ukraine, from 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 osce, g7, but also, most of the international community, 1m 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

to see the work that our fence you are doing. at a time in the world when, you know, the last decade or 15 years, we have seen in many places own challenges. here in moldova, we see a country with extraordinary leaders trying to move forward. to strengthen the democracy, to build it. and in so doing, of course, benefit the people of moldova but also set an example for the world so it is a small country but it is setting a very big example. and you are a critical part of making that happen because the work that you are doing, the support that you are providing, the guidance you are given, all of that is essential to the success of this project and i just want to thank you for doing that. i also know that under normal times, a visit by me or someone from

washington puts a little extra burden on an embassy. this is not an ordinary time. i know people have been driving back and forth, three hours each way, to the border, including to help bring some of our folks back and forth. some of you will be doing that in just a short while. at the same time, helping the refugees who are coming in, helping our moldovan fans help them. and that support is extraordinary and i really want to thank you as well because i know we have added to the burden i i know that some people in particular have been doing exceptional things. particular have been doing exceptionalthings. i particular have been doing exceptional things. i wanted to single out someone if they are anywhere here today? a's. we have a long knife from our exchange

programmes who are helping refugees as we speak. they are part of the community even after the exchange programmes. their participation ends. it carries on, they are out there doing it. theirfamily members with us on the screen delivering blankets, food, baby clothes to refugee centres. we have the lifeblood of this and any embassy, are locally employed staff, opening their homes to refugees from ukraine. all of that is extraordinary, even as it may seem ordinary to you because that is just what you do. i know that the last two years have been difficult, more than difficult because of covid. and you experience loss. you manage, despite that, to carry on with incredible resilience, looking out for each other, have each other�*s backs, delivering hundreds of thousands of covid vaccines here to

offend moldova, working with the civil society and the government on all of the work they're doing to tackle corruption. leading efforts to spot an independent media throughout moldova and doing that at a time of personal challenge as well as professional challenge. and i took note of some of the things people have been doing and again, may seem small but they have a big impact. providing groceries, child care when someone got sick as a result of covid. keeping in touch the whatsapp, finding some ways to have fun. virtual wine tastings. i'm not quite sure how that works. chili cook offs. something that i would appreciate learning how to make a bagel workshops. all of these things make a huge difference, because it creates a sense of community, it creates a sense of community, it creates a sense of community, it creates a sense of camaraderie, it creates a sense of camaraderie, it creates a sense of camaraderie, it creates a sense of caring for each other. especially in challenging times, that makes all the difference

in the world. so let me conclude by saying this. as the ambassador said, we are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations with moldova last month and as i mentioned a moment ago, we have local staff who have been serving with us since 1993. think about that. that is pretty extraordinary. and that me see if any are actually in the room today. here are on the screen? going today. here are on the screen? going to be a couple of names i want to acknowledge because of this extraordinary service. we are going to applaud all of them. here? no? all right.

all right. finally, we got one. applause. yes, there we go. applause. yes, there we go. applause. please accept there is applause on behalf of your other colleagues well. i'm glad. i was getting worried. but seriously, i really cannot thank each of you and each of the other colleagues who been with you so long, i cannot find the words to express what that means. i'm so gratefulfor this partnership, the service. let me say to everyone whether you are local staff, family, state, defence, usa id, peace corps, thank you, thank you, thank you. and i think going to let our colleagues from the press. this is

bbc news- _ colleagues from the press. this is bbc news- we — colleagues from the press. this is bbc news. we have _ colleagues from the press. this is bbc news. we have been - colleagues from the press. this is | bbc news. we have been listening colleagues from the press. this is - bbc news. we have been listening and that the us secretary of state anthony lincoln speaking in moldova. he managed to moments of levity as he spoke about the serious situation in ukraine and he has reassured moldova's leaders that the united states would rally international opposition to russian aggression whenever and wherever it occurs. the ukrainian authorities say that towns north—west of the capital are under relentless bombardment with intense fighting between government and russian forces. the heaviest fighting are said to be focused on suburbs just 25 kilometres north—west of kyiv. meanwhile, new temporary ceasefire to evacuate thousands of civilians in the besieged southern city appears to have collapsed afterjust hours. this is the second day in a row that

it has failed. let's get the latest from the country. our correspondent joins us now live. we from the country. our correspondent joins us now live.— joins us now live. we sell the us secretary of _ joins us now live. we sell the us secretary of state _ joins us now live. we sell the us secretary of state speaking - joins us now live. we sell the us secretary of state speaking in i secretary of state speaking in moldova. he is due to meet with the french president on tuesday. the last couple of hours the french president had spoken on the phone to vladimir putin. we understand the phone call lasted an hour and a half so the diplomacy continues behind—the—scenes despite the crisis, despite the attempt to isolate russia and impose sanctions on the country, tried to pressure vladimir putin to prevent this ongoing bloodshed and conflict that continues. as you have been saying, we have been waiting for a humanitarian corridor to be created in the southern port city. and we have seen two days in a row now, the

humanitarian corridor has been breached. the ceasefire has been breached. the ceasefire has been breached. we have this report. a russian strike on irpin — violence, destruction, panic. this city close to the capital is enduring heavy fighting, with more and more people attempting to escape. distant explosions. 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. 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's a scene repeated across the country. translation: we have |

already gained our future, but we are still fighting for our present. it is very important. we are still fighting for where the border will be, between life and slavery. this is the time when it is still possible to defeat evil without irreparable 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 cellars. blasts rumble. yesterday, the hope of escape was dashed after russian shelling broke a ceasefire agreed to allow people to leave, though moscow blamed ukraine. today there will be another attempt to evacuate civilians. the city's mayor says

they are under constant threat. translation: in the first days of the war, - we counted the victims in tens. today, we count them in hundreds. soon, we'll count them in thousands. they won't even give us a chance to count the wounded and the dead because the shelling has not stopped for six days. this is what people here fear — strikes from the sky. despite moscow's promises, the russian air force have hit houses, schools, and hospitals, not only military targets. putin's prized target is the capital, kyiv, though, the scars of war already visible. 0n the outskirts, troops and volunteers are in position, and defences are being rapidly erected, like these anti—tank hedgehogs. the resistance remains defiant. charlotte gallagher, bbc news, lviv.

vladimir putin has been speaking to the french president and we have these lines coming out from that conversation. we understand that vladimir putin told the french president that ukraine was responsible for the provocation around the nuclear power plant. you will remember the nuclear power plant came under heavy shelling and fighting over the last few days. we were reporting that a building, training facility had caught on fire. there was international condemnation as there were accusations that it was russian shelling that caused that fire and they had caused the provocation around the nuclear power plant. russia's vladimir putin has spoken to emanuel michael and said it was ukraine responsible for the provocation. ukraine says it was the russian shelling which caused the fire under provocation so we are some years lines come out from that

conversation between them. we will have plenty more from that conversation no doubt coming out and we will be bringing that to you here on bbc news. the icrc is also reporting that people are living in absolute terror in the strategic port town, city in the south of the country. they said today's attempt to evacuate 200,000 people from that city has failed and that to the failed attempt underscores the absence of a detailed and functioning agreement between the parties of this conflict. let's get more on the ongoing fighting and conflict around the country from our chief international correspondent. been a barrage of shelling just 15 miles north of kyiv in a humanitarian corridor to allow people to flee from the besieged town. we saw heart—rending scenes it

there yesterday of people just fleeing in droves. elderly women holding their shopping bags. people with dogs and their arms carrying their children, people in tears as they watch the houses in flames from russian shelling. their lives being shattered. and now, today, shelling of that area by russian forces, the eyewitness accounts from that area including a bbc team who was there at the time. they are safe. the bridge, the makeshift bridge which was allowing people to leave from there to go to the train station and head towards here and then to 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. also hearing reports from the south that today was to be the second attempt to try to allow people to flee from that

besieged city where residential areas have been under attack. people have been running out of food, water, there is no electricity. again, they came under russian shelling so we have heard from local officials that, yet again, people have gone back to a besieged city. wondering, fearing, when will they ever see that promise made good that there will be a corridor without being attacked by russian forces, that they can somehow make it to safety? that is our chief international correspondent speaking there from here. let'sjust international correspondent speaking there from here. let's just bring you some breaking news that has come out from the press conference that us secretary of state anthony blinken has been holding in moldova. you will see that statement he was giving in moldova, he has been taking questions from the press, and a couple of the lines that i'm going to be out to you that have come out. he said that the united states is

talking to european partners about the prospects about banning russian oil. he said that the us is talking to eu partners about the prospects of banning russian oil. of course, as we have been reporting here, european nations are so heavily dependent on oil and gas from russia so this is the united states now speaking to eu partners about putting a ban on that which, of course, would put a great deal of pressure on both sides. both the european countries as well as the russians, we are in the middle of winter and there is a great deal of concern that many countries will be greatly impacted because of the potential ban on russian oil and gas and this is something that the us is talking to eu partners about. they are trying to put increasing pressure on vladimir putin. tough sanctions have already been imposed. vladimir putin has dismissed those and says they have not impacted the country but we have seen the tumbling of the rouble, for example,

and the impact on the sanctions on various aspects of life in russia. but we are also hearing these lines, from that conversation, that anthony blinken is having. the other thing that anthony blinken her sad is that they have credible intelligence that there's been deliberate attacks on civilians in ukraine. the ongoing shelling and bombardment of densely populated areas that we have been seeing in places like as we have been reporting, controlled by russian forces, many of these places have been flattened from the images we have seen and the civilians who late have said that they came under rocket and shelling attacks and this is anthony blinken saying they have credible information that they have

deliberate attacks on civilians. we will of course be following all the news lines that have been coming out from that press conference from anthony blinken. let's hear more about the reports that a russian rocket has completely destroyed a civilian port in the central port. earlier authorities have been putting out a fire at that airport. let's have a listen. eight rockets against our town. but never threatened russia. tough, cynical, completely flat in the airports. they carry on, our lives,

built by us, by our fathers, and generations of ukrainians. every day we keep saying, close the sky over ukraine to all russian rockets, to russian military aviation, to all those tourists and make air zone without rockets, your humanitarian responsibility is to protect us, to protect people. you can do that. if you don't do that, if you won't at least give us planes for us to be able to protect ourselves and only one conclusion can be drawn. they want us to be very slowly killed and thatis want us to be very slowly killed and that is the responsible team global politicians. from today. and forever. that is ukraine's president

speaking about the ongoing attacks taking place in this country. as the fighting rages on. we have got more lines coming out that anthony blinken is giving out in moldova. as we were saying, he has been saying that civilians had been deliberately attacked based on information they had been receiving. he is also now said that the us is documenting these attacks and will be keeping a record of everything that is taking place in this country. earlier i had spoken to a ukrainian mp who said they are filming and taking photographs because they feel that there are war crimes that have been committed in this country by russian forces, by vladimir putin and they are curating that information. anthony blinken also said that they are documenting all of the attacks

on civilians that they say they're getting information. especially in densely populated areas. let's get the latest on the diplomatic front. anthony blinken has also been saying that the united states is considering sending ukraine war planes from poland to assist them in the ongoing battle. president zelensky is believed to have requested russian aircraft because the pilot human ukraine can better operate than that we're hearing that anthony blinken are that the united states is considering sending polish war planes. what ukraine wants is more air cover, more planes like these, keeping the skys free from russian attacks. and so 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 to ukraine and get some american fighterjets in return.

we are looking actively now at the question of aeroplanes that poland may provide to ukraine. and looking at how we might be able to backfill, should poland decide to supply those planes. what ukraine says it really wants is a no—fly zone enforced by nato in an attempt to slow the russian onslaught on its cities but nato has said no, fearing it would trigger a wider european war. the destruction is coming from artillery, it is not coming from russian aircraft. if we were to police a no—fly zone, it would mean we would probably have to take out russian defence systems and 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. and amid the fighting, the diplomacy continues. this morning, israel's prime minister briefed his cabinet on his talks yesterday with vladimir putin. translation: even if the chance

is not right and as soon _ as there is even a small opening, i this as this a moral obligation to make every effort. and all the while the flow of refugees out of ukraine continues to grow. today, the united nations high commissioner for refugees, filippo grandi, said they number more than one and a half million people — what he described as the fastest growing refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. i think help of other country is very important for us, really. it's really good. as western economic sanctions begin to have an impact in moscow, visa and mastercard announced they would cease their operations in russia. banks in russia insisted that cards issued by them would continue to work. james landale, bbc news.

we have got some breaking news to bring in now. the ukrainian envoy to the united states has called russia a terrorist state and says that they should be treated as such. that is the ukrainian special envoy to the united states: russia eight have reversed satan said that they should be treated as such. he also said that they are open to negotiations and peace talks but he continued to say that russia, as far as they are concerned, cannot be trusted. that is the ukrainian envoy to the united states speaking and saying that russia is a terrorist state and that they be treated as such. he said we cannot trust russia even though we are willing and open to go into peace talks and negotiations. well, as we have been a reporting, united nations has said, over 1.5 million people have now fled ukraine and the fighting here in this country. tens of thousands of them have them passing through here in western ukraine and making their way to the

various borders. ukraine has at least five different borders on the west and the south that people can flee to. rob has the latest from slovakia. 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, at least 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 in my life, like, i will do this, i'll write my exams, 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. the bulk of people trying to flee this country have been making their way to poland. poland has a 150 kilometre border with ukraine and so we have been seen hundreds of thousands of people pouring over the border and being welcomed in poland. my border and being welcomed in poland. my colleague has been reporting from the polish ukrainian border. amongst so much uncertainty and destruction that has happened in ukrainejust across the border, one thing is

constant. the flood of people coming through. these people havejust crossed over the border from ukraine. theirjourneys to get he had been long, they have been uncertain. we have been seeing the scenes back in ukraine as people have been talking to trains, crossing through their cars, leaving their cars, running out of fuel, crossing by foot like all of people have just crossed the border here and poland. the first time to have and poland. the first time to have an opportunity to just get something warm to drink. the first time just to get something to eat. this whole community, this whole centre has p°pped community, this whole centre has normed up community, this whole centre has popped up under is very transient. we have been here all week. things change, hence pop—up intense go. what is constant also along with the flow of people coming in from 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 third for the children who are exhausted and are overwhelmed and what is really, really touching is just the little moments of generosity, how peoplejust just the little moments of generosity, how people just bring, people that have led the border into their homes. 0pening their homes. this is the absolute first name of these people have crossed into this country and there is a sense of calmness and there is a sense of just exhaustion given what they've been through. there is organisation. we see all the time people coming up, explaining. we have got a person who is travelling to krakow. we can take four or five people. who is travelling to krakow. we can take four orfive people. we have got a person driving onto another towel and who can take a family of and then gives the amount. this this is absolutely continuous. we have got people with bits of paper explaining, we will take such and such. we will take you on. we will

provide you transport, things for free. this is happening all the time. every day, day in, day out, on this border, as people come across. it is cold here. it is snowing every now and again. they remind the people who have just come across, they have spent days getting to the border. this is the next leg of theirjourney border. this is the next leg of their journey so border. 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 theirjourney. is where antony blinken came to, to see one of these reception areas, how they rest and move on. across poland people are opening their doors, websites offering advice of what to do if you want to take refugee family in. there is a large ukrainian community in poland, they are all coming together bringing people to their homes. again another bus coming up, every few minutes of bus coming up, every few minutes of bus comes up, loads people on and

moves them 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 the city in such a short space of time. they all need help, they all need attention, they all need rest. that is my colleague cassio madera reporting from the ukrainian poland border. —— kasia madera. we have got some breaking news to bring in now. three and a half thousand people have been arrested across russia for demonstrating against this war. 1700 of those are in moscow, and we can show you these images of some of those people in moscow protesting. they have also said that 750 of

those people were from saint petersburg, who have been arrested and detained because of the ongoing demonstrations against this conflict here in ukraine. we are hearing from some different outlets as well that there have been protests as far as siberia, and we don't know how many people have been arrested or if there have been any arrests in siberia, but we do understand that right across russia there have been 3500 arrests. people have been detained because of the ongoing protests in russia against the conflict here in ukraine. there also been a massive crackdown on independent media in russia. twitter and facebook have also been banned. but this is some news that has come in from the russian news agency task saying three and half thousand people across the country, 1700 of them in moscow, arrested as a result

of ongoing demonstrations. as we said, protests as far as siberia. the people fleeing the fighting continue to make their way to the relative safety of lviv, although if you speak to ukrainians they say no corner of this country is safe or secure. every day and night to hear the air raid sirens that go off and we are ushered into underground bunkers. there are dozens of them here in lviv so there is a sense of war, even though the images you are probably seeing behind me of people milling around, walking around on a sunday afternoon here in lviv is life as normal, they know this is a nation at war. there are people constantly arriving with small bags in their hands, with children, trying to get away from the

fighting, arriving looking extremely distressed. but there's also a sense of almost resistance that has happened here in lviv. it's become a hub for resistance. we have seen people make molotov cocktails and camouflage nets here. people who were at university are now in factories making nets and molotov cocktails, enlisting in the army to fight on the front line. you will even see here a monument behind me. lviv is a world unesco heritage site, there are so many old churches, monuments, buildings in this city ofjust under a million people and the monument there behind me has been wrapped in plastic and foil to prevent any kind of shelling that may take place here in the city, any kind of fighting that may take place in the city. they are

under no illusion that the fighting may not come here. they sayjust over a week ago kyiv was relatively peaceful, relatively safe, and now todayit peaceful, relatively safe, and now today it is facing explosions, it is facing bombardment. people are being killed in and around the capital and elsewhere in the country, so nothing is for certain and the uncertainty continues. nancy. thank you very much for those updates, yalda hakim, reporting from western ukraine. some news lines just coming into the newsroom now, we are hearing russia's president vladimir putin has signed a law allowing seizure of funds from officials' bank account if deposits are significantly higher than their declared income over the past three years and we are hearing this from russian state tv. putin has signed a law allowing the seizure of funds from officials of�* bank accounts if

deposits are significantly higher than they are declared —— their declared income over the past three years. we will bring more updates as they come in and give more on the significance of that development. borisjohnson is urging world leaders to match words with deeds on ukraine as he prepares to host talks with the canadian and dutch prime ministers in downing street tomorrow. meanwhile the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has called for a parliamentary committee to investigate claims that borisjohnson personally intervened in the process of granting a peerage to the russian newspaper owner lord lebedev, after british intelligence warned it would pose a risk to national security. the government said the rules had been applied "rigorously". here's our political correspondent, helen catt. this is just one very visible way economic pressure is being applied to vladimir putin's regime. a multi—million pound yacht belonging to a russian oligarch, seized in italy. the uk government has been criticised for lagging behind.

it's now changing the law to speed up sanctions on individuals. labour will back it in a vote tomorrow, but wants ministers to reduce how long overseas owners have to register their assets. the government initially said, "well, we'll give people 18 months to register." the government's retreated because of our arguments and said, "well, six months." but six months is still more than enough time to sell property here in the united kingdom. so, tomorrow, we want to push them further to say reduce that down to 28 days, make it a really effective sanction so that we can put maximum pressure on russia. borisjohnson will host the prime ministers of canada and the netherlands in downing street tomorrow to discuss further international action to support ukraine and isolate russia. but this morning, there are questions about his role in the admittance of a russian—born newspaper owner to the house of lords. the sunday times claims that, in 2020, british intelligence assessed that giving a peerage to evgeny lebedev posed a national security risk. the paper says that assessment was withdrawn after mrjohnson

personally intervened. sir keir starmer has called for a parliamentary committee to investigate, but the deputy prime minister said there was no evidence to do so. there is a very strict and stringent process when anyone is granted a peerage. i don't know the facts of the case — i wasn't involved in it — but i do know that it was applied very rigorously in this case. downing street said all individuals nominated for a peerage were done so in recognition of their contribution to society, and all peerages were vetted by the house of lords appointments commission. earlier this week, lord lebedev added his voice to the condemnation of the attack on ukraine. in his paper, the evening standard, he issued a personal appeal to vladimir putin to stop the war. helen catt, bbc news. pope francis has urged russia to guarantee that humanitarian corridors are maintained in order to safely evacuate civilians. addressing crowds from the vatican he countered russia's assertions that it is a military operation, saying it is a war leading to death,

destruction and misery. translation: in ukraine, rivers l of blood and tears are flowing. l this is notjust a military operation, but a war that sows death, destruction and misery. the victims are ever more numerous, as well as people fleeing, especially mothers and children. the need for emergency humanitarian assistance is growing dramatically hour by hour in that martyred country. i address a heartfelt appeal so humanitarian corridors are ensured, and access to aid in the areas under siege is guaranteed and facilitated to offer life—saving help to our brothers and sisters suffering under the bombs and from fear. i thank all those who are welcoming the refugees. above all, i plead for an end to the armed attacks and that negotiation prevails and common

sense as well, and that international law must be restored. i would like also to thank the journalists who put their lives at risk to guarantee information. visa and mastercard have suspended their services in russia. they say any transactions made with cards issued in russia will no longer work outside the country. cards issued outside russia can no longer be used at the country's banks or cashpoints. russia's major banks suggest the effects will be limited. 0ur correspondent, simon browning, explains more about the impact of the move. theyjoin a growing cohort of businesses who are voicing their objection to what's happening in ukraine and continue to put tough measures in place to fight against russia's economy. now, 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's 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 mastercard in russia, it will continue to work. but as you said, 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've left russia in the last couple of weeks — i've been seeing on twitter today, independent journalists who've lost 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're inside russia with a russian visa card or mastercard, it will continue to work because of the russian internal payment system taking charge of those payments. but if you've left russia and you have a russian account, it will no longer work and you won't be able to get access to your funds. well, because of that,

the 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. yes. as i mentioned, visa and mastercard join a growing cohort of companies who are mounting and voicing their objections to what's happening in ukraine. yesterday we saw samsung, the biggest provider in smartphones in russia, stop sending new shipments of phones into russia itself. that was after a direct appeal from 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're a young person in russia, you'll no longer be able to get an upgrade or a new phone. zara, one of the biggest fashion retailers in the world and their group closed all 502 stores in russia from today, so there'll be no more access to up—to—date and on—trend fashions, and paypal — another very popular

payment service, very popular with young people — also suspended operations and that joins apple and numerous others who are all now vaunted voicing their objection to what is happening between russia and ukraine. so yes, the list of businesses that are continuing to voice rejection objection continues to grow. that list is growing. but what about the impact? how is this actually being felt in russia and is it leading to anything meaningful? it's a big question, and that's what we're trying to find out from young people who are working at these zara stores. what are they being told by their employers? zara, for instance, or other brands, when all of a sudden their shops are closed? other companies, we know advertising agencies are pulling out of russia. what are their employers telling their employees about their reasons for leaving and closing down businesses? so there's lots of questions as to how these discussions are being had with employees at the moment as to how and why these reasons are being taken. tens of thousands of people have been demonstrating across european cities in support of ukraine, demanding an end to russia's

invasion as well as using high—profile sports matches to get their point across, as stephanie prentice reports. with flags in the stands and applause on the pitch, the world's most popular football league, the english premier league, using saturday's matches to show support for ukraine in full view of the watching world. mixed messages in the chelsea stands, though — booing heard here after fans cheered for owner roman abramovich, an alleged close ally of vladimir putin, something their manager stood against. we need ourfans to... to commit to this minute of applause in the moment. we do it for ukraine and there is no second opinion about the situation there, and that they have our thoughts and our support, and we should stand together as a club. it's not the moment for other messages. french chanting: putin! assassin!

off the pitch, the blue and yellow seen all over the world this weekend, ukraine's colours being held aloft in paris injust one of 120 protests in france, as anti—war protesters gathered to sing the ukrainian national anthem. singing. solemn faces with a solemn message — stop putin, now. translation: the ukrainian president is some kind of a hero. _ he is a hero. i think that the ukrainian people show us an extraordinary example. it was a scene mirrored across europe. singing. in croatia... ..in italy... ..in latvia... ..the netherlands.. ..britain... chanting: stand with ukraine! ..switzerland. .. ..germany, where the russian consulate was covered in red paint...

..and austria... translation: it is important to send a sign of solidarity - and to say it's wrong, what's going on here. ..as well as over in the united states. chanting: no-fly zone! a reminder that the feelings about the war being discussed in official chambers and meeting rooms, further amplified on the ground in normal cities and streets. shouting. in ukraine, in kherson, russian occupation. residents there holding fierce protests of their own, unaware that, as their freedom is taken away in the space of a week, the world stands beside them to demand it back. stephanie prentice, bbc news. people in the uk are raising money and gathering donations to send to those fleeing ukraine. to those fleeing ukraine. british businessman andrew trotter joins us now from the romanian

border town of siret. he has travelled from his home in london with medical supplies and aid. thank you for making time to talk to us. it must be pretty cold there. i saw you trying to warm your hands before we came on air. many people have been donating to charities and aid. what made you decide to leave the comfort of your home and go to the comfort of your home and go to the border to help? i the comfort of your home and go to the border to help?— the border to help? i heard there were connections _ the border to help? i heard there were connections going - the border to help? i heard there were connections going on -- - were connections going on —— collection is going on in london to be driven across the border. i have an office in my company in romania and i thought i would fly out to romania directly, by lots of goods there and put them on a truck to this border here in siret on the ukrainian romanian border. i thought it is simpler than trying to send stuff from uk in a drug which might take weeks to get there.— take weeks to get there. about the seed with take weeks to get there. about the speed with which _ take weeks to get there. about the speed with which you _ take weeks to get there. about the

speed with which you could - take weeks to get there. about the speed with which you could do - take weeks to get there. about the speed with which you could do it, l speed with which you could do it, and tell us what you have seen since you got there. 50 and tell us what you have seen since you got there-— you got there. so yes, it's quite normal. you got there. so yes, it's quite normal- we _ you got there. so yes, it's quite normal. we are _ you got there. so yes, it's quite normal. we are going _ you got there. so yes, it's quite normal. we are going around i you got there. so yes, it's quite. normal. we are going around the you got there. so yes, it's quite - normal. we are going around the town with my team buying some stuff. there's lots of ukrainians driving on the other direction, mostly it seems quite wealthy people, cars and porsches coming south so i assume they are the ones who can afford to get out and they are probably fleeing to places like romania and moldova. . , . , moldova. that is an interesting oint, moldova. that is an interesting point. isn't _ moldova. that is an interesting point. isn't it. _ moldova. that is an interesting point, isn't it, because - moldova. that is an interesting point, isn't it, because we - moldova. that is an interesting | point, isn't it, because we were speaking earlier to a student who said they were still stuck in ukraine because they couldn't afford the $2000 they needed to arrange transport out. are you hearing many stories like that? i transport out. are you hearing many stories like that?— stories like that? i haven't heard that myself- _ stories like that? i haven't heard that myself. it _ stories like that? i haven't heard that myself. it was _ stories like that? i haven't heard that myself. it was the _ stories like that? i haven't heard that myself. it was the first - stories like that? i haven't heard that myself. it was the first time j stories like that? i haven't heard l that myself. it was the first time i noticed it half an hour driving here, all of the expensive cars driving away with the ukrainian number plates, it was the first time i noticed it. number plates, it was the first time i noticed it— i noticed it. and it is this the first time —

i noticed it. and it is this the first time you _ i noticed it. and it is this the first time you have _ i noticed it. and it is this the first time you have been - i noticed it. and it is this the - first time you have been involved in an effort like this?— an effort like this? absolutely. it was our last— an effort like this? absolutely. it was our last minute, _ an effort like this? absolutely. it was our last minute, i _ an effort like this? absolutely. it was our last minute, i had - an effort like this? absolutely. it was our last minute, i had the i an effort like this? absolutely. it l was our last minute, i had the idea to do my bit. because i have this company in cluj, i thought let's be practical and by its out there in rumania and send it across the border. ., ., , , ., border. for many people that might seem unusual. _ border. for many people that might seem unusual, that _ border. for many people that might seem unusual, that you _ border. for many people that might seem unusual, that you would i border. for many people that might seem unusual, that you would pick| border. for many people that might l seem unusual, that you would pick up and go. what is it about what is going on that made you think, i can'tjust sit back? it’s going on that made you think, i can'tjust sit back?— can'tjust sit back? it's been a re can'tjust sit back? it's been a pretty depressing _ can'tjust sit back? it's been a pretty depressing week i can'tjust sit back? it's been a i pretty depressing week frankly, looking at the news. i didn't actually think too hard about it, i just thought let's do it, i'm well placed to do it, why not do my bit? the team here agreed and wanted to help out as best they could. hagar help out as best they could. how much have _ help out as best they could. how much have you — help out as best they could. how much have you been _ help out as best they could. how much have you been able to help? financially we have done quite well. i put some money from the company. a friend of mine from the bryan adams trust foundation matched my donation. then i started some links out to friends saying this is what we are doing, if you would like to

donate great, we haven't got a charity set up because it is too short notice but feel free to send some money and it's been quite overwhelming. it's come into my bank account that i spend on goods here so we will probably set up a charity in the next few months. find so we will probably set up a charity in the next few months.— so we will probably set up a charity in the next few months. and we are heafina in the next few months. and we are hearing this — in the next few months. and we are hearing this conflict _ in the next few months. and we are hearing this conflict will _ in the next few months. and we are hearing this conflict will probably i hearing this conflict will probably take a lot longer before anything is resolved. how much longer do you think you will stay there and what are your plans for what you might do next to help? the are your plans for what you might do next to help?— next to help? the plan was to go back to london _ next to help? the plan was to go back to london tomorrow i next to help? the plan was to go back to london tomorrow night, | next to help? the plan was to go i back to london tomorrow night, which we might do, but now having seen how this works i have a good team in rumania who can do this, we will do shipments every week until we spend the current amount of money and then we will probably set up a charity, raise more money officially, and then keep doing it over the coming months. i also have a translation business so we will start helping with interpreting and translation for people who needed coming across the border who don't speak romanian.

ijust wonder if the border who don't speak romanian. i just wonder if you are the border who don't speak romanian. ijust wonder if you are meeting many other people like you who are also just finding to help?— also 'ust finding to help? there's a few also just finding to help? there's a few ngos in _ also just finding to help? there's a few ngos in cluj _ also just finding to help? there's a few ngos in cluj last _ also just finding to help? there's a few ngos in cluj last night, i also just finding to help? there's a few ngos in cluj last night, we i also just finding to help? there's a | few ngos in cluj last night, we met a chap on the way here and stopped for coffee but we literallyjust got here 20 minutes ago so i haven't really met anyone. we are about to go to the border which is about one kilometre that lay behind me, once we have loaded this truck with the supplies inside. find we have loaded this truck with the supplies inside.— supplies inside. and what sort of su lies supplies inside. and what sort of supplies will _ supplies inside. and what sort of supplies will you _ supplies inside. and what sort of supplies will you be _ supplies inside. and what sort of supplies will you be taking i supplies inside. and what sort of supplies will you be taking in i supplies will you be taking in natural? 50 supplies will you be taking in natural? , ., ,, , supplies will you be taking in natural? , ., ,, natural? so its mattresses and beddin: , natural? so its mattresses and bedding, then _ natural? so its mattresses and bedding, then we _ natural? so its mattresses and bedding, then we had - natural? so its mattresses and bedding, then we had lots i natural? so its mattresses and bedding, then we had lots of l natural? so its mattresses and i bedding, then we had lots of medical supplies, they will go on into ukraine. the people here will work out what needs to go to ukraine and what needs to stay here for refugees but most of the medical gear will go into hospitals across the border. andrew, we wish you all the best. thank you for talking to us. we will let you get back to it. andrew

trotter runs an international translation service in rumania and is leading an effort to help. two british surgeons have held a virtual 12—hour war surgery training course in london for over 200 health care 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. russians living in the uk have said they are horrified by vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine. many have joined anti—war protests across the country and are calling on fellow russians around the world to condemn putin's actions. ayshea buksh has more. denis was born in moscow and now works in publishing in london. he has relatives in both russia and ukraine, and is desperately worried about his family who are in care. who are in kyiv. my cousin's wife, she said that we were starting to panic. they are hiding somewhere in the basement. we were starting to panic because the tanks are in the city. there is fighting in the city. they don't have any food, they don't have any money, there's nothing they can do. the war needs to stop. i need people to be more proactive, if they have russian culture within them, they need to be more proactive

about stopping the war. sonia came from russia to study, and now works in the music industry. she's also incredibly anxious about is happening. anxious about what is happening. horrible emotions right now. it is shame, it's grief. and it's anger, and powerlessness. this arts and cultural centre in bloomsbury in central london has long maintained its independence from the russian government, and now even more so. the centre's director, elena, says they have long supported opposition voices in russia and now they are rethinking their events programme to show solidarity with ukraine. being a russian speaker does not equate to supporting putin's war. and there are very many different russian communities here in london and all of them come from different backgrounds and have very different opinions and different points of view, but i think we all stand united against this war. it is very dark times for us. we condemn russian military aggression

and we stand with ukraine. this war should not have happened in the 21st century. the most recent exhibition explored russian queer identity, and the curator says russians living abroad must continue to use their freedoms as a platform for activism. it is impossible to talk about anything right now except for the war. there are a lot of voices in russia who, i mean, most russians are now opposing the war and it is important, you know, for us to amplify those voices. so as more groups continue to distance themselves from the actions of vladimir putin, russian londoners are ensuring by their actions and words that they stand with ukraine. ayshea buksh, bbc news. this is bbc news, we will bring you the latest headlines in just a short

while. stay with us. hello, more places seeing the sunshine today, albeit occasionally into southern england and south wales. still cloud around and a few showers here, but most of the sunshine is across northern ireland and scotland. even where we have got these areas of cloud across the southern half of england running into south wales, it is more broken thanit into south wales, it is more broken than it was yesterday and those areas that were most cloudy and damp yesterday across eastern parts of england are much brighter today. so, cloud broken, some sunny spells, but at times thick enough to produce the odd shower across east anglia, southern england into south wales and parts of the midlands. for northern england, northern ireland and scotland, this is where the lion's share of sunshine is. even where you get some sunshine, it is still chilly in the breeze but the north—easterly wind is strongest across england and wales, this is

where it is having its most chilling effect. still cloud across southern areas into denied and quite a stiff breeze, but even here temperatures will for close to freezing in some spots. the lowest temperatures in the countryside —5 or a touch lower in the coldest spots. tomorrow england with patchy cloud lifting further north, brightening up more so i crossed east anglia and south—east england. plenty of sunshine still in scotland. this wind is around a0 mph, and it will feel on the chilly side, but then again there is some sunshine to compensate. and another frost as tuesday begins. that should be the end of it as the week goes on, from tuesday onwards several areas of low pressure will have a go at bringing

some wetter and windier conditions are away. nothing too severe, windiest across western areas, gales around at times on some coasts and this is where it will be wettest, they will weaken as they move east. and all the while, a systems get closer, we will be changing the flow of air to a south, south—westerly, so it will be turning milder. plenty of dry and sunny weather around, then turning wetter, windier and milder as the week goes on.

this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim live in western ukraine. our top stories. civilians in ukraine have been fleeing for their lives, under the relentless bombardment, just 25 kilometres from capital. severe attacks on the civil population including bombing of civilians will be taking place. a second attempt to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of mariupol has failed — after a similar plan was abandoned yesterday due to continuing fighting. the un says one point five million

people have already fled ukraine. the us offers to help ease the fastest growing refugee crisis