you are watching bbc news. our top stories. as missiles continue to bombard ukraine, the mayor of kherson confirms the strategically important port city is the first want to fall under russian control. officials say more than 2,000 civilians have now died since russia's invasion began. attacks come by land and air. we area we are a nation that broke the enemy's plans in a week, plans written for years, sneaky, full of hatred for our country, our people. more people tried to flee the

fighting. the united nations says1 million refugees have now travelled to neighbouring countries. in chelsea's owner, roman abramovich, who denies links to the russian state, puts a premier league football club up for sale. hello and welcome to bbc news. exactly a week ago president putin appeared on tv to announce the start of a special military operation in ukraine. tenuously, the first rockets range down on ukrainian cities and russian forces crossed over its borders. now, those troops have taken the first major city, kherson, a strategically important port in the south of the country. the authorities in kyiv said heavy attacks meanwhile are continuing on the city �*s of kharkiv near the

russian border and mariupol which lies to the south around 100 kilometres from krimea. 0ur reporter has given us an update on the capture of kherson. it is the first city to fall within this week, as you say stop a quarter of a million people are normally based there, and if we look at the footage filmed on tuesday, these are russian tanks going through the city which are the regional centre north of krimea, but also strategic position at the mouth of the river as it reaches the black sea, and the news came out because the mayor of kherson said there were not negotiations, but armed visitors coming into the city council, he does ask them not to shoot people, and basically has come out with a new list of rules for all the residence there, they will be a curfew from 8pm to 6am, there is going to be only cars allowed in if they are bringing in food or

medicine or other necessities, and when you walk through the city, you have to walk one by one and you have to stop if you are asked to.— are asked to. the bombing continues _ are asked to. the bombing continues of _ are asked to. the bombing continues of mariupol - are asked to. the bombing continues of mariupol and | continues of mariupol and kharkiv as well. what sort of resistance are russian forces meeting there? it resistance are russian forces meeting there?— meeting there? it is interesting - meeting there? it is interesting the - meeting there? it is l interesting the picture meeting there? it is - interesting the picture across the country. the business of war, before i get onto the resistances, is conducted in such a strange way, and i will show you some shop of the russian military. they are discussing a takeover with the city, the mayor of common top. it is tense, the residents are surrounding soldiers who have raised arms, you can see one holding a grenade. the mayor having a lot of those discussions addressing the city's residence and relaying an ultimatum, saying that either way surrender or the russians say the artillery aimed at the city will be used. one response from the crowd is 0ne response from the crowd is someone saying, let's evacuate the women. the mayor says, let's fight, i am happy to fight but i want to reach a unanimous decision. it leaves

them with the kind of decision that many cities might face, whether to surrender, whether to take part in urban combat, orjust to see what happens. after that, orjust to see what happens. afterthat, resident orjust to see what happens. after that, resident polansky after that, resident pola nsky released after that, resident polansky released another video message aiding ukrainians to fight. let's have a listen —— president and zelensky. translation: we president and zelensky. translation: ~ , translation: we broke the enem 's translation: we broke the enemy's plans _ translation: we broke the enemy's plans in _ translation: we broke the enemy's plans in a _ translation: we broke the enemy's plans in a week, - translation: we broke the | enemy's plans in a week, plans written for years. sneaky, full of hatred for our country, our people. 12 of hatred for our country, our --eole. ' ., , of hatred for our country, our --eole.' ., ,., ., people. 12 hours ago when we were last _ people. 12 hours ago when we were last speaking, _ people. 12 hours ago when we were last speaking, we - were last speaking, we discussed kharkiv and airborne troops landing in the city. what is the situation there at the moment, casualties, have they now document how they close to taking the city? that would be another very important location, wouldn't it? we exect location, wouldn't it? we exnect that _ location, wouldn't it? we expect that to _ location, wouldn't it? we expect that to be - location, wouldn't it? we expect that to be a - location, wouldn't it? - expect that to be a very drawnout situation, the questions are how the paratroopers are going to be supported. of course a lot of focus is on the capital, kyiv, and there have been explosions heard in the last two hours. let's listen to one of them.

two explosions in the city centre, two by the metro station. hugely worrying for the residence there, a lot of people taken by surprise, that was at two o'clock in the morning their time. not everything is going to plan for the russians, though, we have seen surrounding the capital with that convoy of course. let me show you a couple of things. we will see somejoy me show you a couple of things. we will see some joy riders, ukrainian menjoyriding a ukrainian men joyriding a russian ukrainian menjoyriding a russian tank. this is the tank which has obviously been taken by ukrainian resistance? no, 'ust --eole ukrainian resistance? no, 'ust people who i ukrainian resistance? no, 'ust people who found i ukrainian resistance? no, 'ust people who found the i ukrainian resistance? no, just people who found the tank - ukrainian resistance? no, just people who found the tank on | people who found the tank on the side of the road. have a look at this, a multimillion dollar russian anti—aircraft system being towed away by farmers. one interesting bit of footage that we saw on russia today, we didn't see it here in europe because it is banned, but this was people in russia, look how old these reservists

are. the fact russia are calling up reservists with 190,000 troops surrounding, now committed 80% of committed in ukraine, suggests may be president putin and his military planners hadn't quite counted for the resistance that they were going to receive from they were going to receive from the ukrainian forces. mike lobel. international criminal court has open war crimes investigation into russia after receiving requests from 39 states. the icc has now begun collecting evidence and will investigate past and present allegations of war crimes against humanity and or genocide committed on any part of the territory of ukraine. a missile strike on the city of kharkiv in eastern ukraine on tuesdayis kharkiv in eastern ukraine on tuesday is likely to be among the incidents investigated. at least 21 people died, many of the city's residents have now fled south. there are some distressing images in this

report. a university folding in flames in a war that's against all logic and reason. the attack on kharkiv is intensifying every day, and these targets are not military at all. the city council was hit today — a whole street left in ruins. and from the wreckage of people's homes, rescuers bring out a survivor. it's why so many in kharkiv have moved underground to hide in basements and bunkers. we spoke to paulina's parents yesterday, the three—year—old whose cancer medicine is running out. today, herfamily made a dash across town to the station, anxious to get their girl, who's already been through so much, to safety. when i called her mum, ksenia, she told me there was so many people at the station, she didn't know whether they'd make it on to a train. translation: we're really worried. - i'm always scared i'm doing the wrong thing,

either staying at home, or coming here, where there's a huge crowd. we just go back and forth, and i have no idea what's right. and the danger zone is growing. this hospital was hit in the south—east. but in melitopol, a town supposedly under russian control, ukrainians are refusing to be cowed. but nerves are being tested across this region. here in dnipro, we found families trying to evacuate their youngest and most vulnerable. this war now getting too close for comfort. shouting this train has just pulled into the station, and all this crowd know is that it is supposed to be heading west, and so they've been shoving forward. one man just shouting, "let the women and children come through first." but there is chaos here, people desperate to get onboard. now we here, because within a few days,

and here, maybe us, kyiv, kharkiv. so, i think it's better to leave. "i love you," this father tells a child. he'll now stay to face the russian troops. no—one can hide their emotion today. i asked this man where he's sending his family. "to a better life," he says, then swears at those who have caused all this suffering. outside, we found a family who'vejust emerged from their bomb shelter, now trying to flee abroad. dasha breaks down, telling me they don't want to abandon the city, but she doesn't want her children to see people getting killed. her own mother says they've left everything. after 65 years in this town, she has no idea

whether she'll be back. dnipro isn't under attack, but to its people, the risk of that feels very real. ukraine is still resisting, pushing back, but it's trying to protect everyone it can. sarah rainsford, bbc news, dnipro. let's get more detail about the situation in kyiv, our international correspondence or at garin reports on the russian advance to the ukrainian capital. in broad daylight, dangerjust outside the window. this is the town of borodyanka, about 25 miles from kyiv. as the russians advance on the city, they are leaving a trail of destruction. translation: they know nothing about our capital, j about our history. but they have an order — to erase our history, to erase our country, to erase us all. and here, west of kyiv,

the aftermath of a deadly missile attack in the town of zhytomyr. the target may have been an air base nearby, but family homes were destroyed. oleg rubak stands calmly in the rubble, but he has lost his wife. "she was the light of my life," he says. "she's the best thing that's happened to me. "but i'm trying to keep myself together "because of one reason — "i still have parents and a daughter." in the capital today, sirens wailing deserted streets. that echo fear and dread. so, lilia and her daughters have gotten used to going below ground.

victoria has learnt how to dress quickly and run, and how to play war games. translation: to play war games. tuna/mom- to play war games. translation: , . ., .,, translation: on the second day, the children _ translation: on the second day, the children woke _ translation: on the second day, the children woke up _ translation: on the second day, the children woke up and _ translation: on the second day, the children woke up and made - the children woke up and made pistols with the lego to kill the enemy. our elder daughter doesn't remember dancing anymore. they say they must kill. it shouldn't be like this. it can't be like this. people are dying. cities are on fire. it is not normal, but i will not leave my country. i will not leave my country. i will not leave my country. i will not move. neither will my children. in the face of all this, as war closes in, lilia is doing what parents do. trying to put on a brave face for the sake of her girls. translation: ., ~ ,

translation: you keep yourself in hand until— translation: you keep yourself in hand untilthe _ translation: you keep yourself in hand until the very _ translation: you keep yourself in hand until the very last - in hand until the very last moment. when you hear the national anthem, and you start to cry. even children are singing it, young children. and thatis singing it, young children. and that is the moment when you can't control yourself. and you don't want your children to see you crying. because they are worried and they start crying with you. worried and they start crying with ou. ., , , ., with you. lilia shows me photos of better days. _ with you. lilia shows me photos of better days, when _ with you. lilia shows me photos of better days, when her - of better days, when her daughters while party dresses and won prizes for dancing. she will be four soon and knows she won't get a birthday present. she told her mum, that is ok, you can get me one later. victoria remains silent. her childhood changed forever. orla guerin, bbc news, kyiv.

still to come, the russian billionaire roman abramovich who denies links to vladimir putin as he is now selling chelsea football club. first, the plates slid gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly, the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards. it was just a matter of seconds as the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb on a remote pacific atoll. the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarfed that of the bomb dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier, and so, my heart went bang, bang, bang! - the constitutional rights of these marchers are their rights as citizens of the united states and they should be protected, even in the right to test them out, so that they don't get their heads broken and are sent to hospital.

this religious controversy — i know you don't want to say too much about it — but does it worry you that it's going to boil up when you get the states? well, it bothers me, yes, but i hope everything will be all right - in the end, as they say. you are watching bbc news. our headlines: the mayor of kherson in the south of ukraine has confirmed it has come the first major city to fall under the control of russian forces. ukranian ofiicials say more than 2000 civilians have died since russia's invasion began. the owner of chelsea football club the russian businessman roman abramovich says he's planning to sell the club which he has owned for the past 19 years. last week the british parliament was told of a leaked government document referring to mr abramovich as having links to the russian state,

links which he denies. our correspondent laura scott reports. there wasn't even time to tell the players before the news broke that, after nearly 20 years owning in chelsea, russian billionaire roman abramovich has decided to sell. in a statement, he said he felt it was in the best interests of the club in the current situation. he said he'd instructed his team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated and this would benefit all victims of the war in ukraine. abramovich said he wouldn't be calling in the £1.5 billion the club owes him. but for some, there was a gaping hole in what he said. there's still, still no condemnation from roman or the club about what's happening in ukraine. abramovich's departure is a seismic moment but not entirely unexpected, coming after mounting calls for the government to sanction him. he's a person of interest

to the home office because of his links to the russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices. abramovich has always denied doing anything to warrant sanctions, but some will see this as an attempt to secure the club's future before any possible sanctions come his way. chelsea have been transformed into a footballing force under abramovich, winning 19 major trophies — little wonder, then, that some supporters are sad to see him go. absolutely gutted, mate. but he's done it for the right reasons. we know he has. british government put a target on his back, and everybody's on him now. obviously it's very - sad what is happening in the ukraine, but at the end of the day, l i think football comes second, doesn't it? . abramovich has already been approached by potential buyers, but will he get the £3 billion he reportedly wants

for the club? i think that is unlikely to be achieved, but if you are looking for a trophy asset, something to show off to your compatriots, to your friends, then chelsea has an awful lot of attraction. chelsea celebrated another success tonight, but as bidders swirl around stamford bridge, questions do too over how this club will fare as it enters a new era. laura scott, bbc news. the united nations have described those fleeing ukraine as an exodus. gone to countries bordering ukraine, some to moldova, romania, slovakia and more than half of the total to one country, poland. i am joined now by a member of an

ngo who is arranging support for those at the border. how does this work? it is all done by social media, isn't it? yes, exactl . by social media, isn't it? yes, exactly- we — by social media, isn't it? yes, exactly. we have _ by social media, isn't it? yes, exactly. we have volunteers l by social media, isn't it? yes, i exactly. we have volunteers who are helping with housing as well as transport. we also have a lot of people who want to help with employment. so you advertise what _ help with employment. so you advertise what is _ help with employment. so you advertise what is available - advertise what is available from people in your country. that then goes out what on facebook? people say yes, we want to come. we haven't got transport, we need help and then how do you put the people together? then how do you put the people touether? ~ ., , ., ., together? well actually one of our volunteers _ together? well actually one of our volunteers at _ together? well actually one of our volunteers at the - together? well actually one of| our volunteers at the beginning of this crisis has shared her number on facebook and it has gone viral, in ukraine. so we have a lot of paul's from people running away from

ukraine as we are just locating them based on our system. it sounds a brilliant idea. how many people have you helped and where have they come from? i think almost all of them come from ukraine and we have had to locate about 400 people. == locate about 400 people. -- heled locate about 400 people. —— helped relocate. and they come to the border and people will meet them there? or how does it work? , , ., , , work? yes usually they will come to — work? yes usually they will come to the _ work? yes usually they will come to the border- work? yes usually they will come to the border and - work? yes usually they will. come to the border and people are meeting them there. there's are meeting them there. there's a lot of volunteers right now, not only from our foundation but from a lot of ngos but also a lot of people come to the borders privately because they want to help somehow. so there is a lot of transport provided at the borders.— at the borders. what sort of timeframe _ at the borders. what sort of timeframe are _ at the borders. what sort of timeframe are we _ at the borders. what sort of timeframe are we talking i at the borders. what sort of. timeframe are we talking about here? so the people who are volunteering to look after

refugees, they sang as long as you want or we will get you on your feet you want or we will get you on yourfeet for a month you want or we will get you on your feet for a month or a few weeks? ~ ., ., , weeks? well, we are not sure how it will _ weeks? well, we are not sure how it will all _ weeks? well, we are not sure how it will all develop - weeks? well, we are not sure how it will all develop with - how it will all develop with this crisis, both now, we are trying all to provide unlimited space for the refugees. obviously as much as it is realistic. we are just all trying to support each other. and presumably some of these refugees are arriving at the border with hardly anything at all, maybejust border with hardly anything at all, maybe just a suitcase of their belongings, nothing else. exactly, yes. this is why we really are counting on the help of the polish public and we are counting on the donations, right now there is a huge mobilisation within the polish society and it is really amazing to see people are mobilising to collect clothes, food, hygienic products, so it is really amazing to see. it

does sound truly amazing, it is the open dialogue foundation, it is crowdfunded as well. good luck with everything going forward with this crisis, 1 million refugees now fleeing ukraine, half of them going to poland. for the millions remaining and ukraine seeking solace in the church with their faith upon which they have built the defiance and will to win this war. ordinary people in an extraordinary war. bottles for petrol—bombs, wood for the fires as the volunteer defenders of ukraine wait for the enemy. translation: what

the enemy. translation: what ou see the enemy. translation: what you see here _ the enemy. translation: what you see here is— the enemy. translation: what you see here is a _ the enemy. translation: what you see here is a people's - you see here is a people's attempt to self organise. we won't let this scum into our land. we are tired of being afraid so we are waiting for them and not with flowers but with molotov cocktails. we will fight them with whatever we have got, even our bare hands. they won't leave this place alive. �* ., , , alive. but where does this confidence _ alive. but where does this confidence come - alive. but where does this confidence come from? i alive. but where does this. confidence come from? it's based on a deep religious faith that god is on ukraine's side. the splendour of kiev�*s saint sophia cathedral, today an interfaith service for peace in the war with russia. and waiting to speak is legs under, a military chaplain. wearing the insignia of the people's army of volunteers.

fire and brimstone from this man of god. so what is morale like for the troops? they are outgunned. there are many more russian troops. what is the morale like in the ukrainian forces? he says the morale is very high. we have no other choice. we have to defend and protect our country. and from the bible we know that when the enemy is wicked, god will always intervene. also seeking divine guidance, ukraine's interior minister. part of a government at war pushed to the limit by one of the biggest armies on earth.

the fair is that the russians are going to encircle kyiv and they are going to attack. are you prepared, are you ready for that? ~ ., you prepared, are you ready for that? ~ . ., , , ., that? we are ready. in times of crisis, that? we are ready. in times of crisis. many — that? we are ready. in times of crisis, many turn _ that? we are ready. in times of crisis, many turn to _ that? we are ready. in times of crisis, many turn to faith. - that? we are ready. in times of crisis, many turn to faith. and i crisis, many turn to faith. and in this conflict for ukraine and much of the rest of the world, there is a moral clarity that right is on their side. let'sjust take you that right is on their side. let's just take you live to kyiv now, there have been a couple of explosions in the last three or four hours, i thinkjust looking at the shot that this is close to the scene of the revolution in 2014. all quiet there though at the moment. the port city of kherson down near odesa is the first city to fall to russian forces and the bombardment of

kharkiv continues. plenty more on the website, all the latest elements of their. you are watching bbc news. —— all the latest development there. hello there. on wednesday, we saw the thicker cloud moving further north across the uk, bringing with it some rain and some drizzle. there was still some sunshine across northern parts of scotland — over eight hours of sunshine, actually, in shetland. but thursday starting cloudy pretty much everywhere, quite misty and murky. as a result of the cloud, though, it's frost—free this time. but we do have a band of rain that's been pushing its way in from the west. that should be clearing away from northern ireland. it'll cheer up here with some sunshine and a scattering of showers, but you can see how slowly that rain moves into scotland, into northwest of england, across wales, eventually into the west midlands and into the west country, allowing some late sunshine in the far southwest

of england and wales. and ahead of that ragged band of rain, eastern parts of england should have a drier, brighter day on thursday, maybe some sunshine in the southeast of england, lifting temperatures to a milder 12 degrees. the weather front is bringing this rain in from the west. it's moving so slowly eastwards that, eventually, it'll grind to a halt and then start to move back towards the west. by the time we get to friday, most of that rain and drizzle will be affecting the eastern side of scotland, northeast england, through parts of yorkshire, into the midlands and perhaps into the southeast of england, meaning some sunshine is still possible in east anglia. out towards the west, this is where we should see some brighter skies, some spells of sunshine. still a scattering of light showers for wales, northern ireland and the southwest. underneath that cloud, low cloud and rain and drizzle, it'll feel quite cold. into the weekend, we should see more sunshine developing more widely as the weekend progresses, but it will still be quite chilly. a frosty start for scotland and northern ireland. sunshine here on saturday. that weather front is still bringing this cloud and patchy light rain and drizzle for england and wales. starts to move back to the west, so we should get some sunshine through lincolnshire, east anglia and the southeast of england during the afternoon. temperatures around 10 degrees at best, but only 6 or so in

the northeast of england. we got higher pressure bringing the sunshine for scotland and northern ireland, and that's going to build across that weather front. it'll continue to weaken it. it'll continue to dry it out as well. and we should see some brighter skies. again, a frosty start, though, for scotland and northern ireland, some sunshine here. always a bit more cloud, i think, for england and wales, but it will be lifting a bit. skies should be brighter. we should see some sunshine and it's likely to be dry across england and wales on sunday, but still not particularly warm, temperatures typically around 8 or 9 celsius.

you are watching bbc news.

our headlines: the mayor of the strategically important south ukrainian port city says russian forces are now in control. making it the first major city to be captured in the east. the mayor of the besieged city has said russian missiles have been hitting residential areas. ukrainian officials say more than 2000 civilians have now died since russia was much invasion began. moscow has revealed almost 500 of its troops have been killed, and as the bombardments continue, the united nations says1 million refugees have taken shelter by fleeing to neighbouring countries. the russian billionaire, roman abramovich, has confirmed he intends to sell chelsea football club, one of the epl�*s top teams. there have been growing russia for sanctions. he has denied allegations he

has strong links to the kremlin.