transport is also lifted from today. and from april the 1st, free covid testing will come to an end for most people in england. some charities, scientists and doctors are worried restrictions are being relaxed too quickly. covid remains pretty high in circulation around the country and what nhs leaders are worried about is that if too many of our precautions are relaxed at one time, then there will be an increase in the transmission of covid. for lots of people, the current strain of covid—19 can often have quite mild effects. but that is not the case for everyone, and that is particularly not the case for people with other vulnerabilities. the changes today apply to england only. restrictions in scotland, wales and northern ireland are being lifted at different speeds as the omicron wave of this virus passes.

jim reed, bbc news. students who start university next year could be paying off their loans for a0 years after graduating under new government plans for england. under the current system, loans are written off after 30 years. the government says extending the repayment period will reduce the bill for taxpayers. but labour says it will hit those on low incomes hardest. the queen has postponed more engagements after testing positive for covid last weekend. she called off virtual audiences on tuesday, but she did have a call with the prime minister yesterday. buckingham palace says she's now postponed two more virtual audiences scheduled for today but she is continuing with light dutes. let's go back to my colleague, clive myrie, with the latest from ukraine.

clive. we heard air raid sirens in the last ten or 15 minutes, so we have had to put ourflak ten or 15 minutes, so we have had to put our flak jackets ten or 15 minutes, so we have had to put ourflakjackets on, ten or 15 minutes, so we have had to put our flakjackets on, if you are wondering why this is happening. and our security correspondent, frank gardner, joins me now from london. there is a lot of hyperbole out there about this being the worst conflict in europe since the end of the second world war and so on. put things in perspective for us. what are your thoughts? it things in perspective for us. what are your thoughts?— are your thoughts? it looks like bein: the are your thoughts? it looks like being the worst _ are your thoughts? it looks like being the worst conflict - are your thoughts? it looks like being the worst conflict in - are your thoughts? it looks like l being the worst conflict in europe this century. a few years before that, in the mid—90s, there was a very bad conflict in the balkans that sucked in bosnia, serbia, croatia and so on. the real hyperbole that has been talked about but i think is rattling a lot of people all over the world is the talk of this being the beginning of world war iii, and some of the loudest voices saying that our ukrainian voices. i think that is going too far at the moment, because

nato is not involved directly in this. this is a conflict within ukraine's borders for now and nato is desperately hoping it stays that way. they want two things, russia to withdraw its troops and go back to its side of the border, and want to act as a deterrent to make sure that president putin does not cross into poland or the baltic states and invade a nato country, because that would be a prelude to war or something much wider. indeed, thank ou for that something much wider. indeed, thank you for that analysis. _ and to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. we heard air raid sirens and we have put on ourflakjackets. we heard air raid sirens and we have put on our flakjackets. one wonders what the people of this city and, indeed, right across this country are now thinking. they prayed for peace and, with all the diplomacy over the last few months, they hoped that would be the case but in a major conflict.— that would be the case but in a

ma'or conflict. , ., , , major conflict. the side has spoken. the siren spoke _ major conflict. the side has spoken. the siren spoke live _ major conflict. the side has spoken. the siren spoke live in _ major conflict. the side has spoken. the siren spoke live in our— the siren spoke live in our broadcast, and that siren, not only did it strike fear in the hearts of all the ukrainians being told to stay at home today, and some still bravely went to work, a cyber and telling them, be careful, something even more dangerous could come, but that siren was also heard across the uk and around the world. everybody watching this broadcast didn't need to be reminded we are in kyiv, the magnificent saint michaels cathedral and an emergency siren is saying, the war is getting worse and the war thatis the war is getting worse and the war that is having notjust a profound impact it but is shattering the norms that govern all our lives and have done so for decades. we are nothing less than turning a new chapter in history.— nothing less than turning a new chapter in history. lyse doucet, our chief international _ chapter in history. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent. l now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz schafernaker.

some chilly air is across the uk right now for the you can see from these cold north—westerly winds on these cold north—westerly winds on the graphic, and we have had sleet and snow showers across many parts of northern britain. this has prompted the met office to issue a yellow warning for parts of scotland and also northern ireland. snow and lightning, so really quite squally, dusty showers are quite vigorous, carried in by a strong wind, bringing the threat of lightning in places, so in some areas quite dramatic weather. the snow is settling but mostly across the hills, but not exclusively. ten to 20 centimetres across the highlands, perhaps around the pennines, but it's a case of some sunny spells today as well, certainly not raining or snowing all the time for top quite the opposite. the winds are very strong so it feels on the cold side, with gusts of a0 mph combined with temperatures of only four or 5 degrees. that makes it pretty

chilly. a cold spell right over us right now. through the course of termite, the showers will continue, at least for a time. —— through the course of tonight. high pressure starts to build from the south through the early hours of friday, so the winds will snow, the showers will become less frequent, and that promises a much calmer, brighter day for friday. you can see high pressure on the weather map building from the south—west, keeping the worst weather in the north atlantic at bay. friday, for the bulk of the country, including much of scotland, would be a decent day. the winds will be much lighter, and it will feel less cold for the north of the country. temperatures might be around eight in glasgow, 11 in the south. the weekend is looking promising. now back to clive. that's all from the bbc news at one,

so it's goodbye from me. it's been a momentous day. on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are.

good afternoon. let's get more reaction for you now to russia's invasion of ukraine. in the last few hours we have heard from the prime minister, borisjohnson, who released this statement. at four o'clock this morning i spoke to president zelensky of ukraine to offer the continued support of the uk. because our worst fears have now come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate. president putin of russia has unleashed war in our european continent. he has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse.

innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on an entirely innocent population. a vast invasion is under way, by land, by sea and by air. and this is not, in the infamous phrase, some far—away country of which we know little. we have ukrainian friends in this country, neighbours, co—workers. ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. we and the world cannot allow that freedom just to be snuffed out. we cannot and will not just block away. it's because we have been so alarmed in recent months at russian intimidation that the uk became one of the first countries in europe to send defensive weaponry

to help the ukrainians. other allies have now done the same, and we will do what more we can in the days ahead. today in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions to hobble the russian economy. and to that end we must also collectively cease the dependence on russian oil and gas that for too long has given putin his grip on western politics. our mission is clear. diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of vladimir putin must end in failure. i'm so i say to the people of russia who president has just authorised a tidal wave of violence against a fellow slavic people, to the parents of russian soldiers who will lose their lives, i cannot believe this is being done

in your name or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the putin regime. i say to the ukrainians in this moment of agony, we are with you, we are praying for you and yourfamilies and we are on your side. and if the months ahead are grim and the flame of freedom burns low, i know that it will blaze bright again in ukraine. because for all his bombs and tanks and missiles, i don't believe that the russian dictator will ever subdue the national feeling of the ukrainians and their passionate belief that their country should be free. i say to the british people and all who have heard the threats from putin against those who stand with ukraine, we will do everything to keep our country safe. we arejoined in our outrage by friends and allies around the world. we will work with them for however

long it takes to ensure that the sovereignty and independence of ukraine is restored. because this act of wanton and reckless aggression is an attack notjust on ukraine. it's an attack on democracy and freedom in eastern europe and around the world. this crisis is about the right of a free, sovereign, independent european people to choose their own future. and that is a right that the uk will always defend. the prime minister earlier on today. in the last hour, european leaders in the nato secretary—general have held a conference condemning moscow's actions. we will hear from european commissioner ursula von der leyen in a moment. but first we hear

from jens stoltenberg. ukraine is not a nato member, so nato is not sending combat troops into ukraine. russia has attacked ukraine. this is a brutal act of war. our thoughts are with the brave people of ukraine. sadly what we have warned against four months has come to pass. despite all calls on russia to change course and tireless efforts to seek a diplomatic solution. peace on our continent has been shattered. we now have war in europe on a scale and other type we thought belongs to history. this is a grave moment for the security of europe. russia's

unjustified and unprovoked attack on ukraine puts countless innocent lives at risk. with air and missile attacks, ground forces and special forces from multiple directions, targeting military infrastructure and major urban centres. this is a deliberate, cold—blooded and long planned invasion. despite its litany of lies, denials and disinformation, the kremlin�*s intentions are clear for the world to see. russia's leaders bearfull for the world to see. russia's leaders bear full responsibility for their reckless actions and the lives lost. nato allies condemn russia's invasion of ukraine in the strongest possible terms. it is a blatant violation of international law, an

act of aggression against a sovereign, independentand act of aggression against a sovereign, independent and peaceful country, and a serious threat to security. russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny ukraine it's free and independent path. nato's core task is to protect and defend all allies. there must be no room for miscalculation and misunderstanding. an attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all. so that was nato's jens so that was nato'sjens stoltenberg, and also at that briefing was ursula von der leyen who announced that intensive pressures on russia's economy will now be increased. early

this morning. — economy will now be increased. eé�*ig this morning, president economy will now be increased. eat; this morning, president putin ordered atrocious acts of aggression against a sovereign and independent country and innocent people. we will hold russia accountable for this outrageous violation of ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. and what is at stake is notjust donbas, it is notjust ukraine. what is at stake is the stability of europe and the whole international order, our peace order. president putin chose to bring war back to europe. in a determined and united response, the european union will make it as difficult as possible for the kremlin to pursue its aggressive actions. round about 30 minutes ago i had a phone call with president zelensky. he asked us for what ever the different stakeholders can do for help. we will later today present a package of massive and

targeted sanctions to european leaders for their approval. we are coordinating closely with our partners and allies, the united states, the united kingdom, canada, norway, but also for example japan and australia. this package will include financial sanctions that harshly limit russia's access to capital markets. these sanctions will have a heavy impact. russia's economy has already faced intensive pressure in the recent weeks, and these pressures will now accumulate. these sanctions will suppress russia's economic growth, increase the borrowing costs, raise inflation, intensify capital outflow and gradually erode its industrial bases. the second main pillar of our sanctions concerns limiting russia's access to crucial technology. we want to cut off russia's industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future.

our measures will weaken russia's technology, technological position in key areas, actually for which the elite makes most of their money. and this ranges from high—tech components to cutting—edge software. this will also seriously degrade the russian economy in all areas in the future. let me be very clear. it is president putin who will have to explain this to his citizens. i know that the russian people do not want this war. the european union and nato have worked closely, and this crisis will bring us even closer together. it is our shared duty to stand up to the gravest act of aggression on european soil in decades. our unity is our best strength. the kremlin understands this very well, and that's why they have tried their best to divide us,

but they have achieved the exact opposite. we are more united and more determined than ever. we are one union, one alliance, united in purpose. many thanks. ursula von der leyen there. now let's get some analysis. we are going to talk to doctor patrick bury, a senior analyst. i suppose russia learned when the soviet union went into afghanistan that it is one thing to go into a country and another thing to and hold it down. what you think their intentions are with ukraine? could they hold the whole country eventually? goad whole country eventually? good cuestion. whole country eventually? good question- i _ whole country eventually? good question. i think— whole country eventually? good question. i think there - whole country eventually? good question. i think there is - whole country eventually? good question. i think there is a - whole country eventually? good question. i think there is a very| question. i think there is a very big difference in terms of geography and population between afghanistan and population between afghanistan and ukraine, especially with the demographics in the eastern part of the country, and the geography which would make it easier to hold down

than afghanistan. the big question is how far does president putin's forces go now? it seems it has breached the defensive line about two thirds to the east of ukraine, and if they can concentrate their forces and get over that quite quickly, that would be a blow. it is a very unclear situation exactly where things are militarily at the moment. but it does seem they have breached it to the south, and that would be a natural rallying point for the ukrainian armed forces if they could hold that. also worrying to the north and confirmed by the ukrainians is that there has been attack from larousse, which is only about 100 miles from kyiv in the north. —— an attack from belarus. he said his objective is basically, he doesn't view ukraine as a country,

and therefore sort of more limited hold seems less likely and he is likely to go for what he views as that cultural capital of greater russia which is kyiv. and even then, how far does he want to go? from his calculus, potentially stopping if he can. this of course all depends on the morale, the ukrainian army and their reserves and willingness to resist, of course. but potentially his calculus is he wants to go beyond kyiv if he can and establish a buffer zone with the west of the country split, much more pro—western, i think would be much harder to hold that area down peacefully then certainly parts of the east. ~ ., ., , ., ~' peacefully then certainly parts of the east. ~ ., ., ~ ., the east. what do you think of the capabilities _ the east. what do you think of the capabilities of _ the east. what do you think of the capabilities of the _ the east. what do you think of the capabilities of the ukrainians? - the east. what do you think of the capabilities of the ukrainians? we j capabilities of the ukrainians? we have heard that the government there are giving out weapons to pretty much anybody who wants them. they are calling up reservists. but clearly they are not really

ultimately a match for the russian armed forces.— ultimately a match for the russian armed forces. ., , ., ., , armed forces. no, they are not, they 'ust reall armed forces. no, they are not, they just really aren't. _ armed forces. no, they are not, they just really aren't. they _ armed forces. no, they are not, they just really aren't. they have _ armed forces. no, they are not, they just really aren't. they have got - just really aren't. they have got better since 201a, and the west has given them anti aircraft missiles, anti—tank missiles, looking for the coming through are some of the attacks that seem to have been used and been effective. but this is a massive invasion, and the ukrainian forces, if you look at it, ukraine is the largest country in europe, it is the largest country in europe, it is 800 miles long and they have had to spread their forces thinly over a wide front, but the russians can amass their forces and that is what they are trying to do. their best units in the ukrainian military actually to the south and east where the conflict was, and the russians will be probably trying to encircle them, so whether they can get back and mount a defence there is another question. so ultimately, i think my hunch would be they will face, the

russians will face more resistance the further west they go, and interestingly russian units also carry a lot of ammunition and logistics themselves, so depending on the distance and the resistance they are facing, they can run out of steam a little bit, but we haven't seen that yet. steam a little bit, but we haven't seen that yet-— steam a little bit, but we haven't seen that yet. you served i think as a ca tain seen that yet. you served i think as a captain in — seen that yet. you served i think as a captain in the _ seen that yet. you served i think as a captain in the british _ seen that yet. you served i think as a captain in the british army. - seen that yet. you served i think as a captain in the british army. just l a captain in the british army. just give us an insight into what it is like to be a soldier on the front line as an invading army is coming at you. yes, you are defending your homeland, but it must be terrifying for those ukrainian soldiers who may never have seen action in their lives, suddenly to be facing a russian invading force.- lives, suddenly to be facing a russian invading force. yes, and i would point _ russian invading force. yes, and i would point out _ russian invading force. yes, and i would point out that _ russian invading force. yes, and i would point out that the - russian invading force. yes, and i. would point out that the ukrainians are probably facing that with a lot less equipment and training than i had in afghanistan. this isn't the taliban, which was tough enough, blowing up ieds and attacking us, this is full—scale tanks, which

raises the question about your morale and what you are willing to sacrifice. so this is a different level of scale altogether. depending on your level of training under this morale which is key,, it is about cohesion whether you want to stay and fight, and this becomes a much more emotional and much more of an equation when you are defending your family's house in your city and stuff like that, as people would probably fight in the uk if they had to. i probably fight in the uk if they had to. , , , ., , probably fight in the uk if they had to. , , ., probably fight in the uk if they had to. , ., , to. i suppose that is the difference. _ to. i suppose that is the difference. these - to. i suppose that is the difference. these are i to. i suppose that is the - difference. these are people who to. i suppose that is the _ difference. these are people who are fighting for their homeland. they are not for example when you are in the british army in afghanistan, you hadn't been sent there by your government to a far—away land, they are fighting in their own backyard. it depends on the make up of how you

view the russians. may be in the east they are more pro—russia, as we have seen. maybe you are just neutral and you think, i willjust let this wash over me and hope for the best. maybe as you go further west past kyiv, things become much more like, you are not coming here, this is the line. it is just very difficult to call at the moment, and certainly the amount of firepower being used by the russians in shock and awe capacity is designed to try to break morale and smash that cohesion and that command and control. we cohesion and that command and control. ~ , ., , cohesion and that command and control. ~ , . , ., control. we shall see how it unfolds. — control. we shall see how it unfolds, but _ control. we shall see how it unfolds, but certainly - control. we shall see how it unfolds, but certainly a - control. we shall see how it - unfolds, but certainly a momentous day in european history with the invasion of ukraine by russia. dr patrick bury, thank you very much indeed, senior lecturer in security indeed, senior lecturer in security in the university of bath and former army officer, thank you. much more reporting from ukraine throughout the afternoon. first,

let's take a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello. we have had a fair amount of wintry weather across britain and that will continue into the evening hours. the met office issued earlier on a snow and lightning warning across parts of scotland and northern ireland, and very vigorous, intense wintry showers spreading in from the north—west. you can see on the radar here this is where the wintry showers have been falling. rain in the south, so it's a little too mild here for any wintry weather, but it is in the north, across scotland in the pennines, parts of northern ireland where we could see snow accumulating, a few centimetres on the ground, very hit and miss, though, and on top of that, some very strong gusty winds, a0 or 50 mph in one or two spots, so across the highlands no doubt at times we will have temporary blizzards. the temperature this evening will be around three degrees in newcastle, six degrees in the south, we've obviously for that strong wind, so it is going to feel cold outside.

and i think that warning, that thunder and snow warning, will continue until at least around eight o'clock this evening, and after that it expires. the winds tend to ease, the weather clears up a little bit. i think the weather will generally be a lot calmer as we head into early friday morning. a touch of frost possible almost anywhere, but more especially across central and northern areas. here's friday, and into the weekend, we will see an area of high pressure building in from the south, that means that the weather will settle, we will lose those cold winds and we will also lose the wintry showers, and in fact friday morning starts off chilly, bright, and then sunshine for the afternoon, but notice behind me there is the next weather system approaching, and that means cloud and rain for the western isles of scotland and possibly for northern ireland tomorrow afternoon. but for many of us tomorrow, it is going to be a bright if not sunny day with light winds and temperatures of around 10 degrees.

here is that high pressure, admittedly the centre of the high will be across central parts of europe, so that is where the best of the weather will be. we are on the edge on this high, which does mean that weather fronts will tend to to sneak into north—western areas through the weekend. so i think saturday and sunday, there is a possibility of some rain in the north—west of the uk, but generally speaking, for many of us, the weekend is looking fine and dry. that's it from me. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... russia has invaded ukraine in a major military assault by land, sea and air. there have been explosions reported near major cities including in the capital, kyiv. as his army moved in, vladimir putin issued this warning to the world. translation: whoever tries to interfere with us _ or threaten our country should know that russia's response will be immediate and lead to such consequences that have never been experienced in history. in the capital, fearing the worst, some are desperate to leave. the president calls on the international community to help his country. putin started the war against ukraine _ putin started the war against ukraine in case the whole democratic

world _ ukraine in case the whole democratic world he _ ukraine in case the whole democratic world. he wants to destroy