as russian forces close in on the city. this is bbc news. welcome. our top stories. civilians have been fleeing for their lives and the relentless bombardmentjust 25 kilometres for their lives and the relentless bombardment just 25 kilometres from the capital. the attacks on the civil population, including carpet bombarding of the cities, which are basically happening these days already in some cities, will be taking place and thousands and thousands

of new civilian victims will be in ukraine. the siege city will attempt another evacuation of civilians after a similar plan was abandoned due to the continuation of fighting. us offers to help ease the fastest growing refugee crisis since the second world war. we're bringing our own technical expertise to bear, including here in the republic of moldova. we'll also be bringing resources to bear to help alleviate some of the burden that moldova and other countries are carrying. and anti—war protests on the streets of russia. more than 1000 people have been detained in 29 cities across the country according to one monitoring group.

hello and welcome. ukrainian authorities say towns north—west of the p ever under intense bombardment with intense fighting between russian—ukrainian border sis. with intense fighting between russian—ukrainian bordersis. —— with intense fighting between russian—ukrainian border sis. —— are under intense bombardment. meanwhile a new temporary ceasefire to evacuate thousands of civilians in the besieged southern city of mariupol appears to have collapsed afterjust hours. this is the second day in a vote that it has failed our correspondent charlotte gallagher has the latest. a russian strike on irpin — violence, destruction and panic. this city based in the capital is in during heavy fighting with more and more

people attempting to escape. this city based in the capital is enduring heavy fighting with more and more people attempting to escape. many are heading to lviv, a city close to the polish border. the train station here is overwhelmed by the crowds. these children from an orphanage are some of the latest to leave. she cries. for one of their carers, it'sjust too much. "my heart is being torn apart", she says. "it's so tough". a few miles from the train station, weapons are being handed out. not to soldiers and police but ordinary citizens who want to defend their city, families and ukraine. it isa it is a scene repeated across the country. it is a scene repeated across the count . ~ . ., ., it is a scene repeated across the count . ~ . . ., , country. we have gained a future but still fi . htin: country. we have gained a future but still fighting for _ country. we have gained a future but still fighting for a _ country. we have gained a future but still fighting for a present. _ country. we have gained a future but still fighting for a present. it - country. we have gained a future but still fighting for a present. it is - still fighting for a present. it is very important. we are still fighting for where border will be between life and slavery. this is the time when it is still possible to defeat evil without a parable losses. the abandoned streets of

mariupol, a city under siege. encircled by russian troops around 200,000 people have been running out of food, water and power living in darkness in sellers. yesterday, the hope of escape was dashed after russian shelling folk eight ceasefire agreed to allow people to leave, although moscow blamed ukraine. ., , ukraine. today, there will be another attempt _ ukraine. today, there will be another attempt to _ ukraine. today, there will be another attempt to evacuate | another attempt to evacuate civilians. the city mayor says they are under constant threat. translation: in are under constant threat. translation:— are under constant threat. translation: , , are under constant threat. translation: , ., translation: in the first days of the war we _ translation: in the first days of the war we counted _ translation: in the first days of the war we counted the _ translation: in the first days of the war we counted the victims i the war we counted the victims intense. today we count them in hundreds. soon we will count them in thousands. they won't even give us a chance to count the wind and the dead because the shelling has not stopped the six days. —— winded and the dead. stopped the six days. -- winded and the dead. , , ., , .,, ., the dead. this is what people fear here. strikes _ the dead. this is what people fear here. strikes from _ the dead. this is what people fear here. strikes from the _ the dead. this is what people fear here. strikes from the sky. - the dead. this is what people fearl here. strikes from the sky. despite moscow's promises the russian air force have hit how to schools and hospitals, not only military

targets. putin's price target is the capital kyiv, though. the scars of war already visible. 0n the outskirts, troops and volunteers of imposition and defences are being rapidly erected like these anti—tank hedgehogs. the resistance remains defiant. charlotte gallagher, news, lviv. in the last hour, we have been hearing from the president of ukraine volodymyr zelensky as he talks about some of the description caused by russian troops and ukraine let's listening to some of what he has had to say. translation: i let's listening to some of what he has had to say. translation: i have 'ust been has had to say. translation: i have just been told — has had to say. translation: i have just been told about _ has had to say. translation: i have just been told about the _ has had to say. translation: i have just been told about the rocket - just been told about the rocket strike. eight rockets against our town. against our peaceful, good city that never threatened russia by anyway. a rocket strike. tough,

cynical, completely flattened the airport. they carry on destroying our infrastructure, our lives, bill biles, by ourfathers, by our grandfathers and grandmothers, by generations of ukrainians. every day we keep saying close the sky over ukraine to all russian rockets, to russian military aviation, to all those terrorists and major humanitarian air zones without rockets, without planes. we are people. your humanitarian responsibility is to protect us, to protect people. you can do that. if you won't do that, if you want at least give us planes was to be able to protect ourselves only one conclusion could be drawn. you also want us to be very slowly kills and thatis want us to be very slowly kills and that is the responsibility of global politicians and western leaders from today and forever.

that is ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky with an appeal and also speaking about the damage that has been inflicted on ukrainian cities by russian troops. some of the other lines that we are just getting in now, we have heard that a plan to evacuate civilians from the besieged southern city of mariupol appears to have collapsed. ukrainian—russian border says have blamed each other for failing to observe a ceasefire that would allow local people to escape and you might remember that a similar agreement fell apart on saturday so that is that latest news coming through the southern, south—eastern port city of mariupol that for the second day attempt to evacuate trap citizens of foreign apart. now, borisjohnson now, boris johnson is now, borisjohnson is urging world leaders to match words with deeds and ukraine as he prepares to host talks with canadian and dutch by ministers in downing street

tomorrow. meanwhile, the labour leader sir keir starmer has called for a parliamentary committee to investigate claims that boris johnson personally intervened in the process of granting a peerage to the russian newspaper owner lord after thatis russian newspaper owner lord after that is warned it would pose a risk to national security. the governments of the rules had been applied vigorously. here's our correspondent helen catt. this is a multi—million pound yacht belonging to a russian oligarchs eased initially. uk government has been criticised for lagging behind. it is now changing the law to speed sanctions and individuals. labour will back it in a vote tomorrow but once ministers, ministers to reduce how long overseas and have to register their assets. the government _ register their assets. the government initially - register their assets. tue: government initially said, register their assets. tte: government initially said, well, register their assets. tt2 government initially said, well, we will give people a vote tomorrow but once ministers, ministers to reduce how long overseas owners have to register their assets. the government initially said, well, we will give people 18 months here in

the united kingdom so tomorrow we want to push them further to reduce that down to 20 days, make it a really effective sanction, so that we can put maximum pressure on russia. �* ., , we can put maximum pressure on russia. 1, _ ., ., russia. boris johnson will not, close the _ russia. boris johnson will not, close the leaders _ russia. boris johnson will not, close the leaders canada - russia. boris johnson will not, close the leaders canada and l russia. boris johnson will not, i close the leaders canada and the netherlands tomorrow to discuss ukraine and russia. but there have been questions about his admittance of a russian born newspaper owners to the house of lords. in 2020 british intelligence assessment giving a peerage to him posed a national security risk. the paper said that assessment was withdrawn after mrjohnson personally intervened. sir keir starmer has called for a parliamentary committee to investigate. sir keir starmer has called for a parliamentary committee to investigate the deputy prime minister said there was no evidence to do so. , ., , minister said there was no evidence todoso. i, .., to do so. there is a very strict and strin . ent to do so. there is a very strict and stringent process _ to do so. there is a very strict and stringent process when _ to do so. there is a very strict and stringent process when anyone . to do so. there is a very strict and stringent process when anyone is | stringent process when anyone is granted a peerage. i don't know the

facts of the case, i'm not involved in it, but i do know it was applied very vigorously in this case. downing street said all individuals nominated for a peerage so in recognition of their contributions to society and all privileges were vetted by the house of lords committee. earlierthe vetted by the house of lords committee. earlier the lord added his voice to the condemnation of the attack in ukraine paper the evening standard he issued a personal appeal to vladimir putin to stop the war. we can now go to the situation inside ukraine. i'm joined now by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet live from kyiv. good to see you. russian troops continue to close in on the capital. what's the latest from there? the latest is that _ what's the latest from there? tt2 latest is that there has been a badge of shelling just less than 50 miles north west of kyiv and what was a humanitarian corridor to allow people to flee from the besieged town of irpin. we saw heart—rending

scenes there yesterday of people just fleeing in droves, elderly women holding their shopping bags, people with dogs and carrying their children, people in tears as they watch their houses in flames from russian shelling, their lives being shattered are now, today, shelling of that area by russian forces, eyewitness accounts from that area including a bbc team was there at the time. they are safe. the bridge, a makeshift bridge which was allowing allowing people to leave from irpin to go to the train station, head towards here and then towards a safer place was struck and has been broken. yesterday there was a photograph of people sheltering under that bridge. thousands of people taking shelter and now that has been blasted away. we're also hearing reports from mariupol to the south and that was to be a second attempt to try to allow people to flee from that the siege city when

residential areas of under attack, people have been running out of food, water, no electricity. again, they came under russian shelling so we have heard from local officials that again people have gone back to a besieged city wondering, feeling, when will they ever see that promise made good that they will be a cover door without being attacked by russian forces that they can somehow make it to safety. figs russian forces that they can somehow make it to safety.— make it to safety. as you have ointed make it to safety. as you have pointed out. — make it to safety. as you have pointed out, this _ make it to safety. as you have pointed out, this is _ make it to safety. as you have pointed out, this is a - make it to safety. as you have pointed out, this is a very - pointed out, this is a very difficult situation for people who are stuck in the middle of this concept, conflict. it is too unsafe to stay where they are, do dangerously. what options do they have left? —— too dangerous to leave. iiit have left? -- too dangerous to leave. ,., have left? -- too dangerous to leave. , , , ., leave. in some places there is no lace to leave. in some places there is no place to hide- — leave. in some places there is no place to hide. if— leave. in some places there is no place to hide. if you _ leave. in some places there is no place to hide. if you were - leave. in some places there is no place to hide. if you were in - leave. in some places there is no place to hide. if you were in irpinj place to hide. if you were in irpin your house has been burnt to a crisp, houses have been shelved for the last few days, you fear for yourself, yourfamilies, you try

the last few days, you fear for yourself, your families, you try to leave, but even the escape routes are being blocked today. in a place like irpin where we are now the streets remain eerily quiet at least in the centre of the city. more and more defensive barriers had been put up more defensive barriers had been put up across the city. we drove through yesterday to see this sandbagged position, spiked by the is all in preparation for a possible advance of the long armoured convoy stretching 40 miles on the outskirts of the city if and when it does indeed enter and they are preparing to try to fight back both soldiers and civilians bearing arms in what they have seen in one city after another over the past 11 days in the russian invasion of ukraine.- russian invasion of ukraine. these di - lomatic russian invasion of ukraine. these diplomatic efforts _ russian invasion of ukraine. these diplomatic efforts to _ russian invasion of ukraine. these diplomatic efforts to ease - russian invasion of ukraine. these diplomatic efforts to ease this - diplomatic efforts to ease this crisis continue. we had a meeting between turkey's president vladimir putin. mcdonagh france has also said

he would meet with vladimir putin to find the solution to this butjust how much hope there is of a ceasefire after seeing even the establishment of a humanitarian corridor is proving difficult? so much corridor is proving difficult? sr much talking, corridor is proving difficult? 5r much talking, no impact on the ground. president putin keep saying that russia and ukraine are one. that this is a country that doesn't have the right to exist and the only thing they say has come out of the negotiations and it was seen as a really important development a few nights ago to establish the humanitarian corridors and even that has been shattered by the shelling on the ground and yet everyone is trying. turkey offered to mediate. hungary which is a very close ally, viktor 0rban, the prime minister there, very close ally of president putin, he has offered to mediate. saudi arabia has offered to mediate and world leaders, francis, president macron, the german chancellor, they have been on the

telephone with president putin and our viewers, the last telephone call between president putin and president macron, president macron came out and said that after an hour and half of speaking to him his conclusion was a's going to get worse and so it has.— conclusion was a's going to get worse and so it has. how is that affectin: worse and so it has. how is that affecting the — worse and so it has. how is that affecting the mood _ worse and so it has. how is that affecting the mood in _ worse and so it has. how is that affecting the mood in kyiv - worse and so it has. how is that affecting the mood in kyiv at. worse and so it has. how is that| affecting the mood in kyiv at the moment? , , ., moment? there is this mood of defiance and _ moment? there is this mood of defiance and also _ moment? there is this mood of defiance and also of _ moment? there is this mood of defiance and also of dread. - moment? there is this mood of - defiance and also of dread. because the armoured convoy has not moved into the city it is men that people don't scramble so in a panic every time they hear the air raid sirens. they are daring to hope that perhaps the plight of this city, the city will be saved and at least the attacks on behalf of the city will be delayed, other people seem to be in no doubt it may happen at some point, but the pressure has been eased somewhat but we saw in the early days of the invasion the

streets gridlocked with people trying to flee. yesterday we drove along that they'd heading west. they weren't the kind of trafficjams we had seen early on but we did actually see a trafficjam of people trying to get in. those who have to flee who feel they must fully have fled long ago or they are making preparations, others are bedding in down below ground and others are digging in above ground. the thousands and thousands of civilians from book—keepers to accountants to lawyers to doctors to it consultants, thousands and thousands of ukrainians across this country who lived such different lives have now become soldiers, civilians prepared to fight for their future and for their country's future. we believe leave it there for now. lyse doucet, thank you very much for that update from the capital of ukraine in kyiv. well, as lisa mentioned, more than 1.5 million people have

now been. flee their homes by russia's war on ukraine with most of them going to neighbouring poland. there are five countries on ukraine's western and southern borders, and all of them are witnessing things the region hasn't seen since the second world war. from slovakia, rob cameron has this report. 10,000 people a day crossing into slovakia from ukraine. 10,000 journeys, 10,000 stories — each similar, each unique, each terrifying in their own way. svetlana is an english teacher from the town of korosten, who fled with her seven—year—old son iliya and their cat. staying without your house, without your clothes, because we went outjust with nothing, like, we were hoping that we could come back some day, but i don't know, as far as watching those news, i'm losing my hope, actually.

for now, she's heading to the polish city of rzeszow to stay with friends. central and eastern europe is home to a huge ukrainian diaspora. in homes across the region this evening, people will be making up spare beds for their kin. and those who have no—one in warsaw, bratislava, or prague will be put up by an army of willing volunteers. but not all of these people fleeing the conflict are ukrainians. russia's war has scattered thousands of migrant workers and students and most of them are trying to get home as quickly as possible — but not everyone. foreigners from all over the world were studying in ukraine when the war started, some just months away from completing their degrees. it's six years already i've been doing my thing. i've been studying late night for exams. i've been doing, i had plans for my life,

i will do this, i'll write my exam, i will go to another country, i will become something in my life. but now i don't know what to do. degrees can be finished, of course, but lives lost can't be relived. the red army once liberated this part of europe and slovaks haven't forgotten. but now their neighbours are fleeing russian tanks, not welcoming them. and countries like slovakia are the ones providing the shelter. rob cameron, bbc news, on the slovak—ukrainian border. we can venue now we can venue now some we can venue now some live pictures of ukrainian orphans being welcomed by the israeli prime minister as they arrive at their seeking refuge, as we have mentioned. there are now more than 1.5 million people who have been. flee ukraine. these are just some of the people who have been able to get out. these are ukrainian orphans being received by

the israeli prime minister. some live pictures for you there. and let's continue to talk about that refugee situation because many millions of people, more than 1.5 million, have now been. flee their homes by the's more in ukraine. most of them going to neighbouring poland. we can now speak to... babar baloch is global spokesperson for unhcr, the un refugee agency, hejoins me from geneva. thank you very much for talking to us. how much help you able to provide given the scale of this situation? he can indeed. it is very clear that the devastation of this war is affecting so many people. 1.5 million is notjust a figure. these are all people that had to seek safety in ukraine's neighbouring countries and let's not forgetjust

what can happen in a matter of ten days. the un refugee agency, we are working closely with authorities in ukraine's neighbouring countries and it is quite encouraging to see the best of humanity in terms of outpouring of compassion and support that we have seen on the ground. and we need to see a more solid jealousy to help and the fear is as hostilities escalate and there more conflict there will be more people who will need to flee. figs conflict there will be more people who will need to flee.— conflict there will be more people who will need to flee. as you say, that flow of _ who will need to flee. as you say, that flow of refugees _ who will need to flee. as you say, that flow of refugees is _ who will need to flee. as you say, that flow of refugees is expected | who will need to flee. as you say, i that flow of refugees is expected to continue. ~ . , that flow of refugees is expected to continue. ~ ., , , ., ., continue. what is your estimate of the capacity _ continue. what is your estimate of the capacity available _ continue. what is your estimate of the capacity available to _ continue. what is your estimate of the capacity available to care - continue. what is your estimate of the capacity available to care for. the capacity available to care for them? , ., . ., , them? the neighbouring countries have come together _ them? the neighbouring countries have come together in _ them? the neighbouring countries have come together in terms - them? the neighbouring countries have come together in terms of i have come together in terms of responding to this and unhcr is helping in that effort. in this capacity but more is needed. when

you have 100,000 people fleeing the situation of conflict there needs to be more put in and the head of the un high commissionerfor refugees is currently in neighbouring countries visiting poland, romania, moldova, to see how well we can assess those services with our governments and this is just the focus inside ukraine —— outside ukraine. let's not forget it is unclear outside ukraine. ~ , ., not forget it is unclear outside ukraine. ~ i. _ not forget it is unclear outside ukraine. ~ ., , ukraine. when you say more is needed, ukraine. when you say more is needed. can — ukraine. when you say more is needed, can you _ ukraine. when you say more is needed, can you tell— ukraine. when you say more is| needed, can you tell specifically what is the greatest need at the moment? , 2 ., ., moment? everything. what we have seen is 1.5 million _ moment? everything. what we have seen is 1.5 million have _ moment? everything. what we have seen is 1.5 million have arrived - moment? everything. what we have seen is 1.5 million have arrived in i seen is 1.5 million have arrived in the neighbouring countries and beyond. people have been offering them help in terms of opening their own homes for that. governments have

been arranging accommodation and their perceptions. there is a time that more needs to be done in terms of how these people can go. now we see more people earlier arriving knew where to go. now there are more reception centres that need to be notified in in terms of finding a place for them and also let's not forget that the board of his very cold. most of them who have left ukraine are women and children who have been queueing up for hours and days as well so they need support as they enter the neighbouring countries of ukraine and so the call of solidarity is not only in the region, in the neighbouring countries, but goes beyond as well and as we have seen in many refugee situations that may bea be a step forward in terms of providing safety and support they need help. providing safety and support they need hel. ,,, ., ~ ., , need help. speaking of neighbours, poland has taken _ need help. speaking of neighbours, poland has taken on _

need help. speaking of neighbours, poland has taken on a _ need help. speaking of neighbours, poland has taken on a huge - need help. speaking of neighbours, j poland has taken on a huge number need help. speaking of neighbours, i poland has taken on a huge number of refugees but eight numbers, and organisations working at the borders has said that resources are stretched to the limit. do other countries need to be stepping on now? 22 2 , countries need to be stepping on now? .. , , , ., countries need to be stepping on now? , , now? exactly. this is an effort where everyone _ now? exactly. this is an effort where everyone needs i now? exactly. this is an effort where everyone needs to i now? exactly. this is an effort where everyone needs to be i now? exactly. this is an effort i where everyone needs to be involved and we have been really encouraging in terms of all the support we have seen. we launched an appeal of funding for not only inside ukraine, displacement situation, but also for refugees in the neighbourhood. there have been many, many who have come, businesses, individuals and governments, but this is a moment when not only europe has to come in solidarity helping over is that of receiving refugees but also others that are beyond europe and other parts of the world as well.- parts of the world as well. babar baloch, thank _ parts of the world as well. babar baloch, thank you _ parts of the world as well. babar baloch, thank you very - parts of the world as well. babar baloch, thank you very much i parts of the world as well. babar baloch, thank you very much for| baloch, thank you very much for joining us with your insights. is

the global spokesperson for the un hrc, the un refugee agency. 0ur correspondent kasia madera is on the poland—ukraine border for us. amongst so much uncertainty and so much destruction that has happened in ukrainejust across the borderfrom me, one thing is constant — the flow of people coming through. these people have just crossed over the borderfrom ukraine. theirjourneys to get here have been long, they've been uncertain. we've been seeing the scenes back in lviv of what has been happening as the people have been crossing into trains, crossing through with their cars, leaving their cars, running out of fuel, crossing by foot like all of these people that have just literally crossed the border here into poland, theirfirst time to have an opportunity to just get something warm to drink, their first time to get something to eat. this whole community, this whole centre has popped up and it's very transient. we've been here all week and things change. tents pop go, tents go, but what is constant also along

along with the flow of people coming across the border is the support that poland is offering to those people who have fled. volunteers in their hundreds bringing off, dropping off things that all the children may need. the piles of nappies, the milk formula, the food for the children who are exhausted and they're overwhelmed, and what is really, really touching is just the little moments of generosity, how people just bring people that have fled to the border into their homes, opening their homes. and this is the absolute first moment these people have crossed into this country, and there is a sense of calmness and there is a sense ofjust exhaustion, given all they have been through. there is organisation. we see all the time people coming up explaining... "we've got a person who as travelling to krakow. "we can take four or five people." "we've got a person who is

driving on to another town, "who can take a family of..." and then gives the amount. and this is continuous. this is absolutely continuous. we've got people who have brought bits of paper explaining, "we'll take such and such, we'll take you on, we'll provide you transport, things for free." "we'll provide you transport, things for free." and this is happening all the time, every day, day in, day out on this border as the people come across. and, yes, it is cold here, it is snowing every now and again. bear in mind the people that have just come across, they have spent days getting to the border, but this is the next leg of theirjourney. so here we have this queue of people waiting to get on a bus. a bus will then take them to the next part of their stage of their journey to temporary reception areas. it's where antony blinken came to to see one of these reception areas, how it was organised, how people got to rest, and then they move on. across the whole of poland,

people are opening up their doors. websites offering advice of what to do if you want to take a refugee family in. large ukrainian community in poland — they're all coming together, bringing these people to their homes. again, another bus coming up. every few minutes a bus will come up, will load these people on, will move them further away, because ultimately we know that more and more people continue to cross this border. already over 900,000 people have come into poland. that is higher than the population of poland's second—largest city, krakow. coming into this country in such a short space of time. they all need help. they all need attention. they all need rest. reporting from the poland—ukraine border.

let's hear now from the us secretary of state, anthony blinken. he was in poland yesterday and is in moldova today. he has been speaking about the level of support in terms of military support that the united states is looking at offering ukraine. have a listen. now there is a plan for the west to give morejets now there is a plan for the west to give more jets to now there is a plan for the west to give morejets to ukraine now there is a plan for the west to give more jets to ukraine for its own pilots to fly. america's top diplomat was visiting moldova today where he confirmed poland might give some of its warplanes ukraine get some of its warplanes ukraine get some american fighterjets in return. some american fighter 'ets in return. 2 22 some american fighter 'ets in return.2 ., , ., return. we are looking actively now at the question _ return. we are looking actively now at the question of _ return. we are looking actively now at the question of aeroplanes i return. we are looking actively nowj at the question of aeroplanes which poland may provide to ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should poland decide to supply those planes. what backfill should poland decide to supply those planes. what ukraine sa s it supply those planes. what ukraine says it really _ supply those planes. what ukraine says it really wants _ supply those planes. what ukraine says it really wants is _ supply those planes. what ukraine says it really wants is a _ supply those planes. what ukraine says it really wants is a no-fly i says it really wants is a no—fly zonein says it really wants is a no—fly zone in false by nato. in an attempt

to slow the russian onslaught on its cities. but nato said no, fearing it would trigger a wider european law. —— wider european war. mast would trigger a wider european law. -- wider european war.— -- wider european war. most of the destruction — -- wider european war. most of the destruction is _ -- wider european war. most of the destruction is coming _ -- wider european war. most of the destruction is coming from - destruction is coming from artillery, not russian air force and thenif artillery, not russian air force and then if we were to police a no—fly zone we would have to take out motion planes and we would have nato flat aircraft in the air alongside russian aircraft and then the potential of shooting them down and then the fight is escalating. this mornin: then the fight is escalating. this morning israel's _ then the fight is escalating. this morning israel's women is cabinet on the talks yesterday with vladimir putin. translation: essen the talks yesterday with vladimir putin. translation:— putin. translation: even if the chance is not _ putin. translation: even if the chance is not great _ putin. translation: even if the chance is not great in _ putin. translation: even if the chance is not great in the i putin. translation: even if the chance is not great in the same l putin. translation: even if the. chance is not great in the same as there _ chance is not great in the same as there is_ chance is not great in the same as there is even a small opening i see this as _ there is even a small opening i see this as our— there is even a small opening i see this as our moral obligation to make every— this as our moral obligation to make every effort — this as our moral obligation to make every effort -- this as our moral obligation to make eve effo - , ., �* , every effort -- israel's prime minister- _ every effort -- israel's prime minister. all _ every effort -- israel's prime minister. all the _ every effort -- israel's prime minister. all the while i every effort -- israel's prime minister. all the while the i every effort -- israel's prime i minister. all the while the flow of refugees out of ukraine continues to grow. today the united nations head

for refugees said they number over 1.5 million people, what he described as the fastest growing refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. t refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. ~ 2 refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. ~ , ., ., war ii. i think help of other countries — war ii. i think help of other countries is _ war ii. i think help of other countries is very _ war ii. i think help of other countries is very important| war ii. i think help of other. countries is very important for war ii. i think help of other- countries is very important for us, really. it's really good. t5 countries is very important for us, really. it's really good. is western economic sanctions _ really. it's really good. is western economic sanctions begin - really. it's really good. is western economic sanctions begin to i really. it's really good. is western economic sanctions begin to have | really. it's really good. is western i economic sanctions begin to have an impact in moscow, visa and mastercard announced that they will cease their operations in russia. banks in russia insisted that cards issued by them would continue to work. james and dale, bbc news. pope francis has said that the russian invasion of ukraine is producing "rivers of blood and tears". addressing crowds in st peter's square in rome, he countered russia's assertions that it is a military operation, saying it is a war leading to death, destruction and misery. he's also asked russia to allow true humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians. russian orthodox priests from around the world are speaking out against the invasion of ukraine.

hundreds of priests have signed an open letter calling for peace. 0ne priest in moscow told the bbc the war was a crime and urged russian president vladimir putin to stop before it is too late. it comes on forgiveness sunday which marks the start of lent. 0ur religious affairs reporter harry farley has more. they are countries at war, but, here in durham, ukrainians and russians sit side—by—side. today is forgiveness sunday in the orthodox church calendar. as part of their ritual they bow, asking each other for forgiveness. i think it's the job of the church to speak up against power. my message would be, withdraw the troops, stop killing people. and it's notjust here that 0rthodox christians oppose the invasion. in russia, it's forbidden to call the conflict a war.

but i spoke to one priest in moscow, who we're not identifying, who is clear about the reality. translation: what matters is that people die. _ many people lose their lives, and this is a crime. what would your message be to president putin? to stop the war — to stop. to stop before it is too late, although i'm afraid, unfortunately, i think it is too late. are you scared about speaking out? no, i'm afraid, because there are some priorities in life. there are situations where it is not possible not to speak the truth, no matter how scary it is. religion matters to vladimir putin. before he invaded, he said ukraine shared a spiritual space with russia.

in putin's mind, moscow is not just a great political power, it's a great religious one, too. he enjoys support from the head of the russian orthodox church, patriarch kirill. but here in durham, and in moscow, 0rthodox priests are speaking out against putin's war. harry farley, bbc news, in durham. visa and mastercard will no longer be able to be used in russia. russia's major banks suggest that the effects will be limited. we can talk now to our business correspondent simon browning about this. tell us exact what is being limited here?— this. tell us exact what is being limited here? , , ., ., ., ., limited here? this is a ma'or move b some limited here? this is a ma'or move by some limited here? this is a ma'or move b some of limited here? this is a ma'or move by some limited here? this is a ma'or move b some of the limited here? this is a ma'or move by some limited here? this is a ma'or move b some of the bi est limited here? this is a ma'or move by some limited here? this is a major move b some of the bi est names limited here? this is a ma'or move by some limited here? this is a major move b some of the bi est names in by some of the biggest names in globalfinance, visa and mastercard, and theyjoin a growing cohort of businesses who are voicing their objections to what is happening in ukraine, and continue to put tougher measures in place to fight against

russia's economy. we found out today that visa and mastercard decided last night that they would withdraw services and suspend services in russia. now, if you have a visa or a mastercard in russia and it is issued by a russian bank, it will continue to work if you are a russian citizen. because the russian government mandated and created an internal payment system. so, if you have a visa or mastercard in russia, it will continue to work. but if you are a russian who has left the country and you have a russian bank account with a visa or mastercard symbol, it will not work if you have now left russia. that means that lots of people who have left russia in the last couple of weeks, i've been seeing on twitter today, independent journalists who been seeing on twitter today, independentjournalists who have left russia in the last couple of weeks, now can't access their funds in their bank accounts, their savings, because their accounts have been frozen. so if you are inside russia with a russian visa or mastercard, it will continue to work because of the russian internal payment system, but if you've left

russia, it will no longer work and you won't be able to get access to your funds. you won't be able to get access to your funds-— your funds. because of that, the ma'or your funds. because of that, the major banks _ your funds. because of that, the major banks in _ your funds. because of that, the major banks in russia _ your funds. because of that, the major banks in russia are i your funds. because of that, the i major banks in russia are suggesting that the impact of this in russia might be limited, but these are not the only companies that are taking a stand. 2 22 the only companies that are taking a stand. , ., ~.,, ., the only companies that are taking a stand. , ., , ., ., stand. yes, visa and mastercard 'oin a curowin stand. yes, visa and mastercard 'oin a growing cohort fl stand. yes, visa and mastercard 'oin a growing cohort ofi stand. yes, visa and mastercard 'oin a growing cohort of companies i stand. yes, visa and mastercard join a growing cohort of companies who l a growing cohort of companies who are voicing their objections to what is happening in ukraine. yesterday we saw samson, the biggest provider of smart phones in russia, stop sending new shipments of phones into russia. that was after a direct appeal from the ukrainian russia. that was after a direct appealfrom the ukrainian deputy prime minister who literally tweeted a letter to the head of samsung, saying, please stop selling these phones within russia. they've stopped sending shipments so if you are a young person in russia, you will no longer be able to get an upgrade or a new phone. zara, one of the biggest fashion retailers in the world, closed all 502 stores in russia from today. and paypal, another very popular payment

service, very popular with young people, also suspended operations, and thatjoins apple and numerous others who are all now voicing their objection to what is happening between russia and ukraine. so, yes, the list of businesses voicing their objection continues to grow. but what about _ objection continues to grow. but what about the impact, how is this actually being felt in russia and is it leading to anything meaningful? that is the big question. that is what we are trying to find out from young people who are working at these zara stores, what are they being told by their employers. zara or other brands, when all of a sudden their shops are closed? 0ther sudden their shops are closed? other companies, advertising agencies, are pulling out of russia. what are their employers telling employees about their reasons for leaving and closing down? so, there are lots of questions as to how these discussions are being heard with employees at the moment, as to how and why these reasons are being taken. 2, 2, and why these reasons are being taken. ,, ., �* 2, and why these reasons are being taken. 2, 2, �* 2, ., ,, taken. simon browning, thank you very much- —

i am now near kyiv. we today can go to get a food supply to kyiv and get a metal construction we put on the road and so we are trying to combine medicine as well and that we come with children, children from the families to the west and the other countries. right now the situation is quite stable. you know, some bombs, some missiles targeting the civilian neighbourhood. yesterday, for example, the bomb was targeting to my friend's house.

it is 60 kilometres from kyiv. it is just everything destroyed. i mean, the civilian house and the 20 houses around and of course a lot of missiles, a lot of bombs near kyiv. you know, there are very hot places. they have been and right now we are negotiating just to organise the humanitarian corridor for the people who would like to leave. but we are also hearing that shelling is continuing in irpin which is just outside of kyiv. can you tell us a little bit more about that?

yesterday, at night, the cities near kyiv were bombed. it was other cities. when the people were sleeping the bomb just shooting on the civilian neighbourhoods. as well as the military place. so right now the situation is quite stable. we heard only the machine guns from all over the city and a lot of people just leave see if and a lot of people right now on the roads, a lot of traffic on the road just leaving kyiv. yes, so you are saying that in those places it is stable so people are trying to get out now and evacuate. they heading west towards

places like lviv and towards the border is to get out? you know, this situation is quite difficult, obviously, to explain because in the east it is just totally destroyed some cities like kharkiv and cherniov and the people tried to move to the west end in the west the situation is quite difficult as well. it is quite difficult for them and a lot of people are staying in the queue just across the border. it is a real situation if you imagine yourself like a computer game when the people just escape from a lot of cities and see if it is emptied from civilians, probably from civilians. i mean not probably, not everyone, but a lot of civilians just drive out from kyiv far to the west and

a lot of military, a lot of troops, yeah. yes, the un is saying that over 1.5 million people have now evacuated and fled the country but you are also taking photographs of the destruction, of civilian deaths. just tell us what you plan on doing with these photographs and information you are collecting? first, we are collecting all the photos and all the videos for the future investigation. we are collecting the information about the use of the prohibited missiles. we are speaking with

the russians troops who are just, who are arrested by ukrainians. we got a lot of this information just to start this criminal investigations. the second one, you know, putin united all the nations from the students to the pensioner people, people take the machine guns, people are ready to defend the territorial defence. a lot of young people, a lot of aged people in ukraine, are ready to defend the independence and democratic value in ukraine. that is what putin did — unite all the ukrainians. briefly, sir, do you think that nato members should reconsider this potential no—fly zone? they've obviously ruled it out.

president zelensky has said that they should reconsider. do you think that that should be the case? you know, yesterday i had a talk with the congressmen, one of the congressmen, and i told him that america and the other nato countries should realise the third world war has already happened. so this will give us the opportunity... the opportunityjust to close these no—fly zones do make this no—fly zone over this no—fly zone over ukraine. i just want to ask you about humanitarian corridors because of course there was the school yesterday by the russian defence ministry that they would have a humanitarian corridor in mariupol, in other places that didn't actually happen. could you tell us about these humanitarian corridors today

because ukrainian authorities did say they were going to try again? as i have heard, today they are going to try to organise the humanitarian corridor from some cities. and we will see how it works. it is, of course, we need the humanitarian corridor and other cities as well. near kyiv it is three big cities, probably a million people live there. it is a population of the cities but right now it is quite less but we need as well. people that would like to leave their cities where the russian troops, we need to organise the humanitarian corridor. it seems to me it should be done but right now it is quite on the beginning. russian police have again moved to break up anti—war protests in many cities. according to one independent

monitoring group, by 3pm moscow time, nearly 1,800 demonstrators had been arrested in mt cities. more than 300 people were detained in moscow. maria kuznetsova, spokesperson for the 0vd—info monitoring group, said, "the screws are being fully tightened — essentially we are witnessing military censorship." and she added they were seeing big protests today even in siberian cities. the uk chief of the defence staff says the uk and allies have to be very cautious about russia's threats. admiral sir tony radakin stressed that the uk is part of the world's largest military alliance, nato, and has a nuclear deterrent. speaking to the bbc�*s sophie raworth, he explained why he thought the russian military convoy headed towards ukraine's capital kyiv had stalled.

so, we don't have a complete picture, but we do know about a series of factors. so, one is, russia hasn't operated at this scale since the second world war, and to do what's called combined arms manoeuvre is incredibly complex and incredibly difficult, and we're seeing russia failing to do that in a competent fashion. so, they were held up north of kyiv and their forces started to become dislocated. then you've seen the failure of russia with some basics in terms of the maintenance of its kit, and their kit has been failing. and then, at the same time, russia has been attacked by ukrainian armed forces and their rear echelon, some of their logistics, have been attacked and now you're seeing that whole convoy stuck. it continues to be attacked and that is impacting on morale. there are stories of the troops in those vehicles, they don't want to stay in those vehicles

so they are camping out in the forest. they're stuck there and russia has got itself into a mess, not just with that convoy but in the whole of ukraine and we need to keep applying the pressure on russia. those stories of morale — you call them stories — do we know if that is true or not? we absolutely do. so, we know that there are some of the battalion tactical groups, those that have been leading the fight for russia, have suffered terrible losses. we know that russia acknowledges it has lost nearly 500 people. to put that into context, that's nearly 500 soldiers in one week and that is more than the uk lost in afghanistan over 20 years. ukraine claims nearly 10,000 casualties. we don't know if that is true but we do know that some of the lead elements of russian forces have been decimated by the ukrainian response. how worried are you that president putin could use nuclear weapons? so, i think we've got to be very cautious about president putin's threats.

we are part of the world's largest military alliance. we have our own nuclear deterrent. we've got to maintain a calmness and responsibility so that we don't just react rashly to whatever is the latest — frankly, at times, bizarre or ridiculous — comment from president putin. so, we are prepared. we are professional armed forces. we will approach this conflict with that level of professionalism and responsibility that you would expect, and we will also be incredibly confident in our ability to face down president putin. would we know if the russians were preparing to use nuclear weapons in ukraine? could they do it without us knowing beforehand? so, i don't want to go into the detail, but if you look at this conflict, we've had a remarkable level of intelligence,

and we were saying for months that this is what president putin was intending to do. and there are some more discrete elements, in terms of warning signs, if this was going to start to chart a path towards nuclear escalation. and what about these nuclear plants? we've already seen one, the biggest in europe, being shelled this week. what is the risk of the others? there are three more in ukraine. what is the risk of those being attacked? so, i think there is a real risk because russia is struggling with its objectives on the ground in ukraine, and we've seen from russia's previous actions in syria and chechnya where it will turn up the violence. it will lead to more indiscriminate killing and more indiscriminate destruction and we have to keep applying the pressure to russia that this is outrageous and the sense that because your invasion isn't going very well that you just become more and more reckless in applying violence is totally unacceptable

and it's especially unacceptable when you start attacking nuclear plants. the ukrainians keep calling for a no—fly zone. the west has made it very clear that that is not going to happen. the ukrainians want fighter planes to be provided. why do we not provide fighter planes when we do provide anti—tank missiles? so, i think there is a difference with... the anti—tank weapons are obviously very defensive. the weapons that we've provided have got a range of about 500 metres, so you've got to drive your tank several hundred kilometres before you're within the range of that anti—tank weapon. the no—fly zone, we have to be very careful, and the advice that we as senior military professionals are giving our politicians is to avoid doing things that are tactically ineffective and definitely to avoid things that, tactically, might lead to miscalculation or escalation. the no—fly zone would not help...

most of the shelling is coming from artillery. most of the destruction is coming from artillery. it's not coming from russian aircraft. and then if we were to police a no—fly zone, it means we would probably have to take out russian defence systems and then we would have nato aircraft in the air alongside russian aircraft and then the potential of shooting them down and then that leads to an escalation. two british surgeons have held a virtual, 12—hour war surgery training course in london, for over 200 healthcare professionals in ukraine. it's hoped the tuition will help them deal with injuries from the fighting and save lives. jonny dymond reports. dobryy ranok — good morning from london. a zoom tutorial with a difference. in london, two surgeons trying to share what they know with colleagues in need of help.

you'd be hard pushed to find anywhere much further from conflict than this office block in west london, but behind me, in a conference room, thousands of doctors thousands of miles away in ukraine are connecting online with a crash course in conflict surgery. bombing of buildings that contain... david nott has been running courses like this for years. one thing he knows better than nearly anyone — nothing prepares a doctorfor war. war surgery is something completely different, because you need to have a mindset about war. you need to have a mindset to know exactly what to do with patients when they come in when they've had fragmentation wounds, when they have had blast injuries, when they have had severe gunshot wounds, high velocity, low velocity. it's a completely different ball game. for the doctors in ukraine who came on the call, the next few days and weeks seem very bleak. it's... it's a disaster. i cannot describe my

feelings about it. i am very sad about it because all these people will have to suffer and die for nothing. we're all here watching what is happening in ukraine at the moment with shock, horror... all the british surgeons can do is try and share what they know to save life and limb. i hope to god you will not need to apply this knowledge, but it is always best to be prepared for the worst. jonny dymond, bbc news, west london. some breaking news now, for the second day running, the evacuation of civilians from a city in the south of ukraine has had to be halted. the city council in mariupol has said it was not possible, they cited continued russian shelling. this was despite arranging an

evacuation corridor and it comes as french president emmanuel macron has spoken with russia's vladimir putin about the situation in ukraine. the pair spoke on the phone for one hour and 45 minutes, according to french authorities. across ukraine, the russian military is keeping up its intense bombardment of towns. north—west of the capital, irpin has come under heavy fire. moscow says it has made gains in the donbas, in the east of ukraine. the turkish president, we are hearing, will speak to president, we are hearing, will speakto vladimir president, we are hearing, will speak to vladimir putin on sunday as efforts continue to end or at least scale back the fighting. let's listen now to the us secretary of state antony blinken, who is speaking in moldova. coming back

online... but _ speaking in moldova. coming back online... but i _ speaking in moldova. coming back online... but i am _ speaking in moldova. coming back online... but i am really _ speaking in moldova. coming back online... but i am really here i speaking in moldova. coming back online... but i am really here for. speaking in moldova. coming backj online... but i am really here for a couple of reasons. the main reason, and i will come to that, is simply to say thank you to each and everyone of you for the remarkable service that you are performing four for our country and for this relationship between the united states and the republic of moldova. it seems like a month ago, and it was, that things were a little bit different, and i guess timing in life is everything, you can decide weather the timing was good, or something else, but in all seriousness, it is so great to have both of you here, representing the country, leading this mission, it is making a huge difference at a time when that could not be more important. push it so much for your extraordinary leadership here. as well. i will come back to that in a minute, too. but this has been in so many ways a challenging time for

missions around the world and it is certainly here as well. it is great to be with you today. i second what ken said, no pressure, but i second that. and everyone here in the room, family members and other colleagues who are there with us virtually, it is great to be back. i was here i think almost exactly seven years ago, and some things have changed, other things haven't. it was particularly meaningful to me to see one of my favourite landmarks, the moldova... whoever came up with that, it is good points in my book. in all seriousness, why are we here right now? we are here first and foremost because we are dealing with an egregious aggression by russia against ukraine, an aggression which of course is having a horrific impact on the ukrainian people, men,

women, children, many of whom we saw just yesterday in poland at the border, many of whom you're seeing every single day here in moldova, who have been forced to flee the violence. but also an impact on the very international order that we have worked so hard for so many decades to try to maintain, as imperfectly as we do it. what russia is doing, what vladimir putin is doing, is not only terrible violence to men, women and children, he's doing terrible violence to the variable principles that live beneath that order, and are working to keep peace and security around the world. simply port, we cannot let other those things go with impunity, because if we do, it opens a pandora's box that we will deeply regret notjust in europe but around the world potentially. these basic

principles that underlie the order include the proposition that countries are entitled to sovereignty, to decide for themselves what their policies will be, with whom they will associate, to have the integrity of their borders respected. that basically allow their own people to decide their own future, and all of that is on the line with this aggression. but all of that equally applies here, to the republic of moldova, and just as we are standing strongly for ukraine, for its territorial integrity and independence and sovereignty, so, too, do we stand with moldova, and any other country that may be threatened in the same way. and that is very much the message that i brought to the president, the prime minister, foreign minister, today. it is important that our friends here in moldova understand that we and the world are with them, too. and i hope that at the very least, one of the things that president putin has seen, in the unprecedented response to the aggression in ukraine, from

virtually the entire international community, starting with the united states and european allies and partners through nato and the european union, the 0sce, g7, but also, most of the international community, 141 countries in the united nations standing up and saying, we condemn this aggression and we stand with ukraine. i hope that message is not lost on him, because it applies notjust to ukraine, it would apply everywhere that we might face such aggression, including here. what you are doing, every day, before this episode and now doing it and after that, is extraordinary because it is supporting a relationship with an extraordinary country. i have to tell you, and i suspect many of you feel the same way, it is inspiring