the evidence is clear, russia plans to invade ukraine — the warning from borisjohnson. as russia continues war games on ukraine's border, diplomatic efforts are redoubled, the prime minister has talks with the us president. this is a very dangerous situation. with the us president. we're on the edge of a precipice. with the us president. there with the us president. is still time for vladimir putin there is still time for vladimir putin to step back. russia denies it will invade and says diplomacy should continue. we report from moscow and kyiv. also tonight: one family's long quest forjustice as the inquiry opens into how hundreds of post office managers were wrongfully convicted for theft. undercover footage shared with bbc panorama shows dairy cows being abused on a farm in wales. the 15—year—old russian sensation of the winter olympics is controversially allowed to continue competing despite failing a drugs test.

and the man best known for movies such as ghostbusters, animal house and twins — director ivan reitman — has died. and coming up on the bbc news channel: freestyle skiiers kirsty muir and katie summerhayes impress in the slopestyle in beijing — they're into tomorrow's final, as britain search for a first medal. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the prime minister says the evidence is pretty clear that russia plans to invade ukraine — the uk hasjoined western nations to again make it clear to moscow that any military action

will result in sanctions that would have serious consequences for the russian economy. borisjohnson is due to speak to the us president joe biden this evening as around 130,000 russian troops mass on ukraine's border. ukraine's president insists his country's ambition is still to join nato despite russia's opposition. russia for its part has said diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis should continue and even be stepped up. with more, here's our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford. talks correspondent sarah rainsford. to defuse the crisis intensifying. talks to defuse the crisis have been intensifying. today the german chancellor was in town, showing support for kyiv and seeking ways to get russia to pull back its its troops. president president volodymyr zelensky said that wouldn't be by ukraine dropping its right tojoin nato. germany's chancellor is heading to russia tomorrow. chancellor is heading to russia tomorrow— chancellor is heading to russia tomorrow. ~ ,, ~ �* .,~

tomorrow. translation: i'm making it clear aaain tomorrow. translation: i'm making it clear again that — tomorrow. translation: i'm making it clear again that ukraine's _ clear again that ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are non—negotiatable for germany. we expect russia to take clear steps to de—escalate the tensions. clear steps to de-escalate the tensions. �* , , ., , , tensions. but russia is still buildin: tensions. but russia is still building up _ tensions. but russia is still building up forces, - tensions. but russia is still| building up forces, parading tensions. but russia is still- building up forces, parading its potential near the border. britain believes an invasion could come within days. we believes an invasion could come within days-_ believes an invasion could come within days. believes an invasion could come within da s. ~ ., ., ., ., within days. we are on the edge of a --reciice, within days. we are on the edge of a precipice. but _ within days. we are on the edge of a precipice, but there _ within days. we are on the edge of a precipice, but there is _ within days. we are on the edge of a precipice, but there is still— within days. we are on the edge of a precipice, but there is still time - precipice, but there is still time for vladimir putin to step back. we are urging — for vladimir putin to step back. we are urging for everybody to engage in dialogue for a conversation to take _ in dialogue for a conversation to take place — in dialogue for a conversation to take place and for the russians to avoid _ take place and for the russians to avoid what — take place and for the russians to avoid what i think everybody certainly _ avoid what i think everybody certainly everybody in the uk can see would — certainly everybody in the uk can see would be a disastrous mistake. in see would be a disastrous mistake. in moscow— see would be a disastrous mistake. in moscow russia's foreign minister was shown urging vladimir putin to keep talking to the west. it can be hard to make a connection between the politicians warning of war, even the politicians warning of war, even the bombing of this city, kyiv and

how things feel on the ground. even as the negotiations continue, so does life here, pretty much as normal. although beneath the surface people say they are feeling nervous. what we have to say and do is to be afraid every hour, we don't want to live like that, we want to live... we are patient and ready for anything. we we are patient and ready for an hina. ~ ., , we are patient and ready for an hina.~ .,, ., we are patient and ready for anything-— we are patient and ready for an hina. ., ., anything. we hope that our city will be safe and — anything. we hope that our city will be safe and our— anything. we hope that our city will be safe and our families _ anything. we hope that our city will be safe and our families will - anything. we hope that our city will be safe and our families will be - be safe and our families will be safa _ be safe and our families will be safe. ., ., , . ., , be safe and our families will be safe. ., ., , safe. for now, the musicians play on. safe. for now, the musicians play on- even the _ safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the school— safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the school trips - safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the school trips haven'tl on. even the school trips haven't stopped, as ukrainians still continue quite believe the worst predictions. president putin has long made it clear that he considers ukraine and russia as one people, linked by history. his desire to keep ukraine within russia's sphere of influence is threatened

in part by ukraine's desire to be part of the nato, a defence alliance of countries in western europe and america. since the end of the cold war, countries have applied to join nato, expanding the organisation and pushing it eastward. ukraine has long wanted to join nato. but is russia now preparing large scale military action to ensure ukraine will never be able to join the alliance? the west fears so. what is the view from the kremlin? here is steve rosenburg. western leaders may be warning of an imminent military escalation in ukraine, but moscow dismissing all of that as hype, hysteria. and if you look at the way the state media here has been covering the ukraine story, you will see that the picture presented to the russian public is the polar opposite of how the west sees things. so, according to that kremlin picture, russia has no plans for an invasion, instead it's america who is the aggressor and pouring weapons into the ukraine. it's nato that is threatening russia

by expanding eastwards. still that doesn't explain why moscow is massing more than 100,000 troops right now near ukraine's border and why it's launched large scale military exercises in the region. so what is vladimir putin's aim? that is a difficult question to answer, because no one's quite sure. some in the west think this is all about russia trying to force ukraine back into moscow's orbit. some believe the kremlin's objective is much wider, to carve out a new sphere of influence for itself in europe, basically to dismantle the post—cold war european security order and to push nato back. today with moscow sensing a lack of unity in europe and perhaps feeling that america's too busy with problems at home a resurgent russia may feel that this is the moment to take action. but if there was all out war with ukraine, how would the russian public react?

it's hard to see the public here supporting a large scale conflict with the ukraine. many russians have said to me that they see ukrainians almost like brothers — there are very deep cultural and historical ties. war is the last thing that people want here. but it won't be the public that decide this, it will be the president. so what happens next? well that may depend on whether president putin is willing to compromise over ukraine and european security, even if he doesn't get everything he wants, like an end to nato enlargement eastwards, whether he is willing to reach a deal or determined to continue with coercive diplomacy. steve rosenburg, bbc news, moscow. our diplomatic correspondent james landale is here. there appears to be a drumbeat towards war yet president putin and his foreign minister sergei lavrov talked today about the need to keep diplomatic talks going —

even ramped up. what are we to make of that? well at face value, diplomacy continues, the russians say they're willing to talk about security and the german chancellor is there in moscow to meet vladimir putin. but as you say, the mood music is grim. in the last few moments the president of the ukraine, volodymyr zelensky, issued a statement, far more gloomy than previously. before he said let's not panic. he now said we are frightened of a great war and the date offen invasion is 16th february. western officials say no decision has been made, but they say the window for diplomacy is closing and the decision will be made by vladimir putin soon and they say russian troops are getting closer to the border and are configured for invasions, not exercises. one said to me, this is a moment of great

jeopardy. to me, this is a moment of great 'eoard . ., ~' i. one immediate knock—on effect of tensions over ukraine is the rising cost of oil, which today has seen prices at uk petrol pumps reach a record high. energy costs have been soaring already and if the situation in ukraine deteriorates, oil and gas supplies from russia to europe may be interrupted, pushing up wholesale prices further. our transport correspondent, katy austin is in north west london for us. a re—serre resurgence in demand was pushing up oil price and concern about the ukraine have helped drive them further. the price of a barrel of oil reached a seven year high. and in the past hour it cost between 94 and 95 dollars. this feeds through to how much drivers here pay

for fuel through to how much drivers here pay forfuel and motoring groups say through to how much drivers here pay for fuel and motoring groups say the average cost of a litre of petrol has exceeded £1. 48 and they say diesel has also hit a record high of 151 pence for a litre on average or £1.51. the aa said it is adding to the cost of living crisis and the rac predicts further rises will come. it is at a time when households and businesses are facing cost pressures with inflation high and hikes in energy bills and tax rises to come as well. the petrol retailers association says its members are doing what they can to keep prices as competitive as possible. keep prices as competitive as ossible. ., ~ , ., a long—awaited public inquiry into the most widespread miscarriage

ofjustice in legal history has started today. more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly convicted and thousands lost their businesses, when faulty accounting software called horizon made it look as if money had gone missing from their tills. the inquiry will look at what the post office knew about faults in the it system and why innocent staff were prosecuted. after 20 years still no one has been held to account. our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has more. it's a big day for the sethi family. of course, we are a bit nervous, but we are very happy that we have got an opportunity to put a case for the first time. they are hoping forjustice at last. i want accountability, so i want someone to say, yes, something happened, we know it was wrong, these are the people that should be facing justice, like my father said. after 20 years of running post office branches, new software being rolled out across the country started showing mysterious holes in their accounts.

the post office blamed them, like thousands of other sub—postmasters, closing the branch. the sethis lost their business and their livelihood. in the 40 or 50 years we have run the post office, what have we got to show? nothing. and we couldn't even get our children married. we couldn't look after them. we couldn't do anything for them. i feel a failure myself. but today, for the first time, someone in authority is listening to what happened to them. the people who did this, they should be investigated. not a single person has been brought to a charge, still today. they have gone scot—free, and their answer would be, sorry, they have left the organisation of they have retired. or they have retired. yes, but they are the people who did it, and this is not one person, this goes right to the top. and baljit's story is just

the tip of the iceberg. more than 700 people were convicted because of those faults in the it system. thousands of families right across the uk are still suffering the consequences of the actions the post office decided to take. the indignity of having to have a shower in front of a prison warden. noel thomas was charged with false accounting by the post office and spent his 60th birthday behind bars. where you are able to contact your family? i no. and during that time, i wasn't allowed only out for my food. tracy felstead was sent to prison at 19 and is still coming to terms with that pain. i don't want to be that person who is scared of noises, who... you know, it broke my marriage down. it's taken its toll. no amount of money will ever

change what happened. the post office have again apologised, but today, the tables have begun to turn. those who were once blamed are now asking for post office bosses to be held to account. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has confirmed he's received death threats following boris johnson's false claim that he personally failed to prosecute the paedophilejimmy savile. sir keir had to be shielded by the police from an angry mob outside parliament last week, and says the prime minister's slur has "fed into" "right—wing conspiracy theories". police are investigating the online death threats. the 15—year—old russian figure skater whose performances have wowed judges at the winter olympics will be able to continue competing despite a failed drugs test. kamila valieva's positive result in december only came to light last week after she'd helped russia win the team skating event in beijing. the court of arbitration for sport said she could continue, in part because she's so young. but it's not the end of the matter and there will be futher

investigations into valieva and the russian team. laura scott reports. cleared to skate, but not cleared of scandal. kamila valieva returned to the ice under the scrutiny of the world, after the court of arbitration for sport ruled the 15—year—old should be allowed to continue competing in beijing, despite testing positive for a for a banned suspension. no suspension should be imposed on the skater. in part the panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the olympic games would cause her irreparable harm. the panel said a series of exceptional circumstances were behind its decision, including that she is only 15 and the fact that her positive drugs test result came back midway through these games, 44 days after the sample was taken, meaning she had little time to moupt a defence. meaning she had little time to mount a defence. the world anti—doping agency said

it was disappointed by the decision because its rules don't allow exceptions to be made to mandatory suspensions, including for minors. meanwhile the us olympic and paralympic committee said it appears to be another chapter in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by russia. it is damaging, but you want to think that now maybe yet again we are at the point where something will be done in order to make sure that nothing like this can happen again. the international olympic committee announced there will not be a medal ceremony in the figure skating team event, which was won by the the russian olympic committee, including valieva and there are other ramifications too. should miss valieva finish among the top three competitors, - in the women's single skating - competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take | place during the olympic winter| games, beijing 2022. a week since making history,

valieva is hoping to wow the world again with her skills, but she does so in a most controversial circumstances. the time is 18:17pm. the time is 18:17pm. the headlines: the premise towards the evidence is clear russia aims to invade ukraine despite denials. and still to come, the mother of caroline flack tells why she thinks decisions by police contributed to her daughter's death. in sport, it's raining beer cans at the phoenix open in arizona, with players bearing the brunt of more boisterous celebrations from the crowd. careful, folks! bbc panorama has obtained footage showing cows being hit and kicked on a large dairy farm in wales. it was filmed by an undercover worker who was sent there by the campaigning animal welfare

charity animal equality. the farm concerned says any workers found to have abused cows will be disciplined. panorama reporter daniel foggo looks at the increasing pressures being put on cows to meet high milk demands. you may find some parts of his report disturbing. milk may be as popular as ever, but making money from it isn't easy. margins are tight, and cows are under increasing pressure to be more productive. amid growing welfare concerns, the campaigning charity animal equality sends an investigator to work undercover on a large dairy farm in wales last year. they have shared their footage with panorama. to make sense of it, i wanted to meet the man who filmed it. he asked us to disguise his identity. what was the basic routine at the farm? well, i was a general worker, assisted milking and other tasks that are required on the farm.

he told me he had witnessed other workers mistreating cows on many occasions. i workers mistreating cows on many occasions. ., , .., , workers mistreating cows on many occasions. ., , , , occasions. i have seen cows being kicked while _ occasions. i have seen cows being kicked while they _ occasions. i have seen cows being kicked while they are _ occasions. i have seen cows being kicked while they are down. - occasions. i have seen cows being kicked while they are down. i - occasions. i have seen cows being | kicked while they are down. i have seen a cow hit with a shovel in her face. ~ , ., ., ., ., seen a cow hit with a shovel in her face. ~ , ., ., ., face. we showed the footage to an exert in face. we showed the footage to an expert in animal— face. we showed the footage to an expert in animalwelfare. - face. we showed the footage to an expert in animal welfare. they are | expert in animal welfare. they are kickin: expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that _ expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that cow _ expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that cow pretty _ expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that cow pretty hard - expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that cow pretty hard at - expert in animal welfare. they are kicking that cow pretty hard at the j kicking that cow pretty hard at the moment — moment. it's - moment. it's abuse, it is moment. — it's abuse, it is inhumane. this should — it's abuse, it is inhumane. this should not— it's abuse, it is inhumane. this should not be occurring. we also showed the _ should not be occurring. we also showed the welsh _ should not be occurring. we also showed the welsh farm - should not be occurring. we also showed the welsh farm footage | should not be occurring. we also . showed the welsh farm footage to a barrister who has handled many animal abuse prosecutions. shall we stop that there? yes. is a letters hitting _ shall we stop that there? yes. is a letters hitting the car with a shovel. . ,, letters hitting the car with a shovel. , ,, . ., , ., shovel. yes. quite clearly, that would constitute _ shovel. yes. quite clearly, that would constitute an _ shovel. yes. quite clearly, that would constitute an offence. i shovel. yes. quite clearly, that| would constitute an offence. we would _ would constitute an offence. we would prosecute _ would constitute an offence. we would prosecute that. _ would constitute an offence. we would prosecute that. it is - would prosecute that. it is basically— would prosecute that. it is basically an— would prosecute that. it is basically an assault - would prosecute that. it isi basically an assault against would prosecute that. it is - basically an assault against the animah — animal. we - animal. i we wrote animal. - we wrote to the animal. — we wrote to the owner of the welsh farm. his lawyers told us... they also said...

there are 12,000 dairy farmers in the uk. the industry says it has the highest animal welfare standards in the world. panorama also saw footage of newborn calves being separated from their mothers. this industrywide practice is done to maximise the milk available for human consumption. this is the biggest issue that dairy farms globally are focusing on. most farms globally are focusing on. most farms will separate calves from cows within the first 24—48 hours. it's a very complex issue. as an industry, we recognise that this is something difficult for consumers to grapple with. milk is far too cheap. sometimes, i look at the cows and think it is an insult to see it being sold at the rate it is. even just one extra penny on a litre will enable a farmer to upgrade or take advantage of new technology that is out there to make sure that the cows

are getting the best care that they can. the question is, would consumers be willing to pay for more expensive milk? and you can see more of a cow's life: the true cost of milk on bbc one tonight at 7.30 or at 10.35 in wales. in the last half hour, northern ireland's health minister has announced that the remaining covid restrictions will be lifted from tomorrow. the rule is still in force include a requirement for nightclubs and some entertainment and sports venues to ask people for proof of vaccination or a negative test. that will be scrapped, as will a requirement in law for people to wearface requirement in law for people to wear face coverings and most indoor public places. —— in most indoor public places. —— in most indoor public places. the duchess of cornwall is self—isolating after testing positive for covid—19. her husband, the prince of wales, tested positive for the virus on thursday but camilla carried out three public engagements that day after testing negative. it is the first time the duchess has caught coronavirus,

while prince charles now has it for a second time. the government is proposing to cap the costs faced by leaseholders who own flats with flammable cladding and other fire safety defects. ministers say no leaseholder will have to pay more than £15,000 in london and £10,000 in the rest of the uk for costs related to the cladding crisis. any money already paid out since the grenfell fire will count towards the cap. campaigners have welcomed the move but say they still shouldn't be paying a penny for problems they didn't cause. an urgent search is under way for a dangerous sex offender who has escaped from an open prison in boston in lincolnshire. paul robson has been described as a particular danger to women and young children and could be anywhere in the country. our correspondent caroline bilton is in boston. what more can you tell us about this man? well, he has been described as dangerous and a menace to women, and he has been on the run now for over 35 hours from this open prison here

on the outskirts of boston in lincolnshire. he has a history of violent sex attacks, and we have just learned this evening that he was only sent here three weeks ago. he was jailed in 2000 for the attempted rape and the indecent assault of a woman at knife—point, and lincolnshire police have today said that he could cause a real harm to anyone that he comes across. they have also admitted that he could be anywhere in the country by now. he was believed to be wearing a grey jacket with orange on the shoulders, a woollen beanie hat, and dark bottoms, and police are urging anyone to come forward with possible sightings. this is a minimum security prison, a category d prisoner, but prisoners are checked and risk assessed before they are sent here. but questions are being asked tonight about how such a dangerous man, deemed by police as dangerous, could come to be housed in an open prison of this nature.

fiona. .. ~ in an open prison of this nature. fiona. ., ~' i. the mother of caroline flack has criticised the metropolitan police for their decision to charge her daughter with assault which she believes contributed to her suicide two years ago. the bbc understands the police watchdog has now ordered the met to investigate their decision to push for the prosecution of the presenter. mrs flack claims the police treated her daughter differently because of her celebrity status. tomorrow marks the second anniversary of her death. our special correspondent lucy manning reports. the wait is finally over! caroline flack. we watched her on screen. but those who really knew her wanted answers about her death. two months before the tv presenter killed herself, she had been charged with assaulting her boyfriend. two years on, her mother still doesn't have the answers about the way the police treated her. do you think she was treated differently, because of who she was? totally. i just think it was because

of who she was, yeah. it was because she was a celebrity? yeah. prosecutors originally said caroline should just be cautioned, but the met pushed for the presenter to be charged. the coroner later said she took her own life because she was facing prosecution and feared the publicity. but it's now two years and i have still not got an answer. and how does that leave you and the family? it leaves us really... really sad and really angry, because you know, you want to know why they charged her. she couldn't get over that. she couldn't see a way out. and that was, it was down to that. her mother put these questions to the met. she was so dismayed with their

response she complained to the police watchdog. it found the met�*s response was not reasonable and proportionate, telling mrs flack, "i do not consider your complaint has been fully addressed." it's ordered the met to do a proper investigation. what did you think about the fact that the police watchdog have forced the met to investigate your queries properly? i think it's disgusting, but i think it's typical of the met, as we see it now. there is no trust at all. no trust at all. the met has said it is rare to give a caution in a case of domestic abuse. the force told us the police watchdog found it had answered seven areas of mrs flack's complaints, but it had been directed to reinvestigate why it had appealed the decision to caution miss flack. our thoughts and sympathies remain with caroline's family, it said.

but mrs flack, feels her daughter, who had self—harmed that night and had mental health issues, was badly let down. she was fun. she just had these really dark times. as i say, usually she could get out of it, specially on telly. she loved herjob. i'm doing it for caroline, because there was so much negative press around and it won't bring her back, i know it won't bring her back, but i've got to do it for her. caroline flack's mother christine speaking to our special correspondent lucy manning. the film director and producer, ivan reitman, best known for the comedy ghostbusters, has died. he was 75. he was behind many of the box office smashes of the 1980s and '90s, including animal house, twins and kindergarden cop. born in what is now slovakia, reitman grew up in canada, where he trained in film making. lizo mizimba looks back at his life.

the supernatural comedy was a phenomenon. director ivan reitman knew exactly what audiences wanted when teenagers became cinema's most lucrative audience in the 1970s and 19805. lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s. he lucrative audience in the 1970s and 19805. , lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s._ his first - lucrative audience in the 1970s and 1980s._ his first big | 1980s. he slimed me! his first big success was _ 1980s. he slimed me! his first big success was producing _ 1980s. he slimed me! his first big success was producing the - 1980s. he slimed me! his first big | success was producing the raucous national lampoon's animal house in 1977. the movie, about an out—of—control fraternity, incorporated some of his own experiences of college, and helped begin audienceaudiences' taste for gross out comedy. he turned to directing and his working relationship with bill murray, which reached its peak with ghostbusters, began with ivan reitman directing him in films like meatballs and stripes.— meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you _ meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, _ meatballs and stripes. where the hell have you been, soldier? -- l hell have you been, soldier? -- training. _ hell have you been, soldier? -- training. sir! — hell have you been, soldier? -- training, sir! what _

hell have you been, soldier? -- training, sir! what kind - hell have you been, soldier? -- training, sir! what kind of- training, sir! what kind of training? _ training, sir! what kind of training,? army _ training, sir! what kind of training,? army training! | training, sir! what kind of- training,? army training! ivan reitman also _ training,? army training! ivan reitman also developed - training,? army training! ivan reitman also developed a - reitman also developed a relationship with arnold schwarzenegger, casting him in junior, captain or kindergarten cop and his first comedy twins. i am our and his first comedy twins. i am your twin _ and his first comedy twins. i am your twin brother! _ and his first comedy twins. i am your twin brother! obviously, i and his first comedy twins. i am | your twin brother! obviously, the minute i your twin brother! obviously, the minute i sat _ your twin brother! obviously, the minute i sat down _ your twin brother! obviously, the minute i sat down i _ your twin brother! obviously, the minute i sat down i thought - your twin brother! obviously, the minute i sat down i thought i - your twin brother! obviously, thej minute i sat down i thought i was looking _ minute i sat down i thought i was looking into a mirror. last _ looking into a mirror. last year, he produced a ghostbusters sequel afterlife. he was a film—maker who over the decades change the course of cinema comedy forever. # i ain't afraid of no ghost! ivan reitman, who has died aged 75. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. it is all looking pretty stormy, darren? yes, to name the storm is heading our way this week. but ahead of that, things will quieten down. —— micro named storms. winds will ease and we will have clearer skies. there is rain coming in from the west. may be snow into the scottish mountains, and ahead of that, temperatures close to freezing for a

while, lifting later in the night. this band of rain will not hang around for much of the day. for much of the country, it moves away fairly quickly. up towards the northern isles, the rain could linger towards. towards isles, the rain could linger towards the far south of england. showers will be of a wintry favour over scotland, and temperature —wise, numbers similar to today. it tends to clone over in northern ireland later and we will have a speu ireland later and we will have a spell of rain running quickly eastwards overnight, which moves away. more wet weather are wives across northern and western parts during wednesday. the wind starts to strengthen and wednesday, and there are mild south—westerly winds across south—eastern parts. temperatures could be up to 17 degrees. temperatures not the story, it is the strength of the wind. this is a storm dudley, which arrives later on wednesday, wednesday night into thursday. racing across the north of scotland, the squeeze of strongest winds will be to the south of the storm, and while it is windy in most places, this is the core of strongest winds overnight into

thursday morning, gusting around 80 miles an