russia steps up its bombardment of ukraine, as nato warns the conflict is about to get worse. we is about to get worse. will be reporting from inside country's we will be reporting from inside the country's second biggest city of kharkiv, where residential buildings have been reduced to rubble by constant russian shelling. this is so far from normal, it's kind of hard to even describe. and these people have no idea what they're going to do next. europe's largest nuclear plant is hit by russian forces overnight but the fires are under control. ukraine says moscow is resorting to "nuclear terror". translation: the russian tanks knew what they were firing at, _ they directly hit the plant. this is terror on an

unprecedented level. at ukraine's borders, the queues of refugees grow longer, more and more people are trying to flee. here, the impact of the crisis on energy supplies has caused a surge in wholesale prices. the cost of gas in the uk is now 13 times higher than a year ago. and in other news, tributes are paid to the australian cricket legend shane warne, who's died at the age of 52. and stay with us on bbc news for continuing coverage and analysis with our team of correspondence in the uk and around the world. —— respondents.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. i'm live in kyiv where the russian advance on the capital creeps ever closer to the centre of the city. overnight, the russians attacked a nuclear plant, europe's biggest, in zaporizhzhia. the fires and shelling sparked fears of a nuclear leak, which led to ukrain�*s president zelensky again calling for a no—fly zone over the country. if we take a look at the map, the areas in red show the gains russia is making in the country. they control large areas of the south and are targetting the city of mariupol — which if captured would cut off ukraine's access to the black sea. another key target is kharkiv in the east, ukraine's second largest city. our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford, has this special report from inside kharkhiv, which has been bombarded by russian forces this week.

as we drove into kharkiv, it looked like half the city was heading out. a flow of families who have endured days of bombs and explosions. many wrote the word "children" on their cars, hoping they wouldn't be targeted. a few miles on, others stood with bundles of belongings, waiting for a bus to take them out, any bus to anywhere. svetlana told me shells had been adding close to her home. i asked how she's coping. she said isn't. it's been a week with barely any sleep. this is what is keeping kharkiv away, two days ago there were homes and businesses here. we saw no sign of any military facility. just more destruction across the road at the local shops. and men searching for medicine among the ruins to use for soldiers. it is scary but this is our city, maxim

tells me. we don't want to run anywhere. so, ukraine's second city has moved underground. their whole lives now playing out on these platforms. and on trains that stopped when the war began. above ground, shops are running out of food. down here, people live of hand—outs. i food. down here, people live of hand-outs-_ food. down here, people live of hand-outs-— food. down here, people live of hand-outs. i really... it's scaring m self hand-outs. i really... it's scaring myself and _ hand-outs. i really... it's scaring myself and my — hand-outs. i really... it's scaring myself and my family... - hand-outs. i really... it's scaring myself and my family... so, - hand-outs. i really... it's scaring myself and my family... so, we | hand-outs. i really... it's scaring - myself and my family... so, we take documents and just came here. 50. documents and 'ust came here. so, now, documents and just came here. so, now, thousands of people are living underground like this here in kharkiv for more than a week now. and the parents are trying to make it as normal as possible for their children. they've brought toys, they getting food down here, but this is so far from normal, getting food down here, but this is so farfrom normal, it's kind of hard to even describe. and these people have no idea what they're going to do next. this family has been down here for three whole days

now. translation: we been down here for three whole days now. translation:— been down here for three whole days now. translation: we hope that the best but we are _ now. translation: we hope that the best but we are prepared _ now. translation: we hope that the best but we are prepared for— now. translation: we hope that the best but we are prepared for the - best but we are prepared for the worst. at least we have food and air and the children are ok. the worst. at least we have food and air and the children are ok.— and the children are ok. the power is down in this _ and the children are ok. the power is down in this region, _ and the children are ok. the power is down in this region, so _ and the children are ok. the power is down in this region, so we - and the children are ok. the power is down in this region, so we found| is down in this region, so we found people tapping into the mains from the metro in the underpass. charging their phones, a vital connection to their phones, a vital connection to the outside world. these couples had surfaced for air because they said the concentration of grief underground was too much to bear. translation: it's underground was too much to bear. translation:— underground was too much to bear. translation: it's scary because we don't know what's _ translation: it's scary because we don't know what's coming _ translation: it's scary because we | don't know what's coming tomorrow. nothing _ don't know what's coming tomorrow. nothing is _ don't know what's coming tomorrow. nothing is changing here. nothing is happening. nothing is changing here. nothing is ha eninu. . ~ nothing is changing here. nothing is haueninu. ., ~' nothing is changing here. nothing is hauuenin. ., ~' ., ., , happening. kharkiv has already suffered so _ happening. kharkiv has already suffered so much _ happening. kharkiv has already suffered so much but _ happening. kharkiv has already suffered so much but it - happening. kharkiv has already suffered so much but it fears . happening. kharkiv has already l suffered so much but it fears this wall has barely started. a city of russian speakers, who can't fathom why russia is now destroying their lives and their houses. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kharkiv.

russian forces are steadily making gains in this war, as urban areas are cut off by troops. in the city of mariupol, in the south, which is under siege, the mayor says food is running out and there's no water, heating or electricity. the russian advance is also gaining momentum to the east and north, with continued shelling and artillery fire that we can hear, within just a few kilometres of our base. the sound of air raid sirens is more regular throughout the day now, in kyiv. and there's been international condemnation of russia's assault on a nuclear power plant, the biggest in europe. jeremy bowen has more. across ukraine, russia is trying to bring its strength to bear. this was north—west of the capital. not much is left standing in one of kyiv�*s satellite stands. fierce ukrainian resistance. the russian�*s army

answer to that is fire power. and after a night of fighting much further south, after a night of fighting much furthersouth, russia after a night of fighting much further south, russia has seized the nuclear power plant at zaporizhzhia, the biggest in europe. the reactor is safe, but it's hard to imagine a worse place for a firefight. kiva railway station is the gateway to relative safety far west near the polish border. and it's the start of the separations. no one knows how long they'll be apart. 50,000 people a day crowd the lviv mac platform, almost all women and children. translation: i’m almost all women and children. translation:— almost all women and children. translation: i'm really worried about my three _ translation: i'm really worried about my three kids _ translation: i'm really worried about my three kids and - translation: i'm really worried about my three kids and i - translation: i'm really worried about my three kids and i want i translation: i'm really worried| about my three kids and i want to come back. but now i'm very scared. people shout

i head ihead up i head up to 12 hours ground into an overcrowded carriage on the most uncertain journey of their lives. the people who couldn't fight their way on board waited for the next one. they grabbed what mattered most to them and there's the pain of parting, all the heartbreak of the war was on alexander's face, he just put his wife and two small children on the train. he wouldn't let go of a toy ambulance his eight—year—old son has given him as he said goodbye. men have to stay to fight. this man used a map to translate for us his attempt to reassure his wife. —— used an app. she us his attempt to reassure his wife. -- used an app-— us his attempt to reassure his wife. -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i -- used an app. she also asked me to leave- i said — -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i said we _ -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i said we will— -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i said we will fight _ -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i said we will fight to _ -- used an app. she also asked me to leave. i said we will fight to the - leave. i said we will fight to the end, _ leave. i said we will fight to the end. it — leave. i said we will fight to the end. it will— leave. i said we will fight to the end, it will be _ leave. i said we will fight to the end, it will be easier— leave. i said we will fight to the end, it will be easier for- leave. i said we will fight to the end, it will be easier for us - leave. i said we will fight to the end, it will be easier for us to l end, it will be easier for us to fight — end, it will be easier for us to fight when _ end, it will be easier for us to fight when you _ end, it will be easier for us to fight when you are _ end, it will be easier for us to

fight when you are safe. - end, it will be easier for us to fight when you are safe. no l end, it will be easier for us to fight when you are safe. no one knows their— fight when you are safe. no one knows theirjourney's _ fight when you are safe. no one knows theirjourney's end. - fight when you are safe. no one knows theirjourney's end. the | knows theirjourney's end. the evacuees or their husbands and fathers they left behind. on the edge of kyiv, some volunteers are in position are still trying to get organised. the professionals are better armed and trained, are closer to the front. kyiv is the biggest symbol of ukrainian independence and that makes it the biggest target for the russian army. they are still a reasonable distance in that direction. the city is there. it's big and its sprawling and in a lot of people's minds here at the moment is the question of whether president putin will order the kind of assault on the capital that he is ordered on cities elsewhere in the country. first lesson for the new soldiers — loading bullets into a magazine. most at this territorial defence

centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am study economy- _ centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am study economy. and _ centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am study economy. and i _ centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am study economy. and i am _ centre where boys of 18 and 19. i am study economy. and i am studying l study economy. and i am studying biolo: . study economy. and i am studying biology- they _ study economy. and i am studying biology. they have _ study economy. and i am studying biology. they have the _ study economy. and i am studying biology. they have the same - biology. they have the same patriotism. _ biology. they have the same patriotism, courage - biology. they have the same patriotism, courage and - biology. they have the same i patriotism, courage and sense biology. they have the same - patriotism, courage and sense of invincibility of other generations of young men, who volunteered to fight in europe's wars. their parents will pray they don't learn the same brutal lessons. the older men were more apprehensive. they shout together on the bus, they all cheered for victory and death to their enemies. jeremy bowen, bbc news. as we've been hearing, the attack on the zaporizhzhia plant led to global condemnation. there's no indication of increased levels of radiation in the area, but the international nuclear watchdog says it's deeply concerned. our science correspondent, victoria gill, now takes a look at what those concerns, might be.

warfare at a nuclear power plant. the blaze, which was quickly extinguished, was in a training facility. and, critically, it didn't affect any of the six nuclear reactors. the reactor building complex is about a kilometre long and now only one of the reactors is reported to be operating, with the rest safely shut down. we, of course, are fortunate that there was no release of radiation and that the integrity of the reactors was not themselves compromised. in themselves was not compromised. ukrainian emergency crews tackled the fire, but nuclear experts say the situation is still precarious. we're not looking at another chernobyl accident, but the primary concern here is that the electricity supply gets cut off, it stops the pumps from working that cool the reactor, and if that were to happen, the nuclear fuel inside would melt down, so it's really important that the russian forces and the ukrainian forces

stop firing in the direction of the power stations. this loss of cooling was what caused the nuclear disaster at fukushima injapan in 2011. but while that was triggered by a natural disaster, a tsunami, the invasion of ukraine has brought conflict close to working nuclear reactors. with the russians now controlling the site, the immediate danger has passed. but concern remains over why a nuclear plant was a military target. victoria gill, bbc news. the humanitarian situation just gets worse, day by day, hour by hour. the united nations is now warning that on top of the one million refugees who've already fled, millions more could be forced from this country if the fighting is prolonged. this map shows the extent of the exodus. the larger the arrows, the greater the population flow. refugees are crossing into neighbouring countries

to the west. more than 100,000 people have fled to moldova, and our correspondent lucy williamson reports from the palanca border crossing point, about 30 miles from the ukrainian port city of odesa. when odesa flinches, palanca catches the blow. the fear in ukraine's southern city is reflected in the queues, the emotions spilling out at this once little—known border post. a bus to an emergency shelter oversubscribed. an official loses control. "there's a five—year—old waiting," he shouts, "move back." svetlana had been waiting for a visa tojoin her husband in the uk. with the conflict spreading and her passport stuck at the british embassy in lviv, she's crossed into moldova without it. "it is impossible to understand what has happened," she said. "we're living in the 21st century.

"people are just hoping for the best and holding onto the end." and holding on to the end." katya also arrived today from odesa with her sister and three children. after they saw a ship destroyed in a huge explosion. translation: the kids - were asking, "what's going on?" and we said it was fireworks. what are you going to say to a kid? you can't tell them it's a war out there. video from odesa this week showed the men behind filling sandbags, ready for a russian invasion. russian landing craft were spotted off the coast yesterday. and today, at odesa's train station, panic. the numbers here are being driven by russian operations in the south of ukraine. this border is squeezed between two separate wings of ukrainian territory. the refugee agencies here say that if odesa comes under attack, these numbers will surge again. the eu's head of foreign affairs

says this migrant crisis could dwarf the last one europe faced, in 2015. in 2015—16, europe was shocked by 1 million people coming from syria. now, in four days, we already have almost1 million people. and ukraine has a0 million people. if the russians continue bombing the city in the way they are doing, if we're ukrainian, what do we do? each day at palanca, thousands make that same calculation. the same half—solution to war. crossing a border might protect you from danger, it doesn't always protect you from fear. lucy williamson, bbc news, moldova. in moscow, the parliament has passed a law making it a criminal offence to spread what it calls "fake" information. the conflict in ukraine cannot be referred to as a "war".

vladimir putin calls it a "special military operation". anyone convicted could receive a 15 year prison sentence. access to the bbc, and other independent news websites and services, is also now restricted, following action by russia's media regulator. caroline hawley has that story. facing growing international isolation, growing pressure, president putin can't and won't travel far himself these days, but he did find time today to attend remotely a ceremony inaugurating a new passenger ferry. and claimed that russia had no ill intentions to its neighbours. he warned them not to escalate tensions and he said russia would continue to develop, in spite of sanctions. anyone not towing the kremlin's line is now being silenced. "no war," the last words of a final gathering

of staff at tv rain, once a symbol of independent, liberal journalism. they resigned live on—air and left viewers with a pointed message. tchaikovsky's swan lake, aired when the soviet union collapsed, and in other times of turmoil. this morning, in the lower house of parliament, another big move in the information war, though in russia now, you're not allowed to use the word "war". translation: all these companies, from instagram to others, _ are located in the united states. it's clear they're used as a weapon, they carry enmity, lies, we must resist this, protect the armed forces. they rubberstamped a law to impose heftyjail sentences on anyone spreading what the kremlin sees as fake news about the military. i think when you are frightened of a free and open press, you are frightened of yourself and your own people. the bbc now says it is temporarily

suspending the work of all of its journalists in russia while it assesses the implications of the new law. protests against the invasion have already led to thousands of arrests over the past eight days, but the demonstrations are still relatively small—scale. state propaganda exerts a powerful influence, and russians will now be left even more in the dark about what's really happening in ukraine. the russians have made much slower progress on the ground than they had hoped for, they had hoped in fact for lots more popular support from ukrainians in the eastern half of the country, which simply hasn't happened. but putin is now, to quote shakespeare, so deep stepped in blood that he's not going to turn back. his survival i suspect in the russian political system depends upon him carrying this war to a victory. so, for president putin, it's increasingly vital to control the narrative, as his war claims ever more ukrainian and russian lives. caroline hawley, bbc news.

lyse is here, our chief international correspondent. we've been talking a lot about that column of heavy armour heading this way, it seems to be bogged down, snow is thawing and it is stuck in mud, but it is still there, a present danger that everyone is worried about? you present danger that everyone is worried about?— present danger that everyone is worried about? ., _ _, , worried about? you say coming this wa , worried about? you say coming this way. that's — worried about? you say coming this way. that's the _ worried about? you say coming this way, that's the big _ worried about? you say coming this way, that's the big question, - worried about? you say coming this way, that's the big question, this i way, that's the big question, this endless guessing game about vladimir putin, is he using itjust to have this ominous threatjust poised on the edge of the city, putting the entire city on edge as they watch the devastation across the city? city is encircled, people running out of food, running out of water, not able to rescue the injured and to bury the dead, and blistering attacks on residential areas. is this a warning to the people of this capital, that used to be, before a time of war, of nearly 3 million people, this could be your fate time of war, of nearly 3 million people, this could be yourfate if you don't surrender? we see in the city every day, the city being

transformed, more and more of what they call these hedgehogs, these metal barriers to stop the tanks, despite barriers. the soldiers on the streets, the security services, are preparing for this convoy to come in, and perhaps people are preparing, some of them leaving, some of them getting more supplies underground, and wondering when and how will this convoy move in and what will be the fate of this city? and that will be the fate of ukraine. , , . ukraine. indeed, lyse doucet, thank ou. i'll be back a little later with some final thoughts, but for now from kyiv, it's back to you jane, in the studio in london. here, the government has said that visas given to people fleeing ukraine and joining relatives in the uk will last for three years, rather than one as originally announced. the scheme was also extended earlier this week to cover more family members, after criticism that it was too limited. our special correspondent lucy manning has been speaking to people here who are struggling to be

reunited with their loved ones. we are at king's cross now and we are going to fly to poland. vitali is on a rescue mission — from his life in london working for facebook... ..to his mum and sister, anna and victoria, who have travelled for 36 hours from central ukraine to make it across the border to poland. they've taken their cat but left the rest of their life behind. vitali has flown to poland, hoping to bring them back to his home in london. except he can't. government rules say he hasn't lived in the uk long enough. i cannot do this because there are requirements from the government that i need to have the settled status to be allowed to bring my family to the uk. if you're talking to the government, what do you say to them

about wanting to bring your sister and mother in? i think that uk government should also help ukrainians. at least for people like me to be able to bring my family to the uk so i can take care of them. his sister anna won't now finish her high school, but she wants to go on to university. it should be great to come to the uk because this country has much more possibilities to have a better life. scottish businessman jock mendoza—wilson lives between the uk and kyiv. he managed to escape last week, but his ukrainian partner and her daughter were trapped. i stayed in kyiv when it started. we stayed tonight in the basement when it started the bombing. it's terrible. i cannot explain how i feel. the russian soldiers, they kill the people.

irina can come to live with him in the uk, but they don't think her daughter can come. we spoke to irina and tanya before they headed out of ukraine, trying to reach safety. of course, i want to. be close to my mum. also, she really have a problem with heart and she is crying - all the time, so i'm worried about her. i you never imagined you would have this life as now a refugee. i had, like, very prestigious job, like, in kyiv. _ and yeah, i mean, it's| so hard to believe that now you're a refugee. like, you don't have clothes, you don't have anything. - the home secretary visited poland today. we asked about these ukrainians. we have today launched our extended family route, which would cover the individuals that you're speaking about. they can come to the united kingdom. there are no barriers to them coming to the united kingdom. but the home office rules still don't seem to allow it, and there are still no details of a separate sponsorship scheme yet. irina and tanya made it

across the border to slovakia, but uncertainty still for some refugees about whether their journeys will end in britain. lucy manning, bbc news. the cost of gas in the uk is now 13 times higher than a year ago, because prices on wholesale markets have risen to record levels amid fears that supplies from russia could be cut off or restricted. our economics editor faisal islam is with me. faisal, put those numbers into some kind of perspective. as you say, this is all about the price that energy companies pay for the gas from international markets, which they then pass on to households. i can show you the trend over the past two decades. you can see what is normal for pretty much all of that period, about 50p, when it goes up to £1, it has been a crisis. look at that, right at the end, all the way up after this invasion to a record of over £5 per

therm, and the reason is, because of restrictions on trade with russia, orjust restrictions on trade with russia, or just the unwillingness restrictions on trade with russia, orjust the unwillingness of people to buy russian gas in the markets, everyone is going after the same gas, whether it is from america or trinidad or qatar, and that has pushed up the price so high. to give you some context, if it was averaging half that, for a couple of months, you would be talking about another rise in october the same as what we are going to get next month. so, significant rises. and i could show you chance like that for wheat and aluminium, and overall fears that inflation could hit notjust 7%, but eight or nine or even 10%. the ukrainian paralympian delegation was given a warm welcome at the winter paralympics opening ceremony in beijing, as organising officials passionately reiterated calls for peace. no russian or belarusian athletes are taking part after they were banned by the international paralympic committee. our sports correspondent laura scott reports. a new paralympics begins,

hoping to showcase the positive power of sport and the strength and resilience of para—athletes. but eight years since the sochi winter paralympics began under the cloud of russia's invasion of crimea, these games in beijing open amid another conflict, another crisis, russia's invasion of ukraine. i am horrified at what is taking place in the world right now. the 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy, not war and hate! but this was a message the state broadcaster in china didn't let chinese audiences hear. more than 600 athletes will compete on the snow and ice for 78 gold medals. but as many of them paraded today in the birds nest, there were none from russia or belarus, after they were banned from the games, punished for their governments' actions. moscow described that

decision as monstrous, but it is one which, despite their efforts, they can't challenge. the most eagerly anticipated arrivals... against all the odds, the full ukrainian delegation have made it to beijing, determined not to give up, as they will their compatriots to fight on. for some, the paralympics has been cynically undermined once again by the shadow of war. they shout: "peace for ukraine!" but this display of defiance by the ukrainian team highlights how this sporting spectacle's mission to promote unity and peace has never burned brighter. laura scott, bbc news. in other news today... a mother and herformer boyfriend have been found guilty of killing her son after subjecting him to months of violent abuse. kyrell matthews was two years old when he collapsed at home in south london in 2019.

helena wilkinson's report contains some distressing details. this was kyrell�*s second birthday. he had already endured months of violent abuse. four weeks later, he was killed. his mother's call to 111 on the day of the file final violent assault, paramedics found kyrell in cardiac arrest. he was taken to hospital and he didn't survive. he had 41 rib fractures when he died. those responsible for killing kyrell, his mother, phylesia shirley and her partner, kemar brown. the jury got to hear harrowing recordings of kyrell being repeatedly beaten in the months before he died. today, kyrell�*s family spoke of how wonderful he was. he was very lively. he was a happy little character. and he was the most loving little boy.

shirley and brown will be sentenced next month for killing kyrell. the little boy with the wide grin and twinkling eyes failed so badly by the very people who are meant to protect him. by the very people who were meant to protect him. helena wilkinson, bbc news. shane warne, one of cricket's greatest ever spin bowlers, has died at the age of 52 from a suspected heart attack. a giant of the game, he won the world cup with his native australia in 1999 and went on to take more than 700 test wickets in a long international career. patrick geary looks back at his life. the 11th ofjune, 1993 and the cricketing world was about to turn suddenly. gatting can't believe it. they called that the ball of the century and it would remain warne's most famous delivery. rarely would wicket—taking be so breathtaking. this was pure warne, the bleach blond boy from melbourne with all the tricks, a dizzying spinner and part of a whirlwind australian team

which swept all before it. he was also a superstar and he enjoyed it. there were parties, headlines, and women. his relationship with liz hurley brought him to the attention of the world, away from cricket. and concern with image came at a cost. in 2003, he was banned for a year for taking a prohibited diet pill. warne used the break to rest and reset. what a wonderful change of pace that was. his game became about tactics as well as physics, brilliant and battling. warne would go past 700 test wickets, still the second most in history and when he retired from tests in 2007, it was, once again, as an ashes winner. since then, then, he's coached and commentated. his spin on the game still beguiling. i was 21 years of age, or 20 years of age, when i first came on the scene. and to achieve some of the things that i achieved as an individual on the way, you know, thatjust blew my mind. it was more than my... you know, i could ever imagine. cricket has today lost one of its greatest.

a man who could make its world spin.