this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories. officials say the evacuation is being postponed because the russians are not observing a ceasefire. they continue to destroy mariupol. we decided to move our citizens back because it is not safe to be on the streets. every time i close my eyes i can see and hear— every time i close my eyes i can see and hear my— every time i close my eyes i can see and hear my mum and hear the voice of my— and hear my mum and hear the voice of my dad. _ and hear my mum and hear the voice of my dad, and i don't know if i will hear— of my dad, and i don't know if i will hear them again. sorry... the city authorities say talks are under way with the russian side to establish

a secure humanitarian corridor. protests against russian occupation have broken out in kherson, the only big city to have been captured so far. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, is expected to address the us senate by video link — in the next hour — to appeal for more help. poland warns of a refugee crisis on an unimaginable scale, as thousands of people continue to flee the fighting in ukraine. thank you forjoining us. of up to 200,000 civilians has been postponed because russian authorities in the southern port city of mariupol say the evacuation of up to 200,000 civilians has been postponed because russian forces are not observing a planned ceasefire.

officials have asked citizens to �*disperse, and head for shelter�*. two humanitarian corridors had been announced to allow civilians to leave both mariupol and the nearby city of volnovakha. it comes as ukraine's president has strongly criticsed the west for ruling out a no—fly zone over his country — while russian attacks continue. he said nato members would have blood on their hands. in the next 30 minutes, ukraine's president zelensky is expected to address the american senate by video link to appeal for more help. he is, as i said, strongly upset, refusing to accept this refusal of a no—fly zone to protect it from the russian warplanes and missiles. here is our security correspondent frank gardner. death, dangerand destruction in chernihiv. this once peaceful european city has descended into a dystopian world. civilians struggle to survive amongst the onslaught of russian attacks.

translation: yesterday, - there were bodies everywhere. there was a queue in front of a pharmacy and then they were all lying there dead. what the hell are those scumbags doing? translation: my heart has been blown up because my children didn't _ manage to leave in time. my grandchildren are here and i came walking through the entire town so they can think about getting out of here. air strikes, artillery and missiles are reducing some of ukraine's cities to rubble as the country continues to resist russia's invasion. those who can have been leaving the capital before it is surrounded. but in the coastal town of mariupol, a ceasefire to allow residents to escape collapsed amidst repeated shelling. ukraine's president zelinsky says civilians must be allowed to leave. translation: surrounded cities are being destroyed. and experiencing the worst days. humanitarian corridors

must work today. mariupol and volnovakha, to save people, women, children, the elderly, to give food and medicine to those who remain. and the ukrainian military is fighting back, armed with stinger missiles and other weapons from the west, it has been inflicting serious losses on the invaders. but russia still has the numerical advantage. it has more tanks, planes and troops then ukraine can muster. its forces are expected to encircle and besiege kyiv. russian officials deny targeting civilians and blame ukraine for the failure of peace talks of her. for the failure of peace talks so far. round three of these negotiations, the future rounds of negotiations, it is difficult to comment on them. it also does not really add some optimism, all this so to speak angry

statements of mr zelensky. for ukraine's civilians trapped in this war, there is a desperate need for humanitarian corridors. overi million people have now fled the country, the fastest exodus of refugees in recent history. they don't know when they will return, or how much of their country will be left. frank gardner, bbc news. the deputy mayor of mariupol, sergei orlov, told my colleague yalda hakim that those being evacuated are claiming that fighting is still taking place. our people told us the shelling stops for a little time but then it continues. and they continue to use hard artillery and rockets to bomb mariupol. that's why people are very scared. but anyway, they go to three specific points from which we will go in to evacuate them

by municipal buses. but we had another situation that it was confirmed that all the road, and they told us the road from mariupol to zaporizhzhia is safe. but we received information that there are hard fights on this road — it's on the road to zaporizhzhia — and it's not safe to go by this road because of these fights. so we have two objections — first of them the continued shelling of mariupol and next the fights. so we understand it was not true from the russian side and they continue to destroy mariupol. we decided to move our citizens back because it is not safe to be on the streets. so at the moment people are unable

to evacuate mariupol because the shelling continues? at the moment people are unable to evacuate for two reasons. first of all, continuous shelling in mariupol and the other one, fights en route to zaporizhzhia, and it's impossible to evacuate people. has the central government, the ukrainian government, spoken to the russian side about this? have they told them that the shelling continues? because this is obviously a breach of the ceasefire, the humanitarian corridor that was agreed to. we communicate with the governor of the donetsk region pavlo kyrylenko. he takes responsibility to communicate with that side. so we received information from the governor of the donetsk region. the deputy mayor of mariupol, so orlov, speaking to yalda earlier when there was obviously some hope of some people being able to leave

but the humanitarian corridor as we know has stopped for today for now. earlier i spoke to our correspondent in kyiv, james waterhouse, for the latest. it's been a picture of calm, to be honest with you. we had three air raid sirens but it's been a morning where it's still. there are even fewer people that we can see from our vantage point here on the street. you see armed volunteers stood next to professional soldiers on checkpoints and barricades and streets across the city. and you can't help but wonder, do they know what awaits them on the outskirts of the city? that 40—mile long armoured convoy 30 kilometres north remains in situ. army chiefs expect it to be joined by russian reinforcements working their way down. but equally, you wonder if the invaders know what awaits them if or when they arrive here in the capital city, because what is happening across ukraine is that the ukrainians are fighting back.

this is why we talk on the tenth day of this conflict were one of this conflict where one city so far, only one major city has fallen. that said, there is intense fighting continuing. certainly in mariupol in the south—east. that is the last major location that separates advancing russian forces from crimea and separatist—held territories in luhansk and donetsk regions in eastern ukraine. and the worry is, is that those forces will then link up. also, uk officials reckon other cities are also falling under siege to russian troops. kharkiv in the east, another day there of intense fighting and shelling. chernihiv and sumy to the north—east as well. and the worry is that these forces will link up and more cities will fall, allowing russian troops to then enclose on their ultimate prize in this so—called special military operation, the capital. james, we keep hearing

about the potential strength of the russians, is it clear yet why that convoy is still stuck, why they haven't brought stronger forces in and haven't used more airpower? western officials say part of russia's planning in this invasion has been poor, they say. they are talking about supply lines, replenishing food and fuel to troops as they move in. it is a sizeable country and it needs that kind of infrastructure. the other suggestion is that some of the equipment has failed. so vehicles are getting stuck in the mud. but what we have to remember here is that russia has far deeper military reserves than the ukrainian defenders. and what we are seeing, and army chiefs reckon, russian troops are moving south from the direction of the border with belarus, bypassing cities that have seen heavy fighting, and just because that convoy is remaining

in situ, no—one is relaxing. the worry is, is what we are seeing in these other ukrainian cities will soon happen here. now, president zelensky has asked nato for a no—fly zone. he wants western allies to police the skies and help him repel this russian advance, this sizeable russian advance. but what western leaders are saying is if that was to happen, if you had german, french or british jets in the sky shooting on russian planes, then you would have a much larger conflict, notjust in ukraine, but across the whole of europe. and interestingly, the uk defence secretary said actually a no—fly zone, he made the point, or the case, that that would actually play into russia's hands because of its superior artillery. but president zelensky has got a big zoom meeting with the us senate today to ask for more help. he is going to talk about limiting the supply of russian gas, so he's trying to pull out all the stops, as he has done for the last few days in

this unprecedented conflict. james, we are hearing _ this unprecedented conflict. james, we are hearing that _ this unprecedented conflict. james, we are hearing that even _ this unprecedented conflict. james, we are hearing that even the - we are hearing that even the humanitarian corridors that are supposed to be kept open haven't been fully honoured. but there are these talks. we have heard sergei lavrov discussing that with the third round of talks potentially in the offing. if the country is completely taken at some point in the coming days or weeks by russia, are you hearing what happens next? what is the political outcome of that? ., 4' what is the political outcome of that? ., ~ �* , ., what is the political outcome of that? ., ~ �*, ., , . that? no. i think it's a prospect that? no. i think it's a prospect that few are — that? no. i think it's a prospect that few are willing _ that? no. i think it's a prospect that few are willing to - that? no. i think it's a prospect| that few are willing to consider, that? no. i think it's a prospect. that few are willing to consider, to be honest with you. if we focus on the peace talks that happen, i think going into the expectations were low, all that was on the table was a ceasefire and for an armistice and for russian troops to pull back. sound familiar? it is because ukraine has wanted that all along along with the west, and for the last year or so, add eight years of this russian aggression, quite the

opposite has happened. so expectations have always been low there. today was supposed to be the first pause in fighting in ten days. the first pause. and within an hour of this ceasefire, this temporary ceasefire being brought in to let people out of mariupol, there were accusations from ukrainian officials that shelling had starting again and that shelling had starting again and that fighting had started again in zaporizhzhia, on the end of this corridor to allow people to get out. so once again mariupol finds itself under attack. as far as russia is concerned, they blame ukrainian nationalists for opening fire at disrupting things. so at the moment people here, people underground are dealing with the immediate what they can do to defend themselves, or what they can do to stay safe. but ukrainians in the capital and beyond are still intending to defend themselves.— are still intending to defend themselves. , ~ ., ., , themselves. james waterhouse s - eakin . themselves. james waterhouse speaking to _ themselves. james waterhouse speaking to my _ themselves. james waterhouse speaking to my earlier- themselves. james waterhouse speaking to my earlier from - themselves. james waterhouse i speaking to my earlier from kyiv. yalda hakim is live with us in

western ukraine. we are seeing a number of cities now with this incredible level of attack from the russians. first of all, on the west where you are, which has been seen as relatively safe, but preparations presumably for the attack to come to where you are too. yes, as james was saying this is a nation that is preparing itself in every corner to try and do what they can to defend themselves against russian aggression. here in the west in western ukraine in lviv it is relatively calm and relatively peaceful, but every now and then we are reminded of this war when air raid sirens go off and we are ushered into underground bunkers. just in the last few days that has happened several times. we discovered this bunker in a hotel where we met mothers, daughters, sisters, children. some men who had come from other parts of the country who will have to try and help the

women get out of this country. but they are here seeking shelter temporarily in lviv, tens of thousands of people have arrived into the city. the local population here are trying to do what they can to support them. it is, as you say, relatively peaceful and quiet. these underground bunkers exist all over the city and are suddenly yesterday when one of the sirens went off the military appeared and we were ushered underground into this coffee shop and there was this whole other world that existed there. so it is very much a city on edge, the country in turmoil, and this part of the country as well is really coming to terms with what is going on in the rest of the country. we have seen this incredibly resilient spirit across the country, but our people wanting to cross to poland in increasing numbers where you are? we have seen this obviously horrific fear of a nuclear incident earlier in the week. the fears are mounting,

aren't they?— aren't they? they are, and people aren't they? they are, and people are petrified- _ aren't they? they are, and people are petrified. i've _ aren't they? they are, and people are petrified. i've just _ aren't they? they are, and people are petrified. i've just spent - aren't they? they are, and people are petrified. i've just spent the l are petrified. i've just spent the afternoon with students, with young people in their early 20s, some as young as 18, i9 people in their early 20s, some as young as 18, 19 years old who were just a week ago studying at university and classes were called off on the 27th of february as a result of the fighting for the last ten days. what they have been doing is preparing for war, making molotov cocktails, or where i was in an arts centre that has now turned into a place where they make camouflage nets, they said they have about 200 volunteers and they make about 1k nets every day and the army comes to collect them to take them to other parts of the country. so there is this sense of fear but there is also this sense of fear but there is also this extraordinary sense of unity, solidarity, patriotism, and of course here in lviv it has always been this hub, or the centre of patriotism and nationalism. in the last eight years this place has been

a hub for tourists. they have been untouched by the conflict that has claimed the lives of over 111,000 ukrainians in the east and in other parts of the country. but here they remained on edge. they know there are no illusions, that there is a war in their country and it could come for them at any time. yalda, do the have come for them at any time. yalda, do they have conversations _ come for them at any time. yalda, do they have conversations where - come for them at any time. yalda, do they have conversations where they i they have conversations where they look at what might happen if russia does win, if putin does when complete couple political control and military control of that country? because there are then very big questions in terms of the potential resistance? and everyone is watching the civilian casualty number unfold in horrific terms right in front of us moment by moment. it right in front of us moment by moment. , right in front of us moment by moment-— right in front of us moment by moment. , , , ., , ., moment. it is deeply devastating when ou moment. it is deeply devastating when you see _ moment. it is deeply devastating when you see those _ moment. it is deeply devastating when you see those images - moment. it is deeply devastating i when you see those images emerge from places like mariupol, for example, or kherson, or khakis were a whole city has been flattened, and

civilian populations have had to move underground. we saw in some of those areas cancer wards full of children now being taken underground were they arejust children now being taken underground were they are just barely making calls to the international community is saying we are running out of medicine and food and we have no heating and we have no water. help us. —— kharkiv. that humanitarian corridor that was created today, we were told when we got up in the early hours of the morning that the russian defence ministry had announced of this corridor that would last for about five hours. i spoke to the deputy mayor of mariupol who first said we are trying to see what we could do to get at least 50 buses to get 5000-6000 get at least 50 buses to get 5000—6000 people out. this is a city that has about 450,000 people, and they say that 200,000 people need to come out. and within hours that ceasefire, that truce was broken and people said that they were being sheued people said that they were being shelled as they tried to get out, that they were facing the fighting. so here they are equally as terrified. there are conversations

in every corner of the city, with the young people i met today, with the young people i met today, with the elderly, with people coming in from other parts of the country. they don't know what the future holds. and for those women who have said goodbye to the men in their lives who are now looking to go towards the polish border or the hungarian border, or the slovakian border, the romanian border, trying to find a way out, there is heartbreak because families are being torn apart. we saw children in tears, utterly devastated because while they don't understand the full extent of what is going on, they know they are saying goodbye to their fathers and they know that they are not sure when and if they will be able to see them again. yalda hakim in lviv, thank you very much indeed for now. thank you. i'm joined now by antonina skobina, a ukrainian national living in new york, whose family are in mariupol. thank you forjoining us. tell us when you last had contact with your family. when you last had contact with your famil . ., ., ., ~ .,

family. hello and thank you for havin: family. hello and thank you for having me- _ family. hello and thank you for having me. the _ family. hello and thank you for having me. the last _ family. hello and thank you for having me. the last time - family. hello and thank you for having me. the last time i - family. hello and thank you for. having me. the last time i spoke family. hello and thank you for- having me. the last time i spoke to my mum was on the 2nd of march at 4:30pm. since then i wasn't able to reach her. ., ., , , , ., 4:30pm. since then i wasn't able to reach her. ., . , , reach her. how many members of your famil are reach her. how many members of your family are in — reach her. how many members of your family are in mariupol? _ reach her. how many members of your family are in mariupol? and _ reach her. how many members of your family are in mariupol? and how- family are in mariupol? and how fearful are you?— fearful are you? well, it's my mother and — fearful are you? well, it's my mother and grandparents, i fearful are you? well, it's myl mother and grandparents, and fearful are you? well, it's my i mother and grandparents, and i fearful are you? well, it's my - mother and grandparents, and i am completely devastated by what is happening because the last time i spoke to my mum she told me that there was no heating, no water, no electricity, her battery was running out. it was very, very cold. and i know that today it is snowing in mariupol so it has gotten even colder since then. so my grandparents, they need medicine, and my grandfather is diabetic, he needs insulin, so i don't know if he has any more insulin left. it's just complete devastation and it literallyjust kills me that i can't contact them. did literallyjust kills me that i can't contact them.— literallyjust kills me that i can't contactthem. , , ., ., , contact them. did they have a bomb shelter or somewhere _

contact them. did they have a bomb shelter or somewhere safe - contact them. did they have a bomb shelter or somewhere safe that - contact them. did they have a bombj shelter or somewhere safe that they might be in now? i shelter or somewhere safe that they might be in now?— might be in now? i know that where might be in now? i know that where m mum might be in now? i know that where my mum lives _ might be in now? i know that where my mum lives there _ might be in now? i know that where my mum lives there was _ might be in now? i know that where my mum lives there was a - might be in now? i know that where my mum lives there was a cellar - might be in now? i know that where | my mum lives there was a cellar but it is a cellar with no conditions, just a concrete floor with rats in it, so people have no bathrooms, you know, it is absolutely inhumane what is going on. and i know that many people are trapped in cellars like this, or bomb shelters, four days and they cannot come out and they are running out of food. they don't have water, it is devastating. it have water, it is devastating. it must be absolutely horrific to be in your position. we are hearing from so many people of course terrified for their own families and terrified for their own families and terrified for themselves too in this position. you are in america and we know that the united states and other nato countries say they cannot get involved. how do you feel about that? i involved. how do you feel about that? , , ,

involved. how do you feel about that? , ,, ., , , that? i feel helpless, honestly, because the — that? i feel helpless, honestly, because the whole _ that? i feel helpless, honestly, because the whole world - that? i feel helpless, honestly, because the whole world is - that? ifeel helpless, honestly, - because the whole world is watching right now a war going on live on television and the whole world is watching innocent people die and families separated and children being separated from their fathers and my country being destroyed to pieces and we are all watching it and ijust don't understand why the world does not step in and really help, because the sanctions are not helping my country at the moment because the country is burning and people are dying. so there is no concrete actions being taken to help the ukrainian people.— the ukrainian people. antonina, we hoe ou the ukrainian people. antonina, we hope you do — the ukrainian people. antonina, we hope you do manage _ the ukrainian people. antonina, we hope you do manage to _ the ukrainian people. antonina, we hope you do manage to contact - the ukrainian people. antonina, we| hope you do manage to contact your family. we know so many people around the world will be watching with the same desperate fear, and we wish you the very best. thank you forjoining us today.

our correspondent kasia madera, is on the poland—ukraine borderfor us now. you have been there for the last week. it looks like the numbers there are just increasing by the day. there are 'ust increasing by the da . , , ., ., day. the numbers are overwhelming. if ou think day. the numbers are overwhelming. if you think about _ day. the numbers are overwhelming. if you think about it, _ day. the numbers are overwhelming. if you think about it, over _ day. the numbers are overwhelming. if you think about it, over 1 _ if you think about it, over1 million people, at the moment the focus is on those who are predominantly coming to poland. nearly 800,000 people in the space ofjust over a week have come into this one country. to manage that number, the sheer volume of people, there is a whole infrastructure system going on here. this is one of the reception centres where people are being brought tojust the reception centres where people are being brought to just from the border, buses continually coming up with hundreds of people on them, they then turn around and go back to they then turn around and go back to the border. this is happening all the border. this is happening all the time. we have been here all day,

all the time, hundreds of people coming through. the figures will continue to grow. us secretary of state antony blinken was here just a little bit earlier on and he was here visiting the centre that has been created behind me where he saw row upon row upon row of camp beds where people are just getting a little bit of sleep and a little bit of respite. he's been saying and praising how poland has come together to look after all of these people who have had such difficult journeys. one of whom is a student who has come from kyiv who we have spoken to since this morning. i caught up with you this morning. you were going to move on, hoping to get to warsaw. how are you first of all? to be honest, if i say i'm fine that would _ to be honest, if i say i'm fine that would he — to be honest, if i say i'm fine that would he an— to be honest, if i say i'm fine that would be an understatement because i'm would be an understatement because i'm not. _ would be an understatement because i'm not. it _ would be an understatement because i'm not, it has been a very tough journey, —

i'm not, it has been a very tough journey, no _ i'm not, it has been a very tough journey, no sleep. we are here now, luckily— journey, no sleep. we are here now, luckily we _ journey, no sleep. we are here now, luckily we haven't gone back but we are here _ luckily we haven't gone back but we are here and that's the most important. 50 are here and that's the most important-— are here and that's the most imortant. ,, , , important. so you were studying, engineering _ important. so you were studying, engineering student _ important. so you were studying, engineering student in _ important. so you were studying, engineering student in kyiv - important. so you were studying, engineering student in kyiv and i engineering student in kyiv and you're left. tell me a bit about what that must�*ve been like. it what that must've been like. it tough because i remember the night before _ tough because i remember the night before i_ tough because i remember the night before i left there was a bomb blast 'ust before i left there was a bomb blast just two— before i left there was a bomb blast just two kilometres from the end we had to locate in the bomb— from the end we had to locate in the bomb shelters. it was a really tough one but— bomb shelters. it was a really tough one but i_ bomb shelters. it was a really tough one but i think leaving was the main thing _ one but i think leaving was the main thing and _ one but i think leaving was the main thing and that was the main motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs_ motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs to _ motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs to he — motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs to be heard you motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs to be hear— motivation for me leaving. ukraine needs to be heard you got from kyiv to lviv and that _ needs to be heard you got from kyiv to lviv and that was _ needs to be heard you got from kyiv to lviv and that was a _ needs to be heard you got from kyiv to lviv and that was a journey - needs to be heard you got from kyiv to lviv and that was a journey in - to lviv and that was a journey in itself as well. he to lviv and that was a 'ourney in itself as mat to lviv and that was a 'ourney in itself as well. he had to lviv was a 'ourne , itself as well. he had to lviv was a journey. a — itself as well. he had to lviv was a journey, a memorable _ itself as well. he had to lviv was a journey, a memorable journey, . itself as well. he had to lviv was a journey, a memorable journey, at| itself as well. he had to lviv was a i journey, a memorable journey, at the same _ journey, a memorable journey, at the same time _ journey, a memorable journey, at the same time it— journey, a memorable journey, at the same time it is a journey you wish you were —

same time it is a journey you wish you were never there because i'd like to— you were never there because i'd like to take — you were never there because i'd like to take the positive from it, though— like to take the positive from it, though it — like to take the positive from it, though it was tough we went through so many— though it was tough we went through so many things from the train station — so many things from the train station you had to push yourself in, you have _ station you had to push yourself in, you have to— station you had to push yourself in, you have to do a lot of things and there _ you have to do a lot of things and there were — you have to do a lot of things and there were restrictions. a lot of things— there were restrictions. a lot of things with people being left behind and people even injured themselves in the _ and people even injured themselves in the process and it is something that we _ in the process and it is something that we need to pay more attention to, not— that we need to pay more attention to, notjust — that we need to pay more attention to, notjust the city that we need to pay more attention to, not just the city of the people but people moving to where they need to be but people moving to where they need to he in— but people moving to where they need to be in safety. the but people moving to where they need to be in safety-— to be in safety. the priority as women and — to be in safety. the priority as women and children _ to be in safety. the priority as women and children so - to be in safety. the priority as women and children so it i to be in safety. the priority as| women and children so it must to be in safety. the priority as i women and children so it must have been hard to get onto the trains. you crossed then and got to the border and then what happened? yes. border and then what happened? yes, the riori border and then what happened? yes, the priority was _ border and then what happened? yes, the priority was women and children, which _ the priority was women and children, which of— the priority was women and children, which of course, is deeply understandable. it was very, very tough _ understandable. it was very, very tough we — understandable. it was very, very tough. we got to lviv and from lviv

we had _ tough. we got to lviv and from lviv we had to— tough. we got to lviv and from lviv we had to leave lviv to the ukrainian _ we had to leave lviv to the ukrainian border which was the most horrible _ ukrainian border which was the most horrible and — ukrainian border which was the most horrible and terrifying thing i have experienced because we were out in the cold _ experienced because we were out in the cold for— experienced because we were out in the cold for a long period of time. we are _ the cold for a long period of time. we are talking more than half a day, 16 hours— we are talking more than half a day, 16 hours and — we are talking more than half a day, 16 hours and it was very tough. we finally— 16 hours and it was very tough. we finally got — 16 hours and it was very tough. we finally got here at 5am in the morning. _ finally got here at 5am in the morning, so it was a nightmare. but like i_ morning, so it was a nightmare. but like i said. _ morning, so it was a nightmare. but like i said. i— morning, so it was a nightmare. but like i said, iwant morning, so it was a nightmare. but like i said, i want to take the positive, _ like i said, i want to take the positive, and that's the fact that what _ positive, and that's the fact that what happened, everything that happened, the difficulties, the strains. — happened, the difficulties, the strains, everything that happened because _ strains, everything that happened because of what was going on. now ou're because of what was going on. now you're here — because of what was going on. now you're here in _ because of what was going on. firm? you're here in poland, how do you feel? ., �* ., ., you're here in poland, how do you feel? ., �* ., . ., . feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is nood, feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good. and — feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good. and l — feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good, and i feel— feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good, and i feel happy _ feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good, and i feel happy to _ feel? now i'm here in poland, poland is good, and i feel happy to be - is good, and i feel happy to be safe _ is good, and i feel happy to be safe but — is good, and i feel happy to be safe. but at the same time i will feel more — safe. but at the same time i will feel more comfortable if everyone is

safe _ feel more comfortable if everyone is safe. , ., feel more comfortable if everyone is safe. , . ., ~ feel more comfortable if everyone is safe. , . . , . ~ feel more comfortable if everyone is safe. , . ., ,, ., safe. understandable. thank you for relivin: safe. understandable. thank you for reliving your— safe. understandable. thank you for reliving yourjourney, _ safe. understandable. thank you for reliving yourjourney, and _ safe. understandable. thank you for reliving yourjourney, and i - safe. understandable. thank you for reliving yourjourney, and i know i reliving yourjourney, and i know you are hopefully going to get transport to one of the main centres and kind of move on because i know you want to get to germany. this is one person's story, those stories where hearing time and time again of the difficulties of getting out of the difficulties of getting out of the country and coming to the safety of poland. and of course these people now have to work out what they do next. 800,000 people have come to poland, that's one person's story. there are so many people experiencing this, and those numbers will rise. ., , ., experiencing this, and those numbers will rise. . , . ., experiencing this, and those numbers will rise. ., ., ., will rise. kasia madera, on the border, thank _ will rise. kasia madera, on the border, thank you _ will rise. kasia madera, on the border, thank you very - will rise. kasia madera, on the border, thank you very much l will rise. kasia madera, on the i border, thank you very much indeed. we will be back with kasia madera in the coming hours. i'm joined now by valentina butenko. she's a british national in ukraine, organising aid for refugees in the country's west. thank you forjoining us. tell us how you are managing to help people. well, i am currently lucky enough to be in western ukraine in a town

which is currently relatively protected from a lot of the shelling. obviously because of that it has become a huge help for a lot of refugees, especially women and children trying to escape these horrific bomb sites. so a lot of the work we are doing here is trying to places to relocate people. there is just such a mass of people getting income and honestly there isn't enough space to relocate everyone we would like. we are having to find abandoned houses and old buildings, clean them, buy curtains, set up beds, buy up very basic equipment and essentially build up rooms, makeshift kitchens from the very bottom, so a lot of the work right now has been just trying to create the most kind of basic livable shelters we can for people pouring into cities, pouring into western

ukraine from some of these horrific events. and a lot of these people are also coming and hungry, tired, freezing cold. it is snowing in ukraine right now and they are quite traumatised. so a lot of the work is also talking to them and helping settle them in and helping calm them down, orient them in terms of where they are and their next steps, and that's just the work on relocation. a lot of the work we are doing as well as helping people plan out routes to get across the border. we are near the moldovan border here so we are trying to organise buses, help people come again mothers and children mostly, get a cross safely and find shelter and find food. so there is a lot of work and it is really difficult every day meeting these people and seeing these people and knowing that there is only so much you can do to protect them because the only thing that can

protect these people ultimately is to stop bombs falling on my country. the people that you are with, have they been able to escape the major cities? are they coming from smaller towns or the countryside? we are seeing it is so dangerous for everyone to be out on the streets now. yes is it is a variety. most of the people are coming from big cities. obviously they are the only ones that can get out. the way these people escape, it is really quite heartbreaking. i get calls in the middle of the night at three or 4am from families on the road completely freaked out because there is shelling where they are, they do not know where they are, they don't know where they can find shelter and we have to organise that in the moment, get them out, get them safety, calm them down. it is mostly coming from these very heavily bombarded, heavily affected cities. what these very heavily bombarded, heavily affected cities. what are

they saying _ heavily affected cities. what are they saying to — heavily affected cities. what are they saying to you? _ heavily affected cities. what are they saying to you? are - heavily affected cities. what are they saying to you? are you i heavily affected cities. what are i they saying to you? are you hearing exactly what has happened to them or from people where the russian forces have taken over the cities or taken over parts of cities at least? i over parts of cities at least? i mean, the amount of stories vary hugely. there are people who have spent most of their time in bomb shelters and in bunkers and they have not seen daylight for days sometimes. there are people who actually had their houses bombed or destroyed. i met someone today who had a friend who was staying with them and half of the house was blown up them and half of the house was blown up and the friend died. horrific incidences. everyone has experienced some level of terror and violence. there is no one who comes here who is not completely traumatised by what is going on. you

is not completely traumatised by what is going on.— what is going on. you are doing incredibly important _ what is going on. you are doing incredibly important work. i what is going on. you are doing incredibly important work. are | what is going on. you are doing i incredibly important work. are you planning to stay there because there must be a worry that eventually even where you are it is not going to be safe. ~ , . ., . , , where you are it is not going to be safe. ,~ , safe. well, my choices in terms of where i safe. well, my choices in terms of where i am _ safe. well, my choices in terms of where i am and _ safe. well, my choices in terms of where i am and what _ safe. well, my choices in terms of where i am and what i'm - safe. well, my choices in terms of where i am and what i'm doing i safe. well, my choices in terms ofj where i am and what i'm doing are determined by one thing and one thing only and that is where i can be most effective in helping ukraine and helping end this war. to be completely honest, the more i work here, the more i stay here, the more i realise that we have a lot of humanitarian aid going in, we have hundreds and thousands of volunteers here on the ground who are helping out, but humanitarian aid does not stop wars, it does not stop bombs falling on my cities and it is not going to stop people dying. and the more i see people's stories and the more i see people's stories and the more i see them with my own eyes the more i see them with my own eyes the more i see that the only way to stop this conflict is for the west to get involved, to draw a line between good and evil and understand this

conflict is not complicated, it is black and white. it is the difference between freedom and people's lives and death and to close the skies and stop this war now. it is the only way to save lives. i now. it is the only way to save lives. ~ ., , ., ., ., now. it is the only way to save lives. ~ ., ., ., ., ., lives. i know you are doing a lot of work helping _ lives. i know you are doing a lot of work helping people _ lives. i know you are doing a lot of work helping people where - lives. i know you are doing a lot of work helping people where you i lives. i know you are doing a lot of. work helping people where you can. thank you very much forjoining us. i'm joined now by christine allen, ceo for overseas development, an ngo helping provide humanitarian aid in ukraine. iam sure i am sure you are hearing many of the same stories. the humanitarian core doors that were supposed to be working today have not. is there a hope that they can resume? or that they can be made to operate safely? there has got to be that whole. there has got to be that whole. there really has. you have heard such devastating stories of people. it is actually essential that the military and workers and you have heard those humanitarian workers are

not international people. they are local people, local volunteers and organisations. they absolutely need that safety to be able to deliver the humanitarian aid and support thatis the humanitarian aid and support that is necessary for people. it must be incredibly difficult. how if these corridors do work and we have seen them attempt to him other conflicts, what is the chance of success? because we have seen a lot of problems in the past with them. with cease—fires being breached. weapons and ours being smuggled in, the breakdown of trust. it is incredibly difficult to make this work. it incredibly difficult to make this work. , ., , work. it is, we have seen it in s ria work. it is, we have seen it in syria and _ work. it is, we have seen it in syria and other _ work. it is, we have seen it in syria and other places. i work. it is, we have seen it in syria and other places. there| syria and other places. there are concerns about when they break down. at the end of the day, humanitarians always work based on need. if you try to police those kind of safe

corridors, and your assumption is old arms are going to get through, then you are denying people essential aid. there is a certain sense of trust that needs his to be given to humanitarian aid workers. if you close it down you are punishing people. is if you close it down you are punishing people.— if you close it down you are punishing people. if you close it down you are unishin: --eole. , ., ., punishing people. is there a danger that onl a punishing people. is there a danger that only a limited _ punishing people. is there a danger that only a limited number - punishing people. is there a danger that only a limited number of i punishing people. is there a dangerl that only a limited number of people get out via these corridors and then the assault can intensify behind them on those were left behind? absolutely, that is one of the biggest dangers. as other people have said is that the real answer to this is peace, a complete cease—fire, a cessation of hostilities, but until that happens, we have got to be able to address and meet the needs of so many people. it is notjust in the main cities, it is also on the roads. we have heard from our own partners that convoys and people being

evacuated are being attacked. this is really very wrong. latte evacuated are being attacked. this is really very wrong.— is really very wrong. we are also hearin: , is really very wrong. we are also hearing. i _ is really very wrong. we are also hearing, i think _ is really very wrong. we are also hearing, i think were _ is really very wrong. we are also hearing, i think were going i is really very wrong. we are also hearing, i think were going to i is really very wrong. we are also l hearing, i think were going to hear from them in a few minutes, i expect a group of... there is it group of indians who were trapped on the east of the country who cannot get out. do you have any information if they were able to be evacuated out into the russian territories, especially if their internationals, is there a precedent forgetting those people out to their home countries safely? it is too far for them to go to the they say. it is too far for them to go to the the sa . ., . ., they say. under the un guidance and reaulation they say. under the un guidance and regulation there _ they say. under the un guidance and regulation there is _ they say. under the un guidance and regulation there is an _ they say. under the un guidance and regulation there is an expectation i regulation there is an expectation that internationals will be treated well, but the reality of this conflict and the reality of russian behaviour it feels... it raises questions. i think it is important for political pressure being put

much as possible on in order to have people like this have that access. thank you very much for your time. a bit more on those students. nearly a thousand indian students are trapped in a number of hostels in sumy, one of ukraine's conflict zones. they say they have nowhere to go, no food and no water and are fearing for their lives. they have sent a desperate plea to the indian government to help save them. translator: in order to go i we will need to exit the hostel. there are snipers outside everywhere. there are snipers outside everywhere. every 30 minutes to one of them are shelling and air strikes. it is freezing outside. subzero temperatures outside. how do we step out when it is freezing outside? we have been requesting the indian government to rescue us from here. we fear we will die here, we will die if we step out. please help us, government of india. we have no food and no access to water. please help us.

and mahtab raza, who you just saw now, spoke to me earlier from his hostel in sumy. right now the situation is not good. from sumy we are very far from the eastern side. latte from sumy we are very far from the eastern side-— eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern part — eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern part of _ eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern part of ukraine. _ eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern part of ukraine. right i eastern side. we are in ukraine, the eastern part of ukraine. right now l eastern part of ukraine. right now we are in a hostile. —— we are in a hostel. you are very near the border with russia. have you tried to leave or been given any advice in terms of how to leave the area? no, not any advice from the government.

our embassy told us to stay in hostel, don't move from there. without any permission. without any confirmation. we were trying to... have you heard any fighting where you are? have you heard any fighting where ou are? , ., you are? yes, all the time. fighting. — you are? yes, all the time. fighting, blasts _ you are? yes, all the time. fighting, blasts outside. i you are? yes, all the time. i fighting, blasts outside. every you are? yes, all the time. - fighting, blasts outside. every hour two hour there are blasts outside. there are also air strikes. interference you have seen it through the window, air strikes. have you had food or water at all? what? ., , ., ., ., ., ., what? have you managed to get hold of an food what? have you managed to get hold of any food or— what? have you managed to get hold of any food or water, _ what? have you managed to get hold

of any food or water, supplies? i of any food or water, supplies? right now we have a water crisis. we don't have water. we don't have water to make food or going to the toilet. no water supply right now. how long has it been since you had water? ,, . how long has it been since you had water? . . ., how long has it been since you had water? ,, . ., , how long has it been since you had water?_ so - how long has it been since you had water?_ so you - how long has it been since you had| water?_ so you have water? since two days. so you have not drunk any _ water? since two days. so you have not drunk any at _ water? since two days. so you have not drunk any at all? _ water? since two days. so you have not drunk any at all? no, _ water? since two days. so you have not drunk any at all? no, we - water? since two days. so you have not drunk any at all? no, we only . not drunk any at all? no, we only have a little _ not drunk any at all? no, we only have a little bit _ not drunk any at all? no, we only have a little bit of— not drunk any at all? no, we only have a little bit of water to - not drunk any at all? no, we only have a little bit of water to drink. | have a little bit of water to drink. a department member came to provide else member —— to provide us water to drink. , but we don't have water for toilets, washing her hands or face or to make food. no water supply. since two days. you cannot aet out to supply. since two days. you cannot get out to the _ supply. since two days. you cannot get out to the pole _ supply. since two days. you cannot

get out to the pole and _ supply. since two days. you cannot get out to the pole and or- supply. since two days. you cannot get out to the pole and or romaniaj get out to the pole and or romania side because it is too dangerous. is it too dangerous for you to try to leave and go into russia? latte it too dangerous for you to try to leave and go into russia? we cannot, we cannot go- — leave and go into russia? we cannot, we cannot go- we _ leave and go into russia? we cannot, we cannot go. we cannot _ leave and go into russia? we cannot, we cannot go. we cannot leave i leave and go into russia? we cannot, we cannot go. we cannot leave from | we cannot go. we cannot leave from here. it is very far from here. we cannot go. we cannot leave from here. it is very farfrom here. if we were to go from here, we might get shot on the way. some international people who left to go to the airport they got shot. we cannot go without any security or safety. without government permissions. we cannot leave sumy. are you —— have you been given any help at all from anyone in india or ukraine? latte help at all from anyone in india or ukraine? ~ ., help at all from anyone in india or ukraine? ~ . , , ., ukraine? we are requesting help from india as ukraine? we are requesting help from lndia as well — ukraine? we are requesting help from india as well as _ ukraine? we are requesting help from india as well as ukraine. _ ukraine? we are requesting help from

india as well as ukraine. our- ukraine? we are requesting help from india as well as ukraine. our daily i india as well as ukraine. our daily life... day by day we are suffering, big and critical situations. we cannot exist any more here. you are from all over— cannot exist any more here. you are from all over india. _ cannot exist any more here. you are from all over india. there _ cannot exist any more here. you are from all over india. there are - cannot exist any more here. you are from all over india. there are 800, l from all over india. there are 800, 900 students _ from all over india. there are 800, 900 students here. _ from all over india. there are 800, 900 students here. stuck - from all over india. there are 800, 900 students here. stuck here - from all over india. there are 800, 900 students here. stuck here and\ 900 students here. stuck here and sue right now. —— stuck in sumy. you sue right now. -- stuck in sumy. you must be fearful _ sue right now. —— stuck in sumy. you must be fearful that you are not going to be able to leave. we cannot leave, going to be able to leave. we cannot leave. man- — going to be able to leave. we cannot leave. man- no _ going to be able to leave. we cannot leave, man. no one _ going to be able to leave. we cannot leave, man. no one can _ going to be able to leave. we cannot leave, man. no one can leave - going to be able to leave. we cannot| leave, man. no one can leave hostel. they cannot go outside. we have no cash, the atm is close, the bank is closed. he cash, the atm is close, the bank is closed. . , , , ., ~ ., , closed. he was speaking to me he is nearl -- closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he — closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he is— closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he is one _ closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he is one of _ closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he is one of nearly - closed. he was speaking to me he is nearly -- he is one of nearly 1000 l nearly —— he is one of nearly 1000

indians stuck in sumy. we're going to show you some pretty stark video now — it's of a russian helicopter being shot down by ukrainian forces. the pictures — showing a russian m|—24 helicopter being struck by a surface to air missile — come from a ukrainian government source. it's not clear where exactly in ukraine the strike took place. it isa it is a russian helicopter being shot down by ukrainian forces. it is a russian helicopter being shot down by ukrainian forces. the russian president vladimir putin says everything is going to plan in ukraine and the russian army will fulfil its aims as part of what he calls its special military operation. mr putin was speaking during a visit to the aeroflot training centre near moscow. he rejected suggestions he'll introduce a state of emergency or martial law in russia, following his decision to invade ukraine. when asked, mr putin said russia had not deployed conscripted troops there — that's despite reports to the contrary.

aeroflot, russia's flagship airline, has announced that it will stop all flights abroad with the exception of those to belarus from march 8th. residents of kherson, the only big city to have fallen to the russian army so far, have been holding a loud protest in central square against the occupiers. videos on social media show russian soldiers firing into the air to deter the approaching crowd. my colleague yalda hakim has been speaking to yevhen, a resident in kherson in southern ukraine — the first major city to be taken by russia, after heavy fighting, since it invaded. we're just using his first name to protect his safety. i want to say they said kherson is on the edge of humanitarian catastrophe because the city is running out of food and medicine. he wants a humane corridor for aid

but that was rejected. instead of that they are using it for propaganda purposes. they were pretending they were kherson citizens who are taking aid and saying you, the russian troops. it was a small group. they take nothing. they said we need nothing for the occupants. they said to russian troops that. today the second part of russian

propaganda because russian troops were in the centre of kherson. they are going... at the moment, is the fighting in kherson? our ukrainian forces trying to take the city back? every night we hear about six or ten explosions. it sounds like mortars because we know how mortars sound from the first day. we don't know who is bombing. today russian troops were firing in the air but not on the people. about 2000 people. on the centre square.

tell us a little bit more about the people who gathered at the square. what did they say and how did the russian troops respond? the people on the centre square, normal people with the russian flag. not recording for russian propaganda. real citizens were on the centre square. they were surrounded. the agreement of russian soldiers, demanding from them to leave kherson. they said they are occupying and they are not the liberator. after some time, a huge amount of people will go across from the city.

we call it the march of freedom, of independence. for ukrainian people. are you currently able to go back to your home or are you staying in some kind of underground bunker? what are the living conditions like? we were in the underground bunker when the russians were bombing kherson. now they are in kherson. every nightly he mortars. we don't know why. now we are in our homes because we are trying not to go outside. russian groups are stopping cars, they are checking even friends. —— they are checking the phones. they are looking on the gallery

and searching evidence for help for the ukrainian army. that was the interview with a resident in kherson. russia's invasion of ukraine has sent shockwaves across countries neighbouring russia, amongst them finland, which was invaded by the soviet union during the second world war. for the first time in the country's history, public opinion has shifted in favour ofjoining nato — that's the military alliance of 30 nations — despite president putin's threat of 'military and political consequences�*. our world affairs editor, john simpson, reports from the finnish—russian border. a finnish border patrol sets out along the line of the frontier. times are changing here. russia's attack on ukraine has been a profound shock to people in finland, and a majority of firms now want to give up their old neutrality and join the western alliance. a solitary red post marks the point

where russian territory begins. and so, as a direct consequence of the invasion of ukraine, and of russia's heavy—handed warning to finland not even to think aboutjoining nato, this could one day be the border between nato and russia. it's the precise opposite of what russia wanted. at the border crossing point, a steady line of russians coming into finland. there are rumours that president putin will soon introduce martial law, and plenty of people who don't agree with the invasion of ukraine are getting out in case of trouble from the authorities. this student's one of them. we tried to do something with our government, but... it's nothing. so, while vladimir putin is in power, there is nothing much that can be done?

for russians, coming to finland is an escape from the dangers of life there, but for people on this side of the border, there is realfear that the tensions within russia could boil over and engulf finland itself. john simpson, bbc news, on the finnish border with russia. in ukraine, the media is their ally and it's the first—time in a major conflict that younger people have been able to show the rest of the world what's happening to them via social media platforms like tiktok, telegram and twitter. we've seen social media being used around the world and all the horrific conflicts that we have seen in recent years. horrific conflicts that we have seen in recent years. valeria lives in ukraine and has been posting videos showing the situation in her city. graham satchell has been speaking to her.

every day, 20—year—old valeria has been posting videos, documenting the war on her social media pages. i make content on tiktok, instagram, and every person needs to know about our problem. i think it is not a ukrainian problem. it is a world problem. everybody needs to see and to know what is happening, because it looks like a third world war in the 21st century. this video has been watched more than a million times. it is the first time in a major conflict that younger people have been able to show the rest of the world what's happening to them in an instant. i have a normal bomb shelter. it's like a small house underground. valeria showed us the basement where she's been living

with her mum and dad. it's my fridge, some food we buy, like bread — bread, milk, eggs, something simple. for now, we have a dangerous atmosphere outside, so now i'm in a place where i feel myself — i feel safe with my family, mother, father and my little dog. as well as filming damage above ground, valeria has documented life underground, cooking with her mum, dancing with her dad. but in the last few days, the war has come ever closer. this is valeria's hometown on thursday. explosion. the explosion is reported to have killed more than a0 civilians. i can't believe that it's happening in my native city where i live, where i spend my school time, childhood...yes.

do you feel scared, valeria? i feel scared when i see tanks near my house, soldiers, when i hear that near my city people are dead from the russian army, and our people wanted to protect our city and our country. despite the devastation all around her, valeria is determined to stay upbeat, and she will keep posting videos to tell the world what's happening in ukraine. graham satchell, bbc news. 0k, ok, we will bring you all the latest. we have some diplomatic lines that are coming in. we will

update you on the top of the hour. do stay with us. thank you for being with us. hello. where you had the coldest, frosty start this is where you are seeing most of the saturday sunshine so far today. here is a view from wales. northern ireland, much of scotland seeing the sunshine as well. but it's a very different story across much of the eastern side of england. this cloud giving a little light rain and drizzle in places too from a weather front which is hanging around through the rest of today and only very gradually moving westwards over the weekend and weakening as it does so. as you can see elsewhere where we are getting all of the sunshine most places are looking dry. though the chance ofjust catching the odd shower and some patchy cloud around the northern half of scotland. but this is the cloudier zone, through much of the eastern side of england, the east midlands and down into southern england, a bit of patchy light rain and drizzle. the further west you are in south—west england and you've got

some sunshine through wales, northern ireland and into scotland. it is chilliest where you have the cloud today, just six or 7 degrees. this is where you have the strongest north—easterly breeze as well, so adding an extra chill proceedings. some of the cloud will nudge a little bit further west overnight into parts of wales, the west midlands, more of south—west england. where you have the thickest cloud, and still some drizzle, just a chance of a patchy frost but the lowest temperatures will be under clearest skies, particularly across scotland and northern ireland. —5 to —8 in the coldest spots here, but with plenty of sunshine. it is across southern england, parts of wales too and the midlands that we are most likely to continue with some cloud and the chance of some drizzle tomorrow. and the strongest, coldest wind as well. although a few brighter spells coming through, most of the sunshine will be in northern ireland, northern england and scotland. still feeling quite chilly, particularly where you have the wind and cloud and may be a bit chillier in scotland and northern ireland compared with today. and with a less in the way of cloud around, overnight

and into monday morning, seeing more widespread frost setting in but the clearest skies are likely to be in northern england and scotland by monday morning. this is where we will see the lowest temperatures and the sharpest frost. the likelihood on monday that most places will be dry but the cloud shifting a little further north during the day into more of scotland and northern ireland, more sunny spells developing in england and wales, still feeling chilly, and particularly in the wind. the story of the week ahead is of high pressure giving plenty of dry weather. it will gradually give way to low pressure from the atlantic, so turning wetter, still windy, but milder later in the week.

everyone to be out on the streets now.

this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm geeta guru—murthy. our top stories: officials in the besieged city of mariupol say the evacuation of up to 200,000 civilians has been postponed because russian forces are not observing a planned ceasefire. they continue to destroy mariupol. we decided to move our citizens back because it is not safe to be on the streets. just to know that they are alive. like, every time i close my eyes i can see and hear my mum and hear the voice of my dad, and i don't know if i will hear them again. sorry...

the city authorities say talks are under way