this is bbc news with the headlines.... russia steps up its bombardment of large parts of ukraine, as nato warns the conflict, is about to get worse. we'll be reporting from inside the country's second biggest city, harkeev, where residential buildings have been reduced to rubble, by constant russian shelling. this is so far from normal. this is so farfrom normal. it this is so far from normal. it is hard to even describe. these people have no idea what they're going to do next. europe's largest nuclear plant is shelled by russian forces overnight. the fires are under under control. ukraine says moscow is resorting to "nuclear terror". the russian tanks knew what they were firing at. a directly hit the

plant. this is tara on an unprecedented level. and at ukraine's borders, the refugee queues grow longer, more and more people are trying to flee. and tributes are paid to the australian cricket legend shane warne, who's died at the age of 52. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk, on pbs in the us or around the world. the united nations security council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the way in which russian forces captured ukraine's biggest nuclear power plant. the un's political affairs chief has said attacks on nuclear power facilities are contrary to international humanitarian law. the zapor—ree—sha facility was shelled this morning triggering a fire. the authorities say the site is secure and radiation levels are normal.

the ukrainian foreign ministry say several people have been killed and injured. the plant is in the south east of the country and the biggest in europe. president zelensky has accused moscow of resorting to "nuclear terror" and urged russians to protest. russia has escalated its air campaign against ukrainian cities throughout the last 2a hours. an official in the besieged port of mariupol has accused russia of trying to force it to surrender by creating a humanitarian crisis. he said the city was being shelled continuously. it's facing a third day without water, electricity, or proper sanitation. kharkiv in the north east has been reduced to rubble. and ukraine says at least 50 people were killed by russian air strikes in the northern city of chern—i—hiv. the polish border guard agency has confirmed more than 672,500 people have fled ukraine to poland since the war began last week more than 99 thousand people crossed the border yesterday.

meanwhile, the nato alliance has rejected calls from kyiv for it to impose a no—fly zone over ukraine, saying this could lead to a wider war with russia. 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 really... it's scaring myself and my family... so, we take 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 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 hope that the best but we are prepared for the _ worst. at least we have food and air and the children are ok. - the power 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 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 scary because we don't know. what's coming tomorrow. nothing is changing here. nothing is happening.

kharkiv has already suffered so much but it fears this war 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. 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 towns.

russian assualts hit fierce ukrainian resistance. the russian�*s army answer to that is fire power. and 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 really worried| about my three kids and i want to come back. but now i'm very scared. people shout.

ahead 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 app to translate for us his attempt to reassure his wife. she also asked me to leave.

i said we will fight to the end, it will be easier for us to fight when you are safe. no one 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 i9. i am study economy. and i am studying 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 nuclear power plant has 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 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 nuclearfuel 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 nu clear rea cto i’s . 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. earlier, i spoke to matthew kroenig, a nuclear expert at the atlantic council about the attack on the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. this is the first time in history that a country has intentionally fired on a nuclear plant. we have an

accident in the past at chernobyl, fukushima, oraccidents accident in the past at chernobyl, fukushima, or accidents or acts of god, this was an act of war. and he could have been quite bad. he could have led to a meltdown, it could have led to a meltdown, it could have led to nuclear material being dispersed in the area, so it seems like we are in the clear for now but ukraine has 13 nuclear power plants and still fighting going on so i still remain concerned that this is quite serious. it’s still remain concerned that this is quite seriou— quite serious. it's about those concerns _ quite serious. it's about those concerns because _ quite serious. it's about those concerns because we - quite serious. it's about those concerns because we have - quite serious. it's about those i concerns because we have heard quite serious. it's about those - concerns because we have heard that this is in a precarious situation. can you talk this through my that is? ., . . ., can you talk this through my that is? ., . .., ., can you talk this through my that is? ., . _, ., ., is? the radioactive core of a nuclear power _ is? the radioactive core of a nuclear power plant - is? the radioactive core of a nuclear power plant is - is? the radioactive core of a nuclear power plant is very l is? the radioactive core of a i nuclear power plant is very hot is? the radioactive core of a - nuclear power plant is very hot and spent fuel rods after the air run through the reactor are hot and those are on—site and there are elaborate cooling systems to keep them from melting down but the plant

where systems come under attack and his power, if there is a crack in the vessel that contains the water for the cooling systems can fail and that's what we saw at fukushima. the term nuclear meltdown comes from the fact that the court or the field can literally meltdown into the earth, into the water supply in this reactor is right underneath the river, it's pretty common that site reactors are on the river because they require a lot of water but that would mean to nuclear radioactive material can get into the river and flow into the back seat. so it could be a very serious ecological disaster. 50 be a very serious ecological disaster-— be a very serious ecological disaster. ., , disaster. so a big risk here. -- anything _ disaster. so a big risk here. -- anything happened _ disaster. so a big risk here. -- anything happened it - disaster. so a big risk here. -- anything happened it stops - disaster. so a big risk here. --j anything happened it stops the reactors from cooling down. it's unclear whether this was a deliberate target, is that right? yes, that's right. when i first read the news last night and wondering if the russians were intentionally

trying to cause a nuclear disaster. it seems as their military campaign has slowed, they have turned to the targeting of civilians and this would certainly be an act of terror even just the fears that the vatican meltdown have caused of terror and not he had taken control of the plant and beginning to wonder maybe the goal is to control the plans and provide about 20% of your�*s power so if russia is able to control that plant and threatened to turn off the power or turn it off they could use that as a tool of coercion to strengthen their own hands and begin the ukrainians in this war. —— weekend. we had a good briefing from the

international atomic energy authority that reassured us that between the atomic energy authority and the ukrainian regulators and ukrainian technicians have managed to stabilise and safeguard nuclear facilities. but, we are not reassured at all by the way in which russia has escalated this attack. there are clear provisions in international law in the geneva conventions and this is the first time in history that a state has attacked a field and functioning nuclear power plants. that is not reassuring but the work that the ukrainian technicians had been able to do is for the moment reassuring, yes. here is a reminder of the latest in our top stories. russia steps up its bombardment of large parts of ukraine has made to warrants that the conflict is about to get worse. europe's largest nuclear plant is

shelved by russian forces overnight, the players are under control. ukraine says moscow is resurrecting to nuclear terror. and that ukraine's borders the refugee lines grow longer and longer as more and more people are trying to flee. 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 odessa. 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 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 i 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 one million people coming from syria. now, in four days, we already have almost one 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. un high commissionerfor refugees, filippo grandi, tells us of the situation at the moldovan border with ukraine. i don't know what to say. i was at the board and myself today. it is lens of people coming into him in the same happens on the other borders. this country has already received over 200,000 people over only about half stay here. others

moved to other countries in europe. in the overall tally of this enormous influx was 1.2 million. earlier today i received update every few hours but we are heading very quickly towards one and a half million. so, it is really escalating very quickly and for countries like moldova, particularly fragile outside the european union with few means and small population, the burden is very difficult to be here without more and faster international assistance. in moscow, the parliament has passed a law making it a criminal offence to spread what it calls the 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. the american secretary of state, antony blinken, has said that russian forces are using increasingly brutal methods in ukraine, including attacking civilian populations.

he was speaking in brussels after meeting his european union counterparts. he said what we are seeing on the battlefield is russian forces seeking to encircle the major cities including kyiv and dc these increasingly brutal methods including them going out civilians and indian populations. he also said he thought the terrible expectation was that the suffering that we are seeing is likely to get worse before it gets that as russia perceives those methods. the secretary of state to go on to say that moscow had never been so and that the attack on ukraine was meeting to writing international support for democracy. hiking discontinued around ukraine with the port city and the second car keys remaining under siege and within officials say a a0 mile long russian military convoy which is north of the captive has not made significant progress but of course it does continue to

move towards the capital. they make us for all the latest updates. good evening. it has been a day of mixed fortunes for many. we have seen quite a lot of cloud around and, yes, at times, it has been wet. this was lincolnshire this afternoon. it never really progressed above that low cloud, misty, murky story and there's been rain just fringing away from eastern scotland, but certainly sitting to the east of the pennines, down into the south—east corner. now, behind that front, there was quite a clearance and there were some lovely spells of sunshine to be found. this was cumbria just a few hours ago. and it looks likely that that drier and brighter story is going to win out as we go through the weekend. so, certainly drier. a little bit more sunshine around, but overnight frost and fog could be an issue as we go

through the weekend. now, over the next few hours, that weather front is going to grind to a halt across the far south—east corner, but high pressure builds in behind, and that's going to keep those skies clear and temperatures are going to fall away like a stone across scotland, northern ireland, northern england and parts of wales. here, we'll see temperatures just below freezing. down into the south—east corner, underneath that cloud and those outbreaks of rain, temperatures holding up at around 5 or 6 degrees. but once again, it's going to start off rather grey, drab and dreary, i'm afraid, and some of that rain may welljust drift a little bit further west as we go through the afternoon. best of the sunshine, then, to start off our weekend, certainly the further north and west you are. bit more of a breeze at times and temperatures likely to hold up at about a maximum of 10 degrees, so that is just a little bit under par for this time of year. now, as we move into sunday, that high pressure hopefully starts to establish itself a little bit more across the country, and finally that nuisance weather front that we've seen for the last couple of days really decays and eases away. bit more of a breeze,

though, across the south, and that could just drive in a little more cloud, particularly first thing in the morning, but hopefully that cloud will thinn and break into the afternoon. and temperatures should peak, in the drier, brighter moments, around 8 or 9 degrees. now, as we move out of sunday into monday morning, it's certainly worth bearing in mind that, with those clear skies, the temperatures are going to fall away. it is going to be a cold and frosty start for many first thing on monday morning, but monday into tuesday, dry, settled and sunny for most, but those temperatures on the chilly side for the time of year.

this is bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk

and around the world. the headlines: russia steps up its bombardment of large parts of ukraine, as nato warns the conflict is about to get worse. europe's largest nuclear plant is shelled by russian forces overnight. the fires are under under control. ukraine says moscow is resorting to "nuclear terror". and at ukraine's borders, the refugee queues grow longer, more and more people are trying to flee. and tributes are paid to the australian cricket legend shane warne — who's died at the age of 52. ben hello and welcome. thank you for joining us. we are reporting

fighting doesn't continue across ukraine. —— does continue. let's look in closer details now at some of the key aspects of russia's advance in this war. with me is the military expert justin crump from the company sibylline, which carries out country risk assessments and has been focusing closely on ukraine. thank you very much forjoining us. i would like us to take a look at the picture that we have at the moment. this is what it looks like, in terms of what areas are under russian control. could you just help us understand this map? what is russia trying to do?— us understand this map? what is russia trying to do? absolutely, and ou can russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind — russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of— russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of see _ russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of see on _ russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of see on the _ russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of see on the map - russia trying to do? absolutely, and you can kind of see on the map the i you can kind of see on the map the three main objectives russia have. the first is taking kyiv and displacing zelensky�*s government. the second one is the consolidation of the south, taking the ports there. they have taken mary a pull them up there waiting for odesa, which it would be harder. —— they have taken

looking at this, was this part ofthe looking at this, was this part of the plan _ looking at this, was this part of the plan all— looking at this, was this part of the plan all along? _ looking at this, was this part of the plan all along? it - looking at this, was this part of the plan all along? it was - looking at this, was this part i of the plan all along? it was always an 0 tion of the plan all along? it was always an option for _ of the plan all along? it was always an option for russia. _ of the plan all along? it was always an option for russia. they - of the plan all along? it was always an option for russia. they came . of the plan all along? it was always an option for russia. they came in | an option for russia. they came in with the wrong mission in the wrong mindset. they came and hoping it was good to be almost peak keeping —— going to be almost peacekeeping. the russian army has escalated to win, they are going to the next tactics which is more disruptive. they are using their artillery much more, at the moment. find using their artillery much more, at the moment-— using their artillery much more, at the moment. �* , ., ., ., ., the moment. and you mentioned a word there that is worrying _ the moment. and you mentioned a word there that is worrying to _ the moment. and you mentioned a word there that is worrying to people - - there that is worrying to people — escalation. let's take a look at them if you have created. how can this help us understand what might happen next? this this help us understand what might happen next?— happen next? this is the plan they would've had _ happen next? this is the plan they would've had originally, _ happen next? this is the plan they would've had originally, when - happen next? this is the plan theyj would've had originally, when they started. they would've wanted to

proceed quickly, done that within five days. i think they would have liked to have taken kyiv by nothi could have done and had a clear victory over ukraine. obviously, it has gone slower. the weather is against them, the people are against them, lack of fuel, logistics is against them, so they're keeping with this, this is where they will eventually go, a better way to go to the centre of the country, but it is critically odesa, and the focus on mould ova wanting tojoin critically odesa, and the focus on mould ova wanting to join the critically odesa, and the focus on mould ova wanting tojoin the eu, and russia is active in the that is the one thing we are expecting yet we have not seen. all forming a pretty intense picture. when we look at the way that russia is fighting at the moment, just explain to us what sort of hard —— artillery is being used here. we've got there is

thermobaric weapons. they spread like a powder through the air, and when that explodes, it is much more disruptive than a normal explosion, and so the russians call that a heavy flame—thrower. you fire it directly at the target and he puts down this huge explosion, with a horrible wave, and that is extremely bad for anyone nearby, and it is extremely bad around buildings. it mixed a very hard to defend because the air sucked out of the building, so defenders cannot hide in rubble, so defenders cannot hide in rubble, so when the russians come to a strong point, they can use weapons like this, and the moment they reach a point they're not worried about reaching civilians, they're not trying to, they're currently not trying to, they're currently not trying to, they're currently not trying to, on a whole, this could

get worse. trying to, on a whole, this could get worse-— get worse. and this type of equipment _ get worse. and this type of equipment is _ get worse. and this type of equipment is already - get worse. and this type of equipment is already in - get worse. and this type of - equipment is already in ukraine, just waiting to use it?— equipment is already in ukraine, just waiting to use it? exactly, so that iece just waiting to use it? exactly, so that piece of— just waiting to use it? exactly, so that piece of the _ just waiting to use it? exactly, so that piece of the cookman - just waiting to use it? exactly, so that piece of the cookman was i just waiting to use it? exactly, so that piece of the cookman was a | that piece of the cookman was a signature piece we saw one of the major things we saw that made us think kyiv was going to be invaded. what we are currently concerned about, what you can see on the screen there, this is russia's biggest vehicle in their land component and these can be seen between russia and car —— and kharkiv. they have been upgrading the system. it is essentially a gun off hms belfast, it is a huge weapon. fires a very large shell, there are good at destroying a single building, that is what is optimised for, about a5 km out. it

can also fire nuclear rounds. there is no indication it has got those, but has that capability. russia will use weapons... we talk about escalations, it is worrying, because they've many places to go, it is worrying. one of the rounds of this, and nuclear round, is probably twice the size of the exposure reside beirut harbour.— the size of the exposure reside beirut harbour. ., , , ., ., , beirut harbour. you said russia has many places _ beirut harbour. you said russia has many places to _ beirut harbour. you said russia has many places to go _ beirut harbour. you said russia has many places to go with _ beirut harbour. you said russia has many places to go with reverently l many places to go with reverently like this, is this a threat or something that could come into play quickly? the something that could come into play cuickl ? ,, ., , ., something that could come into play cuickl ? ,, ., ., , quickly? the russians are fairly straightforward _ quickly? the russians are fairly straightforward militarily. - quickly? the russians are fairly straightforward militarily. they| straightforward militarily. they show you what they have to use and they use it. that vehicle's codename is literally tool — that is what they call it, it is the tool — and thatis they call it, it is the tool — and that is what they see them as. they have a tool, they apply it to a particularjob. they have not used

it yet. if they have it obstacle they cannot practicably bring out they cannot practicably bring out the gun. it is ruthless, it is logical to them, it is escalated to read, but they escalator win and thatis read, but they escalator win and that is what we have seen in all of this, and you the consequences. now if they see a roadblock, or someone fires from a building, they will destroy the building and move on. they are not prepared to put up with waiting around any more. they are under pressure to meet a deadline, they are under pressure to win. the more pressure they run into, the more pressure they run into, the more ruthless they will become. hope more ruthless they will become. how does the attack _ more ruthless they will become. how does the attack on _ more ruthless they will become. how does the attack on the nuclear power plant fit in with every and you are talking about? the plant fit in with every and you are talking about?— plant fit in with every and you are talkin: about? talking about? the thing here, there is a risk on a — talking about? the thing here, there is a risk on a battlefield, _ is a risk on a battlefield, industrial risk, like in donbas, the

industrial risk, like in donbas, the industrial areas, and fighting around nuclearfacilities... i don't think there hasn't been much evidence of direct targeting of nuclear facilities. evidence of direct targeting of nuclearfacilities. at evidence of direct targeting of nuclear facilities. at the fighting we saw around the facility was skirmishing and things like that, likely did not do too much damage. just looking at those pictures now. and the problem is, of course, it blows up more widely, if something goes wrong there, more than it does anywhere else, and in ukraine, there is a lot of places where there is nuclear material stored, a lot of power plants in the country, significant ones, and the nuclear brand because of chernobyl. it always gives an option to someone to release a radiological danger on the battlefield if they so wish. it is obsolete very heavily banned, but it can happen on exit or to liberally. i think last night showed us there are real hazards on this battlefield.— are real hazards on this battlefield. ., , ., battlefield. one of the things that has been mentioned _

battlefield. one of the things that has been mentioned is _ battlefield. one of the things that has been mentioned is the - battlefield. one of the things that . has been mentioned is the resistance that they have come across from the ukrainians, and as you said, they're not really prepared to wait around any more if they come across blockades. when we talk about the sort of urban warfare, where you see that going? because we have seen pictures of grannies try to stop tankss. what is going to happen? i tankss. what is going to happen? i think the days of standing in the street, andy take politely reverses and goes on, like we were seeing before the weekend, are sadly gone. it will be much more lethal to be around russian forces. they will automatically be more rarely know of anyone standing around, that they might be observing them. anyone taking photographs they will think is passing their location for an attack, and s troops get more nervous, they get more tired, they get more hungry, they get more trigger—happy. this is what happens. and as the stress increases, it is just more likely they fire on civilians anyway. this is also something we are looking at behind

russian lines, if you like stop the russians very stretched out, there is a behind the lines, so we're looking at that in occupied towns and cities. candy russians bring food forward for people? the indication is they can barely fit themselves. —— feed themselves. how quickly can the russians start bringing food end? sorting out the population? i suspect they are going to fail at that and that is going to lead to a lot of unrest behind their lines. think they were introduced curfews about which they already doing, and some brutality against civilians. a lot of recipes here for life get more and more difficult for the russians as they go on and then getting more and more frustrated. all factors that make the situation were precarious. thank you very much to you, justin crump from the company sibylline, which carries out risk assessments. thank you very

much forjoining us. the horrors of what is unfolding in ukraine are incomprehensible to many, so what is the logic behind what russia really expecting to achieve? i'm joined now by the former british army brigadier ben barry, who is senior fellow for land warfare at the military think tank the international institute for strategic studies, based in london. thank you so much forjoining us. really appreciate you making time. we have been talking quite a little bit about what russia is doing. can you help us understand what russia is thinking? let's start with the surprise that they got with the resistance that came from the ukrainians. how has that affected their military strategy? i am ukrainians. how has that affected their military strategy?— their military strategy? i am not sure they've _ their military strategy? i am not sure they've changed _ their military strategy? i am not sure they've changed their- their military strategy? i am not - sure they've changed their strategy, because it certainly slow down their forces. it seems likely they had in mind a modern, 21st century blitzkrieg, worry succession of shock and all missile strikes and

rapid advances would move quickly into the country, it also sees the capital kyiv, where a combination of missile strikes and action by special forces would knock out ukrainian government. of course, what has happened is the ukrainian forces have put up much more effective resistance than the russians appeared to have planned for. that and difficulties in logistics has greatly slow down the rate of advance, particular in the north, around kyiv and kharkiv. find north, around kyiv and kharkiv. and when we look _ north, around kyiv and kharkiv. and when we look at the ukrainian defence, particularly when it comes to their defence in the air, what assessments do you have of how they have fought back? it assessments do you have of how they have fought back?— have fought back? it has been quite a remarkable _ have fought back? it has been quite a remarkable achievement. - have fought back? it has been quite a remarkable achievement. the - a remarkable achievement. the russians would have tried to knock ukrainians out of the air on the first day, quite a lot of bombing and missile attacks aimed at airfields, but the craning air force has kept flying and kept

fighting, but it is notjust the fighterjets, but it is also the air defences on the ground, and some respects, they're engaging in guerrilla warfare in the air. there air defence systems are moving around only briefly turning their radars on, and if you like, then popping up to shoot missiles at russian aircraft. and they are —— their fighter jets seems —— their fighterjets seems to have dispersed to a whole network the result is that neither side has air superiority. they are able to concentrate their air forces to a certain extent. for example, you would imagine the russians have concentrated their air force to help defend the stick supply column that is been reinforced, but it if years most of the -- it —— itappears —— it appears most of the ukraine air force has survived and the russian air force is cautious and only flying at night. that is a really unanticipated consequences which must be giving the russian

high command great concern. i just high command great concern. i 'ust want to point— high command great concern. i 'ust want to point out i high command great concern. i 'ust want to point out we i high command great concern. i 'ust want to point out we are i high command great concern. ijust want to point out we are looking at a drone strike that our audience can see there, that was on the screen a moment ago, just to riesling with those pictures were. but looking ahead at what might happen in the next few days, we are seeing an escalation of violence, and escalation of violence, and escalation of violence, and escalation of the fighting. in terms of military strategy, what do you for see? ., ., , ,., ., for see? there are two separate developing- _ for see? there are two separate developing- i — for see? there are two separate developing. i think— for see? there are two separate developing. i think there - for see? there are two separate developing. i think there is - for see? there are two separate developing. i think there is the l developing. i think there is the russian advance in the south cut out of korea —— crimea, which seems less constrained by logistics. and that is heading both eastwards told mary a it may go further west to take out odesa. forces coming from crimea may also continue to press north in an

effort to encircle ukrainian forces, cut them off, particularly those fighting in eastern ukraine, but clearly the centre of gravity of the war, the decisive place, is kyiv, and such is his politicals and if against that russia is likely to make a considerable effort to capture it —— its political significance. i think what we can expect is an effort to encircle it and envelop it both from the west and from the east, and having encircled it, the city would then be bombarded at an increasing level of ground and air attacks launched. we saw this as a tactic used in syria made by asad's forces in the russian supporters. part of this has been an information operation. the russians interior got quite good at to the —— talking to the rebels, giving them good terms to surrender, and if they did surrender, the russians

would give the buses for their families to get safe passage. i think we can see a combination of encirclement, bombardment, probing attacks from the ground but also efforts to reach out and negotiate with the civilian and military leaders inside a city like kyiv. that is really interesting insight, brigadier ben barry, thank you for joining us. this is bbc news. let's have a reminder of the latest on our top story. russia steps up its bombardment of large parts of ukraine, as nato warns the conflict is about to get worse. europe's largest nuclear plant is shelled by russian forces overnight. the fires are under under control. ukraine says moscow is resorting to "nuclear terror". and at ukraine's borders, the refugee queues grow longer, more and more people are trying to flee. sport now with

lizzie greenwood—hughes. hello, thank you, good evening. the biggest names in world sport are paying tribute to the former australian cricketer shane warne, who's died at the age of 52. one of the greatest players of all time, warne is said to have suffered a suspected heart attack at his villa in thailand. in his 15—year test career, warne took 708 wickets, the second highest total in history, and he still holds the record for the most ashes wickets. he simply loved playing against england, particularly in the ashes. so let's hear now from the two captains, starting with australia's pat cummins. warney was an all—time great, a once in a century type cricketer. and his records will live on forever. we all grew up watching warney, idolizing him, for so grew up watching warney, idolizing him, forso many grew up watching warney, idolizing him, for so many guys in this team and squad who still hold him as a hero of their all—time favourite player, and the loss that we are all trying to wrap our heads around his huge.

my experiences of shane was someone that absolutely loves the game of cricket, _ that absolutely loves the game of cricket, was always a joy to be around, — cricket, was always a joy to be around, gave so much energy to the sport. _ around, gave so much energy to the sport. you _ around, gave so much energy to the sport, you could see hisjoy and his enthusiasm — sport, you could see hisjoy and his enthusiasm when he played. it is still there. — enthusiasm when he played. it is stillthere, even enthusiasm when he played. it is still there, even when you got to speak— still there, even when you got to speak to — still there, even when you got to speak to them as a player now, great to chat with— speak to them as a player now, great to chat with him about the game, and just wanted _ to chat with him about the game, and just wanted to see the game played at the peak of its powers. yeah, it'sjust — at the peak of its powers. yeah, it'sjust really sad. joe root, responding to the news today that shane warne has died aged 52. meanwhile, after a troubled build—up, we're just a few hours from the first official day of competition at the winter paralympics in china. ukraine's 21—strong team received a heroes' welcome at the birdsnest stadium in beijing. but the international paralympic committe say they're investigating coverage of the opening ceremony after a speech made by the ipc�*s head — andrew parsons appeared to be

censored in china. the chinese state broadcaster failed to translate him and muted the sound. parsons' speech had an anti—war theme. meanwhile, broadcasters in china are also blocking coverage of this weekend's english premier league because of the competition's support for ukraine. china is a close political ally of russia, and rights holders there have informed the premier league they won't be showing any games with more gestures of solidarity with ukraine planned. since the invasion, several clubs and players have shown their support for ukraine in both the premier league and at fa cup games. and manchester city manager pep guardiola admits his defender oleksandr zinchenko has understandably been deeply affected by what is happening in his home country. the ukrainian has been involved in numerous projects to help ukraine — and guardiola says it's naturally a tough time for all involved. of course he's concerned. as long as the wars go through, we know is, and

of course he is in both, in his country during project and many things, and, yeah, that is the situation he knows anybody else. he has family there, and the situation, of course, is getting worse. a day after formula one dropped the russian grand prix, the sport's governing body the fia are insisting the russian driver nikita mazepin must sign a contract forbidding him from supporting the invasion of ukraine if he wants to continue to drive in f1. the russian is still expected to lose his haas seat. mazepin's father has close links with vladimir putin. the fia are also now asking every driver to sign a declaration adhering to their principles of peace and neutrality. and that is all the sport for now. thank you very much, lizzie. the american secretary of state, antony blinken, has said that russian forces are using increasingly brutal

methods in ukraine, including attacking civilian populations. he was speaking in brussels after meeting his european union counterparts. our diplomatic correspondent james landale was there and asked mr blinken whether he thought vladimir putin is rational. all i can do is two things, gauge russia and president putin by their actions and do everything we can to respond effectively. but here's one thing we do know. what six ordinary is the extent to which virtually everything present putin over the years has said he wants to prevent, he has in fact precipitated by his actions. ouc knows the very alliance that he wants to try to blow apart, nato, coming together in ways that we haven't seen in years or even decades. the ukrainian people that he wants to subjugate united in their opposition to russia. in 201a, before russia first went into ukraine, the crimea, to the donbas,

his attitude in ukraine was largely positive. now, roughly 90% of people in ukraine hate russia because what he has done. the united states secretary of state antony blinken. the uk says it will amend legislation so it can move faster with sanctions against oligarchs and businesses with links to president putin. it comes as the government faces criticism that it has taken too long to target people associated with the russian leader. i'm joined now by our political correspondent nick eardley. good to see you, nick. so is this going to allay some of those complaints that people had, that it is just taking too long to take action against those closest to putin? i action against those closest to putin? ~' , ., ., putin? i think it might start to, but i putin? i think it might start to, but i also _ putin? i think it might start to, but i also suspect _ putin? i think it might start to, but i also suspect that - putin? i think it might start to, but i also suspect that it - putin? i think it might start to, but i also suspect that it will i but i also suspect that it will depend on how quickly these measures can be brought into force, and also how quickly they are used. over the last few days, we have seen the list of oligarchs and companies being

targeted in the uk increasing, but increasing pretty slowly, and has been a frustration in westminster that the government here has not acted as swiftly or as thoroughly, they would argue, as, say, brussels and the european union, who have sanctioned more people and, as we've seen quite probably in the past few days, they have done things like seizing super yachts from russian oligarchs. so the government here is going to do is rush a piece of legislation to the house of commons next week, and as part of that, they're gonna be two things. firstly, the ministers will be given the power to basically take the same decisions that are being taken brussels and washington, to sanction the same people being sanctioned by the same people being sanctioned by the european union and by the united states, and there is also a criteria for sanctions in british law called appropriateness, which is basically appropriateness, which is basically a test to see that the sanctions can

be justified a test to see that the sanctions can bejustified by a test to see that the sanctions can be justified by government lawyers. some have raised concerns that was setting too high a bar, so that is going be moved from uk law as well, so expect that to go through pretty quickly through the house of commons at the start of next week. but then it comes down to a question of how quickly those decisions can be made, and there's also the second chamber of the uk, the house of lords, were some have said they want to study the detail, to make sure it is not giving ministers to many powers to make whatever decision they want to. and just really briefly, was of impact would all that going to have on how russia feels about the situation?— on how russia feels about the situation? ., , ., ., , situation? the hope in london is that president _ situation? the hope in london is that president putin's _ situation? the hope in london is that president putin's inner - situation? the hope in london is| that president putin's inner circle will start to feel squeezed, that number of close to the regime are now being told that they're not welcome in the uk, they're having their assets frozen, i think there is also an acceptance here that this is also an acceptance here that this is also an acceptance here that this is a medium term strategy, not about getting president putin to change

his plans in ukraine. hick getting president putin to change his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, thank ou his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, thank you very _ his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, thank you very much, _ his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, thank you very much, very - his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, thank you very much, very good i his plans in ukraine. nick eardley, | thank you very much, very good to talk to you on that. updating us on that news we received, that the uk government is to change the lot to make it easier to introduce sanctions after that criticism that the uk was acting too slowly. thank you very much for your company here on bbc news. remember, all our updates are on our website. stay with us. good evening. it has been a day of mixed fortunes for many. we have seen quite a lot of cloud around and, yes, at times, it has been wet. this was lincolnshire this afternoon. it never really progressed above that low cloud, misty, murky story and there's been rain just fringing away from eastern

scotland, but certainly sitting to the east of the pennines, down into the south—east corner. now, behind that front, there was quite a clearance and there were some lovely spells of sunshine to be found. this was cumbria just a few hours ago. and it looks likely that that drier and brighter story is going to win out as we go through the weekend. so, certainly drier. a little bit more sunshine around, but overnight frost and fog could be an issue as we go through the weekend. now, over the next few hours, that weather front is going to grind to a halt across the far south—east corner, but high pressure builds in behind, and that's going to keep those skies clear and temperatures are going to fall away like a stone across scotland, northern ireland, northern england and parts of wales. here, we'll see temperatures just below freezing. down into the south—east corner, underneath that cloud and those outbreaks of rain, temperatures holding up at around 5 or 6 degrees. but once again, it's going to start off rather grey, drab and dreary, i'm afraid, and some of that rain may welljust drift a little bit further west as we go through the afternoon. best of the sunshine, then, to start off our weekend, certainly the further north

and west you are. bit more of a breeze at times and temperatures likely to hold up at about a maximum of 10 degrees, so that is just a little bit under par for this time of year. now, as we move into sunday, that high pressure hopefully starts to establish itself a little bit more across the country, and finally that nuisance weather front that we've seen for the last couple of days really decays and eases away. bit more of a breeze, though, across the south, and that could just drive in a little more cloud, particularly first thing in the morning, but hopefully that cloud will thinn and break into the afternoon. and temperatures should peak, in the drier, brighter moments, around 8 or 9 degrees. now, as we move out of sunday into monday morning, it's certainly worth bearing in mind that, with those clear skies, the temperatures are going to fall away. it is going to be a cold and frosty start for many first thing on monday morning, but monday into tuesday, dry, settled and sunny for most, but those temperatures on the chilly side for the time of year.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. russia steps up its bombardment of large parts of ukraine, as nato warns the conflict, is about to get worse. we'll be reporting from inside the country's second biggest city, harkeev, where residential buildings have been reduced to rubble, by constant russian shelling. this is so far from normal it's hard to describe. the people have no idea what they're going to do next. europe's largest nuclear plant is shelled by russian forces overnight. the fires are under under control. ukraine says moscow is resorting to "nuclear terror".

the russian tanks knew what they were firing at.