this is bbc news. i'm sally bundock, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk, and around the world. russia reportedly ready to provide humanitarian corridors for trapped civilians in two hours time. ukraine called an earlier offer "completely immoral". the bombardment of cities across ukraine continues, despite international calls for a ceasefire. the us and europe search for new sources of energy, as oil sanctions on russia look ever more likely. and a symbol of russiamilitary defiance, but what does it

actually mean? hello and welcome. russia says it it ready to provide humanitarian corridors from several ukrainian cities once more. defence ministery officials say this will be to evacuate civilians from the cities of kyiv, chernihiv, sumy, kharkiv and mariupol. but, like on monday, the routes offered by moscow are to russia or its ally belarus — a condition rejected as "completely immoral" by ukraine. the united nations has made an emotional plea for civilians in ukraine to be spared at an emergency meeting of the security council in new york. its head of humanitarian affairs identified three immediate priorities to lessen the pain and suffering in ukraine.

two spa re two spare civilians and civilian homes and infrastructure in their military operations. this includes allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis in the direction they choose. we need safe passage for humanitarian supplies into areas of active hostilities. civilians in places like mario pole, kharkiv and elsewhere desperately need aid, especially life—saving medical supplies, the kind being brought in in these past days by who. the bombardment of cities across ukraine has continued, despite international calls for a ceasefire. in the city of irpin, 1,000 people were taken to safety, after ukrainian forces repelled russian attacks. 0rla guerin has this report from irpin, which is under heavy bombardment, and is crucial to the russian advance. the only way out, and he

stumbles, hands shaking. but he summons his courage and carries on. the desperate exodus from irpin today across the wreckage of a bridge blown up by ukraine to slow the russian advance. how scared do you have to be to take your child and flee like this? and here, a woman lies conscious, but immobile. she fell, and there is no stretcher to move her. well, this is a difficult journey every step of the way, especially for older people, trying to pick their way out across rubble and concrete, having to balance on bits of wood. ukrainian troops are trying to help them make their way forward. some are coming with their children. most are coming with a few small things they can carry. they've been under bombardment

in irpin for days, and they're not safe now. even as they try to leave, the shelling has been continuing. explosion. for many civilians in the town, that shelling hit home, like anastasia, whose son, oleg, isjust five months old. "the day before yesterday, a shell hit our house," she tells me. "we spent two days at my grandmother's. "now we are leaving because it's too dangerous "to be in any corner of irpin with a child." suddenly, this... gunfire. some ukrainian forces running for cover. others getting civilians out of the line of fire.

kyiv is just half an hour away. if ukraine loses this town, and it's already lost some of it, the russians will be on the road to the capital. andrei, like many here, is begging for a no—fly zone. tell everybody to close the sky, urgently. all people need it in ukraine, really. many people stay in irpin for now, they can't go outside, some old people, some young people, they try to do their best there. but we see the russian soldiers, they don't fight with the army, they fight with anyone, so tell them please to close the sky. for now, all many can do is cram into minivans bound for the railway station in the capital. generations of ukrainians at the mercy of an increasingly brutal russian advance.

air raid siren wails. and in the city, outside the registry office, the new soundtrack of kyiv. not what kate and artur had hoped for on their special day. the war has tightened their bond, but upended their lives. firstly, it was very scary when it started, but me and... my family and me, we are all christians, we pray to god and we believe that he cares about us and protects us. and you're getting married today, which is a very hopeful thing to do. yeah. what kind of future do you see for you both? ah, i see that ukraine will win and we will help to restore the country and make everything possible to make it... air raid siren wails. there were no guests

at the ceremony. it was too dangerous for loved ones to join them. the newlyweds say they will have a party when ukraine is victorious. 0rla guerin, bbc news, kyiv. the european commission will later present to its parliament plans to try to rid the bloc of its dependency on russian gas and oil. the proposals will partly focus on moving towards what it calls "reliable" suppliers. the us is also looking for other sources of energy, and sent a delegation to venezuela at the weekend. there are fears that an eu oil embargo against moscow could push up the oil price. a large number of british veterans are travelling to ukraine, despite warnings from the government and senior military leaders. many are expected to arrive at the front in the next few days.

there was confusion when the uk's foreign secretary initially encouraged people to fight. some of the ex—military men and women say they plan to provide medical support, rather than take up arms. tom symonds reports. this is complete calm, peace and tranquillity, and where i'm going is the living vision of hell. but then for 15 years, hell. but then for 15 years, hell was what i did.- hell was what i did. this is shane, hell was what i did. this is shane. ex _ hell was what i did. this is shane, ex soldier. - hell was what i did. this is shane, ex soldier. he's i hell was what i did. this is i shane, ex soldier. he's been hell was what i did. this is - shane, ex soldier. he's been in combat. he works on a farm with other veterans providing expenses for children with other educational needs. or at least, he did.— least, he did. these are the first field — least, he did. these are the first field dressing - least, he did. these are the first field dressing is. - least, he did. these are the first field dressing is. he i least, he did. these are the| first field dressing is. he has also trained _ first field dressing is. he has also trained to _ first field dressing is. he has also trained to deal- first field dressing is. he has also trained to deal with - first field dressing is. he has also trained to deal with the | also trained to deal with the horrific injuries of war. wounds, possibly loss of limbs. he is on his way to kyiv to set “p he is on his way to kyiv to set up a field hospital were not to fight, but he could be

targeted, so we are not using his surname. surviving a modern war zone means being highly trained, he says. if war zone means being highly trained, he says.— trained, he says. if you have no military _ trained, he says. if you have no military experience - trained, he says. if you have no military experience and l trained, he says. if you havel no military experience and no medical experience, stay out of the fight. the only thing you're going to do is get yourself killed and potentially somebody like me will have to run and get you out if you've been injured. but run and get you out if you've been injured.— run and get you out if you've been injured. but at stansted airort, been injured. but at stansted airport. we — been injured. but at stansted airport, we met— been injured. but at stansted airport, we met up— been injured. but at stansted airport, we met up with - been injured. but at stansted airport, we met up with sam| airport, we met up with sam ottaway, heading to ukraine with no military variance. i certainly don't have a death wish — certainly don't have a death wish i_ certainly don't have a death wish. i have a really comfortable life, a good life, but that _ comfortable life, a good life, but that is no excuse just to sit back_ but that is no excuse just to sit back and watch this horror unfold — sit back and watch this horror unfold. he sit back and watch this horror unfold. , ., , unfold. he tried, but he was turned away _ unfold. he tried, but he was turned away by _ unfold. he tried, but he was turned away by ukraine - unfold. he tried, but he was turned away by ukraine 's i turned away by ukraine �*s in berlin. but hundreds of fully trained former soldiers are willing to go. in kent, the small convoy was heading to ukraine at the weekend. we have a lot of emergency _ ukraine at the weekend. we have a lot of emergency medical - ukraine at the weekend. we have a lot of emergency medical kit. a lot of emergency medical kit that we were asked to bring with us. i'm sat at home and i watched a ten—year—old girl on

the telly, and she had been murdered by the russians, that's the only way to put it. and i can't sit idly at home watching, so i think let's support some aid convoys and stuff and make sure they are ok. if i'm fighting, then i'm in the wrong place. we are going for support the relief effort. �* , ., . , effort. but they have concerns that one government - effort. but they have concerns that one government minister| that one government minister said they should go, another said they should go, another said they should go, another said they shouldn't, and official advice is that they may be prosecuted, even for just assisting others engaged in conflict. they say the government should be supporting them. i government should be supporting them. ., , , .,. them. i hope they get their act together- _ them. i hope they get their act together. let's get _ them. i hope they get their act together. let's get going, - them. i hope they get their act together. let's get going, any| together. let's get going, any ex military or anyone going out that to support the effort, we need to help them. are we ready? because these are their boys, they have decided that enough is enough, there are bad people in the world and it shouldn't be happening. are you 0k? shouldn't be happening. are you ok? ~ ., ., , ok? more former soldiers will follow these _ ok? more former soldiers will follow these men _ ok? more former soldiers will follow these men in _ ok? more former soldiers will follow these men in the - ok? more former soldiers will follow these men in the days. ok? more former soldiers will. follow these men in the days to come, but the british government and military chiefs stay stay at home, help the people of ukraine from the uk.

tom symons, bbc news. in less than a fortnight, the letter "z" has become seen as a pro—war symbol of president putin's invasion of ukraine. it was first seen on tanks, but now made its way to the streets and across social media, prompting the question what does it actually stand for? stephanie prentice reports. russian tanks rolling into ukraine, with a stark letter on the side and back. the z scene he has since become ubiquitous as the conflict rages on. moving from the battlefield to being painted onto ordinary cars and vans, sprayed onto bus stops and even promoted on advertising boards in saint petersburg. on social media, there is debate over what the letter is being used to signify. some say it is a sign of nationalism, others are likening it to a swastika. some --eole likening it to a swastika. some peeple have —

likening it to a swastika. some people have compare - likening it to a swastika. some people have compare this - likening it to a swastika. some people have compare this to i people have compare this to a swastika. i think it is a bad comparison. in the third reich, they also valued displays of loyalty, a swastika on uniforms and salutes etc and putin �*s regime also values that. experts are divided. one explanation is it is designed to identify russian forces and prevent friendly fire. another is the z is a technical instruction, standing for zapad, meaning west in russian, another meaning victory in russian. the russian defence ministry has implied this on the social minister, —— on the social media, and the other says it stands for zelenskiy, a key target in the war. others have called it simple for tribalism being used to show loyalty. a russian gymnast is in trouble after taping the z to his top after he was beaten by a

to his top after he was beaten bya ukrainian. a to his top after he was beaten by a ukrainian. a former olympian has also been criticised after sharing the letter on her instagram, and social media users have condemned a photo of ill children in a hospice in south—west russia standing outside in the snow to form a z. in some areas of the russian offensive, a v is also being used. some think it stands for bostock, meaning east, some think it means power of truth. i do say along with the z, it has echoes of the last time there was war in europe. stephanie prentice, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: charly�*s war — meet the cat being rescued from ukraine, one of many animals affected by the conflict. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this, the worst terrorist

atrocity on european soil in modern times. in less than 24 hours then, the soviet union lost an elderly, sick leader, and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years hisjunior. we heard these gunshots - in the gym, then he came out through a fire exit and started firing at our huts. _ god, we were all petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he's 90, travelled from memphis jail to nashville state prison in an eight—car convoy. reporter: paul, what's it feel like to be married at last? - it feels fine, thank you. what are you going to do now? is it going to change your life much, do you think? i don't know, really — _ i've never been married before. this is bbc news,

the latest headlines: the united nations humanitarian chief has appealed for safe passage for civilians fleeing ukraine. russia's proposal for civilians to escape to its own territory is condemned as immoral by ukraine. the latest on the pandemic, and more than six million people have now died around the world after testing positive for covid—i9, according to the latest research in the us. and here in the uk, a new study has found that even mild cases of covid can cause long—term changes to the brain, as our science editor rebecca morelle explains. we are starting to see the precise impacts of covid on the brain, as uk biobank undertakes the world's biggest scanning project. the task is about to start...

scientists have compared brain scans recorded before the pandemic with images taken after a covid—i9 infection. the scans reveal changes in the brain of the participants who'd had covid. almost all of them, 96%, had had a mild case. the researchers found that, on average, the overall size of the brain had shrunk by up to 2%. there was a loss of grey matter in the parts of the brain related to the sense of smell and memory. and those who had been infected found it harder to perform complex mental tasks. the scientists have been trying to assess what the changes mean. the infected participants also had more difficulties, greater difficulties in performing complex tasks, compared with those who did not get infected. and we can relate that to how much of their brain had shrunk. so, yes, it does have real life consequences. what's not yet clear

is whether the changes are permanent, or if they can be reversed. it can get scary to hear about the fact that your brain has shrunk. but we need to bear in mind that the brain is really plastic. by that, we mean it can heal itself. the study could also help researchers to better understand long covid. it didn't look at the condition specifically, but the hope is the findings could provide new clues. i think it's a good starting point, and that opens up all sorts of questions that other researchers can follow up, in long covid clinics, and so on, about the effect of coronavirus infection on cognitive function, brain fog, and other areas of the brain, and to really focus research on how best to mitigate that. this study is just the start. it looked at earlier variants of covid. it's unclear whether omicron would cause the same changes. the hope is further scans will help us to understand the legacy left by covid—i9. rebecca morelle, bbc news.

let's get some of the day's other news. the mayor at lviv said they are at the limit of their capacity for helping people who have fled the violence, and since the invasions started two weeks ago 1.7 people have fled the country, according to the united nations. they are crossing the borders to neighbouring countries to the west such as poland, romania, slovakia, hungary and moldova yah, the fastest—growing refugee crisis in europe since the second world war. our correspondent is in moldova on the border with ukraine. these are women who have stayed in ukraine through more than ten days of war. they have now decided to leave. it's a long stop from ukraine's last bus stop from ukraine's last bus stop to the border better to

use any vehicle you can. by the time they are here this conflict is often dark and their cities and their faces. some had powerful reasons for staying as long as they could. olga's mother nadia suffered a series of strokes last year. olga went back to ukraine in october to look after her. when the war began she faced a dilemma. the war began she faced a dilemma-— the war began she faced a dilemma. being there was terrifying. _ dilemma. being there was terrifying, she _ dilemma. being there was terrifying, she said. - dilemma. being there was terrifying, she said. we i dilemma. being there was l terrifying, she said. we live on the eighth for, there were sirens day and night. what else could ifeel sirens day and night. what else could i feel but fair. i couldn't leave her there, i'm all she has.— all she has. for some, this isn't a way _ all she has. for some, this isn't a 1-way journey, - all she has. for some, this isn't a 1-way journey, aid l isn't a 1—wayjourney, aid workers say women are dropping off their children here before turning around and going straight back to ukraine. i will never forget the woman who said she is working in the orphanage and has 50 children, she cannot leave them there or a woman working at an electric

station, it is responsible for the whole city she said people are running, there will be nobody to maintain the basic needs of human beings for staying there.— staying there. moldova is slowly getting _ staying there. moldova is slowly getting organised | staying there. moldova is i slowly getting organised to handle this influx. poland has received a far greater number of refugees but moldova is a much smaller country, without poland's resources or infrastructure. the number of refugees who have arrived here so far as equivalent to 10% of moldova's population, they fewer than half end up staying. refugees arrived here last week in porsches and suvs, another conflict is forcing the poor, disabled, the most vulnerable to leave. those for whom the risks and uncertainty of conflict have only now eclipsed the risk and uncertainty of becoming a refugee stop lucy williamson, bbc news, moldova.

ukraine's world cup play—off semi—final against scotland has been postponed. asa as a result the player finals for the winners against wales or austria on the 29th of march will now also be delayed. around two thirds of the ukraine squad play in the domestic league and discussions are under way for a new date, with the nations league window injune the most likely option. in the one premier league game on monday, the crowd at tottenham against everton stood united with ukraine in the country's ongoing battle against russia. vitaliy mykolenko watched on from the everton subs bench as the stadium turned blue and yellow, the colours of the urainian nationalflag. few people have ever matched the influence and excellence of the great somerset

and west indian batter, sir viv richards. he turned 70 on monday and later england will play the windies in viv�*s native antigua as they try to salvage their reputation in test cricket. joe wilson sent this report. ina in a world into my what place for sport? in a world into my what place forsport? it in a world into my what place for sport? it can display the best of human endeavour, didn't really in australia, after the ashes english cricketers are in antigua working up from rock bottom. irate antigua working up from rock bottom. ~ ., ., , ., ., bottom. we want to restore what ha--ened bottom. we want to restore what happened in _ bottom. we want to restore what happened in australia. _ bottom. we want to restore what happened in australia. but - bottom. we want to restore what happened in australia. but at - happened in australia. but at the same time, we really came here, we have almost wiped the slate clean because we can't live in the past.— live in the past. but it is tempting _ live in the past. but it is tempting to _ live in the past. but it is tempting to revel- live in the past. but it is tempting to revel in - live in the past. but it is i tempting to revel in history when this island produced a well�*s best ever better, there is no debate about it here. we lost shane warne at 52. give

thanks that sir viv richards has reached 70. inspired by west indian identity, by black identity. and he still is. irate identity. and he still is. we as a peeple _ identity. and he still is. - as a people have given this world are life, i feel strong about that, maybe that is why some folks would look at me, at times and say, what an arrogant day in the way he walked out, i say it is arrogance, ijust believe human beings. what's the effect _ believe human beings. what's the effect of _ believe human beings. what's the effect of history? - believe human beings. what's the effect of history? the i the effect of history? the current west indies players tell us this series against england, still most important. sides play for a new trophy named after old friends viv richards and ian botham, this week both sides mayjust wish they can select both of them. joe wilson, bbc news, antigua. the war has affected millions, but it's notjust people who are feeling the impact. animals of all shapes and sizes are suffering too.

some people are hoping to send their pets abroad while others are still trapped in ukraine. the bbc�*s tim allman has more. when the war began, this couple head west to lviv. they brought with them their pet cat, charly. it proved to be a stressful journey for the whole family. translation: he's playful, he's not quiet, he likes to play. i it was hard to transport him in the cage because he's very active. our trip lasted for a0 hours. it was really hard for him. they came here to a shelter that, before the invasion, only took in wild animals. but now, it's become a staging post for people fleeing the violence, who want their pets to be safe and sound. we are making them secure for secure travel, and we're going to try and take as many animals as we can out, back to latvia, back to europe, back to safety. no such safety for yasha, ajaguar, or sabrina,

a black panther. they live in the luhansk region of ukraine. you can question the rights or wrongs of keeping animals like these as pets, but their owner, a doctor called girikumar, won't leave them behind. translation: i decided i am not going anywhere without my children. i am not going anywhere. if there is a possibility to leave with my children, only then will i leave. and if i die, i die. back in lviv, natalia and her husband say they will stay in ukraine. as for charly, the hope is, once the war ends, they will all be reunited. tim allman, bbc news. there's plenty more on the situation on our website. you'll also find all the very latest breaking news lines on our live news stream

as well as analysis ina in a moment we will be talking about the top business stories and russia warning about restrict oil and gas, i'll see you soon stop. hello. a frosty but sunny start to tuesday across many parts of the country. but tuesday signifies the start of things changing for the rest of the week, replacing the sunshine with a bit more cloud. often going to be quite windy at times with all that wind, slightly milder air pushing its way in, but also some wet conditions now, mainly in the west. and that shows up on our forecast rainfall chart for the week — the blue colours here a sign that atlantic is trying to push its way in. but notice how some eastern areas could stay predominantly dry. and it's all down to high pressure holding on here — atlantic low pressure system starting to push its way in, but being kept at bay. just be wary, though, that dividing line could fluctuate a little bit through the week. but that's the scene for today, with winds picking up as those areas of high and low pressure

get closer together. it'll feel particularly chilly out there — not only a widespread frost, but that added wind chill to go with it. the compensation is lots of sunshine around first thing in the morning, and most places will be dry. but the sunshine turns hazy in the west, the cloud thickens up, skies turn greyer through the morning into the early afternoon, outbreaks of rain in northern ireland, eventually to parts of wales and the southwest, maybe just 1—2 showers ahead of it, that rain arriving in western scotland by the end of the day. and it's in the west where we see the strongest of the winds, could gust around 40—50 mph and, even though it's a south—to—southeasterly wind bringing in slightly milder conditions than we've seen through the past few days. factor in the wind, probably won't feel that much different. but a dry end to the day for eastern areas but, through the evening, we see the cloud, outbreaks of rain pushing its way northwards and eastwards. not a huge amount of rain on it, though, it fizzles out — it means a milder night, then, to take us into wednesday, but more weather fronts starting to push their way in. but they will start to drag in even milderair, up from the mid—atlantic as they work closer and closer, and so temperatures should rise a little bit further. as i said, though,

frost—free on wednesday, varying amounts of clouds, some sunshine around for many at times to begin, with the exception being northern ireland, western scotland. a rather wet day to come here, some of that rain will be heavy at times, strong to gale—force winds once again. much of eastern wales good parts of england stays dry with some sunny spells, highs around 12—13 celsius. those temperatures could rise a little bit further as we go through into thursday. as you can see still, the areas of low pressure gang in the way up, but fizzling out as they run into that high—pressure system. so it does look like thursday, the driest, brightest day of the week by and large. friday, a bit more rain coming ourway.

this is bbc news, with the latest business headlines, for viewers in the uk, and around the world. will russia turn off the taps? we weigh up threats from russia that it may close its main gas pipeline to germany, if the west goes ahead with a ban on russian oil. how exposed is germany? it's the eu's biggest exporter to russia, and relies on it for its energy needs — we find out how businesses in europe's biggest economy are reacting. and in other news — digital payments without a smartphone? we check out how india is solving the problem.