welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: explosions. russia launches a full—scale assault on ukraine with missiles hitting multiple targets. vladimir putin has this warning. translation: whoever tries to interfere with _ translation: whoever tries to interfere with us _ translation: whoever tries to interfere with us or _ translation: whoever tries to interfere with us or threaten - interfere with us or threaten our country should know that russia's response will be immediate, and leads to such consequences that have never been experienced in history. queues on the roads in ukraine's capital kyiv, with an exodus of fearful residents.

we have armoured personnel carriers here, and a whole line of traffic for as far as the eye can see, trying to get out. the russian advance has been met with universal condemnation and tougher sanctions from the west. putin is the aggressor. putin chose this war. and now he and his country will better consequences. —— bear the consequences. it's 9:00am in singapore, and 3:00am across ukraine, where russian military forces have been carrying out an offensive by land, sea and air. there have been casualties on both sides. ukraine says 137 lives have been lost, and many thousands of ukrainians are seeking shelter.

the first confirmation of the invasion came at around 6:00am in moscow, when president putin announced a special military operation was under way in ukraine's eastern donbas region. its purpose, he said, the demilitarisation and denazification of ukraine. as he spoke, missile strikes were reported across ukraine, including in the capital kyiv. russia said it had destroyed more than 70 military targets. that included 11 airfields. damage was reported from all across ukraine, including in the far west, hundreds of kilometres from the russian border. soon after came the land invasion, with russian tanks and troops advancing. as you can see ont his map, they breached the border in three main directions, from the east, the south and the north, including from belarus, russia's long time ally. in just a moment, we will look at all of these developments, the likes of which hasn't been seen in europe for 80 years. we begin with this report from our international correspondent, 0rla guerin.

0ne one of the opening salvo is in russia's war on ukraine. a metal strike on an airport in the west of the country. in kyiv today, a frightening new dawn for europe and ukraine. this city of 3 million awoke to sirens and an invasion. soon, a panicked exodus from the ukrainian capital, as the eu spoke of one of the darkest hours since world war ii. and darkened skies as a russian attack helicopter is targeted airport outside kyiv. ukraine says several were shot down. the invasion was by air, sea and

land. president putin, who insisted it would never come, warning that no—one should try to stop him. 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 but have never been experienced in history. have never been experienced in histo . ., , ., , history. hours after he spoke, this was the _ history. hours after he spoke, this was the picture _ history. hours after he spoke, this was the picture in - history. hours after he spoke, this was the picture in cities . this was the picture in cities across the country. sirens wail. images from ukraine's northern and southern borders showed moscow's forces streaming in. ukraine's beleaguered president, volodymyr zelenskyy, addressed the nation, dressed for battle. translation:— the nation, dressed for battle. translation: what do we hear toda ? it translation: what do we hear today? it is _ translation: what do we hear today? it is not _ translation: what do we hear today? it is notjust _ translation: what do we hear today? it is notjust rocket - today? it is notjust rocket explosions, combat and the roar of aircraft. this is the sound of aircraft. this is the sound of a new iron curtain, lowering

and closing russia away from the civilised world. our national task is to make this curtain not on our territory. but in the homes of russians. ukrainians were not safe in their own homes today. here, their own homes today. here, the aftermath of a strike on a block of flats in kharkiv, ukraine's second city. missile fragments now on display in the playground. from early morning in eastern ukraine, we found queues at atms. now there is war. people want cash in their pockets, and fear it may run short. like many here, natalia is trying to comprehend what has befallen ukraine. trying to work out how to protect her two—year—old carina. translation: two-year-old carina. tuna/mom- two-year-old carina. translation: ., . translation: we are shocked. we are totally shocked. _

translation: we are shocked. we are totally shocked. we _ translation: we are shocked. we are totally shocked. we are - are totally shocked. we are afraid for our children. for ourfamilies. afraid for our children. for our families.— afraid for our children. for our families. are you thinking about trying _ our families. are you thinking about trying to _ our families. are you thinking about trying to move? - our families. are you thinking about trying to move? where| our families. are you thinking - about trying to move? where can i no? we about trying to move? where can i go? we don't — about trying to move? where can i go? we don't know— about trying to move? where can i go? we don't know where - about trying to move? where can i go? we don't know where to - i go? we don't know where to go. who will have us? nobody, nowhere is waiting for us. i don't know, ijust don't know. more queues at the petrol stations. many want to be ready for whatever may come, like andrei, who told the explosions overnight. translation: i andrei, who told the explosions overnight. translation: i heard it clearl , overnight. translation: i heard it clearly. the _ overnight. translation: i heard it clearly, the earth _ overnight. translation: i heard it clearly, the earth was - it clearly, the earth was really shaking. so we got up and now we are waiting for fuel. we will buy some, so we can be mobile, in case or communications are cut. we have to prepare. what else can we

do? in to prepare. what else can we do? ., ~ ., do? in the battle for ukraine, russia is _ do? in the battle for ukraine, russia is controlling - do? in the battle for ukraine, russia is controlling the - russia is controlling the skies. here, ukrainianforces respond. with small arms fire. they are outgunned, and have been suffering losses. we don't know how many. the attack is a projection of russian strength and western weakness. frenzied international diplomacy under the threat of sanctions failed to stop it. this nation is now under sustained assault. a day has changed everything for ukraine and for security in europe. all guerin, bbc news,

eastern ukraine. —— 0rla guerin. well that's the picture on the ground for people in ukraine. the kremlin insists its military operation in ukraine will last as long as is necessary. president putin, who announced the action early this morning, warned that any outside interference would lead to an "immediate" response never previously experienced in history. but there have been protests in dozens of cities, as steve rosenberg reports. there are moments that change the course of history. would this be one? russia invaded ukraine. its president threatened the west... translation: if anyone tries to stand in our way or even threaten our country, our people, they should know russia will respond immediately, and this will lead to such consequences the likes of which you have never experienced in your history. russian state tv went into overdrive, backing the assault, claiming ukrainian soldiers were surrendering en masse.

a different mood here, at one of russia's last—surviving independent papers. to show solidarity with ukraine, tomorrow's edition will be in russian and ukrainian. the paper's editor, dmitry muratov, won last year's nobel peace prize. he believes that president putin has done irreparable damage to his country. translation: unfortunately, i have to say very bitter words. i think that today, february 24th, russia's future was taken away from it. 0ur peace—loving russian people will now feel the hatred of the world, because we are starting a third world war in the centre of europe. vladimir putin comes across now as a leader with an almost messianic idea — to force ukraine back

into moscow's orbit, even if that means war. what the public might think about that doesn't come into it. he seems determined to achieve his goal. the actions of a government can demonise a whole nation, but keep in mind — amongst the public here, there is little support for war with ukraine. i'm sorry, so shocked. ijust can't help crying. i think that most of russia don't support this, it's horrible. and why don't they support it? because it's not our war, it's war by putin, biden or anyone else, not our nation. "i think the ukrainian soldiers will surrender," she says, "and they should. it's terrible to be at war with ukraine." in moscow tonight, hundreds took to the streets. "no to war," they chanted, determined to make their voices heard.

but they were silenced. you can arrest people, but you can't force people to support the invasion of a neighbouring country. this is not a conflict the russian public wants. this is the kremlin�*s war. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. european union leaders have agreed a new package of sanctions at an emergency meeting on thursday, which they said would have severe consequences on russia — but which some critics say didn't go far enough. and the us presidentjoe biden has announced new sanctions, on technology exports, banks and individuals, which he said would impose a "severe cost" on the russian economy. putin is the aggressor. putin chose this war. and now he and

his country will better consequences. today i am at authorising additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to russia. this is going to impose severe cost on the russian economy, both immediately and over time. we are purposely designing the sanctions to maximise the long—term impact on russia, and minimise the impact on the united states and our allies. �* , ., ., ., our allies. let's hear now from washington- — 0ur correspondent, david willis, is there. he has been watching these events closely. david, just to say, those comments from president biden indicating that there are more sanctions to come, he is willing to go further, but right now, what is the sense of what he has done so far? is it effective enough? well, that is a very good question, and of course the us and its allies have been threatening sanctions for some

while, and it hasn't impeded president biden�*s ambitions as far as going into ukraine is concerned. president biden made the point today that the sanctions, he thought will disrupt the russian economy, and they will include basically sealing russia off from the international financial system with the sanctions on major banks, it also means that there will be sanctions targeting the inner circle of vladimir putin's conrad's and so on, and restraint technology exports to russia, such things as our plane parts and microchips, which is thought could impede russia's economic development going forward. as i say, the threat of sanctions has been hanging over president putin's had for some while now, and they have not caused him to change course. the us

acknowledges that these sanctions could take some while to bite, so they might not have very much impact on the russian economy in the short term. yeah, indeed, and they haven't worked before, have they, when he has done this sort of thing before, in 2014, for instance. 0ne before, in 2014, for instance. one of the other criticisms that i have heard, david, and i wonder whether you could talk a little bit about this, is the fact that the west has not targeted the international payments system, swift, that could really hurt russia. why not? ~ ., ., not? well, in regard to the swift payment _ not? well, in regard to the swift payment system, - not? well, in regard to the - swift payment system, president biden said today that nothing was off the table, as he put it, as far as future possible sanctions were concerned. this is something that the us would really only do in concert with its european allies, and many of those are against picking

russia out of these swift payment system for the simple reason that european banks have sizeable exposure to russia, and there are also, it is pointed out, alternatives now to swift. china has its own such system, and of course there are cryptocurrencies as well. so it is felt that this could commit such a policy, could commit such a policy, could create more problems, if you like, for the west, than it solves. 0ne one other thing they have not touched, from my understanding, is the oil and gas sector? why not? ., is the oil and gas sector? why not? . . , ., is the oil and gas sector? why not? . . , is the oil and gas sector? why not? . ., , ., is the oil and gas sector? why not? ., ., , ., ., is the oil and gas sector? why not? ., ., , ., not? that also is thought to be potentially _ not? that also is thought to be | potentially counter-productive, potentially counter—productive, not least because we've seen the price of oil and gas shoot up the price of oil and gas shoot up recently as the markets have grown increasinglyjittery over russia's intentions as far as ukraine is concerned. we saw the price of oil go above $100

a barrel today. and that, of course, is fuelling inflation. that is the last thing that the united states, for example, wants to see with inflation currently at an almost 40 year high here. and creating therefore a major problem for president biden politically, going into the mid—term elections later this year. he is going to be fighting inflation as it is, as best he can. of course, without having to combat additional problems caused by new measures which increase further the price of oil and gas. increase further the price of oil and gas-— oil and gas. indeed, david willis, thank _ oil and gas. indeed, david willis, thank you - oil and gas. indeed, david willis, thank you for - oil and gas. indeed, david i willis, thank you for keeping us up to date with all of those developments. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: we'll look at the mood in ukraine's capital from our correspondent in kyiv. prince charles has chosen his bride.

the prince proposed to lady diana spencer three weeks ago. she accepted, she says, without hesitation. as revolutions go, this had its fair share of bullets. a climax in the night outside the gates of mr marcos' sanctuary, malacanang — the name itself symbolising one of the cruellest regimes of modern asia. the world's first clone has been produced i of an adult mammal. scientists in scotland i have produced a sheep called dolly using a cell from another sheep. i warren beatty and faye dunaway announced to the world that the winner of best film was la la land. the only trouble was it wasn't. the mistake was only put right in the middle of gushing speeches by the team behind the modern musical. not for 20 years have locusts been seen in such numbers in this part of africa. some of the swarms have been ten miles long. this is the last time - the public will see this pope. very soon, for the sake of the credibility- and authority of the next pope, benedict xvi - will, in his own words, be hidden from the world for the rest of his life. i

this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. for many ukrainians, their worst fears became a reality this morning as they awoke to news of their country being invaded. 0ur correspondent clive myrie spent the day with the people of kyiv as they waited to learn what might happen. ukrainian troops burn piles and piles of documents. what they contain, we don't know. but so great is the fear they could fall into russian hands, they must be destroyed. the enemy is literally at the gates. not far, up the road, ukrainian armour. ina far, up the road, ukrainian armour. in a capital city braced for the worst. and in the traffic jam, braced for the worst. and in the trafficjam, in every vehicle on this highway, said

families who, for weeks, had prayed for peace. this is actually the main road out of the capital. that way is poland. it's lviv in the west, and you've got the city there. armoured personnel carriers here and a whole line of traffic for as far as the eye can see, trying to get out. the nearby petrol station is doing brisk business in an atmosphere of dread. but while some fear for their lives, others will wait for their own. we for their lives, others will wait for their own. we want to sta in wait for their own. we want to stay in our _ wait for their own. we want to stay in our apartments - wait for their own. we want to stay in our apartments with i wait for their own. we want to | stay in our apartments with our family. we don't want to leave and we stay in kyiv. pare family. we don't want to leave and we stay in kyiv.— and we stay in kyiv. are you worried. _ and we stay in kyiv. are you worried, though? _ and we stay in kyiv. are you worried, though? because l and we stay in kyiv. are you i worried, though? because we worried, though? because we worry because _ worried, though? because we worry because we _ worried, though? because we worry because we wake - worried, though? because we worry because we wake up . worried, though? because we | worry because we wake up like five o'clock in the morning and i listened and until now, i don't believe what the situation is but we will wait. beneath the city streets,

shelter from the russian storm. gf's shelter from the russian storm. gf�*s warren of underground train tunnels are now bomb shelters. alexander is down here with his wife and two year son. —— kyiv�*s. here with his wife and two year son- -- kyiv's-_ here with his wife and two year son. -- kyiv's. translation: i am very. _ son. -- kyiv's. translation: i am very. very _ son. -- kyiv's. translation: i am very, very scared _ son. -- kyiv's. translation: i am very, very scared for- son. -- kyiv's. translation: i am very, very scared for my - am very, very scared for my boy. also biding their time, staying put in an apartment in the heart of the capital are a group of young civil rights activists with dreams for their country. like urie, aged 21, convinced ukraine can prevail over mighty russia. we convinced ukraine can prevail over mighty russia.— convinced ukraine can prevail over mighty russia. we will be in. you think _ over mighty russia. we will be in. you think you _ over mighty russia. we will be in. you think you can - over mighty russia. we will be in. you think you can win? - in. you think you can win? ukraine — in. you think you can win? ukraine and _ in. you think you can win? ukraine and ukrainian - in. you think you can win? | ukraine and ukrainian army in. you think you can win? - ukraine and ukrainian army will win. i believe it.— win. i believe it. you are survivors- _ win. i believe it. you are survivors. yes. - win. i believe it. you are survivors. yes. a - win. i believe it. you are| survivors. yes. a hopeful assessment _ survivors. yes. a hopeful assessment but - survivors. yes. a hopeful assessment but his - survivors. yes. a hopeful| assessment but his friend survivors. yes. a hopeful - assessment but his friend artie

and is not as confident. are and is not as confident. are ou and is not as confident. are you worried _ and is not as confident. are you worried for _ and is not as confident. are you worried for your - and is not as confident. are you worried for your life? worried about what could happen? yeah, of course. it's scary because it's a war. at, happen? yeah, of course. it's scary because it's a war. a war to close as _ scary because it's a war. a war to close as we _ scary because it's a war. a war to close as we see _ scary because it's a war. a war to close as we see the - to close as we see the country's defenders passed by, the hopes of this land and its future resting on their shoulders. clive myrie, bbc news, in kyiv. what's happening in ukraine is also affecting the diasporic community of ukrainians around the world, desperately worried about their families living in the midst of this conflict. nataliya poshyvaylo—towler is from the ukrainian world congress, an international body of ukrainian communities. she hasjust been to ukraine to visit her family and is now back in melbourne. she told me her family is safe for now, but that many ukrainians are fleeing the country. yes, i have been in touch with my family about 20 hours ago and i keep in touch with

friends via social media means. yeah, they say... friends via social media means. yeah, they say. . ._ friends via social media means. yeah, they say... what are they tellin: yeah, they say... what are they telling you _ yeah, they say... what are they telling you about _ yeah, they say... what are they telling you about the _ yeah, they say... what are they telling you about the situation l telling you about the situation on the ground? talk us through some of the things they have been experiencing as they go through the escalation intentions and the invasion that we are seeing right now. basically, morning yesterday started from, i was listening live emergency meeting of united nations counsel, and started receiving messages from friends in kyiv, saying look, there is sounds of explosions everywhere. we don't know what's happening. we can't see fire or anything but we can hear big sounds. so, and i kept receiving those messages and people telling me they were evacuating, trying to get families in the car and drive from the city. and i called my

parents and luckily, my parents just came back from 0dessa overnight on a train and they were on the bus, basically, going home from the train station. so there was a big relief for me. yes, sorry... figs relief for me. yes, sorry... as ou relief for me. yes, sorry... as you point _ relief for me. yes, sorry... as you point out, there are people who are already trying to leave and we heard from the united nations's high commissioner for refugees who told the bbc a short while ago that more than 100,000 people have already left their homes with a few thousands crossing into moldova and romania. poland also setting up reception points. how difficult is it at this point in time for people to just up and leave the place that they have lived their entire lives and try to go somewhere else?- entire lives and try to go somewhere else? oh, it's heartbreaking. _ somewhere else? oh, it's heartbreaking. and - somewhere else? oh, it's heartbreaking. and even l somewhere else? oh, it's. heartbreaking. and even lots somewhere else? oh, it's- heartbreaking. and even lots of ukrainians already have liked emergency bags packed and their documents and water but even the thought of leaving possibly

forever into unknown is heartbreaking. including the challenges of leaving with not enough petrol and the petrol stations, there is traffic, heavy traffic on the roads, so people are challenged all the way. people are challenged all the wa . �* �* , . ., , way. and we've seen sanctions cominu way. and we've seen sanctions coming into — way. and we've seen sanctions coming into place _ way. and we've seen sanctions coming into place from - way. and we've seen sanctions coming into place from the - coming into place from the international community. are they enough, in your view, to stop what russia is doing right now to ukraine? i stop what russia is doing right now to ukraine?— now to ukraine? i believe in the ukrainian _ now to ukraine? i believe in the ukrainian world - now to ukraine? i believe in | the ukrainian world congress believes that there is a lot more that our partners and nato countries can do. first of all, let's stop any diplomatic relationships with the country, aggressor country, who did such aggressor country, who did such a massive act of violation of the un charter. plus, there is

swift that can be chained off for any financial operations. there is economic sanctions. there is economic sanctions. there is economic sanctions. there is support and help in the military. assistance for ukrainians and of course, be humanitarian crisis that can be actually dealt and helped with on the ground in europe. nataliya poshyvaylo—towler speaking to us a little earlier. before we end, i want to show you a live shop in brussels, where we are expecting a news conference following that eu crisis so much that has been taking place on russia's invasion of ukraine. we are expecting to hearfrom invasion of ukraine. we are expecting to hear from the president of france, the president of france, the president of france, the president of the european commission and the president of the european council and remember as we told you during the programme, they agreed on those new economic sanctions on russia during the us and britain trying to punish

vladimir putin and some punish —— some opponents saying those measures have not gone far enough and we will bring you those details of that conference when we get them. hello there. we're ending the working week on a largely fine and settled note, thanks to a ridge of high pressure. the winds and showers continue to ease down during the overnight period. it's a chilly start to friday morning but there will be a lot of sunshine around and it'll feel a little bit warmer than it did yesterday, too. now, here's the ridge of high pressure pushing in from the west. you can see fewer isobars, so lighter winds. this weather front, though, may bring more cloud northern ireland, western scotland later on. could start with a few blustery showers through the morning. these will fade away, the winds will turn lighter, plenty of sunshine bar a little fairweather cloud into the afternoon. more cloud for northern ireland and western scotland, thanks to that weather front i showed you, and outbreaks of rain for western scotland. could see a little bit of wintriness over the higher ground as well.

but the temperatures a bit higher than yesterday's — 7—11, maybe 12 degrees across the far south—west. as we head through friday night, it stays cloudy for scotland and northern ireland — quite breezy here, too. for england and wales, we'll have clear skies. lighter winds here, so another chilly night to come. maybe a touch of frost out of town. less cold further north and west, where we have more cloud and more breeze. into the weekend, then, this area of high pressure over the near continent will influence the weather across england and wales. but you'll see the further north—west you go, closer to this weather front, it's likely to be cloudier and also breezier, so more cloud for scotland and northern ireland through the day, could see some outbreaks of rain for the north—west of scotland and it should be drierfurther south and east but for england and wales, another largely fine, dry and settled day. and after that chilly start, with all the sunshine around, it'll be quite mild with top temperatures of 10—12 degrees, so feeling quite springlike. similar story for england and wales on sunday, though this weather front may have a bit more influence. this area of low pressure will have more of an influence

across the country — during monday, it'll bring us outbreaks of rain. so, sunday starts off dry and bright, plenty of sunshine across england and wales. that weather front, though, fading as it moves its way eastwards to bring a bit more cloud around. but again, scotland and northern ireland probably seeing most of the cloud through the day, and temperatures, again, similar to saturday's — 8—11 degrees. on monday, that area of low pressure i showed you brings wetter conditions for a time on monday but then, high pressure builds back in and the rest of the week looks largely fine and settled with some spells of sunshine.

you like, for the west, than it solves.