of the war in ukraine. ukrainian forces remain determined to repel russian forces, despite dwindling military supplies and wavering international aid commitments. we'll look at the state of play on the battlefield. and the impact on ukrainians and the country's prospects for victory. thank you forjoining us. welcome to this bbc news special programme — marking the two—year anniversary of russia's war in ukraine. over the course of the war, ukraine and russia have each suffered huge loss of life on the battlefield. and now kyiv�*s counteroffensive is struggling — as the kremlin continues to strike ukrainian cities — and make significant territorial gains. this map shows the areas of russian controljust before its forces invaded ukraine on february 2a, 2022. russia held crimea, which it annexed in 2014 — and russian—backed separatists controlled a small section

in southeastern ukraine. fast forward to today — and most of ukraine's south and east are now occupied by russian forces. russian losses are mounting however — especially in the black sea. the two year anniversary comes just days after ukraine suffered a major defeat — retreating from avdiivka and conceding the key eastern town to russian troops. ukrainian forces are running low on ammunition and artillery — as a multi—billion dollar us funding package remains tied up due to congressional infighting. but resolve remains strong. our correspondent andrew harding returned to the east of the country. he's been following the story of one ukrainian soldier, a medic working on the front line, who he first met at the start of the conflict. two years of war, seen through the struggles of one ukrainian doctor. this was the first time we met 0leg kravchenko back in 2022 in a besieged town called lysychansk. 0leg had justjoined ukraine's army as a volunteer medic.

look here. he drove us to his unit near the front lines. it's the same from russian. bomb. in those early days, a smiling 0leg was full of confidence. it's my country. but the russians are pushing now. a lot. i hope maybe one and a half months, and we will shoot every... every russian. you'll push them out? yes. so you think you're winning this? yes, yes. but within weeks, the russians had destroyed and captured lysycha nsk. nice to meet you. it would be a year before we met 0leg again. his medical team was now working in another frontline town, bakhmut. lots of casualties from ukraine's struggling cou nteroffe nsive. the dangers growing.

i am still live. you're still alive, yes. yes. but it's been a difficult year. very difficult. as if to prove the point, incoming fire. you're not worried about your safety? my faith. my faith is... hmm. i don't know. and now, two years into the war, we've come to meet 0leg's team once again. as usual, they're in the thick of it. this time in kupiansk, another furious battle under way. russia now inching forwards. gunfire. so the gunfire you can hear is ukrainian troops trying to shoot down a suspected

russian drone. they heard it overhead. we've taken cover under some trees. not sure if they've hit it yet. the ukrainians have found a new russian target. but what of oleg? we'd lost touch with him for several months, but now hear news of an attack last october. a russian rocket hit the field hospital he was working in. three medics were killed. but 0leg survived, his leg badly mangled. my friend died. it's difficult. difficult for me, and my mind is changed after that. when we first met in lysychansk, you were hopeful that ukraine could win. when we met in bakhmut, you were tired and worried. very tired. now, how do you feel about the war? can ukraine win?

um, yes. of course, i hope. but i think it's war. we will be long. a long war, then. medal of honour. it's from zelenskyy. and for 0leg, medals and an early retirement after two years that have transformed every life in this country. andrew harding, bbc news, eastern ukraine. joining me live is eugene vindman. he served as deputy legal advisor for the national security council, who blew the whistle on donald trump trying to extort zelenskyy. and bradley bowman, who served as a national security advisor to members of the senate armed services and foreign relations committees. great to have you both with us. i will start with eugene. ukraine can win but this will be a long walk, do you agree

with that assessment? i be a long walk, do you agree with that assessment?- with that assessment? i do. i've been — with that assessment? i do. i've been to _ with that assessment? i do. i've been to ukraine - with that assessment? i do. i've been to ukraine 14 - with that assessment? i do. | i've been to ukraine 14 times sincejune 2022 to october last year, a multinational mission and i'm quite familiar with the country, the terrain, i've been all around and the ukrainians have enormous motivation and heart, even with the loss of avdiivka last week they are nowhere near getting up and they can win. theyjust need i help as volodymyr zelenskyy sat in the first days, he does not want to evacuate, he needed weapons and that is still what they need to this day.- they need to this day. brad, do ou they need to this day. brad, do you agree? _ they need to this day. brad, do you agree? can _ they need to this day. brad, do you agree? can ukraine - they need to this day. brad, do you agree? can ukraine outlast russia if this is indeed to be a long walk?— russia if this is indeed to be a lona walk? ., , ., a long walk? that interview you 'ust add a long walk? that interview you just add really _ a long walk? that interview you just add really demonstrates i just add really demonstrates the extraordinary bravery ukrainians have shown for so long — ukrainians have shown for so long we _ ukrainians have shown for so long. we are talking about a

two year _ long. we are talking about a two year anniversary, i highlight that this is a ten year— highlight that this is a ten year anniversary since russia's unprovoked invasion of crimea and that— unprovoked invasion of crimea and that shown incredible courage and skill and fortitude in defending their country against _ in defending their country against this naked aggression and the — against this naked aggression and the only reason ukraine continues to exist as a sovereign entity is the bravery and skill— sovereign entity is the bravery and skill of the ukrainian pecule _ and skill of the ukrainian people and the weapons the united — people and the weapons the united states and its allies have — united states and its allies have provided and i think eugene _ have provided and i think eugene said it well. they have the will— eugene said it well. they have the will to fight but that need the will to fight but that need the men's to win it. if the will to fight but that need the men's to win it.— the will to fight but that need the men's to win it. if we look at the state — the men's to win it. if we look at the state of _ the men's to win it. if we look at the state of the _ the men's to win it. if we look at the state of the war, - the men's to win it. if we look at the state of the war, the i at the state of the war, the fact that ukraine had to retreat from avdiivka they are outgunned at the moment because the lack of military aid that has been flowing in. the counteroffensive did not make the gains that were hoped. what led us to this point where ukraine is right now? i give the ukrainians _ ukraine is right now? i give the ukrainians successful i the ukrainians successful repelling the russian invasion in the — repelling the russian invasion in the early weeks of the war in the early weeks of the war in 2022 —

in the early weeks of the war in 2022 and kyiv still stands and — in 2022 and kyiv still stands and they— in 2022 and kyiv still stands and they push back initial gains _ and they push back initial gains that had success in the black— gains that had success in the black sea but no doubt the counteroffensive that was disappointing not for the lack of effort _ disappointing not for the lack of effort on the part of the ukrainians. part of that is the russians_ ukrainians. part of that is the russians are a formidable foe that are — russians are a formidable foe that are quite good at artillery attritional warfare and — artillery attritional warfare and that is what we settled into, — and that is what we settled into, almost a law one style or with— into, almost a law one style or with drones and displays into russian _ with drones and displays into russian advantages. if you deprive _ russian advantages. if you deprive one side of ammunition and shells — deprive one side of ammunition and shells and missiles than bil and shells and missiles than big surprise that the invaders will big surprise that the invaders wiii start— big surprise that the invaders will start to meet gains. eugene _ will start to meet gains. eugene i want your thoughts on that as well?— that as well? the russians don't have _ that as well? the russians don't have the _ that as well? the russians don't have the strength . that as well? the russians don't have the strength to| that as well? the russians - don't have the strength to have major operational strategic gain. they did what they could at the beginning of the war,

they failed in kyiv and are holding a fraction of the territory they held in the first year of the war. this is a sort of not a frozen conflict but a conflict where there would be incremental gains. the loss of avdiivka was not an operational strategic defeat for the ukrainians, operational strategic defeat forthe ukrainians, it operational strategic defeat for the ukrainians, it was a tactical defeat. the russians are pushing on many different fronts but they don't have the capability to seize vast spots of terrain. this right now, this conflict will grind away until the united states and the europeans frankly step up and provide support that ukraine needs up to this point. the ukrainians have given what they needed not to lose but not enough to win. that means a great deal more of ammunition is necessary, 31 tanks were transferred and promised, that is enough for a battalion but not enough or significant fence

of. —— offensive. the f—i6s have yet to arrive, so there a great deal more that the west and united states can do to ensure ukraine wins, which is really in the us and west's national security interests. we don't want russia on nato's doorstep. don't want russia on nato's doorstep-— doorstep. the question is whether— doorstep. the question is whether the _ doorstep. the question is whether the us _ doorstep. the question is whether the us and - doorstep. the question is whether the us and eu i doorstep. the question is. whether the us and eu are doorstep. the question is - whether the us and eu are able to do that and brad, if you look at the munich security conference, lawmakers with as part of the us delegation and european allies coming together promising more support for ukraine. do you think that will make a difference here in the us in pushing some sort of aid package across the line? that package across the line? at this moment after we saw the vote _ this moment after we saw the vote in— this moment after we saw the vote in the us senate where you have _ vote in the us senate where you have 70 — vote in the us senate where you have 70 senators from both republican and democrat voting,

22 republicans supporting the package of this assistance for ukraine — package of this assistance for ukraine a _ package of this assistance for ukraine a taiwan and israel but it stalled — ukraine a taiwan and israel but it stalled in the house of representatives and the primary reason _ representatives and the primary reason is — representatives and the primary reason is because a section of the republican caucus there in the republican caucus there in the house speaker. the message i have _ the house speaker. the message i have been saying to my fellow americans is this is not charity, _ americans is this is not charity, this is a wise investment for us. we committed about— investment for us. we committed about $44— investment for us. we committed about $44 billion in security assistance since the unprovoked reinvention and that sounds like — reinvention and that sounds like a — reinvention and that sounds like a lot— reinvention and that sounds like a lot but to put that in perspective that is about 2.7% of what — perspective that is about 2.7% of what we spent on the pentagon over the same time period~ — pentagon over the same time period. what have we gone for that? — period. what have we gone for that? we — period. what have we gone for that? we are doing body blows in the — that? we are doing body blows in the second leading terry conventional front and decreasing the likelihood of a war between nato and russia and helping _ war between nato and russia and helping ukraine continue to ekist— helping ukraine continue to exist and demonstrating we are not neutral when it comes to naked — not neutral when it comes to naked aggression and we are sending _ naked aggression and we are sending a positive determent

measured as to whether taiwan aggression can continue in force _ aggression can continue in force. ~ ., ., ;;:: aggression can continue in force. ., ;;:: , , force. we have about 30 seconds left but a year — force. we have about 30 seconds left but a year from _ force. we have about 30 seconds left but a year from now- force. we have about 30 seconds left but a year from now if- left but a year from now if ukraine does not get substantial terry support what you think this war is? i substantial terry support what you think this war is?- you think this war is? i don't think ukrainians _ you think this war is? i don't think ukrainians will - you think this war is? i don't think ukrainians will give - you think this war is? i don't think ukrainians will give up | think ukrainians will give up in the short run. this is an ex— essential threat to them and —— existential threat and european border countries but it's the baltics or poland are going to have very difficult time living with russia on the doorstep. if we see russians making advances i can see countries taking unilateral action and frankly it is basically the republican party, controlled by donald trump that need to make sure that they follow us and western interests and defend our nato allies where we have article five

commitment.— where we have article five commitment. �* ., ., ., commitment. eugene, brad, good to have you _ commitment. eugene, brad, good to have you both _ commitment. eugene, brad, good to have you both on _ commitment. eugene, brad, good to have you both on the _ to have you both on the programme, that you so much. the war has had a devastating toll on civilians. the un has documented over 10,000 civilians killed, including more than 560 children. but the real number is believed to be much higher. and while ukraine has suffered the most damage and death, increasingly, russian towns have been shelled and hundreds of thousands of men have been drafted into the army. 0n the ukrainian side, an entire generation of young men is fighting on the frontlines, suffering devastating losses and injuries on the battlefield. earlier, i spoke to inna sovsun, a member of ukraine's parliament. her husband is one of those soldiers. we spoke about the frontlines and the impact on ukrainians. when we last spoke, the town of apra two was perilously close to falling. we have now since seen ukrainian forces to retreat —— avdiivka. was that a result of not having enough ammunition from ukraine's allies? , . , ,

allies? yes it was the result of delays — allies? yes it was the result of delays in _ allies? yes it was the result of delays in supplying - of delays in supplying ammunition and weapons to the ukrainian side, but also this time was very smartly used by the russians to increase their production of weapons and they have actually not been waiting for this time to pass and waited for what happens today to ukraine, they have been using this time to build up their own arsenals and that led to the fall of avdiivka because they had so much more ammunition and they could have taken it over after all.— taken it over after all. we've seen is all — taken it over after all. we've seen is all reports _ taken it over after all. we've seen is all reports of - taken it over after all. we've | seen is all reports of soldiers leaving before the retreat and are trying to reach out to members of theirfamily. are trying to reach out to members of their family. how has this impacted people, communities in the region? well, it is terrifying to hear about that and understand the experience. i'm saying both as a member of parliament but as a woman whose loved one is on the front line from day one. i

always relate personally to those stories and i don't even try to imagine the horror of the families who are going through that. my partner is alive luckily but this is a terrifying experience to live through and that is something that people desperately want to avoid but it was not our choice to live through this. we have to live through this. we have to make the best of it and that is why i think the only direction people can have and the only reaction people tend to publicise in social media when anything like this happens is donating to volunteer organisations who are fundraising for the army and thatis fundraising for the army and that is our best coping mechanism that we have here right now. mechanism that we have here right nova— right now. can i ask you personally. _ right now. can i ask you personally, how- right now. can i ask you personally, how do - right now. can i ask you personally, how do you | right now. can i ask you - personally, how do you deal with the feel for your loved one on a day—to—day basis our two years into this war? one on a day-to-day basis our two years into this war?- two years into this war? well, i would like _ two years into this war? well, i would like to _ two years into this war? well, i would like to say _ two years into this war? well, i would like to say that - two years into this war? well, i would like to say that i - two years into this war? well, i would like to say that i deall i would like to say that i deal with it calmly because that does lead to some, it is

challenging. it is highly challenging. it is highly challenging and it comes and goes but it is terrifying and exhausting. worrying every single day if he's 0k exhausting. worrying every single day if he's ok or alive when he does not respond for a longer period of time than usual. it is really difficult to focus on anything else than but we have to continue doing our work and that is my coping mechanism is ijust concentrate on my work and i think i am doing my work in order to save my country but also to save him stop as much as possible. it’s stop as much as possible. it's in a remarkably _ stop as much as possible. it's in a remarkably brave, we've been looking at how children who have lost parents from this war are dealing, how frontline medics are working and how ukrainian refugees who left the country are hopeful they can return and how they are coping. how do you begin to describe the impact of two years of war on your country? it the impact of two years of war on your country?— on your country? it led to a country _

on your country? it led to a country that _ on your country? it led to a country that is _ on your country? it led to a country that is on _ on your country? it led to a country that is on the - on your country? it led to a country that is on the one | on your country? it led to a - country that is on the one hand exhausted, tired, frustrated with a lack of understanding of the difficulties we are facing by the rest of the world. i think it made my country stronger and more committed to keeping our country as independent state. i think that sense of common goal, unity, is something that is the only good side effect of this terrible war. that is something that has definitely been a huge change compared to where we have been before. , ., before. the strength and resilience _ before. the strength and resilience of _ before. the strength and resilience of the - before. the strength and| resilience of the ukrainian people is really something that so many people have highlighted as so remarkable in the conflict. what do you think drives to resilience?- drives to resilience? well, probably _ drives to resilience? well, probably first _ drives to resilience? well, probably first of _ drives to resilience? well, probably first of all - drives to resilience? well, probably first of all we - drives to resilience? well, i probably first of all we don't have a choice. it's an extensional wall for us, if we stop fighting we cease to exist. if we stop fighting, vladimir putin's generals will

be here in kyiv and will destroy every thing we have built here, everything we believe in. we cannot allow this to happen. but also, we are fighting against great injustice and when you are fighting against great injustice that also gives you strength. it is so unjust what he is doing to us, what russian state is doing to us, that you have to fight back. anyone can relate because anyone who is dealt with some sort of injustice in their wife, ours is so great and terrifying —— injustice in their lives. we have to fight back because we should not allow for things to happen so we have to back. thank you so much again for joining us and we hope you and yourfamily remain safe. joining us and we hope you and your family remain safe.- your family remain safe. thank ou. ukraine's western allies urged the world to continue their support of kyiv at a meeting of the united

nations security council in new york. since russia's invasion, military assistance and funding has been significantly stepped up. in the past few weeks, european union leaders agreed to extend 50 billion euros in aid to ukraine. germany tops the list of eu countries but it's the united states that has provided the most assistance by far. that figure stands at $44.9 billion. and the uk has pledged almost £12 billion in overall support to ukraine since february 2022. western countries also have tried to squeeze the russian economy over the past two years. on friday, the us and eu imposed more than 500 new sanctions on russia — in retaliation for the death of russia opposition leader alexei navalny. the us imposed sanctions on three government officials involved in navalny�*s 100 firms and individuals will face restrictions on main payment system, mir, is targeted in the fresh

companies involved in powering companies involved in the war effort and energy production and cooperation with iran on drone technology will be his. penalties go beyond russia's borders, as people in china, the united arab emirates, vietnam and liechtenstein — have also been sanctioned. they're accused of being connected to businesses that send materials to russia's military. the question remains. will these sanctions be effective? we spoke to former zelenskyy adviser, igor novikov. i want to start with your reaction to the new could have sanctions that the us has rolled out against russia, this is in response to the death of alexei navalny and also to the two—year mark of the war in ukraine? two-year mark of the war in ukraine?— ukraine? i've got a bit of a case of the _ ukraine? i've got a bit of a case of the government. ukraine? i've got a bit of a l case of the government here because on one hand obviously we appreciate russia being sanctioned, certain sanctions do have an effect although it's not a short—term effects, its

medium to long—term. i still leave that the best way to sanction russia and put pressure on russia and to end the war would be to provide ukraine with military assistance because only today we dealt a radar plan is very rare, irreplaceable for russia, they only have a few left and that has more of an effect on the desire to make peace than any sanctions.— any sanctions. you don't think the sages _ any sanctions. you don't think the sages will _ any sanctions. you don't think the sages will have _ any sanctions. you don't think the sages will have any - any sanctions. you don't think| the sages will have any impact on how vladimir putin carries out the war in ukraine? definitely not on how he carries out the war and let's be reasonable. i think the director of that penal colony in siberia where alexei navalny died, i don't think he had any intentions of going to the us and visa ostriches and bank accounts being frozen i don't think will affect anything. — maccabees restrictions. you

said as the _ maccabees restrictions. you said as the war— maccabees restrictions. you said as the war reach - maccabees restrictions. you said as the war reach the one—year market was the most decisive week, i want to ask you now how you characterise this point in time?— this point in time? this point in time on — this point in time? this point in time on one _ this point in time? this point in time on one hand - this point in time? this point in time on one hand ukraine| this point in time? this point i in time on one hand ukraine has proven it has the capability and the will and desire to defeat russia on the battlefield. now unfortunately battlefield. now u nfortu nately we battlefield. now unfortunately we had to play the cards that we had to play the cards that we are dealt. there is a major delay to military assistance to us and witchelina that situation is reflected on the battlefield. —— literally. due to the lack of ammunition. what i would say here is it is important to make a distinction between this war ending and how it ends because there are three possible scenarios. ukraine can win, the conflict can be frozen or ukraine can lose and anyone especially in the west claiming they want to enter the war needs to specify which of those three scenarios they are after.

let's talk more about that support, you said instead of sanctions we need to see more military support for ukraine on the battlefield. i saw in speaking to cnn, the former presidential advisers at the us is a weak link in confronting the threat of russia. do you agree with that assessment? i agree with that assessment? i would say yes and no. yes because obviously we see major delays to the ukrainian bill going through the senate on one hand and especially with representatives but on the other hand i think if we look at this conflict as a whole i think it is a conflict between autocracies, dictatorships and democracies. any representative of democracy in a hybrid war would be in the weaker position because when the situation is not going vladimir putin's where he can use agents of influence to divide and basically block any decisive

action from the democratic west. ., �* ., action from the democratic west. ., ., , west. you've got many assurances _ west. you've got many assurances from i west. you've got many i assurances from senators and members of congress who will say they will provide more support for ukraine military aid. �* , ., support for ukraine military aid. �* aid. are you confident it will happen? — aid. are you confident it will happen? we _ aid. are you confident it will happen? we have _ aid. are you confident it will happen? we have to - aid. are you confident it will happen? we have to remain hopeful and optimistic because we have no other choice, we will fight this until the very end because they war of survival, not a war of conquest for us. on the other hand what we are seen on the battlefield is a pure reflection of that difference between promises made and there have been plenty of those and promises kept. that is really interesting, i want to ask after the ukrainian retreat from avdiivka the russians were able to get a strategically important city and lives in the forces outgunned. what is morale like in ukraine right now, both on the front lines and also among average ukrainians?— average ukrainians? obviously there is war — average ukrainians? obviously there is war fatigue, _ average ukrainians? obviously there is war fatigue, i'll i

average ukrainians? obviously there is war fatigue, i'll give . there is warfatigue, i'll give you a personal example, my kids are here and have been here for the last two years and even my four—year—old daughter in her first year of kindergarten has to go to a bomb shelter at least once a day because of a red alert and is one now because there is a drawing 50 kilometres away from us. just make a drone. they would get tired of that. everyone understands that there is no way to freeze the war, no way to make peace with vladimir putin because regardless of whatever concessions we make, he wants all of ukraine and he wants the ukrainian maiden nation. that reminder that they could be a democracy in these lands to be wiped from the face of the earth. that's as simple as that. ~ ., ., ., as that. we will have to leave it there but _ as that. we will have to leave it there but thank _ as that. we will have to leave it there but thank you - as that. we will have to leave it there but thank you so i as that. we will have to leave | it there but thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us on this very sombre anniversary, two years into this war. anniversary, two years into this war-— this war. thank you for inviting _ this war. thank you for inviting me. _ that's it for our special

report on the war in ukraine. we have much more on the anniversary, the sanctions on russia and all our other top stories on our website. thank you for watching. hello there. friday was a day of sunshine and showers, some of the showers heavy with some hail mixed in. and with colder air moving in across the country, we saw a bit of snow return to the top of the cumbrian fells. this is the top of helvellyn, snow—covered there in cumbria. now, so far this february, it has been a bit of a wash—out across england and wales. cardiff and coventry have had well over double the average rainfall so far this month. parts of east anglia, houghton hall in norfolk, have had three times the average rainfall, and there is more to come as well. now, on the satellite picture, all of this white speckled cloud you can see to the north and west of the uk is shower cloud, and there are loads of those. so we are looking at more showers working in. and over the next few hours, by and large the showers are most likely to be across northern and western scotland, a few for the north and west

of northern ireland, one or two for wales and the southwest of england. but otherwise, particularly across inland areas, we'll have clear spells to take us into saturday morning and a cold start to the day, with some frost or maybe one or two icy stretches. should be a fine if somewhat chilly start to the day, then, on saturday, but it is another day where we'll see showers pop up. some of those across northern scotland, some of the heaviest ones probably across southern areas of england and southern and western wales, with a real threat of seeing some hail and a bit of thunder mixed in. still, where the sunshine comes out, temperatures of around 8—10 degrees to be expected. that's about average at this time of the year. for sunday, there'll be further showers across northern scotland, but an area of low pressure looks set to run in across northern france. now, this could bring a spell of rain and windier weather to southern counties of england and southern wales, or it could be that the rain just holds a bit further south out in the english so that's the big zone of uncertainty, really, as we head through sunday, but still the bulk of the uk having a fairamount of sunshine and temperatures

still about 8—10. now, if we do see that rain in the south, could still be affecting east anglia and south—east england into monday, with quite breezy weather conditions. but further north, for northern ireland and scotland, good parts of northern england and wales will be underneath the influence of this ridge of high pressure, and so the weather should be drier with more in the way of sunshine. after a cold and locally frosty start to the day, our temperatures not really changing that much day—to—day, highs of again around 8—10 degrees or so. then deeper into the new working week, it stays unsettled, temperatures often near double figures, but there will be rain at times.

hey, i'm dylan with the catch—up. tonight: a world war ii bomb in plymouth. mansplaining goes viral. and a panda party. but first, shamima begum, the 24—year—old who travelled to syria to join the islamic state group when she was 15 has been told by a top court that she can't come back to the uk. she had appealed the government's decision from back in 2019 that strips her of her british citizenship on the grounds of national security. her lawyers say they won't stop fighting until she's home. and if you want to hear more on this story, then check out the shamima begum story podcast on the bbc sounds app.