this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... harrowing scenes in ukraine as russian forces step up their bombing of civilian areas. in irpin north—west of the capital, residents flee for their lives — under relentless bombardment. this a thisafairamount this a fair amount of in fire coming into this, artillery fire, there are loads of citizens around. a bridge used by civilians to flee the town was blown up to slow the russian offensive leaving many elderly especially vulnerable. the head of the international atomic energy agency says he's extremely concerned about reports that the ukrainian authorities are having trouble contacting staff at the zaporizhzhia and chernobyl nuclear plants both

of which are under russian control. in poland thousands more refugees have been arriving, so far more than one and a half million ukrainians have fled their country. almost 5,000 people have been arrested in russia, as anti—war protests spread across the country. the ukrainian authorities say towns north—west of the capital kyiv are under relentless bombardment, with intense fighting between government and russian forces. the heaviest fighting is said to be focussed on suburbs just 25 kilometres north—west of kiev, as russian troops

try to advance towards the centre of the capital. meanwhile a new temporary ceasefire to evacuate thousands of civilians in the beseiged southern city of mariupol, appears to have collapsed after just hours. this is the second day in a row it has failed. the latest images show russian forces engaged in what's being described as a �*terrifying bombardment�* of the town of irpin, which is near the capital kyiv. the bbc�*sjeremy bowen has spent the day there and sent this report — a warning some of it may be distressing russian shelling might break ukraine's will to fight but not yet. they had to keep moving. until the last minute these families have hung on, leaving your home even in a war is a giant step. they are heading towards the capital, still almost untouched but only about ten miles away. she was as dignified as a

woman striding to the park. in fact, like all of ukraine and russia they are struggling into a dark future. ukrainian troops were moving back into peen and mrs what people left. journalist try to help the casualties. a family mother, father were killed by another shell. this was inside the town, russia's target as it tries to revive its offensive. the civilians are getting out of what's left of a bridge that was blown to slow down the russians if they take irpin. civilians are supposed to be protected by the laws of war. russian shells were very close. stopping was not an option.

i'm 0k, she said, keep going. a disabled man couldn't make it up the steep river bank on his own. there is a fairamount steep river bank on his own. there is a fair amount of incoming fire coming into us now. artillery fire, there are loads of civilians around. families, their dog following on, this is the edge of the town that the russians have got to. civilians were in the firing line and the russians might have been trying to knock out nearby active ukrainian artillery. casualties and evacuees were taken to an assembly point in a suburb about a mile away. they were still in rage of russian guns but for now relatively safe. vladimir,

85, 30 year veteran of the soviet army got his family out. i served for many years he said, right now adhere to those fascists into pieces with up there killing people for no reason. that's what's really painful. 0n the way out families grabbed their most precious things puppies, pets, some comfort. tell me what it was like crossing the bridge and getting out. it what it was like crossing the bridge and getting out-— and getting out. it was a miserable feelina. and getting out. it was a miserable feeling- we — and getting out. it was a miserable feeling. we are nervous. _ and getting out. it was a miserable feeling. we are nervous. i- and getting out. it was a miserable feeling. we are nervous. i was- feeling. we are nervous. i was terrified, terrified. it was... horrible. a horrible way. they moved on to the capital. _ horrible. a horrible way. they moved on to the capital. this _ horrible. a horrible way. they moved on to the capital. this was _ horrible. a horrible way. they moved on to the capital. this was a - on to the capital. this was a terrible day but the russian military is operating on have power. if it can build up full momentum there will be more days worse than

this. as i mentioned, a second attempt to evacuate civilians from the beseiged southern city of mariupol has failed. both sides blamed the other for not observing an agreed ceasefire. the red cross, which is trying to organise the humanitarian operation, said the city was witnessing �*devastating scenes of human suffering�*. a top security official in ukraine warned that russia is preparing to encircle the city of dnipro — and is focusing on cutting ukraine off from the black sea. 0ur eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford reports from dnipro. when night falls, they keep the lights off here, in the hope that�*ll hide them from the russian bombs. families who fled the fighting in kharkiv to a nearby town, still too close to feel safe. this is me and my friends in the metro. 15—year—old nika has left behind her city, herfriends and the father she loves, and she�*s struggling.

oh, thank god i�*m alive. i can�*t sleep normally — i am sleeping two or three hours every day because i heard bangs and i�*m afraid. i start shaking because i think they�*re here and it�*s very bad. it�*s not only kharkiv that is under attack. in volnovakha to the south—east, whole streets are in ruins. the fighting was meant to stop today to give civilians chance to get out. but a local mp told me russian forces had broken the ceasefire for a second day. russia said it would provide a safe corridor, this man said, but they were firing along the route. gunfire. and there was no let—up at all in mariupol. imagine living under this. ..with no power and little water now — or food.

so the buses that were sent to rescue thousands stood empty. translation: in the first days of. the war, we counted dozens of dead. now it�*s hundreds and it�*ll soon be thousands. but they don�*t even give us a chance to count, because the shelling hasn�*t stopped for six days. people were supposed to be bussed here, three hours north, to zaporizhzhia, still firmly under ukrainian control. there is no shelling here yet, but it�*s too quiet, almost deserted. we spotted armed police doing spot checks. then, one patrol yelled at us to pull over. three armed officers pointed their guns at us, made us open the car doors, wanted to check who we were. they asked us to put our hands in the air. once they saw we were journalists they were fine, but it is getting really nervy here. the fear comes before the fighting,

but both are now spreading here every day. sarah rainsford, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. russian police have again moved to break up anti—war protests in many cities. the respected russian ngo 0vd—info monitoring group hasjust released updated figures on arrests across russia during anti—war protests. according to 0vd—info, 4,631 people were arrested in 64 cities across russia on the 06 of march. maria kuznetsova, a spokesperson for the 0vd—info, 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. let�*s get some of the day�*s other developments. netflix has suspended its service in russia in response to the country�*s invasion of ukraine. the streaming service had announced earlier this week, that it would pause all future projects from russia, but a spokesman for netflix says the company is now taking

an additional step, and shutting down its service entirely. tiktok says it�*s suspending new video uploads and livestreams in russia. the video—sharing app said in a statement �*it had no other choice�*, after russia introduced its new �*fake news�* law, that�*s aimed at limiting information about its invasion of ukraine. the us credit card and payments giant american express is also shutting down its operations in russia and belarus, because of the invasion on ukraine. amex says cards issued by russian banks in russia would no longer work outside the country, following similar moves by card giants visa and mastercard. as the fighting intensifies, buses and trains continue to arrive at the border town of lviv from across the country, as people leave their homes and belongings, and prepare to seek sanctuary elsewhere. our special correspondent fergal keane has been travelling with some of those who�*ve fled, and has this report.

the young men have been working all night. they try to break some chair to the old man. it was our service, theyjoked, let me get you tea or coffee. it spares not, this war. not the old the young, or the sick. these children from kharkiv are orphans they have serious health conditions. their distress is difficult to watch. but it is an essential truth of the wars destruction for those who are their carers. ~ ,, �* destruction for those who are their carers. ~ ,, ~ �* , y carers. translation: it's very deplorable _ carers. translation: it's very deplorable. we _ carers. translation: it's very deplorable. we are _ carers. translation: it's very deplorable. we are being - carers. translation: it's very i deplorable. we are being bombed carers. translation: it's very - deplorable. we are being bombed from morning till night. we�*ve been in the bomb shelter all this time, all the kids, all of them. this

the bomb shelter all this time, all the kids, all of them.— the kids, all of them. this is what the kids, all of them. this is what the are the kids, all of them. this is what they are fleeing. _ the kids, all of them. this is what they are fleeing. the _ the kids, all of them. this is what they are fleeing. the destruction | they are fleeing. the destruction that�*s broken the calm, ordered life they knew. uprooting a million people so far. the boss two bus heading to the polish border. care and nurturing travel with them. translation: we are tired to hear how the _ translation: we are tired to hear how the children behave, they also want cairn. — how the children behave, they also want calm, silence, coziness and warmth — want calm, silence, coziness and warmth. �* ., . ., ., warmth. but to the children mean to ou? warmth. but to the children mean to you? translation: _ warmth. but to the children mean to you? translation: many _ warmth. but to the children mean to you? translation: many people i warmth. but to the children mean to l you? translation: many people ask warmth. but to the children mean to - you? translation: many people ask me wh i do this you? translation: many people ask me why i do this job- — you? translation: many people ask me why i do this job- i— you? translation: many people ask me why i do this job. i feel— you? translation: many people ask me why i do this job. i feel that _ you? translation: many people ask me why i do this job. i feel that i _ why i do thisjob. i feel that i needed — why i do thisjob. i feel that i needed here. why i do this 'ob. i feel that i needed here.— why i do this “oh. i feel that i needed here. , , , ., ~' needed here. just when you think that this war _

needed here. just when you think that this war cannot _ needed here. just when you think that this war cannot get - needed here. just when you think that this war cannot get any - needed here. just when you thinkj that this war cannot get any more obscene in the way that it ruptures human lives no matter how young, it does. and sobering, sad part is that it will continue to do so. they�*ve been travelling 30 hours already, there are many more hours ahead. more than 1.5 million people have now left ukraine since the conflict began. of those, close to a million are now in poland. hungary and slovakia have each received over 100,000 refugees. and moldova, romania and russia have seen more than 50,000 people cross their respective borders. some of those arriving have acute needs — with cancer patients having to leave their hospitals, and having treatment interrupted, as they seek safety in europe. 0ur correspondent mark lowen, who�*s in poland, has been hearing some of their stories. they, too, are the fighters of a debilitating disease made deadlier by the war they�*ve fled.

ukraine�*s young cancer patients evacuated to poland, victims of a battle on two fronts. taken to a hotel to be examined, the most urgent to be sent to hospitals here and across europe. "our hearts are tearing from pain," says this lady. "my son always says he�*s fine, but we need to continue his treatment. " lilya�*s little brother 0lexi has a brain tumour the trauma whole families torn from their homes at the most difficult time. 0livia was born a day before rushes in beijing. alexi has a brain tumour and is rushes in beijing. alexi has a brain tumourand is weak rushes in beijing. alexi has a brain tumour and is weak from the journey. i had three operations and then he had therapy.

but he didn�*t complete therapy because the war started. the next morning, they wait for triage. the days to get here perilous for some. well, this isjust a desperately sad situation. children who are safe from the war but now plunged back into danger with their illness. rushing to resume treatment that�*s been broken off. this is a conflict that is killing, uprooting and now threatening the most vulnerable. the one doctor is overwhelmed. she checks 12—year—old andrei, whose soft tissue cancer has spread to his lungs. this is a very serious situation. are there patients who you think could die from having to have everything interrupted like this? yes, just. most of these kids are in

a life—threatening situation and any kind of delay of their treatment is very bad for them. this, of all places, is little andrei�*s first ever trip abroad. "i miss my home and my grandma and grandpa" he says. "at least here we don�*t have to run into shelters, "because that was scary and hard. " as volunteers from germany take the first children to a hospital there, more arrive. the cruelty of one man�*s war now forcing them to battle. mark lowen, bbc news, central poland. some who have left ukraine. 0f some who have left ukraine. of course, there are many millions more staying put in their country. 0ur correspondent, jeremy bowen joins us now live from kyiv. what sort of life are people having to get used to?—

to get used to? here in the capital ci , here to get used to? here in the capital city. here in _ to get used to? here in the capital city. here in the — to get used to? here in the capital city, here in the centre _ to get used to? here in the capital city, here in the centre where i - to get used to? here in the capitalj city, here in the centre where i am there are alerts but up to now, it�*s barely been touched. into the suburbs it�*s a different thing. i went out to the northwest today which is the access where that long russian convoy has been stuck for some time. and where they are trying to revive the momentum of their offensive. and there there�*s a pin where they have been showing it and a lot of civilians are trying to get out —— irpin. for those people, life has been really, really tough and some were killed today. but here in the centre of the city, it�*s a bit of a weird atmosphere because the streets are empty, there are troops on the streets, roadblock road checks, alerts but up to now, it�*s been relatively okay. it checks, alerts but up to now, it's been relatively okay.— been relatively okay. it must be stranue been relatively okay. it must be

strange psychologically, - been relatively okay. it must be strange psychologically, a - been relatively okay. it must be strange psychologically, a veryl strange psychologically, a very strange psychologically, a very strange position for many people in kyiv to bn. presumably set back spending the night an air raid shelters, spending a lot of time indoors, they make it out a little bit for that when they get out they�*ve got to identify themselves, all show papers all the rest of it. the thing they fear most has still not started. the thing they fear most has still not started-— the thing they fear most has still not started. , . ., , , ., not started. yes. of course they are lookin: at not started. yes. of course they are looking at the _ not started. yes. of course they are looking at the terrible _ not started. yes. of course they are looking at the terrible things - looking at the terrible things happening elsewhere in the country. let�*s not forget about this. this is a really big country. and in the south end in the east there are some awful scenes. south end in the east there are some awfulscenes. people south end in the east there are some awful scenes. people have full access to the international media, they know exactly what�*s going on. but yeah, here in the capital a lot of people have left, 50,000 a day from the railway station going west towards the polish border. but a lot of those people who are here and now i think are determined to stay, they are determined to see it out, to tough it out. and there are at the

moment the city is far from encircled, not at all. it�*s possible to get supplies in, credit cards work in the shops, there�*s food in the shops, people can buy things. yeah, there are a few shortages but it�*s not too bad. there are cues outside pharmacies. it�*s strange in between.. i think the shock of the invasion has been not worn off but normalised a little bit. but the fear of what they may be going into is very much there.— fear of what they may be going into is very much there. you've seen how --eole is very much there. you've seen how eole t is very much there. you've seen how people try to — is very much there. you've seen how people try to maintain _ is very much there. you've seen how people try to maintain normal- is very much there. you've seen how people try to maintain normal life i people try to maintain normal life and even more extreme circumstances than this and some of the countries you reported from in the middle east. the middle east of course is where vladimir putin had his most recent military venture in syria. do you worry about what lessons you might have drawn from that military bombardment and some of serious cities and whether they might now be

applied to ukraine? i cities and whether they might now be applied to ukraine?— applied to ukraine? i think the lesson that — applied to ukraine? i think the lesson that president - applied to ukraine? i think the lesson that president putin - applied to ukraine? i think the | lesson that president putin has probably drawn from his experience in syria is that force works. he intervened in 2015 when the regime of the president was on its knees, when the rebels were doing... they had taken territory and they were holding it. but the firepower that the russians brought to the fight, not infantry, the firepower from the air and from artillery batteries made the crucial difference. and it effectively broke the country. it brought that on even more quickly. it effectively saved their regime of the assad family. also from puddings point of view, he made the point that russia was important again. so for him it was a load of positives. when he went in there president barack 0bama said, i�*ve got a warn

you president putin, he said publicly on tv, this is going to be a quagmire. as far as putin is concerned syria was not a quagmire, syria was a success. and their tactic they are tactics there of besieging cities, hammering them, really hammering them. i went to aleppo after the side fell, the rebel side and you could drive for a mile in one direction, mile and the other and only see destroyed buildings. so i think from his point of view, he thought that probably work. now, will he do, would he do something similar say in this city, in kyiv, a city which is a big part of the history of the russian people, important to their religion and culture, what he do it here? we don�*t know. we will see. fine and culture, what he do it here? we don't know. we will see.— don't know. we will see. one final thou~ht, don't know. we will see. one final thought, anthony _ don't know. we will see. one final

thought, anthony blinken - don't know. we will see. one final thought, anthony blinken says - don't know. we will see. one finalj thought, anthony blinken says the don't know. we will see. one final - thought, anthony blinken says the us is stop commencing civilian attacks. attacks which have targeted civilians in potential war crimes. could that threat, that thought not change president putin in any way but act as any kind of restraint do you think on some of that military officers on the ground? some of the people that are given the day—to—day orders. people that are given the day-to-day orders. ~ ., ., ~ ., ., �* orders. well, hard to know. i don't know what — orders. well, hard to know. i don't know what they — orders. well, hard to know. i don't know what they are _ orders. well, hard to know. i don't know what they are personally - know what they are personally thinking. i was in the former yugoslavia when it was announced towards the end of the word singing 7? transmit towards the end of the word singing 7 7 transmit 7 7 towards the end of the word singing 77 transmit 77 capnext war in bosnia in the mid—90s that there will be a un war crimes tribunal. mil there will be a un war crimes tribunal. �* ., , there will be a un war crimes tribunal. ., , ., ., , , there will be a un war crimes tribunal. �* ., , ., ., , tribunal. all of us journalists over tribunal. all of us “ournalists over there at the _ tribunal. all of us “ournalists over there at the time — tribunal. all of us journalists over there at the time were _ tribunal. all of us journalists over there at the time were very - there at the time were very sceptical about whether or not it would get anybody or achieve anything. in fact, would get anybody or achieve anything. infact, all would get anybody or achieve anything. in fact, all the main perpetrators in that war were brought to justice and put on trial

and put in prison. but that was backed by the unanimity of the un security council. and because russia is a permanent member of the security council and because it has a right of veto, there is no way that it will vote for something similar here. sobering thoughts as ever. good to speak to you. thank you very much. the us secretary of state antony blinken says the us has seen �*very credible reports�* of deliberate russian attacks on ukrainian civilians. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale has the latest. russians on the streets of moscow today to find police to demonstrate against the war in ukraine. just one of the many protests across the country. the authorities said 3500

people were arrested. independent groups said it was more then for thousand. this is part of what�*s prompting their anger, the apparently indiscriminate attacks on civilians that america�*s top diplomat now says could constitute a war crime. anthony blinken arrived in lithuania tonight on the later stage of a european tour as he and allies consider more support for ukraine and... allies consider more support for ukraine and. . .— allies consider more support for ukraine and... additional sanctions all of which — ukraine and... additional sanctions all of which are _ ukraine and... additional sanctions all of which are very _ ukraine and... additional sanctions all of which are very actively - ukraine and... additional sanctions all of which are very actively under| all of which are very actively under discussion it will be implemented in the coming days. as well as taking further steps to give the ukrainians what they need to defend themselves against the russian aggression. what against the russian aggression. what ukraine wants — against the russian aggression. what ukraine wants our _ against the russian aggression. what ukraine wants our usjets like against the russian aggression. what ukraine wants our us jets like these keeping their skies safe from russian attacks. nato has ruled out a no—fly zone but poland might give some warplanes to ukraine and get some warplanes to ukraine and get some usjets in return. in the coming days borisjohnson will meet other world leaders here at downing street from canada, the netherlands

and eastern europe. the challenge will be how to increase support from ukraine, tackled the humanitarian crisis and maintain pressure on russia. all without escalating the conflict. the prime minister his deputies said the west had to be in this for the long haul. i deputies said the west had to be in this for the long haul.— this for the long haul. i think the riaht this for the long haul. i think the right strategy — this for the long haul. i think the right strategy for _ this for the long haul. i think the right strategy for us _ this for the long haul. i think the right strategy for us is _ this for the long haul. i think the right strategy for us is to - this for the long haul. i think the right strategy for us is to keep i right strategy for us is to keep putting the squeeze on those bank rolling prudence war machine and keep stealing the capacities where there is the will of the ukrainian people. i think that�*s right course of action. but if anyone thinks this will be resolved in days will is deluding themselves. it will be resolved in days will is deluding themselves.- will be resolved in days will is deluding themselves. it will take months. deluding themselves. it will take months- as _ deluding themselves. it will take months. as western _ deluding themselves. it will take months. as western sanctions i deluding themselves. it will take - months. as western sanctions begin to take a bite in russia at visa, mastercard and american express that they were suspended operations there. the us may also target russian oil sales. but ukraine wants more. ~ ,, �* russian oil sales. but ukraine wants more. ~ ,, ~ �* , russian oil sales. but ukraine wants more. ~ ,, ~ �*, ., ., more. translation: it's immoral, it's not in europe _ more. translation: it's immoral, it's not in europe security _ it's not in europe security interests _ it's not in europe security interests of new painful sanctions against _ interests of new painful sanctions against russia and not applied in the coming days.— against russia and not applied in the coming days. thank you for your

com an . the coming days. thank you for your company- you're _ the coming days. thank you for your company. you're watching _ the coming days. thank you for your company. you're watching bbc - the coming days. thank you for your | company. you're watching bbc news. hello, it�*s turning milder in the week ahead after a chilly start. that change, though, means there will be less of the sunshine that some of us have enjoyed this weekend — what a glorious view from scotland today. there will be more cloud around coming in from the atlantic and the return of some outbreaks of rain. this is how things have looked cloud—wise today and a lot of the cloud across the southern half of england and into wales still producing the odd shower. there have been a few cloud breaks here, though, so overall it�*s been a bit brighter than it was yesterday, especially in eastern england, and there�*ll still be a few holes in the cloud tonight, and that does mean a patchy frost across southern areas. the lowest temperatures are likely to be under the clear skies in scotland and northern england this time, and a minus six, maybe minus seven in the coldest spots, with one or two mist and fog patches around.

with high pressure close by and lots of fine but still rather chilly weather on the way for tomorrow. an area of cloud across wales and england drifting northwards probably brighten up quite nicely, though behind it, especially across east anglia and the southeast, and a few patches of cloud reaching towards northern ireland and southern scotland. this southeasterly wind will be stronger more widely, particularly across the south and west of the uk for tomorrow, maybe some gusts up to around a0 miles an hour or so. and although we have plenty of sunny spells around, it will feel colder than this because of that brisk southeasterly wind. and there will be another frost for many as we start off on tuesday morning. now, it should be the end of the frost because after this, temperatures are going to be heading upwards. eastern areas stay mainly dry on tuesday. but here�*s the first atlantic weather system beginning to push in. some uncertainty about how far the rain will get during daylight hours, most likely to reach in towards northern ireland, maybe south west scotland, wales and western parts of england with the freshening wind, whereas the east stays mainly dry. still feeling chillier than this in the breeze, the temperatures are set to rise for the remainder of the week

as we see further low pressure systems bringing further wet or windy weather, particularly across the western side of the uk. but rather than the southeasterly wind we�*re starting the week with, it�*s more of a south south—westerly wind. that, of course, is a milder direction so quite widely during the second half of the week. we�*re expecting temperatures to be into double figures as a result. so it starts chilly, this week and some frost to contend with. but then after that, temperatures are heading up. but as we�*ve established, that does mean there�*ll be some wetter, windier conditions at times, especially in the west.

this is bbc news, the headlines. harrowing scenes in ukraine, as russian forces step up their bombing of civilian areas. in irpin, north—west of the capital, residents flee for their lives, under relentless bombardment.