of the fif but well kept draw. join us on april the 1st on al, jazeera b, m, at the ongoing new green russia will some neighboring countries in a rush attack on that soil. do you take that as a serious possibility of, of russia or attack my thing? there is serious possibility and absolute certainty is, would like to do it on in the deputy foreign minister. pamela gibbons, he talks, challenges, era ah, the hard key, the fight back ukrainian forces in the countries 2nd largest city, hold off a russian assault. ah, hello barbara, sarah, this is al jazeera life from london, also coming up, rushes, president vladimir putin, demands payment for gas in rubles threatening to cut off supplies to western

nations. u. s. president joe biden, meanwhile, announces he will release a 1000000 barrels of or a debt barrels a day from american strategic oil reserve to try to curve that soaring fuel prices . this is a moment of consequential pearl for the world and pain at the pump for american families. it's also moment of patriotism in the u. n. the urges world donors not to forget of gaston as it launches its largest humanitarian appeal for a single country. ah, ukraine's president believes russia could be preparing for fresh attacks on the don bass region after being pushed back from the capital cave. nato has also said that russian units have been re deployed to fight an eastern ukraine. meanwhile,

the besieged the city of maria pull is becoming one of the key battlefront stacks. according to our ukranian ministry, official, about a $170000.00 people are tracked in the ruins without food, heat power, or even water rushes. defense ministry says it will open a humanitarian corridor for my report to separate jack in on friday. and the fighting continues in the eastern city of had keith, but the ukrainians are fighting back repelling of russian assault or warning. some people might find the images in us, a big report from outside had keep the stressing. there's only death here. bodies of young russian soldiers lying unclaimed, apparent victims of port tactics or so the ukrainians. tell us what you consider here for you for the day. it was very intensify and our guys had high morale. a special operation was plan together with a 92nd brigade. they flanked this position and then cleared. the russians had poor

defensive position, say the enemy's exposing them to ukrainian artillery. this was a russian defensive line. all along here you have what's left over of this intense battle burnt out. tanks, weapons left behind grenades. they didn't even have time to take some of their data. everywhere we look, there are signs of battle. we and fear of chemical attack, ukrainian soldiers salvage what's left, the village of mother or hahn is back under ukrainian control, but the cost has been high. a fierce battle pushed the russians away from the gates of her keith porsha duffy de glare with her 21 year old. u guinea has been awarded, ukraine's highest honor for destroying 5 tanks and other heroics during battle of

the war. he tells us it's the 1st time he's come across the use of phosphorus, the highly flammable chemical force from bug, but also below my 3. but it, it, with my 1st experience with phosphorus, air strikes, one of the scariest, the phosphorus you saw 1st they use the air strikes, then the phosphorus below my eyes were burning. i couldn't breathe through my nose . it was like really difficult to breathe those. but the equipment was burning, just gate was bad. and below now we can't independent verify its use. this is one of the main streets. in this village, i was completely destroyed every building, every window. everything that you see has some sort of damage the bullet holes in the doors. the windows have been blown at the bricks all over the place. and we've been told that we can only stick to this main road because everywhere

around hasn't been completely de mine because the fear is that the russians have left mines and booby traps behind for the ukrainian soldiers taking the space. but as you see, there's not much left. i said bake algebra outside hockey luma. cohen is in key, then he has more now on efforts to evacuate people from the city. what do you, paul? well, you know, very shortly the deputy prime minister, she's the one that is in charge of the humanitarian corridors and certainly the one that puts the that makes sure that they actually happen. she is announced to $650.00 people have actually left maria paul and are on buses on their way to safer areas. now, was that happening? ah, we don't know if that all of the buses that went in where they were able to fill up all those buses and take them out at 650 people. sounds like that's probably what's happened. but we're also hearing now that the french and the germans have asked the russians for corridor out of mary opal as well. going into dr. parisha,

another area where they're a significant russian presence. although it's debated as to who actually controls that area. the russian seemingly have said yes to this humanitarian corridor. so another release valve. but remember, he went tearing corridors on just about getting people out. you've got to get aid in to those places as well. and there are still like you say, thousands of people trapped in a city. this almost totally destroyed was shelling has continued her on the capital, steve and the city of chattanoog, despite russian assurances of scaling down operations there. and in the western city of live eve, volunteers are providing help to the large influx of people displaced by the fighting sch, including thousands of children. robert bride reports in eastern ukraine. the town of trustees nets has been retaken by ukrainian troops. but with much of it lying in ruins, the russians departed after

a month of heavy fighting, while many people took shelter. thank you. with that we have spent 30 days in the basement with small children who've been shaking until now. the russians left behind military hardware and allegations of widespread abuse pot. i'm currently old, so they came to our house is intimidated people and kicked him out of their homes. they took everything from us, mobile phones, guns, food, everything also in the past week. ukrainian forces have been recapturing towns and villages around the capital. keith, while russian forces have also been withdrawing or been pushed back in the north, east and south west. it's thought the russians will now concentrate efforts in the east of the country and mount a final push to take the besieged city of mary u paul. efforts to open a humanitarian corridor into the ruined city. continue. the international committee of the red cross says, in addition to getting people out of mary, you, paul, it's vitally important for the corridor to be used to get humanitarian aid in the i

. c r c says it prepared to lead the effort, but only if the 2 warring sides can guarantee the safe passage of the convoy. the western city of levine is providing refuge for thousands of people who have fled, the fighting around caves and other cities, further east. people like all her and the 2 children who now attend regular activity sessions provided by this children's library. oh, thank you right now. this is the only and best way to keep my kids and myself busy to keep them distracted. this class is being led by a teacher who was forced to flee a town near the front line in the east. lit by to the fact they're happy they're playing and their joy is nigeria. art sessions here are aimed at tackling the trauma they may have experienced from the fighting. president fled amir putin invariably portrayed as the villain. elsewhere in this library,

volunteers were con, camouflage netting, for ukrainian forces across the border in the neighboring russian region of brianne, st. returning paratroopers are given a hero's welcome, instead of pulling forces back from the fighting as moscow has previously announced, western observers suspect russia might simply be rotating units and preparing for a new phase in this war rubber, the bride al jazeera livi or russian president of flooding there was an additional tomato to the so called unfriendly states. he's threatened to cut off gas supplies to countries that do not start paying for russian gas in rubles from friday. fuson says foreign buyers will be required to open accounts with russia backs that demand as an attempt to boost the russian currency, which has been hit by sanctions from the west over the invasion of ukraine. it could pose a serious issue from mainland europe, which gets around 40 percent of its gas from russia. germany and france have

already rejected the demand. personally, i signed an order that establishes the rule of trade with natural gas, with the so called hostile states, where offering to clear system that they have to open accounts and roubles, and payments have to be made through these accounts from the 1st of april. if they don't, we will consider it a non fulfillment of contract because nobody sells us anything for free and we will not do. charity said there, existing contracts will be suspended when they use them as weapons. ashley berries, following developments from moscow for president, put in this is a moment to warn unfriendly countries. a list which includes the u. s. the u and many other states that they might have to face difficult times ahead of the continue to provide weapons to the ukraine and continue imposing economic sanctions on moscow. now, president putin asks the center back to work out the details of

a new mechanism under which russia will only accept a rouble, the local currency for the supplies of natural gas to those countries. they do understand that this is going to be a difficult her step forward for those countries. we have been saying that we've been doing contrasts with the russians. and under the terms of those contracts, we were all either paying in dollars or in euro's and these contra, this move is a breach of the existing contract. but for the russians, these are concerns of the brushed aside, saying that we are acting with the legitimacy because he had been imposing sanctions on us. and by doing this, her putting is trying to tell the, hear you in particular, that it's about time for a to change its policies towards moscow. or the u. s. president has announced an unprecedented release of us strategic oil reserves to combat rising energy prices

on 1000000 barrels a day. we'll put, we'll be put into domestic and international markets for up to 6 months. joe biden hope's the increase in supply will bring down prices, which have spite following russia's invasion of you crash. i can have reports from the white house. us consumers had been warned. they would pay the price for sanctions against russia. and so they are, the price of gas at the pumps is increased by nearly a dollar some 20 percent since the russian invasion of ukraine. it's risen 47 percent in the past year. and president biden has announced a series of measures to bring some relief to the u. s. consumer, including a release of 1000000 barrels a day from the strategic petroleum reserve. this is a war time bridge to increase oil supplier to production wraps up later this year. and it is by far the largest release martin national reserve in our history and

provide historic amount of supply for historic amount of time, a 6 months bridge to the fall. more republicans dismiss the move as politically motivated. reserve is supposed to exist for jot unforeseen crises, such as a war between great powers is not there, so that the energy, politicians whose policies have raised gas prices, can try to hide that from the public. this is just one of a multi pronged approach to using the oil crisis. the president is also invoking the defense production act to ease supply chain issues that have hindered the drive to promoting clean energy. for example, removing the bottleneck in the supply of components like lithium, essential to the development of electric vehicles. the president also had harsh words with some oil companies that he says of seeking to profit from the crisis for

you actual companies that are recording their. 1 largest profits in years. they have a choice, one thing, but those profits to productive use by producing more orals, restarting idle wells, are producing on the sites they're already releasing. given the american people a break by passing some of the savings on under customers and lowering the price of the pump. or they can, as some of them are doing, exploit the situation. and in the controversial move, he's cold on congress to penalize companies at least federal land, but on not drilling on it. president biden says the u. s. has a history of seeking opportunity in crisis. and the long term aim is to make the country oil independent by increasing traditional production. and by further developing clean energy resources. the political reality is that to achieve the long term aim, the president's party would have to retain control of congress. and that is likely

to be determined by with the short term aim of reducing gas prices. by the time of mid term elections in november is achieved. mike, hannah al jazeera washington center come in this half hour. war cells may or makes a plea for help as the city struggles to support the wave of ukraine. refugees and a legal blow for kenya's president the court lose his plans to change, the constitution were unknown. ah hello. they will start down under in australia and we've got wet and windy weather nipping at the edges, both in the west and in the east. thanks to a swirling system that's bringing some heavy rain to perth on saturday and sunday.

of course we'll central and northern areas. well it says largely fine and dry. a lot of heat coming through fullborne top end and so that east coast for queens and we've got a few showers, but much of the wet to weather has swelled down further south. we've got warnings out for rough seas and powerful winds for much of the coast of new south wales, sydney's going to stay rather wet. we've seen temperature pick up slightly, but there is going to be some relief on sunday. as the sun comes back in with some sunny spells now, as we hope over the tasman to new zealand, it's looking dryer in the north island finally drawing up for give been. but for the south falling rain, running up towards the north temperature, will edge up in christ church. as it dries up on saturday. if you shall, was sprinkling across the north island. now was the head to southeast asia. there's some heavy falls to come for indo china, particularly for vietnam. we could see up to 300 millimeters fall in places. and of course, that brings with a flood to risk that to weather update. awe

from the world's most populated region. in depth stories from across asia, pacific, diverse coach and conflict and politics. when he's on al jazeera, the stage is correct and it's time for a different approach. one that is going to challenge the way you think. let's leave simplicity to the headlines. join me as i take on the lars dismantled the misconceptions and debate the contradictions of me working on who what else 0 lou ah,

a reminder now of the top stories on al jazeera ukraine's president believes russia could be preparing for fresh attacks on the don bass region after being pushed back from the capital cave, they to has also said that russian units have been re deployed the fight in eastern ukraine. russian president vladimir putin once payment for gas in rubles from friday or contracts will be canceled in an attempt to boost the russian currency. the u. s. is releasing $1000000.00 barrels of oil from reserves every day for the next 6 months to try to lower soaring crude prices. and ukranian officials say hundreds of civilian vehicles have managed to leave lighting. paul, as the besieged city becomes a key battleground rushes, defense ministry says it will open a humanitarian corridor. mining fault is a preacher. on friday for the international committee of the red cross says it is ready to move people out of loophole. if safe passage can be guaranteed,

bernard smith reports that from the russian controlled area in the north of the city. there's not much left to fight for it, maria pull. but the sound of shelling is constant. no one flinches. after 4 weeks of this, they used to it. this part of this port city is now russian control. and some people are relieved about that. florida might be confused with the russians. they would say starting to why would you be happy that the red light dunbar monkey that'll says if they didn't. dumbass is russian speaking. ukraine was pressing us with their language. we launched at 1st no problem, but then there was too much pressure. then in 2013, as of brigade came and it was chaos. the russians say this city has been destroyed because they as solves a group with neo nazi sympathies, won't surrender. the battalion is integrated into ukraine's national guard with has

some autonomy. the presence here was one of vladimir putin is justifications for launching what he calls a special military operation. ukraine says russia, which is looking for an excuse to invade. my appall city council says there are around a 170000 people still in the city. most have been without power or running water or much food for a month. hey, you get an indication of a scale of the need. there is here for humanitarian aid. this place has been on the russian control. now, for about a week, this part of mario full and since then, this has been turned into an, a distribution center with food and freshly cooked meals and some medical assistance. but all of these people from here, they go back to what's left of their homes. these people are caught in the middle of one of the most strategically important battles in ukraine. milepost capture

would help russia create a corridor to join crimea with jeanette can le ganske and narrow ukraine's access to the black sea. that's why neither side is giving up. fulfill bush's them so much cruelty and the bomb bang shall flying. why was there a need to destroy homes? it's a military crime. no one should do it either. both sides are guilty to bump at night to shoot kill. message boards are used to spread news about who is safe, who's missing? who has died? mobile phone coverage is erratic, even if there is power. with russian control comes russian administration, the zed is everywhere. the hashtag reads, we don't abandon our own. what began as an identification on military vehicles in don bass has evolved into russia's logo for this war. what did you live with? my neighbors old. she can come and share the food with her. i shared with every one

who lives on my street. there's so many people who are old, which is current company. her son is here to help with oh, if russia takes full control of mary up all, it'll be the 1st major ukrainian city to fall. a morale boost to one side, a psychological blow to the other too much is at stake for there to be any. let up in the shelling. bernard smith al jazeera maria paul, millions of ukrainians have entered neighboring poland since rushes invasion and many are traveling to the capital. warsaw. but services there are strange then the mayor is pleading for help before a potentially overwhelming 2nd wave of refugees. kimberly how kit sent us this report from the polish capital. ah, warsaw is a city under stress within days of russia's invasion of ukraine,

the children of refugees started showing up at polish schools such as this one desperate for normalcy. some still in shock. no toys potomac, blurted her, this is a tragedy in the biggest problem is in knitting shoes or clothes is the psychological sight. these children don't want to be in poland. demis their fathers offer birching and are going across town at one of warsaw as busy as hospitals. the situations the same. every day on top of serving hundreds of polish patients, ukrainian refugees are showing up by the dozens of the sole bullet of my go to value of the wolf, usually its infections. they also have all kinds of aches, muscle eggs, stomach aches, di, rear respiratory infections. sometimes they a bruised from traveling or part of china school. since the start of russia's war and ukraine, poland has absorbed roughly half of the 4000000 refugees that have fled. within

weeks, warsaw saw it's 1800000 population swell by more than 20 percent overwhelming city services. it's estimated there are more than $400000.00 ukranian refugees living in and around warsaw. they're drawn to the region because poland government has promised free education and health care for ukrainian refugees living in poland for up to 18 months. warsaw is barely managing. that's because there's no system for delivering these services on a mass scale. people ask me, what's the problem? there are no tense. there are no camps of refugees. yes, because they have been accepted to our homes. but if we have more and more and more and we have no strategy, then of course the system will break down and it will mean that we will be overwhelmed and that we are not going to be able to effectively hope all the refugees. warsaw mayor says the international community is providing assistance,

but he was the united nations to help manage the effort. so far, poland government has refused. the mayor says he's not sure how much longer the city can cope. and the refugees who are currently being welcomed into warsaw may soon have nowhere to go. kimberly help get al jazeera warsaw, poland. the united nations is holding a donor conference to raise money for people in afghanistan. since the taliban took over more than 9000000 people have been displaced and half the population does not have enough to eat. the un says it needs nearly $5000000000.00 to prevent the crisis from getting worse. victoria gate and be reports. every day is a struggle for layla. my husband left afghanistan for around 5 months ago to look for a job. and she hasn't heard from him since she's living in a makeshift camping can the whole city with her 2 sons and her brother in law's

family. the rochelle run over from ocean ramadan is coming and we have nothing to eat during this month. it is hard to fast eaten only bread. my kids are sick and i don't have enough money to buy them medicine. i collect garbage on bottles from the street from morning until evening and i barely make the equivalent of $0.35, which is not enough to buy flour oil or rice for dinner. the number of people in afghanistan who can't afford food and other essentials has doubled since the taliban took over last year. the u n's, humanitarian agency says $4400000000.00 is needed in afghanistan as it faces an economic crash and humanitarian crisis. the money is needed to boost the delivery of food and agricultural support and to fund health services, water and sanitation and education. afghans need our help, enabling their economy, sustaining their agriculture, enabling the basic functioning of social services to prevent further economic

collapse and preserve those basic services. the international community has long said human rights must be upheld for the taliban leg government to receive aid. those supporting the u. n. appeal, se the taliban decision to close most secondary schools for girls last week. as made it more difficult to raise funds from western governments to taliban, the de facto authorities have to live up to their responsibility to protect their people. and to helps humanitarian organizations or do the work on the ground that in each to the decades, afghanistan was heavily reliant on financial aid that was frozen when the taliban took power. now the u. n. is urging the world not to forget the country as it faces a crisis. victoria gate and be al jazeera sir lang has government, has put the capital under a police curfew after anti government. protests, police fire, tear gas and water cannon. to disperse protest her as near the president's home in colombo,

they're demanding action from the government to cut the cost of living. people in sri lanka are struggling under electricity blackouts, which are expected to continue until at least main. the government is finding it difficult to pay for fuel imports because of the worst economic crisis in decades. and kenya's top court says the president, speed to change the constitution is illegal. the ruling is seen as a blow to world kenyatta and his allies before key elections in august. malcolm web has more from nairobi. the ruling will widely be read widely, seen as a move showing relative independent of the history from those in power president who re kenyatta and his allies was seeking to expand the executive branch of government. now his 2nd term ended august when the next election, the due, he can't run again for president. the changes might have enabled him to take a newly created more powerful role such as prime minister and to give powerful

roles to several of his allies. to do this, every rule against it. now this is all seen as widely seed as part of a kind of ongoing effort among the historical political establishment, and kenya, the kind trying to keep control of the government in the face of new electoral threats. in particular, the deputy president william root who's a relative newcomer to the political scene and he will himself be vying for the top position in those poles do in 5 months i'm going to call it makes it harder for the president. who can you ask that to make deals with his eyes and give out those powerful positions to the key players that might play into the hands of deputy president william roots who be who be flying for that top post. on the other hand, can you elections ways mod by allegations of widespread irregularities and rigging, and those things might have a great bearing on the actual outcome of the polls,

rather than the confrontational court ruling. felician sudan have fire tear gas separate testers in the capital city had whom the crowds were marching towards the presidential palace calling for an end to military rule. there have been regular protests since the army over through the civilian government in october last week, the u. s. accused the sudanese police of killing, harassing and intimidating peaceful protest, or is at similar rallies earlier this year. more on that and all the other stories we've been covering on the website i'll jazeera dot com. ah, and now the top stories on al jazeera ukraine's president believes russia could be preparing for fresh attacks on the dumbass region after being pushed back from the capitol. keith nato has also said that russian units have been re deployed to reinforce the offensive in eastern crane and the fighting continues in the eastern

city of her key. but ukrainians are fighting back repelling a rush of assault.