those attacks on iranian targets in iraq? they say that it comes in response _ targets in iraq? they say that it comes in response to _ targets in iraq? they say that it comes in response to strikes i targets in iraq? they say that it l comes in response to strikes that have targeted us military bases in iraq before. since the beginning of the war in gaza, militant groups in iraq believed to be sponsored by iraq believed to be sponsored by iraq have launched dozens of drone attacks targeting us military bases weather and a rock or in syria. just yesterday, on christmas day, three us servicemen were injured and we believe that one of them is in a critical condition according to a

statement issued by the us secretary of defence. they were injured as a result of a drone attack carried out by one of the militant groups operating in a rack and believed to be supported by iran. and so the us strike came in response to that, and the statement issued by the secretary of defence said that the strikes were proportionate and precise and that that us will do whatever it takes to protect its own nationals, whether inside or outside the country. and its interests. and so these strikes carried out by the militant groups in iraq do not stop, it seems the us military response will go to an escalation. find it seems the us military response will go to an escalation.— will go to an escalation. and tell us, sally. _ will go to an escalation. and tell us. sally. a _ will go to an escalation. and tell us, sally, a little _ will go to an escalation. and tell us, sally, a little bit _ will go to an escalation. and tell us, sally, a little bit more - will go to an escalation. and tell us, sally, a little bit more aboutj us, sally, a little bit more about the growing role we understand iran is playing in the region now. it’s a is playing in the region now. it's a very important — is playing in the region now. it's a very important and _ is playing in the region now. it's a very important and critical- is playing in the region now. it�*s —. very important and critical role because iran has a huge influence in a number of spots around the region.

first of all, let's begin with iraq and a lot of militant groups operating in this country who really have the upper hand when it comes to military response are sponsored and supported by iran. and i can definitely tell how much of an influence they do have is how this country, and they have been targeting us military bases since the beginning of the war in gaza. and if we look at the red sea, for example, and the houthi rebels in yemen and again they are sponsored by iran. they have managed to disrupt the red sea because of the attacks on the ships believed to be heading to israel. we have iran in syria supporting the syrian regime. some iran is effective in different spots around the region. qm. some iran is effective in different spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank ou spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank you very _ spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank you very much _ spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank you very much for _ spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank you very much for updating i spots around the region. 0k, sally, thank you very much for updating ifj thank you very much for updating if there from washington. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

let's look at some other stories making news. the former vice—president of hong kong's disbanded opposition has accused the uk of hardening its stance towards those leaving the territory. isaac cheng said immigration caseworkers appeared "predisposed to discredit" claims after several applications were rejected. a special visa scheme was established in 2021 for pro—democracy hong kongers escaping persecution. about 97% of applications have been successful. thames water has apologised after several homes in surrey were left without water today. areas near guildford and godalming were worst affected. the company said most properties have now had their water supply retored. the chancellor and local mp jeremy hunt said he was "beside himself with frustation". europe's larkest parking app operator has been hacked, with about 950 people in the uk having their personal data compromised. easypark group, which owns ring—go and park—mobile, would not give many details,

but said most of the customers affected were in europe and that names, contact information and parts of credit card numbers had been stolen. you're live with bbc news. the post—christmas sales may be getting into full swing today, but research suggests shoppers will spend less than they did last year. major retailers such as m&s remained closed. so, with pre—christmas events such as black friday and the availability of early discounts online, are the boxing day sales the major event they once were? theo leggett went to kingston—upon—thames to find out. christmas may be over, but now it's time for the sales. everything is reduced up to 50%. here in kingston—upon—thames, the mood today was cheerful as curious shoppers sought out the best bargains. and across the country, it was a similar story.

it's the first time in a long time that we've come out on boxing day shopping. we normally do this online. we were holding out for boxing day sales because we always care - about the kids and it's time for us. ijust like the atmosphere because it brings a lot of people out, of being in the city. that's what i like the experience of that. we're going to buy a few things in the sales. the shops are so busy, we can hardly get in, to be honest with you. i thought it was going to be more | sales, more staff, but it's less. i so i'm kind of a bit disappointed. it's just tradition, isn't it? yeah. ever since i was a kid, my dad would bring me out around the shops. boxing day itself used to be a huge sales event, but discount extravaganzas such as black friday have robbed it of some of its impact. marks & spencer, next and john lewis all chose to remain closed today, yet boxing day is just the start. there is still plenty of time for people to think about going shopping before new year. retailers need shoppers to come out in force this week. it's a vital time of year for them, but the big question

is with the cost of living still high and bills to pay, do consumers still have enough money to spend? early indications suggest that while shoppers did splash out more in the run—up to christmas than they did last year, trading was far from spectacular. i there'll definitely a temptation i for people to buy post—christmas, but unfortunately we've just got a lot less money to spend. - the cost of living crisis had a big i impact on how much we spent over the christmas period and could well do . for the sales as well. research from vouchercodes suggests we'll spend more than £14 billion in the shops and online between christmas and the new year, but that's still well down on 2022. for retailers, the next few days will be crucial. boxing day itself may not be what it once was, but the sales as a whole still really matter. what happens this week could lead retailers into a difficult winter or set them on track for a prosperous new year. russian opposition leader alexei navalny has confirmed he's been transferred to an arctic prison. he posted on x that he is in good spirits.

considered vladimir putin's most vocal opponent, navalny has been imprisoned since 2021. the russian dissident has told supporters not to worry about him, insisting he's relieved to have reached the siberian penal colony. but his chief of staff, leonid volkov, told the bbc concern for mr navalny remained high. we don't forget for a second that he is in the custody of desperate people who try to kill him 3.5 years ago and he is put in a very personal political prisoner. and this journey, this forced journey, of course we were ready for it. and while the only protection if any that still exists for alexi is the spotlight of publicity, pollutant have to be reminded that the world carries about the fall name and he cannot just carries about the fall name and he cannotjust hide him or kill him or whatever. this is very important for us. the amazon rainforest is experiencing its worst drought since records began. one of its main rivers is recording

the lowest levels in 121 years. the drought is the result of the effects of el nino, coupled with a warmer atlantic ocean and a heatwave in south american. but scientists worry that this drought means the amazon is moving faster towards its tipping point, where plant and animal life can no longer recover. stephanie hegarty reports. 0liveira is taking us to his village, and this is the only way to get there. it's a five—hour journey, at least normally. his community of a0 families is in the middle of the amazon. it's dry, and it's hot. brazil is in the midst of a heatwave. i think that's the end of the line.

we've been travelling for nearly five hours now, and 0liveira says we're not even halfway. so it looks like we're going to have to turn back. hundreds of thousands of people have been cut off by this drought, but scientists worry that an ecological disaster is unfolding, too. and there are signs. in two major lakes, dolphins are turning up dead. and here, in a city within the rainforest, the air is thick with smoke. man—made fires burning out of control in a dry forest. so, we have rain. yes, finally.

but perhaps not for long. well, climatologists are saying this drought will continue. flavia costa researches the health of plants and trees in the forest. some colleagues that are flying drones, they say they can see also canopies that are completely defoliated. the fear is that the amazon is racing towards a theoretical tipping point. in the vast forests, water evaporates from the trees to form rain clouds, so it feeds itself the water it needs to sustain life. and if swathes of it die, that mechanism could be broken. the forest would keep dying, and faster, in a catastrophic feedback loop. in the last big drought here in 2015, some estimates say 2.5 billion plants and trees died. and we mostly expect the same now, which is sad. some regions will probably

become savannas, but there are pockets of forest that probably will remain. the amazon stores around 150 billion metric tonnes of carbon. we rely on it to help keep the planet cool, but the question is how long it can continue to do that. stephanie hegarty, bbc news, in the amazon rainforest. nearly 7.5 million people in the uk watched the king's speech on christmas day, and for those who want more royal viewing, the bbc will on tuesday evening broadcast a new documentary. cameras followed king charles for more than a year for the programme. 0ur royal correspondent daniela relph has more. the coronation rehearsals inside westminster abbey. an important practice for all the family. wow, look at that! and a greeting from a grandfather and father, as well as a king about to be crowned.

what struck me particularly is how extraordinarily affectionate they are. they're clearly a very close family. you know, of all the generations. and, in a sense, you felt you're part of a family occasion as well as, you know, a royal occasion and a national occasion. for the first time, the programme will show the intricate preparations and alterations that were made to the crowns used during the coronation. and on the big day, after the service, cameras filmed the welcome back at buckingham palace. the programme is not a critical eye over the royal family's year. there is no mention of the duke and duchess of sussex, harry and meghan, nor prince andrew. it is instead a view of some of those moments we don't normally get to see. ijust love the way the sun comes through the cotinus. _ it's marvellous, isn't it? for those who know them best, amidst the noise of coronation year, a reminder of something very personal.

she is his rock, and i can't actually emphasise that enough. she's somebody who is completely loyal, and she isn't somebody who has huge highs and lows. he brings to her everything. i'm not talking about all of this, but, you know, he has such a knowledge and interest in so many different things, which she wouldn't really have been open to if she hadn't met him. all access to the royal family is carefully managed, but here the curtain is slightly lifted on some of the more private moments of a very public year. i knew that would be... yes. daniela relph, bbc news. and let's go back to ukraine as the country celebrated christmas for the first time in centuries together with the majority of europe, on december 25th

instead of january 7th. the move from the julian to the gregorian, or western, calendar was made by president zelesnky. many ukrainians embraced the change with enthusiasm, viewing it as a positive step that emphasised their cultural separation from russia and called it a "historicaljustice". despite the war, in many cities and villages people went to church, and also crowded the streets, dressed in traditional shirts, singing christmas carols. let's speak to alyona alyona, a ukrainian singer. she joins me from zakarpattia region in ukraine. welcome to you and thank you for being with us. how has it been celebrating on eight new date, december the 25th?— celebrating on eight new date, december the 25th? ., , ., december the 25th? hello, everyone. thank ou december the 25th? hello, everyone. thank you for— december the 25th? hello, everyone. thank you for this _ december the 25th? hello, everyone. thank you for this question. - december the 25th? hello, everyone. thank you for this question. you - thank you for this question. you know, it's a burning of a new tradition. because if we talk about our calendar and 1915, our christmas was on the 25th of december, so we lost it, we forget it. and that we have super big possibility to go

back to the roots, you know? and all people around are happy. some people buy gifts for children because we have our own, but children have to have our own, but children have to have funny time, peaceful time with family, presents and family tried to spend this time together. it's very important, but there is some people who did not accept it now and want to have this tradition about the 7th of january. but i to have this tradition about the 7th ofjanuary. but i think to have this tradition about the 7th of january. but i think they need this time. ofjanuary. but i think they need this time. , , this time. sometimes people need that, don't this time. sometimes people need that. don't they — this time. sometimes people need that, don't they come _ this time. sometimes people need that, don't they come up - this time. sometimes people need that, don't they come up when - this time. sometimes people need l that, don't they come up when there is change. you are a rap artist and you have released a new rap song to celebrate the change of date for christmas, but i know you wanted to show there is a bit of a traditional christmas song you were going to sing for us in ukrainian and will

translate so please go ahead. yeah, in this rap song _ translate so please go ahead. yeah, in this rap song we _ translate so please go ahead. yeah, in this rap song we use _ translate so please go ahead. yeah, in this rap song we use words - in this rap song we use words from some native song, so... she in this rap song we use words from some native song, so... she sings in ukrainian- — singing continues. that was lovely, thank you. the song is like the new _ that was lovely, thank you. the song is like the new star, _ that was lovely, thank you. the song is like the new star, give _ that was lovely, thank you. the song is like the new star, give you - that was lovely, thank you. the song is like the new star, give you a - is like the new star, give you a new year. so we come to celebrate with you, and we wish you the you have a good harvest with your seed you put

in the ground. and all this song is about blessed this year withjesus christ giving you more and more for good things. that christ giving you more and more for good things-— good things. that was lovely, thank ou. ve good things. that was lovely, thank you- very briefly. — good things. that was lovely, thank you. very briefly, it _ good things. that was lovely, thank you. very briefly, it is _ good things. that was lovely, thank you. very briefly, it is the _ good things. that was lovely, thank you. very briefly, it is the second . you. very briefly, it is the second christmas that the country has been celebrating while at war. how has that felt? ., ~ ., ., ., ., that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, _ that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, but _ that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, but now _ that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, but now may - that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, but now may at - that felt? you know, we have a lot of traditions, but now may at this. of traditions, but now may at this time, it's really hard to go for all of these traditions. like, in my table, i did not have 12 plates with mill as is traditional. i have only three because my mood is not super happy, and i'm not ready to celebrate at all like it was before. but we are celebrating because it's hope. but we are celebrating because it's ho e. ., ~ but we are celebrating because it's hoe. ., ~' ,, but we are celebrating because it's hoe. ., ~' , but we are celebrating because it's ho e, ., ~' , ., , . but we are celebrating because it's hoe. . ~ , . ., but we are celebrating because it's hoe. . , . ., ., , hope. thank you very much, a lovely oint on hope. thank you very much, a lovely

point on which _ hope. thank you very much, a lovely point on which to _ hope. thank you very much, a lovely point on which to leave _ hope. thank you very much, a lovely point on which to leave it. _ hope. thank you very much, a lovely point on which to leave it. thank - point on which to leave it. thank you for being with us and merry christmas. stay with us. hello there. i think you could call the boxing day weather the calm before the storm as things are set to turn very unsettled through tomorrow as storm gerrit, another named storm, hurtles across the country, bringing a mixture of rain, gales and heavy snow certainly across scotland. and it remains windy on thursday with further heavy showers at times. and this is storm gerrit winding itself up out in the atlantic, heading towards our shores as we move through this evening and overnight. so the rain piling into southern and western areas, winds picking up, too. ahead of it, a cold night to come. subzero values with some frost and ice before the rain arrives, with increasing amounts of snow certainly to the hills here. so it'll be very cold to start wednesday here, milder further south. storm gerrit then fully in control of our weather on wednesday. lots of isobars on the charts, close together, hence the gales, outbreaks of heavy rain and some concerning amounts of snow falling overfairly modest hills

in scotland through the morning and into the afternoon. up to 15 centimetres in places, maybe more than that. when you factor in the wind, we will see drifting and also blizzards. so some treacherous weather to come throughout the day on wednesday. heavy rain, strong winds elsewhere. maybe brightening up later in the day across some western areas, but i think most places staying cloudy. it will be very gusty, strong winds around the coast through the english channel, severe gales developing across north—east scotland and the northern isles later. gusts perhaps up to 75—80 mph here. double figure values for most in the south, cold across scotland, but it won't feel like that because of the strength of the wind. as we head into thursday, we keep low pressure close by. lots of isobars on the chart again, so another windy, blustery day to come. plenty of showers rattling in from the south—west. some of these could be heavy at times across western areas. again, a risk of some gales. north—west england, western wales could see some disruption once again. a bit of sunshine here and there and some wintriness over the hills in scotland again.

temperatures 9—12 degrees. so the weather on wednesday and thursday is likely to cause some disruption. a mixture of rain, snow and gales, so head online or check out the bbc weather app to see the details of all the weather warnings in place. and it remains unsettled for the rest of the week, the run—up to new year as well. could be that on saturday we see another spell of wet and windy weather with some mountain snow in the north.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a ukrainian missile damages a russian warship docked in occupied crimea — president zelensky says he's grateful to his airforce for the attack. israel's army chief says the war in gaza will continue for months — as the bombardment of the strip intensifies. iraq condemns us air strikes on iranian—backed targets in its territory — the us says it was retaliating after an attack on american bases. and — cameras take us behind the palace gates... we get a glimpse at a new bbc documentary following king charles in his coronation year. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday.