65 ukrainian servicemen for a prisoner swap, and three russian military personnel escorting them. the crew and all the passengers of the plane were killed. on verify today, we've been looking at what was behind the downing of that plane near russia's border with ukraine, and who's responsible. a plane crash in russia — was it shot down? and who or what was on board? was it prisoners to be swapped, or missiles for the front? the un security council will hold an emergency session tomorrow at the request of the russians and we will get response from washington and give. also on the programme... it might not be conscription — but the head of the army suggests

britain needs to mobilize a citizens army to face the threat from russia. and in gaza, israeli tanks hita un buildings, killing nine people. the white house says the food situation is dire, as they push for a much needed humanitarian pause. good evening. russia says ukraine has deliberately shot down a military transport aircraft that was carrying dozens of ukrainian prisoners of war. the plane exploded in a huge fireball close to belgorod, a russian city 25 miles from the border with ukraine. photographs that were taken shortly after, show the wreckage lying in a snowy field. the russian defence ministry said 65 ukrainian prisoners of war, six crew members and three other passengers died in the crash. the russian ministry of defence said the pows were being flown to belgorod from an airfield near moscow, and were scheduled to be exchanged later today at the border. they claim a second plane carrying around 80 pows was turned around and returned to moscow. our verify team have been looking at the video, here's our correspondent nick

eardley. this the third major incident involving a russian military plane in the past fortnight. we spent the day figuring out as much as we can about what happened. let's start with this video which shows the incident. you can see the plane here circled. it disappears out of view for a few seconds and then you can see the impact. now, we have verified this. everything in the video is consistent with what we know about the area and the weather this morning in the belgorod region. that was the moment the plane going down, but about 20 seconds into the video we see this this smoke plume. could this be a sign that the plane was hit by a missile? well, experts we've spoken to think, yes, it could be. the open source defence intelligence company believes that this smoke cloud may hint at the use of surface to air missiles. they also told us it could be

a warhead detonating near the plane. another expert, mark from the centre for strategic and international studies, has said that this is consistent with an aircraft being shot down. this smoke plume, he says, is consistent with an explosion. so there's that. the governor of belgorod said that everyone who was on the plane died. and the defence ministry in russia says there were 65 ukrainian prisoners of war on board, as well as six crew and three others. neither president zelensky, nor the ukrainian government have made any official statements on the incident. a spokesman for ukrainian military intelligence, confirmed reports that a prisoner exchange with russia had been due to take place on wednesday. though he wouldn't comment on whether the pows were on board the plane. he said kyiv had not been asked to ensure the safety of air space around belgorod as has been previously done. in new york the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov gave a press conference in which he called

for an emergency session which was due to start this hour. translation: ukrainian prisoners of war transported to the belgorod i region for the next exchange agreed upon between moscow and kyiv. instead of this exchange taking place, the ukrainian side from the kharkiv region launched an anti—aircraft missile attack on this aeroplane, which became fatal. live to our north america correspondent will vernon. he spent so much time in moscow, previously, so good experience of trying to pick your way through these stories when there are so many open questions. what did you take from the press conference given a bit earlier? he from the press conference given a bit earlier?— bit earlier? he essentially blamed ukraine for— bit earlier? he essentially blamed ukraine for what _ bit earlier? he essentially blamed ukraine for what happened, - bit earlier? he essentially blamed ukraine for what happened, said l ukraine for what happened, said ukrainian anti—aircraft systems shutdown the plan these anti—aircraft systems he said were in the kharkiv region near to the crash site and he called it a criminal act and terrorism and as

you say it russians requested an emergency session of the un security council, which we understand will haveit council, which we understand will have it tomorrow at 5pm and mock school, —— moscow expects give to present more information about what happened. today at the press conference lavrov accused ukraine of spreading disinformation about this incident, essentially lying about it emma and i think for a of us officials and for me, was watching that press conference, they couldn't believe their ears when they heard that because, you know, spreading disinformation is something the west has been accusing russia of for many years. moscow has been spreading myths and truths about a whole host of things about war crimes in the towns of bucha, moscow says that was staged, whether it be forcibly

removing graining and children to russia, russia says it saving them, going back to 2018, the salisbury poisonings, russia said its agents there in salisbury were torahs and that britain staged the whole thing. the list goes on and on and i think we don't really know what happened or what brought on the plane, what was on it or who was on it, but i think it is clear that whatever really happened, moscow has decided to seize the opportunity to score some political points. figs to seize the opportunity to score some political points.— to seize the opportunity to score some political points. as you say, we do know— some political points. as you say, we do know and _ some political points. as you say, we do know and that _ some political points. as you say, we do know and that ukrainian . some political points. as you say, i we do know and that ukrainian say, moscow is trying to create rifts within ukrainian society, lots of families were desperate for their love ones to come home. it may well be full of visitors, this plane, the question is who shut it down, whether it's the ukrainians are the russians who shut it down. yes.

whether it's the ukrainians are the russians who shut it down. yes, we don't know. — russians who shut it down. yes, we don't know, perhaps _ russians who shut it down. yes, we don't know, perhaps more - russians who shut it down. yes, we don't know, perhaps more will - russians who shut it down. yes, we| don't know, perhaps more will come clear in the coming days. today, there was a briefing of the us state department and the representative was asked if the us had any more information about it and the americans also said they are still trying to establish the truth about what really happened and urged russia and ukraine to both conduct investigations to establish a truth, and establish facts. i think us officials, western officials, will be listening to moscow plus michael worries with a certain amount of incredulity. moscow, as we know, denies anything it is accused of, it denies anything it is accused of, it denies anything it is accused of, it denies any involvement with. if we cost our minds back to february 2022, when there was that build up of russian forces on the border with ukraine. lots of officials, western officials, ukrainian officials,

accusing russia of planning to invade ukraine, and what was moscow's response back then as he marked it was another denial. iliiui’ith marked it was another denial. with vernon, marked it was another denial. with vernon. that _ marked it was another denial. with vernon, that gives _ marked it was another denial. with vernon, that gives a view from washington and a bit of what we might hearfrom tomorrow washington and a bit of what we might hear from tomorrow in the washington and a bit of what we might hearfrom tomorrow in the un security council. live now to our eastern europe correspondent — sarah rainsford — who's in kyiv. the general stuff over there said it would continue to strike at the terrorist threat from russia, is that an indirect confirmation that the did then destroy this plan? there was no direct reference to the plane coming out in that statement from the general stuff, it didn't even mention or talk about what happened at all, but it made it clear why it might be firing missiles at transport planes in that area. it specified very much that there is an increased threat from there is an increased threat from the belgorod region particularly to kharkiv in the north of the ukraine where we have seen in the last few

days and that's what you weeks a real increase in missile attacks in residence serial buildings and getting dozens of civilians in kharkiv, so what the general stuff point was about without saying or confirming it had fighter missile answered on a plane, what it said was there was a threat, military bands bring missiles which are launched across the border, and is it said, they said they will continue firing back. fit, it said, they said they will continue firing back. it said, they said they will continue firina back. �* ,, . ~ continue firing back. a russian mp, retired general _ continue firing back. a russian mp, retired general today, _ continue firing back. a russian mp, retired general today, said - continue firing back. a russian mp, retired generaltoday, said ukraine| retired general today, said ukraine down the plane to sabotage future prisoner exchanges, i don't have —— i don't understand what incentive they would have to do that western mark why would they do that? it you mark why would they do that? if you to down mark why would they do that? if you go down that — mark why would they do that? if you go down that rabbit _ mark why would they do that? if you go down that rabbit hole _ mark why would they do that? if gm. go down that rabbit hole you're not getting out, you cannot try to think rationally about those kind of comments because they make absolutely no sense. there is no way that your agreement wants to jeopardise the return of its prisoners, quite the opposite. there

are thousands and thousands of ukrainian soldiers, fighting for this country, who are now in russian jails and there is huge demand there for those meant to be return home safely, and i was talking to the mother of a 23—year—old ukrainian fighter, who she hasn't heard from forfor a long time, she is extremely distressed, of course, at the vague possibility that her son might have been on board that plane. she wants to have information and wants to know. so, ie lots of very concerned families here in ukraine waiting for information, but it is important to stress that while ukraine defence military intelligence services said it has some information, has given some information, it has a clear it doesn't have any verified information that there were prisoners of war on the plane, which is what russia is claiming.— is what russia is claiming. sarah, lookin: is what russia is claiming. sarah, looking very _ is what russia is claiming. sarah, looking very cold _ is what russia is claiming. sarah, looking very cold out _ is what russia is claiming. sarah, looking very cold out there, - is what russia is claiming. sarah, | looking very cold out there, thank you for being with us this evening.

live to mikey kay, former uk military strategic planner who spent 20 years as an raf assault helicopter pilot. he knows a thing or two about this sort of thing. love it to have you on the programme again. what do you see when you look at that video? i've been analysing it all day through the risk equation capability versus intent, if we take capability, capability is the question, does ukraine have the capability to shoot down this strategic transport aircraft? the answer is yes. they have the patriot missile system, which is a high level and site whose missile, which is more than the capability to take out a very large transport aircraft. that is a radar guarded —— guided missile system and also ukraine has the irish tv missile system, it slightly shorter range which is

infrared, a radar guided missile system will go for the radar cross section of a plane, which is absolutely massive, the rst which is an infrared homing system will go after the engines. that plan has four engines, so if you use a shoulder propulsion system, one might not take out the aircraft, so from the capability perspective and the size of the aeroplane, ukraine has the capability to take down or shoot down. when it comes it intended aside, that is a story or been talking about, why would ukraine shoot down an aircraft with 76 ukrainian soldiers on board? there are reports of their that ukrainians did initially claim that it plane was carrying s 300 missiles, effectively the russian equivalents of the patriot missile system, if that is true, it would

give ukraine the it centre shoot it down but given what we have at the moments, the intent site doesn't make sense, the capability side it does have it. figs make sense, the capability side it does have it— does have it. as we were saying, there has been _ does have it. as we were saying, there has been an _ does have it. as we were saying, there has been an uptick- does have it. as we were saying, there has been an uptick in - does have it. as we were saying, there has been an uptick in the l there has been an uptick in the number of ground attacks in and around the kharkiv region, these missiles can be used for ground attacks can they?— missiles can be used for ground attacks can they? they have been usina attacks can they? they have been using cereal. _ attacks can they? they have been using cereal, the _ attacks can they? they have been using cereal, the permanent -- i using cereal, the permanent —— pre—eminent use of the x300 is like the patriot missile, it can to coat potential tomahawk or cruise missile attacks or fast—moving aircraft that are carrying air to ground bombs, so the x300 is potent. so are carrying air to ground bombs, so the x300 is potent. 50 iii are carrying air to ground bombs, so the xsoo is potent.— the x300 is potent. so if those were cominu in the x300 is potent. so if those were coming in and _ the x300 is potent. so if those were coming in and behind _ the x300 is potent. so if those were coming in and behind many - the x300 is potent. so if those were coming in and behind many lines - coming in and behind many lines watching what is coming into an airfield like belgorod, there would have an incentive to take it out. it have an incentive to take it out. if they have the intelligence, and if

we project forward now, it's all about the investigation and if russia is absolutely adamant that there were 76 ukrainian soldiers on board and not missiles, then russia should be up to provide all the evidence to show that the ukrainians were on board, so a manifest with the all the names. and they should provide and allow access to the crash site. if you're going 17 flight, shut down, that whole fuselage was put together by the investigation and you could see on the aircraft the missile that struck it was a proximity fuse he could see over the cockpit where the warhead had been displaced so if the russians are adamant, they should be “p russians are adamant, they should be up to provide the evidence to set the truth straight. we

up to provide the evidence to set the truth straight.— the truth straight. we know that access probably _ the truth straight. we know that access probably won't _ the truth straight. we know that access probably won't be - the truth straight. we know that i access probably won't be granted. while i have got you, mikey, and since we are talking about the russian threat, some interesting comments this afternoon from general sir patrick sanders, chief of the general staff. he is saying the government needs to train up and equip a "citizen army" a reservist force of tens of thousands in case britain is dragged into war with russia. he has publicly criticised the army's lack of funding and its inability to modernise. he said that within three years there should be a larger army of 120,000, that should include regular soldiers. where are we and the moments and was that necessary?— that necessary? given that the british military _ that necessary? given that the british military has _ that necessary? given that the british military has been - that necessary? given that the i british military has been depleted over the last four years, predominantly the army, i think this is sort of more of an pie in the eye —— pie—in—the—sky idea, because it takes years to train soldiers up to a certain level. he takes years to train soldiers up to a certain level.— takes years to train soldiers up to a certain level. he said there would be reuular a certain level. he said there would be regular soldiers, _ a certain level. he said there would be regular soldiers, reserves - a certain level. he said there would be regular soldiers, reserves and i be regular soldiers, reserves and a strategic reserve, so would that be retired troops who would be

recalled? , retired troops who would be recalled?— retired troops who would be recalled? , ., ., , recalled? they would not be the roles that would _ recalled? they would not be the roles that would be _ recalled? they would not be the roles that would be massively i roles that would be massively productive in a fight against the russians, it's the special forces rules, the niche roles, special support, the royal marines, the sas and others, they are departments the uk military which are some of the best in the world and can do the most damage in concert with ukrainian soldiers that have been brought in and draughted into the front lines. i am brought in and draughted into the front lines. lam not brought in and draughted into the front lines. i am not sure that a reservist capability is even more to dent what the russians can throw at potentially might ukraine. you have to remember is whether, in orderfor the russians to start becoming a major threat, they have to clear territory inside ukraine and hold the territory inside ukraine, and is the territory inside ukraine, and is the holding bit, when you have a defence ratio of three to one, ie needin defence ratio of three to one, ie need in the a second force three times greater than the defendant force, i don't think the way the former would work that russia was

the greatest threat, is going to work by is some reservist mobilisation.— work by is some reservist mobilisation. . ~ , ., , . mobilisation. thank you very much for our mobilisation. thank you very much for your expertise, _ mobilisation. thank you very much for your expertise, good _ mobilisation. thank you very much for your expertise, good to - mobilisation. thank you very much for your expertise, good to talk . mobilisation. thank you very much for your expertise, good to talk to | for your expertise, good to talk to you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the body that looks into potential wrongful convictions was warned it could have missed important dna evidence in rape cases a year after first rejecting an appeal by andrew malkinson. he spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. his conviction wasn't overturned until a decade later and his lawyers say the criminal cases review commission report means he could have been exonerated earlier. police have shot a dog dead after reports of it attacking a man in hamilton in scotland. officers were called to the tinto view area of the town on tuesday to deal with the "dangerously out—of—control" animal. the man was taken to hospital with "serious injuries" following the incident, which involved a "large bulldog—type dog". almost ten million people in england

now can't access free earwax removal services on the nhs. the hearing loss charity rnid warned that some people are resorting to "dangerous self—removal methods" if they can't afford to go private. the government says patients can still be referred by their gp if the problem is linked to hearing loss. you're live with bbc news. donald trump has followed his win in iowa, with an equally convicing win in new hampshire. not quite as big as polls had predicted, he finished 11 points clear of nikki haley, but he took an overwhelming slice of the republican base. so, two out of two and the consensus within the party is that the primary is over and it is time for the general election to begin. there's just one problem with that. haley used her concession speech to insist the race is "far from over". and in response trump lashed out at his opponent, who he characterised as an "imposter" standing in his way. who the hell was the imposter that went up on the stage before and,

like, claimed a victory? she did very poorly, actually. she had to win. and when i watched her, the fancy dress that probably wasn't so fancy, come up, i said, "what is she doing? we won" you must really hate her. no, it's a shame. uh—oh. ijust love you. there are some warning signs in this result for the presumptive nominee. nikki haley has exposed trump's key weakness. the independent voters don't seem to like him. and haley is honing in, on the reasons why. donald trump, you have one bout of chaos after another. this court case, that controversy, this tweet, that senior moment. you can't fixjoe biden chaos with republican chaos. live now to our us special correspondent, katty kay. lovely to see you. our response last

night. a convincing victory and yet he seemed deeply frustrated with haley's response. it he seemed deeply frustrated with haley's response.— he seemed deeply frustrated with haley's response. it was the most aracious haley's response. it was the most gracious entry _ haley's response. it was the most gracious entry speeches _ haley's response. it was the most gracious entry speeches i - haley's response. it was the most gracious entry speeches i heard i haley's response. it was the most gracious entry speeches i heard in american politics was lane into your opponent, the person you were running against, her dress, i'm not sure how well that will go down with suburban woman voters, no one makes to have their dress dismissed as cheap and not fancy. so i don't think you'll do many favours, but clearly he is not happy she is staying in the race, hejust clearly he is not happy she is staying in the race, he just put out in the last few minutes, one of his posts calling her in a bird which also might not go down well with woman voters. it's interesting, she seems to have gotten under his skin, and if she stays in the race how much more of this will he say? how much more of this will he say? how much more of this will he say? how much more angry with the bee? or the team around him, which have done a good job of reining in some of his

more angry instincts, with a renaming back again? if he carries on on this vein, even though he has won new hampshire, ins a general election he would have to win some of the people who voted for nikki haley, you cannot win this election just with his base, he would have some independence and if he does something more consider terry towards nikki haley. at, something more consider terry towards nikki haley. a panelist erned towards nikki haley. a panelist likened it to _ towards nikki haley. a panelist likened it to rocky. _ towards nikki haley. a panelist likened it to rocky. he - towards nikki haley. a panelist likened it to rocky. he said - towards nikki haley. a panelist i likened it to rocky. he said nikki haley was playing the role of sylvester stallone, trying to wind up sylvester stallone, trying to wind up cassius clay until that point that he just snaps and goes after and she thinks that is the last tactic in her drawer, and that could be damaging in the general election? i think she has two tactics and i think doug is right, we saw some of that last night. he started to snap, and again calling her bird—brain todayis and again calling her bird—brain today is kind of a snap, so let's

see how further he goes down that route if she stays in a race. nikki haley's team is thinking, he has all these court cases against him, 91 challenges against him, if he is convicted on any of those and there enough republicans who have said both in iowa and new hampshire, we won't support donald trump or vote for him if he is convicted on any one of those 91 charges then perhaps by staying in the race she can paint herself as the last person standing so that is the other reason that that might say in the race which is complicated towards the conventions but she might think that everyone else is dropped out, she is still there and has money in the bank, raised something like 25,000 in the last quarter of last year, so why not sit it out? what is the downside?— not sit it out? what is the downside? ,, , . , . downside? she spoke last night about wh --eole, downside? she spoke last night about why people. the _ downside? she spoke last night about why people, the majority _ downside? she spoke last night about why people, the majority of _ downside? she spoke last night about why people, the majority of people i why people, the majority of people in america want something different. that's have a list this point. the

point she's making about the two people who were also in the race. the first party to retire it's a 80—year—old candidate is going to be the party that wins this election. and i guess to look at that, you look at someone with a fresh face in nikki haley, maybe even dean phillips on the other side, you think these are two smart people who could easily be the candidates, is it the present —— the press into the electorate that it's the octogenarians taken on the limelight? i octogenarians taken on the limelight?— octogenarians taken on the limelight? octogenarians taken on the limeliaht? ~' ., ., , limelight? i think the mood here is re limelight? i think the mood here is pretty depressed. _ limelight? i think the mood here is pretty depressed, people - limelight? i think the mood here is pretty depressed, people aren't . pretty depressed, people aren't interesting. clearly, donald trump who has people who will stand in line for hours and love them, almost as quasi—religious —— quasi religious language about him. friends of mine in the american press, they are saying no one is reading the election coverage, they

have all the reports of their covering iowa and new hampshire, and it'sjust not covering iowa and new hampshire, and it's just not getting much covering iowa and new hampshire, and it'sjust not getting much pick—up because people don't want to think about politics at the moment. one thing we do know, the next, if he is like 100 years, the next ten months “p like 100 years, the next ten months up to the general election, will be grueling. it would be a brutal fight, whether it's between nikki haley and donald trump are beyond that, between donald trump and joe biden, the gloves will be off on both sides, and i don't think that fills anybody with excitement. on top of that, all the polls are showing americans aren't excited about almost —— to almost 80 euros running. about almost -- to almost 80 euros runninu. m, about almost -- to almost 80 euros runninu. ~ , .,, .,�* about almost -- to almost 80 euros runninu. , .,�* . ~ running. most people don't talk about politics _ running. most people don't talk about politics in _ running. most people don't talk about politics in the _ running. most people don't talk about politics in the back- running. most people don't talk about politics in the back of- running. most people don't talk about politics in the back of the j about politics in the back of the toxic but we talk about waiting politics in america and if a woman could win in the white house, are we seeing why that is so difficult in nikki haley's race to become president? i nikki haley's race to become president?— nikki haley's race to become resident? ~' j ., president? i think they're some of

that. i president? i think they're some of that- ithink— president? i think they're some of that. i think there's _ president? i think they're some of that. i think there's some - that. i think there's some misogynist language that has been used, certainly about hillary clinton, is not much —— more discussion about her clothing, for example, the fact that nikki haley's dress was brought up last night, you don't tend to hear about male candidates. when it comes to the house and the senate, we know that when women run, they win in as big numbers as men do, theyjust don't win as often. there are barriers to entry for woman, but i think woman —— america would be by and large the annex if human president, theyjust need one to win the nomination again. need one to win the nomination aaain. ., ~' ,, need one to win the nomination aaain. . ~ i. . , need one to win the nomination aaain. . . , , again. thank you, kathy, will be back on the _ again. thank you, kathy, will be back on the other _ again. thank you, kathy, will be back on the other side, - again. thank you, kathy, will be back on the other side, stay - again. thank you, kathy, will be| back on the other side, stay with us for the latest. hello there. as storm jocelyn cleared our shores, wednesday has been a day for assessing the damage that was left. but it was a slightly quieter story with the winds gradually easing down.

we did actually see some brief glimpses of sunshine, not a bad afternoon in hexham, northumberland. and as we go through the evening and overnight, the winds will continue to ease. we've got these weather fronts starting to slowly drift in from the west. they'll bring outbreaks of rain, but they will also introduce this south—westerly flow, which is driving milder air right across the country. so there'll be a lot of clouds to start the day on thursday. outbreaks of drizzle, misty conditions along west coasts and some rain moving out of northern ireland into northern scotland. but by the afternoon, most of the persistent rain will have eased away. it will stay damp and drizzly with a few showers out to the west. but an incredibly mild story for all of us. 13 celsius in london — at this time of year, we should be seeing temperatures around 7—8 celsius. there will be some showery outbreaks of rain into northern england. hopefully a brighter story into the afternoon for northern ireland. mild here, and still very mild particularly in comparison to where we were just over a week ago in scotland, highs of 10—12 celsius. now, through thursday

night into the early hours of friday morning, there'll be a spell of heavier, more persistent rain, as the cold front starts to push its way steadily eastwards. hopefully that will clear away from east anglia. here, it will be a mild start on friday morning. clearer skies, fresher conditions, 4—5 celsius in the far north and west. but that's where we'll have the best of the sunshine. and on the whole, a ridge of high pressure will build on friday, keeping things largely fine and quiet. a few scattered showers along north and west—facing coasts of scotland and northern ireland. a little bit fresher here, but generally those temperatures above where they should be for the time of year still, at around 6—12 celisus. into the start of the weekend, england and wales still under this influence of high pressure, quiet and dry. toppling across the high, we'll see weather fronts. so as we look further ahead, there's always the risk of some wetter and windier weather into the far north and west, nowhere near as severe as it has been. and on the whole, that mild trend is going to stay with us. the best of any sunshine certainly across central and southern areas,

but not a bad weekend ahead for most.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. tank shells hit a un compound sheltering hundreds of people in southern gaza —

killing at least nine. will have reaction annapolis look to the sports. —— but first let's get a look at the sports. let's start with the latest from the second leg of the english league cup semifinal between fulham and liverpool. luis diaz has handed liverpool the lead at craven cottage, meaning they now lead the tie 3—1 on aggregate. the winner will meet chelsea in the final. you can follow that on the bbc sport website. they get it score the second on the ninth but it was ruled offside. 1— 03- ninth but it was ruled offside. 1— 03— one on aggregate