today at six, here in ukraine the government prepares to impose a state of emergency, as war looms, and tells its citizens living in russia to leave. it comes as russian military manoeuvres intensify across the border. president putin says moscow's security concerns, are non—negotiable. preparing for an invasion — safety drills for the ukrainian people, while its troops say they're ready for battle. i also afraid to be die here, and that's why i'm standing here, in the armour, and try to do myjob as possible, to stay alive.

armour, and try to do myjob as possible, to stay alive. will the west's sanctions deter a russian assault? fears tonight that they're too little too late. also on the programme tonight. new allegations over maternity care at a crisis hit nhs trust, more families come forward with claims of avoidable deaths and injuries of babies and mother, at shrewsbury and telford. universities in england urge the government not to turn back the clock but trying to limit the number of young people studying for a degree and a children's charity accuses facebook of neglect as a bbc news investigation shows children at risk of grooming and sexual abuse in the world of virtual reality. and in the sports on the bbc news channel, we'll look ahead to another big night in the champions league, as manchester united travel to atletico madrid in the last 16.

good evening from the ukrainian capital kyiv, and a city and country now praying for peace, but preparing for war. the government has announced plans to impose a state of emergency to last 30 days, and today urged its citizens living in russia to leave immediately. the rhetoric from moscow is defiant, with president putin saying the security of russia and its citizens is �*non—negotiable�*. and in the uk, borisjohnson warns moscow there would be "even more" sanctions, if it's military operations along if its military operations along the border with ukraine escalate across the frontier. it was a dramatic turn of events when president putin said he'd recognise two areas in eastern ukraine, the so—called people's republics of donetsk and luhansk as �*independent�*. he also said he was sending

in troops as �*peace keepers�*. america says that would be an �*invasion�*. the separatist enclaves have been controlled by russian—backed fighters, at war with ukraine since 2014. our correspondent — orla guerin — sent this report from the frontline. more of moscow's military hard wear on view today. in the rostov region, close to the border with eastern ukraine. no movement here, but the fear is that russia is just biding its time, before launching an invasion. and in ukraine, on the front lines, they are combat ready. they have been fighting kremlin backed separatists for eight years. years. this soldier says things are heating up. in years. this soldier says things are heating un— years. this soldier says things are heatin: u -. , ., ., heating up. in this region there are a lot of sniper. _ heating up. in this region there are a lot of sniper, a _ heating up. in this region there are a lot of sniper, a lot _ heating up. in this region there are a lot of sniper, a lot of— heating up. in this region there are a lot of sniper, a lot of enemy - a lot of sniper, a lot of enemy using a lots of the types of grenade

launchers, they have heavy weapons, they can use it 2a hours seven, so, now we are trying to like, like in the shadows, so, if we have trenches we move over them, because enemy also like to use in drones. this destroyed _ also like to use in drones. this destroyed hangar _ also like to use in drones. this destroyed hangar provides some cover from pro moscow rebels. troops here call it the skeleton. we have been asked not to speak too loudly because russian separatist fighters are very nearby. near enough to hear us, since we have been here there has been shelling and this front line has been more active in recent days, there is a real sense now that this conflict is building. so it was just two days ago, it is

only two hits from them, in the whole of firing to us, it was like a 12 hits in this region.— whole of firing to us, it was like a 12 hits in this region. ivan, who is 30, knows _ 12 hits in this region. ivan, who is 30, knows that _ 12 hits in this region. ivan, who is 30, knows that death _ 12 hits in this region. ivan, who is 30, knows that death could - 12 hits in this region. ivan, who is 30, knows that death could comej 30, knows that death could come raining down at any moment. i aim raining down at any moment. i also think about — raining down at any moment. i also think about it, _ raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it _ raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it is _ raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it is very _ raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it is very scary - raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it is very scary for. think about it, it is very scary for me. as i, as a simple guy, i also afraid to be hurt or die here, and thatis afraid to be hurt or die here, and that is why i am standing here in the armour, and try to do myjob as possible, to stay alive. that is a daily battle. they scan for enemy sniper, who will also be scanning for them. if russian troops invade ukraine, there could be many young men lost. 0n invade ukraine, there could be many young men lost. on both sides. and for the very young here, lessons in survival. this is school number one,

in in the town. a practise run taking children down to the bomb shetland e packing them to the rafters. —— bomb shelter. normally it happens twice a year, today an extra drill as this nation faces a moment of grave danger. extra drill as this nation faces a moment of grave danger. today, russia was celebrating the day of the fatherland, in recognition of the country's armed forces. as president putin orders his troops to advance into ukrainian territory, he maintains that he is always open for direct and honest dialogue with the west. however, france's foreign minister, as well as the us secretary of state, anthony blinken, have now refused to meet the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov. russia has also lowered its flag at its embassy in ukraine and begun to evacuate staff. 0ur moscow correspondent caroline davies reports from rostov—on—don, near the border with donetsk. young voices, singing old melodies.

a song from the second world war on a public holiday in honour of the armed forces. in rostov—on—don, close to the border with ukraine, there are different views on what's happening less than 100 kilometres away. "of course it is scary," tatiana tells me, "but what can can we do?" "we can do nothing." alexander served in the russian fleet. "ukraine will stop shelling," he says, "and if they will not, as they said on tv, we will send in troops." as russia celebrates its military, the rest of the world is keeping a very close eye on what that military is doing. and its commander—in—chief president putin is keeping them guessing. there was wreath—laying in moscow. president putin inspected the troops. he hasn't confirmed if he's already ordered any into ukraine. |translation: first, | didn't say| that the troops would go straight there after our meeting here. second, it is generally not possible

to protect possible actions, it depends on the specific situations that develop on the ground. back at the border, the evacuation buses continue coming from the rebel held areas. filling out paperwork, recent arrivals were feeling emotional about president putin's decision to recognise the areas they live in as independent. emotional about president putin's decision to recognise the areas they live in as independent. 74—year—old luba tells me she has been waiting since the first day of the war for this decision. "how long can you hide in your basement from shelling?" she says. translation: we hope that things will settle down, - and there is no more war. do you want to be part of russia? translation: of course, we would . like it, because we love russia. i 0utside, others wait in their cars. there is some concern about what this decision could mean. translation: we respect other

countries, and also respect ukraine, because we used to live and study there, visit different cities and have a lot of relatives from ukraine, so we wouldn't like the situation to develop into conflict. the russian president has promised that this is a step towards peace. around the world, there are serious concerns that he has something else in mind. caroline davies, bbc news, in the rostov region of southern russia. at prime minister's questions today the labour leader, keir starmer, said his party would support tougher sanctions against russia and said if the invasion of ukraine was not the time for further measures then when was? borisjohnson said he was prepared to go further in sanctioning banks, businesses and oligarchs, but only at the same time as other allied nations. he also promised to send further military support to ukraine. 0ur political correspondent, damian grammaticas, has the details.

shelter, packing them to the rafters. —— bomb shelter. normally it happens twice a year, today an extra drill as this nation faces a moment of grave danger. in london as in all western capitals, from downing street to the ministry of defence, strategies to counter russia's moves are being shaped. it counter russia's moves are being sha ed. , ., ., counter russia's moves are being shaed. , ., ., , , _ counter russia's moves are being. shaped-_ the shaped. it is going to be busy. the defence secretary _ shaped. it is going to be busy. the defence secretary caught - shaped. it is going to be busy. the defence secretary caught on - shaped. it is going to be busy. the i defence secretary caught on camera unguarded wondering is vladimir putin unhinged?— unguarded wondering is vladimir putin unhinged? gone fulton toe. question for _ putin unhinged? gone fulton toe. question for western _ putin unhinged? gone fulton toe. question for western power, - putin unhinged? gone fulton toe. question for western power, how| putin unhinged? gone fulton toe. i question for western power, how far to go in response? nato interhen unin ukraine is certainly not going to happen. boris johnson is sending more weapons. the uk will johnson is sending more weapons. iia: uk will shortly be johnson is sending more weapons. "ii2 uk will shortly be providing johnson is sending more weapons. ii2 uk will shortly be providing a further package of military support, to ukraine. this will include aid in the form of defensive weapons and non—lethal aid. the form of defensive weapons and

non—lethalaid. but the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid.— the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled _ non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled its _ non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled its pups? _ non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled its pups? we - non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled its pups? we all - non-lethal aid. but on sanctions has the uk pulled its pups? we all want| the uk pulled its pups? we all want to deter aggression _ the uk pulled its pups? we all want to deter aggression in _ the uk pulled its pups? we all want to deter aggression in europe, - the uk pulled its pups? we all want to deter aggression in europe, we l to deter aggression in europe, we are not dealing with break away republic, putin is not a peace keeper, a sovereign nation has been invaded. the prime minister promised that in the event of an invasion she would unleash a full package of sanction, if not now, then when? there is more to come, and we will be, we _ there is more to come, and we will be, we wiii— there is more to come, and we will be, we will be stopping russia, we will he _ be, we will be stopping russia, we will be stopping russia from raising sovereign _ will be stopping russia from raising sovereign debt, stopping russian companies from raising money and stopping _ companies from raising money and stopping russian companies, as i said yesterday, even clearing in sterling — said yesterday, even clearing in sterling and dollars on international markets. those olicies international markets. those policies are _ international markets. those policies are still— international markets. those policies are still being - international markets. those i policies are still being shaped, senior bankers arriving for discussions with the government this afternoon, meanwhile the eu is extending its sanctions to more individuals.

extending its sanctions to more individuals-— individuals. headlines here. tensions — individuals. headlines here. tensions are _ individuals. headlines here. tensions are mounting... in individuals. headlines here. - tensions are mounting... in the government _ tensions are mounting... in the government has _ tensions are mounting... in the government has asked - tensions are mounting... in the government has asked the - tensions are mounting... in the government has asked the uk'sj government has asked the uk's broadcast watchdog to review russia today the channel described as vladimir putin's personal propaganda tool to stop it spreadings disinformation. and when it comes to the billions of pounds from russia that pass through the city of london, here the government is accused of if the dragging irate accused of if the dragging we shouldn't accused of if the dragging 2 shouldn't be waiting for russia to attack others to clean up the corruption and russian money which has been fuelling in the uk. under the tories, a sewer of dirty russian money has been allowed to run through london for years. we are auoin through london for years. we are going much _ through london for years. we are going much further, _ through london for years. we are going much further, to _ through london for years. we are going much further, to uncloak. through london for years. we are l going much further, to uncloak the true owners— going much further, to uncloak the true owners of russian companies and russian _ true owners of russian companies and russian properties are, in this country. — russian properties are, in this country, and high time. those _ country, and high time. those changes won't happen fast so the government is under pressure to do more now and widen its sanctions net, criticised for not going as far as the us and the eu.

the un in new york has been in session, discussing the crisis, with ukraine's foreign minister saying there was limited time to stop russian aggression, let us get more from our correspondent in new york. a real sense of urgency now, building over there, but one wonder what is the un can do? yes. building over there, but one wonder what is the un can do?— what is the un can do? yes, that is riaht what is the un can do? yes, that is right clive. — what is the un can do? yes, that is right clive. that _ what is the un can do? yes, that is right clive, that is _ what is the un can do? yes, that is right clive, that is certainly - what is the un can do? yes, that is right clive, that is certainly an - right clive, that is certainly an issue and russia is a veto wielding member of the security council, but look, you have the ukrainian foreign minister here trying to mobilise countries round ukraine, he pleaded with them to act however they could, swiftly, to avert war, and this was his message, that no—one, no nation would be able to sit out this crisis, that the impact of a major invasion would be felt around the

world, with painful consequences. and it would be the end of the world order as we know it. now, his speech was met with a round of applause by many in the hall, on the other hand, we had the russian ambassador to the un very much trying to paint ukraine as the aggressor, but not much sympathy there, especially from western nations, who say that russia's actions clearly are the danger here. 0k, thank you for that. live in new york. that's all from us here in kyiv for the moment, we'll hand back to sophie in the studio in london. new allegations of avoidable deaths and injuries of mothers and babies have been uncovered at the health trust at the centre of the largest inquiry into maternity care in the history of the nhs. tonight's bbc panorama programme reveals that at least seven families have come forward claiming they were failed by the shrewsbury and telford nhs trust.

a major independent investigation into the trust's maternity services is due to report next month — but these latest allegations are too recent to be included. 0ur correspondent michael buchanan has the story. 0n the day charley hadley went into labour, she heard a news report about poor maternity care at the very hospital she was sitting in. it was on the radio and me and my husband, we both said, "well, i'll be the best care. "they're not going to let any more accidents happen. but i was very wrong. after a forceful forceps delivery, charley was mother to a bruised but healthy boy. but the doctor failed to check if she'd been injured. i felt extremely faint, but the midwives didn't seem that concerned about that. discharged home, charley's health deteriorated, forcing her to go to a&e where a doctor told her she'd been left with an eight centimetre tear in her vagina.

he then told me that i would have to have a stoma fitted, possibly because trying to stitch the tear now would be like trying to stitch to jelly. the shropshire trust apologized to charley, but panorama's learned of at least six other allegations of poor care in 2020 and 2021, including neonatal deaths, babies born with brain injuries and other incidents of maternal harm. this law firm is almost 100 open clinical negligence cases against the trust. i think the problems are so numerous and deep rooted because they've been there for so long that it's not going to be a quick fix. these recent cases are an addition to the nearly 1900 families whose maternity care is already the subject of an independent investigation. the full extent of the feelings will be revealed next month. there was a progressively worsening culture of institutionalized _ bullying and blame culture within the trust. _ bernie benteck retired in 2020

after almost 30 years of the trust. the gynecologist says a poor culture and a lack of staff contributed to the problems. if the resources had been made available to employ adequate . numbers, then the situation may have been profoundly different. _ the shrewsbury and telford trust told us it has made significant investment in staffing and training. it also apologized for all the distress and hurt it had caused. for charley and herfamily, however, their contrition feels hollow. i feel disgusting constantly with what has happened to me. you know, no normal 26—year—old woman should have to go through what i've had to go through. i push people away. if it wasn't for harry, i think i would be like, yeah, i would have lost the plot by now. michael buchanan, bbc news shropshire.

you can watch the full panorama investigation "maternity scandal: fighting for the truth" tonight at nine, on bbc one. the time is. our top story this evening. as russian military manoeuvres intensify near its western borders, ukraine prepares to call for a state of emergency. universities in england urge the government not to try to limit the number studying for a degree. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel at 6:30 — we'll hear from james anderson for the first time since he and stuart broad was surprisingly left out of england's forthcoming tour to the west indies. a bbc investigation has found evidence of child grooming and sexually abusive behaviour on apps that allow people to interact using virtual reality headsets. the nspcc charity says it's shocked and angry by the revelations, which have sparked concerns about children's safety in the so—called "metaverse".

this report by angus crawford and a warning that it does contain some disturbing content of a sexual nature. meetjess. she's 25, a bbcjournalist. but in virtual reality, she's pretending to be a child. going in. into vrchat — one of the most popular apps. the age limit�*s 13. some rooms look innocent enough. but there's pole dancing and strip clubs, too. 0h, hello, miss. isn't it school time right now? men chase a child, demanding she strip. come on, bleep strip! oh, my god. there are rooms with condomss and sex toys. there are two people to the side of me now, who are trying to get on top of each other. ok, so there's like a group of people that are, like, simulating sex. bleep. someone threatens to rape her.

oh, my god! and thenjess' avatar is assaulted. shoving a beer bottle of one of the female characters, like in their private areas. what was that like? horrible. it was strange. it felt like it was happening to me. today, we're going to talk about the metaverse... mark zuckerberg thinks the metaverse is the future of the internet, even rebranding facebook as meta, spending billions of dollars on the quest headset, which dominates the market. there are games and apps made by meta and by other companies, too. all right, here we go. the so—called metaverse doesn't actually exist yet. that's just the name given to a series of games and virtual reality experiences you get to using a headset like this one. choose what you want to look like — your avatar — and you can start exploring. the question is, how safe is this world for children? it'sjust the most shocking breach of any responsibility. i am angry, because facebook promised us disney levels of safety

and this isn't a theme park, this is a set of virtual worlds where children are at risk of grooming, of sexual abuse. vrchat says it is "working hard to make itself a safe "and welcoming place for everyone. "predatory and toxic behaviour has no place on the platform." meta told us it wants everyone to have a good experience and said... "we provide tools that allow quest players to report and block users. "we will continue to make improvements as we learn more "about how people interact in these spaces." children, and the metaverse can be an exciting virtual adventure, but also a very real risk of harm. angus crawford, bbc news. severe flood warnings remain in areas of the river severn where flooding continues to pose a danger to life. 0ne severe warning is for bewdley, worcestershire where flood barriers were breached today.

another severe warning is also in place for ironbridge in shropshire, where the river peaked overnight without breaching barriers. around 400 properties have been flooded after heavy rain during the three recent storms. estimates from the 0ns survey suggest that the rates of people testing positive for coronavirus are falling overall in the uk. just under 2.6 million people would test positive in the week ending 19th february, the survey suggests. this is down from just under three million last week. rates of people testing positive continued to fall in england wales and northern ireland, but not scotland. pupils who fail their maths and english gcse could be refused loans for university tuition fees in england. the plans are part of the government's response to a review of education for over 185 which will be published in full tomorrow. 0ur education editor branwenjeffreysjoins me now. what are we expecting to see

tomorrow?— what are we expecting to see tomorrow? ., ., , ., ,., , ., , ., tomorrow? there are two proposals on the table for — tomorrow? there are two proposals on the table for setting _ tomorrow? there are two proposals on the table for setting a _ tomorrow? there are two proposals on the table for setting a minimum - the table for setting a minimum academic standard. the first, he would have to have your maths and english gcses, or the alternative is you would have to have two es or the equivalent at a—level. that would affect around 5000 students a year, so quite a small number. but this is a political signal by the government to universities about the need for value for money, as is the suggestion they might look a temporary limits on numbers on certain courses if they think those causes do not lead to good graduate jobs. tomorrow, we will get far more detail on measures that directly affect future students and future graduates and what the government wants to see their contribution being. wants to see their contribution beint. . ., wants to see their contribution beint. ., ~' ,, let's go back to our main story now and clive in kyiv. sophie, thank

you. the whole of ukraine is expected to come under a state of emergency, with greater powers given to police and some measures to control transport. people's lives will not be affected, was the message from the government but for many in the capital kyiv, they're already prepared for the possibility that conflict could come closer to home, as our europe correspondent nick beake has been finding out. with the freedom of his country in the balance, ukraine's most famous singer takes to the stage. an impromptu concert at the most perilous of times. he tells us the world should now offer its support. the most important message is that ukraine is united. we are strong, we are optimistic and we are looking into the future with wide—open eyes

and we shall overcome. into the future with wide-open eyes and we shall overcome.— and we shall overcome. there is no anic in and we shall overcome. there is no panic in the — and we shall overcome. there is no panic in the face _ and we shall overcome. there is no panic in the face of— and we shall overcome. there is no panic in the face of growing - and we shall overcome. there is no| panic in the face of growing russian aggression. instead, a patriotic outpouring. these history students from kyiv university hope their armed forces will protect their future. i armed forces will protect their future. ., ., ., ., ~ future. i am not afraid. ithink the will future. i am not afraid. ithink they will save _ future. i am not afraid. ithink they will save us _ future. i am not afraid. ithink they will save us from - future. i am not afraid. ithink they will save us from this. i future. i am not afraid. i think| they will save us from this. we future. i am not afraid. i think- they will save us from this. we will fi . ht for they will save us from this. we will fight for our _ they will save us from this. we will fight for our nation, _ they will save us from this. we will fight for our nation, our _ they will save us from this. we will fight for our nation, our city, i they will save us from this. we will fight for our nation, our city, our . fight for our nation, our city, our countrv — fight for our nation, our city, our countrv ht— fight for our nation, our city, our count . �* , ., , fight for our nation, our city, our count .�* , , country. at this military charity, the send country. at this military charity, they send extra _ country. at this military charity, they send extra equipment i country. at this military charity, they send extra equipment to l they send extra equipment to soldiers on the front line. double vision? they say the ukrainian public has donated the equivalent of half a million in the past 24 hours, more than the whole of last year. this man promises ukrainians would fight until the last soldier and to the last civilian. it will not end well for russia, he says. victoria

was the first woman in ukraine to serve as a front line commander before leaving active duty. the bullet went through? but now, 29 and a mum with a toddler, she has been called up, along with thousands of other reservists. translation: ii other reservists. translation: , , ., ., other reservists. translation: , , ., translation: if this is going to be a large-scale _ translation: if this is going to be a large-scale war _ translation: if this is going to be a large-scale war with _ translation: if this is going to be a large-scale war with an _ translation: if this is going to be a large-scale war with an attack i translation: if this is going to be a large-scale war with an attack on | a large—scale war with an attack on kyiv, my family will move away and i will stay here to do whatever the army needs me to do. in will stay here to do whatever the army needs me to do.— will stay here to do whatever the army needs me to do. in the heart of k iv, the army needs me to do. in the heart of kyiv. they proudly — army needs me to do. in the heart of kyiv, they proudly display _ army needs me to do. in the heart of kyiv, they proudly display russian i kyiv, they proudly display russian weaponry they say they captured during the last eight years of fighting in the east. these are the only russian tanks that most ukrainians will tolerate on the streets of the capital. you are really struck by the defiance here, but there is undoubtedly growing unease, a fear that this long—running conflict with russia will soon move closer to home for millions more people. but for now, the theatres fail and the streets bustle. the city on alert, but not

afraid. let's get the final word from our chief international correspondent. the rhetoric remains tough on both sides and there is an increasing sense of foreboding, how would you sum up this crisis and where we are? these are absolutely exceptional times and we see time and again, particularly western leaders reaching back into history, so we can make sense of these breathtaking and at moments, especially here in kyiv, absolutely terrifying moments. western leaders including boris johnson warning we could see bloodshed and folding in this region that we haven't seen since the second world war. all vaughan that there is a new cold war between russia and the west. but we are also constantly reminded that in this face—off between russia and the

west, president putin is focused on an entirely different history. what he calls the worst geopolitical mistake of the century, the break—up of the soviet union. in kyiv we had president zelensky of ukraine telling everyone who would listen, and they should listen, what is at stake here is ukraine, but it is the future of european security. that is why, at the munich security conference, a result between european and nato allies, the likes we haven't seen for years. malta; we haven't seen for years. many thanks. time for a look at the weather. the weather is set to calm down for friday and the start of the weekend but in the short term we have some unsettled and wet windy in the forecast. it's going to turn colder forecast. it's going to turn colder for thursday, cold and windy with sunshine, wintry showers and significance now. it is going to be

a plunge of cold air moving in behind this cold front spreading southwards across the country this evening and overnight. some of the rain will be heavy as it pushes southwards. behind it, the air turns colder with plenty of wintry showers and hail, flashes of lightning with snow and gusty winds, gale force winds. the temperature is falling behind this weather front and could see risk of ice across northern parts of scotland. seven or 8 degrees across the south—east of england with outbreaks of heavy rain. that weather front will eventually clear the south—east on thursday and then we are into this colder air with sunshine and blustery showers and these will be heavy across the north. what's not for the south—east and the rain eventually clears away and it will be wintry over the higher ground, but further snow showers across scotland and northern ireland and flashes of lightning and hail mixed in, accompanied by strong, gale full swings across the northern half of the country, but a blustery day where ever you are. you will notice

the temperature is lower than what they have been for the past week, particularly across the south with highs of 48 degrees. factor in the wind and it will seem colder. we see this ridge of high pressure building in for friday and for the start of the weekend. it will calm down, when standing right at showers fading away, moss sunshine on friday and because he cloud pushing into the far north—west, but for england and wales it is another fine day on saturday. hello. a very warm welcome to the bbc sport centre. you're watching sportsday with me ben croucher. coming up... with the rising tensions between russia and ukraine —