it was scary to wait for an invasion. agrees to hold talks with russia on the border with belarus. i don't believe there is hope for this meeting so let them try so that no ukrainian citizen can have doubt i was not trying to stop the war when there was still a chance. washington condemns vladimir putin's decision to place russian nuclear forces on high alert calling it a dangerous escalation. high alert calling it a dangerous escalation-— high alert calling it a dangerous escalation. ~ , . ., , ., escalation. western countries are not only taking — escalation. western countries are not only taking unfriendly - escalation. western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps l not only taking unfriendly steps against their country in the economic dimension but the top

officials of leading nato countries make aggressive statements with regards to our country. the european union announces _ regards to our country. the european union announces it _ regards to our country. the european union announces it will _ regards to our country. the european union announces it will ship - regards to our country. the european union announces it will ship arms - regards to our country. the european union announces it will ship arms to l union announces it will ship arms to ukraine, described as a watershed moment for the eu. for ukraine, described as a watershed moment for the eu.— moment for the eu. for the first time ever. _ moment for the eu. for the first time ever, the _ moment for the eu. for the first time ever, the european - moment for the eu. for the first time ever, the european union | moment for the eu. for the first i time ever, the european union will finance _ time ever, the european union will finance the — time ever, the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons _ finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country— weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack. bp country that is under attack. ber breaks country that is under attack. breaks with country that is under attack. hi breaks with the russian oil giant, the british—based multinational who will off—load its stake and quit its seat on the board. and searching for a safe haven, pullen says at least 200,000 people seeking refuge have now crossed from ukraine in just four days. to neighbouring countries

and within ukraine. translation: we were normal people. we had jobs, schools, a normalfamily. and now we have to ask for help. and the scariest thing is we don't know how long this is for and whether we will have anything left to go back to. and a show of support from fans at wembley this evening, as the fa says england will not play russia in internationals for the foreseeable future. let's ta ke let's take a look at some of the other developments today and president putin ordered russian military commanders to put the country's strategic nuclear forces on special alert. their highest level. he says it is in response to nato aggression. the move has been condemned by the white house and nato says putin's threat has been aggressive and irresponsible. earlier on sunday the european union announced it will start shipping arms to ukraine, the first time in its history it has taken such a step. and is producing more ban on

eu airspace for all russian planes and a ban on russian media but italian prime minister mario draghi is urging the eu to react with all determination as he describes the russian invasion barbaric. the british—based multinational bp has said this is exiting the nearly 20% stake it holds in the russian oil giant rosneft. at the end of last year that stake was worth about 14 billion us dollars and in the last few hours fifa has announced that no international football will be played in russia with home matches being played on neutral territory with no spectators. russia has also been banned from playing with their national flag and anthem following the invasion. 0urfirst report is from nick peak in kyiv. there wasn't much talk of peace on the streets of

ukraine's second city today. earlier, locals had opened their windows to see russian trucks rolling in. other vehicles in the sights of the ukraine military did not get far. and in the south of the country this was said to be a drone strike on a russian convoy at an airport. but some appealed to the hearts of the russian soldiers to end this misery. what are you doing, this woman asks. you are our brothers, please stop, we have kids, we are peaceful citizens. the capital kyiv has also been on fire. this was an oil depot that was targeted but once again homes also took the brunt and in another strike a child was killed. fears of a major russian bombardment last night did not materialise. although the fighting is moving ever closer to the city centre. hours after russia attacked ukraine on thursday morning, we met mark at a metro station.

how are you? today we spoke to him from our bunker to his where he has been taking shelter like the rest of the city as a curfew remains in place. we have little food and water. children are crying and very afraid and we tried to keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted for a brutal assault on civilians. russia's criminal actions against ukraine shows signs of genocide. i talked about this with the un secretary general. russia is on the path of evil. here in the heart of kyiv we are hearing the explosions get louder as the russians draw ever nearer. seizing this european capital while the world looks on is for now president putin's prime objective and everyone living here simply has

no idea just how much force he is prepared to use to do that and just how many people could die. this is now an age of wartime leaders. a moment when former ukrainian prime ministers post online tutorials instructing their people on how to make petrol bombs to defend themselves. and this is how children in the capital play today, in an underground world mirroring the gruesome reality of what is unfolding above them. despite offering talks, putin has put nuclear forces and highest alert

saying international sanctions are illegitimate. borisjohnson described it as a distraction from the reality of what is going on in the reality of what is going on in the ukraine while the us denounced it as completely unacceptable. eras are moscow correspondent steve rosenberg. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and gave them an order. top officials of leading nato countries are making aggressive statements about our country. therefore i am ordering the minister of defence and the chief of the general staff to put the strategic nuclear forces on special alert. would putin really use them? he practised a week ago, overseeing exercises of russian strategic deterrence forces. typically unsubtle hints to america and nato not to stand in his way over ukraine.

today's special alert, more presidential muscle flexing. across from the kremlin, muscovites gathered on the bridge to remember boris nemtsov, the putin critic gunned down right here seven years ago. for vladimir, this was a date for remembering a friend and condemning the war. this is not russia's war, not a war by the russian people or ukrainian people, this is yet another military adventure, military crime by an unelected, unaccountable, authoritarian and frankly increasingly deranged dictator in the kremlin by the name of putin. you want you won't hear anything like that on russian tv. it has been claimed russian troops are liberating ukraine and moscow is

using force in the interests of peace. in a russia television remains the key tool for shaping public opinion, so if you control tv, as the kremlin does, you control the messaging, but not 100% because today many russians do get their news and information online and there they see are very different picture. if you use the words attack, invasion or war... we can say only special operation. independent media outlets in russia have been ordered by the authorities not to call this a war. what is the kremlin trying to do to the truth now in russia? what they always do. they always turn truth into lies. they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad.

the president of the european commission says for the first time the eu will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country under attack. european leaders have agreed a significant escalation of sanctions against moscow and russia's central bank has issued an appeal for calm amid fears of widespread deposit withdrawals. the eu, us, uk and canada says the bank assets will be frozen. any significant move, ursula von der leyen also said that eu airspace would be close to russian aircraft including the private jets of oligarchs. 0ur aircraft including the private jets of oligarchs. our business editor simonjack looks at the wider economic consequences for russia of its invasion of ukraine. as thousands took to the streets in berlin in outrage for russia's invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up economic sanctions against europe's biggest energy supplier were replaced with a new resolve.

let me be very clear, our airspace will be closed to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs. this plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs.— jets of oligarchs. this came on top of weekend _ jets of oligarchs. this came on top of weekend announcements - jets of oligarchs. this came on top of weekend announcements that l of weekend announcements that russian banks will be excluded from an international payment system isolating russia from global trade, perhaps even more damaging, russia's central bank will have its overseas assets frozen putting pressure in the company of fries like iran, venezuela and north korea. against a country the size of russia, these measures are completely unprecedented that not only in terms of the draconian nature of the measures but the timing of the measures and the degree of coordination between the main countries in the west is something that potentially the russian federation would not have priced in. central banks like the bank of england have reserves of foreign currency stashed in other central banks around the world.

in times of economic crisis you can use that money to buy your domestic currency propping up its value. if you freeze those overseas assets you can't do it leaving the currency more vulnerable to collapse. for russia and its citizens, another plunge in the currency would present serious economic and social difficulties according to a moscow—based expert. it is facing collapse of 30—a0% when the market opens tomorrow. prices are going to be higher, question marks overjob security. all these things have changed little in the last couple of days. and how this relates to the social and political stability russia has always enjoyed, that is becoming quite an urgent question.

this evening, bp yielded two heavy pressure from the uk government by announcing it would off—load its 20% stake in russian oil and gas giant rosneft saying it would take a multi billion pounds loss as a result. bp said it is too early to say how or to whom the stake would be sold. as long as russia has customers buying its oil and gas, which the sanctions won't prevent, it will have financial fuel for its war machine. the ultimate sanction will be an international embargo on russian energy which would damage both sides in this escalating economic war. it is estimated more than 7 million people could be displaced if they were as prolonged. already around 370,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. the vast majority are women and children, —as men aged between 18 and 60, are being asked to stay and fight. our special correspondent, fergal keane, has sent us this

report from the city of lviv, in western ukraine, near the polish border. there are many leaving. but across the city of lviv this morning, the voices and prayers of those for whom this place is home, the home they will not abandon. the church of st peter and paul was damaged in world war ii, shot down by the soviets and is now a garrison church for the ukraine army. these are the faces of the dead and of some of their children. ~ ., �* ., ., the dead and of some of their children. ., ., , , children. we don't have fear because it is our home- _ children. we don't have fear because it is our home. russia _ children. we don't have fear because it is our home. russia coming - children. we don't have fear because it is our home. russia coming to - children. we don't have fear because it is our home. russia coming to our| it is our home. russia coming to our home. if russia go to your house,

what do you do. eat home. if russia go to your house, what do you do— home. if russia go to your house, what do you do-— home. if russia go to your house, what do you do. at lviv station, now a focal point — what do you do. at lviv station, now a focal point for _ what do you do. at lviv station, now a focal point for the _ what do you do. at lviv station, now a focal point for the thousands - a focal point for the thousands fleeing there is fear. irena is a professor of architecture, a mother with a teenage son and two daughters. the father is fighting at the front in the east. it is difficult _ the front in the east. it is difficult to _ the front in the east. it is difficult to describe - the front in the east. it is difficult to describe the l the front in the east. it 3 difficult to describe the pain and fear inside. everything is burning. it is hard to explain to our children. they miss their relatives and friends. it is very painful. i can't describe it.— can't describe it. among those thron . in . can't describe it. among those thronging here _ can't describe it. among those thronging here are _ can't describe it. among those thronging here are many- can't describe it. among those i thronging here are many foreign students who have come from kharkiv where fierce battles are raging. these young men are nigerian. it is 2022, who does this comic i thought

it was— 2022, who does this comic i thought it was more — 2022, who does this comic i thought it was more civilised than this. stay— it was more civilised than this. stay strong and stay alive. local mercies but _ stay strong and stay alive. local mercies but a _ stay strong and stay alive. local mercies but a bigger— stay strong and stay alive. local mercies but a bigger question with responsibility. there may yet be a legal reckoning for all of this. i have been told by a top british war crimes lawyer that a special tribunal to prosecute president putin is being considered. we tribunal to prosecute president putin is being considered. we are in a very different world _ putin is being considered. we are in a very different world today - putin is being considered. we are in a very different world today to - putin is being considered. we are in a very different world today to the l a very different world today to the world of 75 100 years ago. the fact are president of a country no longer excuses you from potential proceedings, before international courts, for crimes of this kind. so will it happen? who knows? that is partly political and military question. partly political and military question-— question. could it happen, absolutely. _ question. could it happen, absolutely. in _ question. could it happen, absolutely. in time, - question. could it happen, absolutely. in time, these | question. could it happen, - absolutely. in time, these will be essential questions for the refugees but the immediate priority is escape. people keep coming up to us and asking us what they should do

and asking us what they should do and where they should go, but there is no advice really to give them because it is evening now and there is no train for the rest of the night. that much we know. and this is a humanitarian crisis that is growing in the scale. as russian attacks intensified, so does the terror inflicted on the defenceless. let's cross to washington and get the latest us reaction to the situation in ukraine and north america editor sarah smith is outside the white house. i wonder if you could first tell us what is going on behind you. this you could first tell us what is going on behind you.- you could first tell us what is going on behind you. this is a pro-ukrainian _ going on behind you. this is a j pro-ukrainian demonstration, pro—ukrainian demonstration, hundreds have come, some travel very long distances to come here and show their support for ukraine, some of them demanding further sanctions, some saying nato should institute a no—fly zone above ukraine and we have just heard a rousing rendition

of the ukrainian national anthem as well. �* , of the ukrainian national anthem as well. 3 of the ukrainian national anthem as well. �* , ., of the ukrainian national anthem as well. �*, ., ., well. let's look at the reaction from washington, _ well. let's look at the reaction from washington, from - well. let's look at the reaction from washington, from the i well. let's look at the reaction i from washington, from the white house to the nuclear standby that putin has put in place. thea; house to the nuclear standby that putin has put in place.— putin has put in place. they are obviously _ putin has put in place. they are obviously worried _ putin has put in place. they are obviously worried about - putin has put in place. they are obviously worried about it - putin has put in place. they are obviously worried about it and l obviously worried about it and describing it as unprovoked escalation that could be dangerous, the white house saying putin is manufacturing threats that don't exist in order to justify further aggression. it came as a complete shock to the united states, the defence secretary only learned about it this morning as the announcement was publicly made by vladimir putin when he was just about to go into a briefing session where they were going to look at what was happening. they are really worried about what they are already seeing happening on they are already seeing happening on the ground as well. top officials say they believe the russian forces have adopted a siege mentality and

they are planning to try to isolate and lay siege to the capital kyiv and lay siege to the capital kyiv and if they do that that vastly increases the risk of civilian deaths and casualties so they are concerned about what they are seeing already happen as well as what president putin is threatening. the us won't say what steps they have taken in response to this nuclear threat but they do say they are confident in america's ability to defend itself. in confident in america's ability to defend itself.— confident in america's ability to defend itself. in terms of actions taken. defend itself. in terms of actions taken- we _ defend itself. in terms of actions taken. we know _ defend itself. in terms of actions taken. we know america - defend itself. in terms of actions taken. we know america has - defend itself. in terms of actions - taken. we know america has announced recently a large sum of money to support ukraine. we heard today from the eu the next step of sanction that they will be placing on russia and also looking at belarus. is there anything else that the us has options for on the table that they can do against russia?— options for on the table that they can do against russia? well, there are still some _ can do against russia? well, there are still some sanctions _ can do against russia? well, there are still some sanctions that - can do against russia? well, there are still some sanctions that could | are still some sanctions that could be applied and there is pressure to try to supply the ukrainian defence

forces with, materiel and stinger missiles and other things that could help them to defend themselves and they say they are confident they would be able to get that and there across the western border, the fact that there is a stage of war in ukraine would not enable them to supply, as well as money trying to go towards what will inevitably be a humanitarian disaster on the border but there is absolutely no movement from the us�*s hard and fast resolution that although they have sent traditional trips to poland, romania and the balkan states, there is no chance they will get involved in the conflict in ukraine. we cannot envisage the situation in which americans would be shooting at russian shoulders. something very much not on the table here and difficult to imagine circumstances in which that would change, although we do hear repeated every single day that if any action is taken by russia against those other states in

neighbouring ukraine who are nato members, that will definitely invoke article five of the nato charter which says an attack on one is an attack on all and the us would not hesitate, it says, to get involved in those circumstances. in hesitate, it says, to get involved in those circumstances. in quickly and finally. _ in those circumstances. in quickly and finally, that _ in those circumstances. in quickly and finally, that $350 _ in those circumstances. in quickly and finally, that $350 million - in those circumstances. in quickly and finally, that $350 million of l and finally, that $350 million of military aid they would be giving to ukraine, when does that start to come through? is that equipment already on the ground in europe? we already on the ground in europe? - haven't had many details of that but as far as we understand it, no, and it could take some time of course for it to get there and some of these measures also still have to go through congress. there will be an emergency session looking at the millions of dollars that could be sent as well. these things do not happen instantly and of course there is criticism here saying the us had predicted all along what action was —— russia was going to take and they should have been ready for it. thank ou ve should have been ready for it. thank you very much. _ should have been ready for it. thank you very much, from _ should have been ready for it. thank you very much, from outside - should have been ready for it. thank you very much, from outside the - you very much, from outside the white house. tonight, borisjohnson described russia's invasion

of ukraine as "a disastrous, misbegotten venture," which "can lead to no good" for russia. he praised ukrainians forfighting back, and says the uk would be �*very generous' to ukrainian refugees, coming to britain. downing street also announced a further £40 million in humanitarian aid. with more, here's our political correspondent, chris mason. the ukrainian catholic cathedral in central london tonight, reflections and prayer, anger and anguish, central london tonight, reflections and prayer, angerand anguish, and and prayer, angerand anguish, and an address from the prime minister. the candle of freedom may burn low in ukraine _ the candle of freedom may burn low in ukraine i— the candle of freedom may burn low in ukraine. i want you to know that we in_ in ukraine. i want you to know that we inihe— in ukraine. i want you to know that we inihe uk— in ukraine. i want you to know that we in the uk will stand by ukraine, stand— we in the uk will stand by ukraine, stand lry— we in the uk will stand by ukraine, stand by you and tell that candle

blazes _ stand by you and tell that candle blazes again bright in independence and liberty and sovereign democracy for the _ and liberty and sovereign democracy for the people of the uk.— for the people of the uk. hundreds of thousands _ for the people of the uk. hundreds of thousands of _ for the people of the uk. hundreds of thousands of their _ for the people of the uk. hundreds of thousands of their fellow - of thousands of their fellow countrymen and women have already fled ukraine and the look for somewhere else to call home at least for now. as the uk going to make it easierfor ukrainian for now. as the uk going to make it easier for ukrainian refugees to move here? irate easier for ukrainian refugees to move here?— easier for ukrainian refugees to move here? ~ ., ., , ., , move here? we want to be as generous as we possibly — move here? we want to be as generous as we possibly can _ move here? we want to be as generous as we possibly can and _ move here? we want to be as generous as we possibly can and certainly - as we possibly can and certainly want _ as we possibly can and certainly want people who have relatives in ukraine _ want people who have relatives in ukraine to — want people who have relatives in ukraine to be able to bring them over, _ ukraine to be able to bring them over. as — ukraine to be able to bring them over, as fast as possible. we want to make _ over, as fast as possible. we want to make sure that we have routes for people _ to make sure that we have routes for people fleeing disaster, war and persecution in ukraine to come here. this could _ persecution in ukraine to come here. this could be — persecution in ukraine to come here. this could be good news for valentina, who has fled ukraine and made it to paris. her daughter lives in the uk. they were prevented from getting on a train to london. the

tri to getting on a train to london. he trip to hungary getting on a train to london. t“te: trip to hungary was getting on a train to london. tte: trip to hungary was initially to buy food and then we are not entirely sure, she stopped some cars and got in and got herself to a train station somewhere, that ended in budapest and from budapest she managed to fly to paris which was very brave of her because she doesn't speak english and doesn't really travel so much on her own. the demands from opposition parties to make it easierfor ukrainian refugees to come here to the uk have been getting louder. for the government, just months after the taliban takeover of afghanistan and the fleeing of refugees from there, the fleeing of refugees from there, the challenges the practicalities, how many people to welcome, when and to wear. labour said tonight government delays had already been very damaging and they have also been critical this morning. we very damaging and they have also been critical this morning.- been critical this morning. we are askin: been critical this morning. we are asking people _ been critical this morning. we are asking people to _ been critical this morning. we are asking people to jump _ been critical this morning. we are asking people to jump through . been critical this morning. we are - asking people to jump through hoops, there is bureaucracy and red tape. why would we ask people what their

salary levels are when you are fleeing war. salary levels are when you are fleeing war-— salary levels are when you are fleein: war. ., ., ~' ., fleeing war. the invasion of ukraine -oses fleeing war. the invasion of ukraine oses so fleeing war. the invasion of ukraine poses so many _ fleeing war. the invasion of ukraine poses so many profound _ fleeing war. the invasion of ukraine poses so many profound questions. | poses so many profound questions. for those there, those here and for governments grappling with how best to respond. as well as those seeking safety abroad, many have had to leave their homes, displaced within ukraine. 0ur eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford reports now from the eastern city of neepro. from the eastern city of dnipro. just four days ago, these corridors were filled with students. now their hostel is sheltering families fleeing a war they don't understand. they have run to the dnipro from further east in ukraine, where there has been fighting for eight years, but always at a distance. until vladimir putin declared open war in their country. it was when a shell landed next door that nadyezka and herfamily packed up and fled.

translation: we are ashamed. i never thought we would be in this situation. we were normal people. we had jobs, schools, a normalfamily. and now, we have to ask for help. and the scariest thing is we don't know how long this is for and whether we will have anything left to go back to. lyudmila tells me every time a door bangs, they think it is an explosion and they need to grab the children and hide. nadyezka is constantly checking for news of family and friends they left behind. their town's group chat is now full of videos like this. the boys just miss their own toys and their kindergarten. just speaking to these families here, you realise the depth of what they are going through because nadyezka was just telling me, a few days ago, the main things on her mind were home improvements

and shopping and how the kids were getting on at kindergarten. and now, she tells me, she worries about whether they are all going to wake up safely in the morning. this is where other families will sleep tonight, on the floor of a concert hall and bar. locals have rallied around to make it as comfy as possible but this is tough for everyone. natalia's motherjust made it here from right near the front line and natalia herself is furious with vladimir putin. translation: he says _ he is defending us but who from? from ourselves? by burning down our houses and our land? for now, yes, it is calm here but my heart is shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i am frightened for my children. i just really want this to end. it is a nightmare. and the danger is following her. as we finished speaking, an air raid siren wailed across the city for the first time.

sarah rainsford, bbc news, dnipro. more now on the eu sanctions announced in the past few hours. our europe editor is in brussels and before we talk about those sanctions i'd like to get an update on the movement of displaced people, refugees. those numbers are growing and growing. eli refugees. those numbers are growing and growing-— and growing. eu interior ministers who were meeting _ and growing. eu interior ministers who were meeting today - and growing. eu interior ministers who were meeting today were - and growing. eu interior ministers i who were meeting today were talking about the humanitarian crisis. there has been a markedly different response by member states than there was backing 2015 at the time of the migrant crisis as you might remember. eu country after country was closing its doors to refugees and asylum seekers in this case and we were told that in that meeting every single one of the eu countries

said that ukrainian refugees were welcome and there is a move under way in the uk to try to formalise the idea where ukrainians wouldn't have to worry about love that paper and actually applying for asylum but where they could up to three years stay in a european country without having to apply for asylum. that is something going to be discussed later on this week. but it is the violence on the ground in ukraine and the fact that the eu sees vladimir putin's actions as an attack on wider european stability and security that really has focused minds in the eu, so it is working on a much faster and more united way than we normally ever see. irate a much faster and more united way than we normally ever see.- than we normally ever see. we saw unity today — than we normally ever see. we saw unity today when — than we normally ever see. we saw unity today when we _ than we normally ever see. we saw unity today when we heard - than we normally ever see. we saw unity today when we heard from . than we normally ever see. we saw| unity today when we heard from the eu and the next steps they will be taking with those sanctions, again unprecedented. the taking with those sanctions, again unprecedented.— unprecedented. the word unprecedented _ unprecedented. the word unprecedented and - unprecedented. the word - unprecedented and watershed unprecedented. the word _ unprecedented and watershed moment to something you're hearing a lot in

brussels at the moment but it is actually relevant. the the first time announced that it would be purchasing weapons and to delivering them to a country in conflict. this is ukraine. 0ver delivering them to a country in conflict. this is ukraine. over this weekend, germany has really made the headlines across all of europe and by turning its modern—day defence policy completely on its head, traditionally very wary of getting involved in military conflicts because of the second world war past, now it says it will be sending weapons directly to ukraine and will be massively investing in its own military. that will come as a relief to nato allies. and this idea to work together on the humanitarian efforts as well. so there are lots of dramatic moves afoot in the unprecedented moves with the western allies together on opposing those very big financial sanctions on russia. —— imposing. 0ne very big financial sanctions on russia. —— imposing. one of the concerns tonight is that because of this coordination in the west, because of the level of these kinds of sanctions, if vladimir putin now

feels on the back foot, what could he do next?