welcome to bbc news, i'm james reynolds. our top stories: washington condemns president putin's decision to place russia's nuclear forces on putin's decision to place russia's nuclearforces on high alert warning at a dangerous elation. ~ , . ., , alert warning at a dangerous elation. ~ , _, , ., elation. western countries are not only taking _ elation. western countries are not only taking unfriendly - not only taking unfriendly steps against our country in the economic dimension, but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regards to our country. statements with regards to our count . ., , . country. the european union announces — country. the european union announces that _ country. the european union announces that it _ country. the european union announces that it will- country. the european union announces that it will ship i announces that it will ship arms to ukraine calling the move a watershed moment for the eu. ., , eu. for the first time ever, the european _ eu. for the first time ever, the european union - eu. for the first time ever, the european union will. eu. for the first time ever, - the european union will finance the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack.

and searching for a safe haven. poland said at least 200,000 people seeking refuge have now crossed from ukraine. hello and welcome to bbc news. russia's strategic nuclear forces have been placed on high alert copy the us for the move and unacceptable escalation stopping the european union has announced groundbreaking sanctions and decided to send arms to ukraine stopping more on all of that in a moment but firstly, ourforeign firstly, our foreign correspondent reports firstly, ourforeign correspondent reports from kyiv. explosions. there wasn't much talk of peace on the streets of ukraine's second city today. instead, kharkiv gave us a grim warning of more to come if this

conflict doesn't stop. explosions. earlier, locals in kharkiv 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 asked. "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. the children are crying and they are very afraid. we are trying to keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted for a brutal assault on civilians. translation: russia's criminal actions against ukraine show- 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. nick beake, bbc news, kyiv. despite offering talks, president putin has ordered russia's strategic nuclear forces to be placed on high alert. he says western leaders have made aggressive statements towards russia, and international sanctions are illegitimate. us officials announced that it

was unnecessary and dangerous escalation. 0ur corresopondent steve rosenberg is in moscow and sent this report. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west. don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and gave them an order. translation: top officials of leading nato countries i 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 russia's 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 a bridge to remember boris nemtsov, the putin critic gunned down right here seven years ago. for vladimir kara—murza, this was a day for remembering a friend and for condemning the war. this is not russia's war. this is not a war by the russian people on the 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 vladimir putin. you won't hear anything like that on russian state tv. it has been claiming that russian troops are liberating eastern ukraine and that moscow is using force in the interests of peace. in 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 a very different picture. so if you use the words attack, invasion or war...? we can say only special operation. yevgenia edits an online magazine. like other independent russian media, the authorities have banned it from calling this a war. what is the kremlin trying to do to the truth now in russia 7 what they always do. listen, you know, they always, you know, turn truth into lies. they lie. they just lie. censorship at home. war abroad. let speak now to david sater, former moscow correspondent and long—term observer of russia,

president putin and also the former soviet union. thank you so much forjoining us. firstly on this point about president putin putting nuclearforces on alert, what do you read from that? , , ., , alert, what do you read from that? , , . , ., that? this is an instrument of pressure. _ that? this is an instrument of pressure, this _ that? this is an instrument of pressure, this is _ that? this is an instrument of pressure, this is a _ that? this is an instrument of pressure, this is a tactic - that? this is an instrument of pressure, this is a tactic that l pressure, this is a tactic that was used during the soviet times. they threaten nuclear war in order to gain a strategic advantage. it doesn't mean that they are actually planning to wage nuclear war or that they are even capable of it, but they certainly want the west to take that into account every time we make a decision as to how we can aid ukraine in standing up to this invasion. let's look at president putin in his early years as russian president, he did work at the west on a number of issues. has he changed, or is this what he wanted all along, greater

confrontation? he wanted all along, greater confrontation?— wanted all along, greater confrontation? ., , confrontation? he of course did not change _ confrontation? he of course did not change because _ confrontation? he of course did not change because he - confrontation? he of course did not change because he came i confrontation? he of course did i not change because he came into power as a result of an act of terror against his own people. i've been writing about this since 1999, about buildings in russian cities were blown up and the explosions were blamed, hundreds of people were killed, it was blamed on the chechens and they launched a war, that is how putin became president and he has committed atrocities ever since. and he has committed atrocities eversince. in his and he has committed atrocities ever since. in his early years when russia was less capable, economically, he needed the west and as a result he muted his antagonism, but the fact is that a person who comes to power that way is not able to live and coexist with democratic societies. they threaten his power by their

very nature stop the so as his rule became more corrupt and more lawless, he looked for enemies and the logical enemy was of course the west. we know this is studio _ was of course the west. we know this is studio appearances - was of course the west. we know this is studio appearances that i this is studio appearances that he sits at these very long tables, no—one gets within a few metres of. do you think anyone ever challenges him to his face? ~ . , , ., his face? well as i understand it, the long — his face? well as i understand it, the long tables _ his face? well as i understand it, the long tables are - his face? well as i understand it, the long tables are in i it, the long tables are in part a reflection of the pandemic. i think there is some discussion within the russian leadership, but not, you know, as he becomes older, as the regime ages and becomes more sclerotic, i think obviously there is less and less. in part because in his early years, during the years of economic boom in russia which is a

result mainly of the rise in raw material prices, he could afford a certain level of tolerance. 0nce afford a certain level of tolerance. once he had the example of the mass's self organising demonstrations that overthrew a clip to critic ruler, the early tolerance was a luxury that they felt they could no longer afford. that is when the aggression, the open aggression toward ukraine began. the putin regime cannot tolerate the example of a democratic ukraine, and it can't tolerate the example of, the democratic example of the west because this undermines the kind of authoritarian regime that has been created there. ., , ., ., ,

there. you studied him for many ears, a there. you studied him for many years, a wonder, _ there. you studied him for many years, a wonder, is there one i years, a wonder, is there one thing that you still want to know about vladimir putin? iretell know about vladimir putin? well absolutely. _ know about vladimir putin? well absolutely, because _ know about vladimir putin? -ii absolutely, because he is capable of any crime, he's shown that. i'm in, from the apartment bombings in 99 to the shooting down of the malaysia airlines in 2014, to the murder of boris nemtsov, there is no crime that he is not capable of committing but in the past you could rely on him to at least protect his own interests. now with the example of the invasion of ukraine, there is a serious doubt that's been raised if he understands what is necessary for his own survival, and that is the question that hangs over the present crisis, to what extent is he behaving in a manner that conforms to, that is rational and recognises the reality of the situation?—

the situation? thank you so much for — the situation? thank you so much forjoining _ the situation? thank you so much forjoining us. - the pressures on russia, both economic and political, are growing. for the first time ever, the european union is to finance and deliver weapons and equipment to a country under attack. the eu has also decided to close its airspace to all russian aircaft, including the private jets of oligarchs. i have reported on the eu for a very long time. i have never seen so many significant decisions being taken so swiftly with such unity in the eu. just this weekend, for example, apart from all the extra financial sanctions, we have been hearing about from jack, yes absolutely, the eu is going for the first time, buy and deliver weapons for a country that is at war and germany turning its defence policy on its head, and for the first time, despite its wariness of course with its second world

war reputation it is going to be sending weapons directly to ukraine and now today it is going to be massively spending and investing in its own military. do stay with us here on bbc news, still to come. football fans unite in the english league final to show their support for ukraine. prince charles has chosen his bride. the today to diana spencer three weeks ago. she accepted, she says, without hesitation. i5 says, without hesitation. i3 revolutions go, that had its fair share of bullets. 0utside fair share of bullets. outside the gates of mr marcus' century, the name itself symbolising one of the coolest regimes of modern asian blue the world's first clone has been produced of an adult mammal. scientists in ukraine have produced a ship called dolly. have produced a ship called doll . ~ ., have produced a ship called doll . ~ . �* . , have produced a ship called doll. �*. have produced a ship called doll. . . �* . , . dolly. warren beatty and faye dunaway announced _ dolly. warren beatty and faye dunaway announced to - dolly. warren beatty and faye dunaway announced to the i dolly. warren beatty and faye i dunaway announced to the world that the winner of best film

was la la land. the only problem was, it wasn't. the mistake was only put right in the middle of gushing speeches. not for many years have locusts been seen in this part of africa. some of the storms have been ten miles long. this africa. some of the storms have been ten miles long.— been ten miles long. this is the last time _ been ten miles long. this is the last time many - been ten miles long. this is the last time many of- been ten miles long. this is the last time many of these j the last time many of these people _ the last time many of these people will see the pope. for the credibility of the next pooe, _ the credibility of the next pope, benedict xvi will, in his own— pope, benedict xvi will, in his own words, be hidden from the world _ own words, be hidden from the world for— own words, be hidden from the world for the rest of his life. the us calls it a dangerous escalation. the european union announces it will send weapons and military equipment to ukraine, calling ita and military equipment to ukraine, calling it a watershed moment for the bloc.

eastern european as well as those seeking safety abroad, many have had to leave their homes, displaced within ukraine. sarah rainsford is in 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 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 nadezhda 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 that they need to grab

the children and hide. and nadezhda is constantly checking for news of family and friends they left behind. the 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 and you realise the depth of what they are going through, because nadezhda 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 what she worries about is 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 frontline, and natalia herself is furious with vladimir putin. translation: he says he is defending us, i 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. let's talk about diplomacy and sanctions and join matt byrne —— max bergman. thank you for joining us. the eu is carrying out a lot of steps, including

sending military aid and sanctions and so on. what do you make of the response from the eu? i you make of the response from the eu? 4' you make of the response from the eu? ~ , the eu? i think it is quite stunning. _ the eu? i think it is quite stunning, and _ the eu? i think it is quite stunning, and i— the eu? i think it is quite stunning, and i think i the eu? i think it is quite stunning, and i think in l the eu? | think it is quite - stunning, and i think in some ways what we have seen in this crisis was the emergence of a new geopolitical power and that is the european union. there sanctions response has been incredibly strong, despite the fact that the biggest economic blowback of sanctions on any western economy will be on the european union. and then when we see chancellor 0laf scholz today announced a doubling of the german defence budget this year, with 100 billion euros specialfund to year, with 100 billion euros special fund to invest in defence, and this is a sea change, and the beginnings of europe becoming a real military power, as well as providing massive amounts of security assistance to ukraine. so i think this has been a real watershed moment in the history of the european union in the last few days. and there is going to be more to do, there are a lot more steps, and we

will see how europe responds to some of the economic and energy impacts, but it has been really quite stunning, and someone who looks at the eu pretty closely. and let's look at america as well. president biden has a state of the union address in congress coming up. that is one of the big moments for a us president. what is your assessment of the us response? i think that the us response has been also quite remarkable, and incredibly competent. a lot of foreign policy happens behind the scenes and you sort of don't get credit when things go well, but the fact that the nato alliance in the us, european and uk on sanctions have been so high, doing joint statements and joint announcements, and have been completely in sync in this crisis i think is a testament to the diplomacy of the biden administration in particular, raising the alarm bells, releasing intelligence. ithink they have also really shaped

global opinion about who is at fault here, and it is one person, it is vladimir putin. but in 2014, it was much more difficult. i was in the state department then and we weren't as clear, and there was a mixed message. russia claimed that it wasn't involved when it obviously was and we weren't forceful about it, and here you have the biden administration i think being very clear, calling out russian disinformation, and making it abundantly clear that this is a war that is the fault of vladimir putin and no one else's. so i think that global public opinion, the battle for that has been waged very successfully, as has keeping the alliance together and doing incredibly forceful economic sanctions which are going to hit the russian economy. thank ou so hit the russian economy. thank you so much- — hit the russian economy. thank you so much. tens _ hit the russian economy. thank you so much. tens of— hit the russian economy. thank| you so much. tens of thousands of people across the board have demonstrated against the russian invasion, from japan to amsterdam, london to new york. 0ne amsterdam, london to new york. one of the largest valleys was held in the german capital,

berlin. below the brandenburg gate in berlin, once a symbol of the cold war division between east and west, now one of peace and reunification. it has become a rallying point to show solidarity with ukraine as it battles the invading russian army. police said the crowd was over 100,000 strong. 0rganisers said it was five times more. i'm afraid of the escalation of the conflict, and war spreading further, but i'm also afraid that this is just the start of something bigger in europe and in the world.— in the world. from the us to portugal. — in the world. from the us to portugal, protesters - in the world. from the us to portugal, protesters are i in the world. from the us to i portugal, protesters are taking to the streets to mark their dismay at president putin's actions. around 70,000 gathered in prague. many here feel a shared link with ukraine, having suffered russian invasion offer the prague spring in 1968. translation: i think the czech republic is

doing its best to help and i think it is because we have a similar and rather recent experience. we were in a similar situation. 0therwise, experience. we were in a similarsituation. otherwise, i think the global reaction is a bit slower than it should be. around 15,000 turned out in amsterdam. if around 15,000 turned out in amsterdam.— amsterdam. if putin is mad enou:h amsterdam. if putin is mad enough right _ amsterdam. if putin is mad enough right now _ amsterdam. if putin is mad enough right now to - amsterdam. if putin is mad enough right now to open i amsterdam. if putin is mad | enough right now to open an open — enough right now to open an openwar_ enough right now to open an open war in the middle of ukraine, _ open war in the middle of ukraine, in the middle of europe, _ ukraine, in the middle of europe, we do not know what is going _ europe, we do not know what is going to — europe, we do not know what is going to come next. translation:- going to come next. translation: �* . , translation: it's terrible what's happening - translation: it's terrible what's happening in i translation: it's terrible | what's happening in ukraine. the whole world has to protest as much as possible. but the whole world has to protest as much as possible.— as much as possible. but in russia, as much as possible. but in russia. a — as much as possible. but in russia, a different - as much as possible. but in i russia, a different atmosphere. in saint petersburg, russia's second largest city, lisa rest anti—war protesters. they may not be waving banners at these —— but these russian voices are getting louder against an invasion they don't agree with. around 2000 were detained in the latest protests, in 50 cities and villages across

russia. football now. liverpool have beaten chelsea to win the english league cup at wembley. the reds triumphed 11—10 on penalties after the match ended goalless. before the game, players and fans from both sides showed support for the people of ukraine. tim almen reports. the shadow of war can fall an awfully long way. this was the crowd at wembley stadium. club rivalries timperley set to one side, and as the name of this historic football anthem ever seemed more appropriate? the players to have a bit too, both team captains carrying a wreath in yellow and blue, the ukrainian flag. it must have been a strange day for chelsea supporters. their side famously owned by a russian billionaire. we support ukraine and peace in europe and i think chelsea should have said that, as many other clubs have done a few days ago.

other clubs have done a few days ago-— days ago. chelsea has been around far— days ago. chelsea has been around far longer _ days ago. chelsea has been around far longer than i days ago. chelsea has been i around far longer than roman abramovich, but obviously we are grateful for everything he has done in terms of the investment in the club, but some — investment in the club, but some things are bigger than that — some things are bigger than that ls— some things are bigger than that. . ., . , that. is for the game itself, it ended — that. is for the game itself, it ended in _ that. is for the game itself, it ended in penalties, i that. is for the game itself, it ended in penalties, lots l that. is for the game itself, | it ended in penalties, lots of penalties. 0nce liverpool's goalkeeper kellleher scored his, 21 had been successfully converted. unfortunately for converted. u nfortu nately for his converted. unfortunately for his chelsea counterpart arrizabalaga, 22 proved to be the unlucky number. liverpool winning their first domestic cup competition in a decade. elsewhere, there is more pressure on football's governing body to kick russia out of the world cup. a growing list of countries say they will not play them in any venue, at any level. so far, fifa has said they will only be allowed to compete under the name of the football union of russia, without flag or anthem. for many within the sport, that doesn't go far enough. tim almen, bbc news. we will continue to keep a close eye on

events in ukraine. it is now just before 4:30am in the morning in kyiv. that is a live shot. stay with bbc news. hello. after a largely fine and settled weekend with plenty of springlike sunshine, things are looking a bit more unsettled as we stop this working week. this was the picture as the sun went down, sunday evening off the coast of north yorkshire. we have had a weather front moving its way through the course of the night, through monday will bring cloud and rain to many parts of the uk, particularly towards the north and the west as well. first thing monday that rain will be sitting across parts of southern and eastern scotland, northern england, down through wales into the south—west of england too. this frontal system will be moving quite slowly through the day, some of that rain for the day, some of that rain for the south—west of england, wales, north—west england will be persistent and heavy too.

also quite a breezy feeling they particularly across the path north—west. for the western isles, —— across the far north—west. top temperatures between eight and 11 degrees but for the south—east of england and east anglia, where it stays dry for a good part of the day come a very mild 13 celsius. eventually that rain will sweep its way it was across all parts, followed by clearer skies. just a few showers in the far north continuing, a bit more of a breeze here on tuesday but certainly a touch of frost for many of us away from the southern england and south wales first thing tuesday morning. during tuesday then, this weather front will hang around across southern and south—eastern parts, clears away for other parts of the uk is high pressure builds in. a lot of drive pressure settles in but that cloud and patchy rain continuing into the far south. a bit uncertain how far north it gets. mostly any rain i think will be confined to the south of the m4 corridor. to the north of that, plenty blue sky and sunshine once again with top temperatures around eight to 10 degrees on tuesday. heading into the middle part of the week and there is a bit of

a wave on that weather front, so it starts move its way back northwards and eastwards to the uk on wednesday but as it bumps into the high pressure it is tending to fizzle out. really quite a weak affair. a fairly cloudy day for most of us on wednesday with a few splashes of rain weaving their way northwards. north and east of scotland, keeping the sunshine through the course of the day. not feeling particularly warm underneath that cloud with highs of eight to 10 degrees for most of us. then, further ahead towards those taken are still some outbreaks of rain as the next front moves its way and for the west but for many of us, things are tending to turn a little bit drier and brighter through friday and on into the weekend too. more details as ever on our website.

this is bbc news, the headlines: despite offering talks president putin has ordered russia's strategic nuclear forces to be placed on high alert. he says western leaders have made aggressive statements about russia, and that international sanctions are a legitimate. 0fficials are a legitimate. officials said announcement was unnecessary and that it was an escalation that risked dangerous miscalculations. the eu has announced that russia will face groundbreaking sanctions. in an unprecedented move the eu has also decided to send weapons and other military equipment to ukraine stop your russian aircraft are to be and from ukraine essbase including private jets. from ukraine essbase including privatejets. football from ukraine essbase including private jets. football fans attending the english league cup final have shown their support for the people of ukraine stop the match was eventually won by liverpool after a penalty shootout. liveable are on course for the quad.