this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. officials in eastern europe say the number of refugees fleeing ukraine has surpassed 2 million — it's as russia opens so—called humanitarian corridors — such as this one in the north—eastern town of sumy a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian corridors from kyiv, sumy, kharkiv and mariupol have been opened. i'm yalda hakim in lviv. the mayor says the city is at capacity after tens of thousands of

people arrived here fleeing the fighting. iam in poland, there people arrived here fleeing the fighting. i am in poland, there is a debate under way about financial support for ukrainians and a call for other countries to do more to help. speaking from the ukrainian capital, president zelensky vows to fight on translation: i'm staying here in kyiv, on bankova, not hiding. and i am not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this war, our national war. ukraine claims a senior russian military commander has been killed in a battle near kharkiv. russia hasn't commented. russia warns it may close its gas pipeline to germany if the west goes ahead with a ban on russian oil

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. ukrainian officials have confirmed that humanitarian corridors have been opened to evacuate civilians from two northern cities. a ceasefire has been agreed, after similar proposals in recent days haven't materialised and suggested corridors had lead to russia or belarus. civilians from the northeastern city of sumy which has been under bombardment by russian forces for days — are leaving for the central city of poltava — ukraine's foreign ministry released this video of people evacuating a short while ago. as well as people leaving sumy, people are also being allowed to leave the kyiv suburb of irpin. russia says citizens

are also being allowed to evacuate from cherhihiv, kharkiv and mariupol — but there's been no official confirmation. well, the number of people who've fled ukraine since the conflict started is now almost two million according to the united nations. ukrainian officials also claimed the senior russian commander, general vitaliy gerasimov, was killed in a battle near kharkiv — but the reports have not been independently verified. and moscow has warned that it may close its main gas pipeline to germany if western countries implement a ban on russian oil. let's talk to my colleague yalda hakim the mayor talking about the pressure on the facilities because of the sheer number of people moving to the west of ukraine. that's right. tens of thousands of people have made their way here to the relative

safety of lviv. of course, this part of the country has not been impacted yet by bombardments. people see this as a way to get to other countries, to poland, to moldova, to hungary. they are making their way here about the city is also now helping to shelter about 200,000 people and the mayor says it is at capacity, they have been completely overwhelmed and they need more assistance. the fighting does continue. 0vernight we have heard horrific reports of children continuing to be killed in places like sumy in the north—east of the country. the citizens of this country caught up in the fighting are looking for desperate ways to evacuate for those humanitarian corridors to be prorated. we did hear that some of those humanitarian corridors have been created, attempts over the last three days which have been unsuccessful so we will have to see how things develop

today. will have to see how things develop toda . ~ ., will have to see how things develop toda. ~ . u, , will have to see how things develop toda. ,, will have to see how things develop toda. , ,, today. ukraine claims its forces have killed _ today. ukraine claims its forces have killed a _ today. ukraine claims its forces have killed a russian _ today. ukraine claims its forces have killed a russian general . today. ukraine claims its forces i have killed a russian general near the second ukrainian city of kharkiv which is being shelled by invading forces. russia has not confirmed the claim. in war, the death of generals is counted one by one. by contrast, the death of civilians comes in much greater number. the russian military continues to bombard ukrainian towns and cities. ukraine's emergency services have posted these pictures of oil depots in the north—western city reported to have been hit in overnight air strikes. they have been independently verified. and ukrainians are forced to flee their homes. 0thers, though, remain where they are.

translation: i am saying here in kyiv, not hiding, and i'm not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this war, our national war. more than 1.7 million ukrainians have now fled their country, mainly to neighbouring poland. this has become the fastest growing refugee crisis in europe since the second world war. to remember seeing anything like this you'd have to be over 80 years old. there will been more direct talks between ukraine and russia. russia has offered escape routes for civilians. but the roots would take ukrainians either to russia itself or its ally belarus or it would leave them in the middle of the war. something that ukrainians cannot accept. it is a point the president will make in an address to the uk parliament later this

afternoon. he is also expected to repeat his call for a no—fly zone above ukraine. the uk government has announced further aid but it has been strongly criticised for taking in only small numbers of ukrainian refugees. attention is also turning to energy. the money that russia gets from its oil and gas sales helps to fund its invasion of ukraine. across the west, there is increasing discussion of a possible energy embargo. and western companies continue their retreat from russia. ibm is the latest country to leave. the president called on the population saying do what you can to assist, if you can pick up arms, if you can make molotov cocktails, volunteer in any way you can. we are here at library, two weeks ago they

were making beer, i'm here with the owner. thank you forjoining us. tell me how much your operation here has changed and what you are on now. our last batch that we made was on the morning of the invasion. we stopped making beer because there are more important things to do. we decided to use our knowledge of chemistry and our experience in the revolution in to make molotov cocktails because we know how to do it in a safe way. we do this for the civil defence forces manning the roadblocks in and around lviv. haw roadblocks in and around lviv. how many have — roadblocks in and around lviv. how many have you _ roadblocks in and around lviv. how many have you made in the last few weeks? we many have you made in the last few weeks? ~ , ., . , weeks? we produce something between 2000 and 2500, _ weeks? we produce something between 2000 and 2500, and — weeks? we produce something between 2000 and 2500, and then _ weeks? we produce something between 2000 and 2500, and then we _ weeks? we produce something between 2000 and 2500, and then we decided i 2000 and 2500, and then we decided we can do other things as well. we have machinery in capable hands. so we did spiked roadblocks that you

put in front of vehicles to prevent them going through the roadblock. you are working on the molotov cocktails but you are also making beer for another purpose. we have not been making _ beer for another purpose. we have not been making beer _ beer for another purpose. we have not been making beer since - beer for another purpose. we have not been making beer since the . not been making beer since the invasion but today we decided to make a special brew called the victory series, the craft beer movement, the to mobilise the international craft beer movement to help collect money for humanitarian aid, so we are brewing victory beer today, doing it as an act of hope. it is like giving birth or getting married in troubled times, hoping that things will get better. we do hope that when this year is ready in four to six weeks, we are going to be a winning country and we are going to drink this beerfor victory. it

going to drink this beer for victo . , ., ., , victory. it is not only here, you are working — victory. it is not only here, you are working internationally. - victory. it is not only here, you are working internationally. in | are working internationally. in difficult times require are working internationally. i�*i difficult times require decisions so we opened our top recipes for international brewers, we invited them to brew our peers, we opened our labels for their use and we invited international brewers to use our visuals and their recipes to make the beer and donate it to the ukrainian army and the relief efforts. ~ , ., ., ., ~ ukrainian army and the relief efforts. ~ ., .,~ ., ., efforts. when you are making molotov cocktails or other _ efforts. when you are making molotov cocktails or other things _ efforts. when you are making molotov cocktails or other things that - efforts. when you are making molotov cocktails or other things that you - cocktails or other things that you are doing here, where are you sending them or are you keeping them in lviv? ., ., ., ., ., ~ , ., in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it, — in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it. go _ in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it, go to _ in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it, go to the _ in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it, go to the civil- in lviv? you do not want to keep a stock of it, go to the civil defence | stock of it, go to the civil defence forces in coordination with the organisation that coordinates them, every roadblock around lviv has them. �* ., , , them. argue hopeful things will chance? them. argue hopeful things will change? there _ them. argue hopeful things will change? there is _ them. argue hopeful things will change? there is so _ them. argue hopeful things will change? there is so much - them. argue hopeful things will - change? there is so much devastation in the east and south and north of the country. western lviv has not

been impacted other than the influx of people coming here, are you concerned about the safety of this please? we concerned about the safety of this lease? ~ ., _, , concerned about the safety of this lease? ~ ., , ., concerned about the safety of this lease? ., , ., . please? we of course are concerned but there is — please? we of course are concerned but there is more _ please? we of course are concerned but there is more to _ please? we of course are concerned but there is more to this. _ please? we of course are concerned but there is more to this. for- but there is more to this. for ukrainians it is in now or never a moment. it is the time to fully mobilise all your skills and experience and do whatever we can do to win this war otherwise our children and our children's children will have another war and when that war. this is a historic chance to change the geopolitics of the world. we will do it and we will win. thank ou ve we will do it and we will win. thank you very much for _ we will do it and we will win. thank you very much forjoining _ we will do it and we will win. thank you very much forjoining us on - we will do it and we will win. thank you very much forjoining us on the| you very much forjoining us on the programme. we are hearing how lviv back has become a hub not only for those who have been displaced, also for resistance. let's talk to someone who has managed to get safely out of the country. i'm joined now by evgenia,

who left kyiv with her family after spending seven days in a bomb shelter. thank you forjoining us. tell us where you fled and what the situation was.— where you fled and what the situation was. , ., ., ., , situation was. the situation was horrific, i was _ situation was. the situation was horrific, i was living _ situation was. the situation was horrific, i was living with - situation was. the situation was horrific, i was living with my - horrific, i was living with my family and at first we wanted to make it out but the situation was escalating even more so me and my family decided to use the opportunity to evacuate and it was free of charge but it is very difficult. there are so many people who want to flee. we got on the train from kyiv to lviv and then we had to wait in a queue for seven hours in the freezing cold to get on the train to poland, to cross the

border to przemysh. usually this chain arrives only takes one hour, but right now, there are so many refugees leaving ukraine, our train took 20 hours. flan refugees leaving ukraine, our train took 20 hom— refugees leaving ukraine, our train took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation — took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation in _ took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation in your— took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation in your home _ took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation in your home city - took 20 hours. can you tell me about the situation in your home city and i the situation in your home city and where you were? you are in a bunker. how was that they are? we are hearing devastating stories of people not having access to food or heating while they had been hiding in the bunkers. the heating while they had been hiding in the bunkers.— in the bunkers. the situation in k iv is in the bunkers. the situation in kyiv is horrific. _ in the bunkers. the situation in kyiv is horrific. in _ in the bunkers. the situation in kyiv is horrific. in fact, - in the bunkers. the situation in kyiv is horrific. in fact, we i in the bunkers. the situation in | kyiv is horrific. in fact, we don't actually have any bunkers that are specifically designed, poor conditions, many people end up hiding in basements which are not completely safe. that is what my family died and in the basement there was no necessity is, no no

running water, no toilets, nothing. in case, you know, our house was destroyed, we were afraid there was no way out of the basement, it can be more dangerous to stay in the basement. many people actually decided to stay in their houses rather than the basement. the opinion is divided whether it is safer in the basement or in the house. we did not live close to the underground. people went to the underground. people went to the underground to hide but my family only had the basement. it was cold and humid and my 80—year—old grandmother suffering from a kidney condition because of the situation. while you were there, the entire family including your 80—year—old grandmother, you called covid—19. yes, i suspect because of the conditions and the stress because we had to spend all this time in the

cold basement, our immune system went down and when we evacuated with so many people, the train, literally packed, there was no is for anybody to even stand, i suspect we caught covid—19 on the train. to even stand, i suspect we caught covid-19 on the train.— to even stand, i suspect we caught covid-19 on the train. thank you so much forjoining — covid-19 on the train. thank you so much forjoining us _ covid-19 on the train. thank you so much forjoining us here _ covid-19 on the train. thank you so much forjoining us here on - covid-19 on the train. thank you so much forjoining us here on the i much forjoining us here on the programme. that was one person who has managed to get out of this country safely. now we are hearing from the united nations that over 2 million people have fled ukraine, have fled the fighting, and that number is likely to rise. many of them are making their way to poland where my colleague is. i am it miles inside polish territory, eight miles from the border, this is one of the

places where you see what a refugee flow like we now know the scale of it is like in human terms on the ground. in the last few hours between midnight and seven o'clock in the morning, they had more than 35,000 refugees entering poland from ukraine. this is one of the places where you see the services that are on offer such as they are. amid the tough scenes, there are many toxins, todayis tough scenes, there are many toxins, today is international women's day, flowers are being handed out to some of the women here, refugees who are waiting to go through the station and some of them will be hoping to get transport elsewhere. we can talk the unhcr, from the un refugee agency who is here and has an overview of the situation. there has been a huge polish ever mobilised so far. what is the role of an organisation like yours? we far. what is the role of an organisation like yours? we are here to su ort organisation like yours? we are here to support the _ organisation like yours? we are here to support the people _ organisation like yours? we are here to support the people of— organisation like yours? we are here to support the people of poland i organisation like yours? we are here to support the people of poland and | to support the people of poland and other countries receiving refugees, we have got over1 million refugees

have come into poland, it is a country of 38 million, in ten or 11 days, it is a huge logistical challenge that poland had to undertake. it is the government here thatis undertake. it is the government here that is in charge of that relief operation, finding accommodation, medical support, and eventually things like education and so on. organisations like unhcr are here to lend expert group support and help with logistics. timer;r lend expert group support and help with logistics-— with logistics. they are being dispersed — with logistics. they are being dispersed because _ with logistics. they are being dispersed because many i with logistics. they are being i dispersed because many people with logistics. they are being - dispersed because many people have family and friends elsewhere. they are being counted as they come across the border but not registered. is that problematic from your point of view?— your point of view? ultimately, you would like to _ your point of view? ultimately, you would like to have _ your point of view? ultimately, you would like to have the _ your point of view? ultimately, you would like to have the data, - your point of view? ultimately, you would like to have the data, but in| would like to have the data, but in a short space of time, it was really difficult, impossible to get all of those numbers. as the situation continues, there will be better registration in place, but, as you said, the numbers are moving across to western europe. hundred and 80,000, officially, but the numbers could be higher. over time they will

go up. could be higher. over time they will .o u, . ., , could be higher. over time they will io u, . ., , , , could be higher. over time they will go up. what is the biggest worry? the vulnerability. _ go up. what is the biggest worry? the vulnerability. the _ go up. what is the biggest worry? the vulnerability. the people i the vulnerability. the people crossing the borders in the last days have been more vulnerable and traumatised, they had seen terrible things in ukraine. the specific needs are likely to rise in the coming days and weeks. thank you very much- — coming days and weeks. thank you very much- the _ coming days and weeks. thank you very much. the point _ coming days and weeks. thank you very much. the point he _ coming days and weeks. thank you very much. the point he was i coming days and weeks. thank you | very much. the point he was making about the vulnerability of the refugees, i have seen it myself. in the local hospital they have been treating children who have been sick, dehydrated on thejourney, women who have gone into labour, some pregnant women who tragically lost their babies over the course of this journey or on arrival here. in poland, the parliament has begun drafting a new proposal put forward ljy drafting a new proposal put forward by the government of financial and other support for ukrainian refugees. our warsaw correspondent is going tojoin us now. before refugees. our warsaw correspondent is going to join us now. before we talk about that, a word on the military side and how it appears

from the polish point of view. does pulling feel enough is being done by other countries to stop the war? generally speaking, not. certainly poland would like the sanctions to be tougher. it would like sanctions on russian energy, buying russian energy and it would also like the eastern flank of nato which poland is a member of to be strengthened militarily. on a permanent basis, notjust on a temporary one. however, having said that, it is aware that it does not want to be drawing itself into the line of russian fire because there is a lot of talk about poland sending its fighterjets to ukraine for them to use in the war. now the polish officials are saying we have not done that, we do not plan to do that, but they do admit talks are going on and they said, however,

this must be a nato decision. all military decisions must be taken by nato and not by poland itself because poland is keenly aware of the consequences of sending fighter to ukraine. there is certainly talks ongoing between nato members about potentially sending polish fighter jets to ukraine but it is in very early stages. there are significant logistical challenges to that issue as well. fin logistical challenges to that issue as well. ,., . ., logistical challenges to that issue as well. . ., , , as well. on the package of support for ukrainian _ as well. on the package of support for ukrainian refugees, _ as well. on the package of support for ukrainian refugees, the - as well. on the package of support for ukrainian refugees, the one i for ukrainian refugees, the one debated by parliament here over the next couple of days, are there aspects of that support which could be problematic if the situation goes on for a long period of time? the su ort on for a long period of time? the support is — on for a long period of time? tue: support is limited in terms of families in poland who are hosting ukrainian refugees. they will be getting about $10 a day to help out

with the additional cost of hosting families. this is for two months. having said that, this is a short—term solution obviously. to what could well be a very long—term problem. we have had the deputy foreign minister saying this morning that the amount of aid that the european union has earmarked for all of the country is ukrainian refugees is about $550 million is far, far too little and he said it is estimated to actually caused housing 1 million refugees which poland has done alone, would be over $2 billion. he is calling for more aid from the european union and from international organisations. that is for1 million refugees. at the number increases, then this is even more onerous for the countries in

terms of cost. health care because, education course, social costs, for those countries to help these, give these refugees the help they need. it is a significant problem and in the longer term, we have got issues about the societies that take such an enormous number of people from ukraine, where their attitude change? well there be less positive? thank you very much. our correspondent in warsaw. let me show you where we are today. this train station in the border town of przemysh where you see the relief effort in action, donations from companies, the local government involved. there are individuals who come here and brought items that they want to be given to the refugees and they think that they are obvious. i am going to introduce you to three people who have driven

a van all the way from the uk to the polish border. hello. did morning. i think this idea started with you. tell me about where you came from and what made you want to do this. on sunday last week we decided we had to do something. we have first—hand experience of war as a refugee and a soldier, needed to help. we put a call to action on social media on sunday and by monday we were turning people away. our community has been amazing, they funded ourfuel, our hotel stays, a van full of stuff. not much food, lots of nappies and toilet paper, sanitary staff, clothing, woolly hats. :, :, :, sanitary staff, clothing, woolly hats. :, :, , :, :, hats. you are a pub landlord in staffordshire. _ hats. you are a pub landlord in staffordshire. how _ hats. you are a pub landlord in staffordshire. how did -

hats. you are a pub landlord in staffordshire. how did you i hats. you are a pub landlord in staffordshire. how did you get| staffordshire. how did you get involved? t staffordshire. how did you get involved? :, ,, :, :, :, involved? i have known him for a number of— involved? i have known him for a number of years. _ involved? i have known him for a number of years. our _ involved? i have known him for a number of years. our boys i involved? i have known him for a number of years. our boys play | involved? i have known him for a i number of years. our boys play for the same _ number of years. our boys play for the same football team. they called for a codriver and i put myself forward — fora codriver and i put myself forward i_ for a codriver and i put myself forward. i was happy tojoin, it is an honour— forward. i was happy tojoin, it is an honour and privilege to help. it an honour and privilege to help. [it an honour and privilege to help. [it a lon- an honour and privilege to help. tit a long journey. an honour and privilege to help. it a long journey. 1350 _ an honour and privilege to help. it a long journey. 1350 miles, - an honour and privilege to help. it| a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing re ares a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you _ a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you for — a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you for what _ a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you for what you - a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you for what you see. it . a long journey. 1350 miles, nothing prepares you for what you see. it is awful _ prepares you for what you see. it is awful i'rn — prepares you for what you see. it is awful. i'm sure the world is well aware _ awful. i'm sure the world is well aware of— awful. i'm sure the world is well aware of that.— aware of that. how did you get involved- _ aware of that. how did you get involved- i _ aware of that. how did you get involved. i was _ aware of that. how did you get involved. i was the _ aware of that. how did you get involved. i was the last - aware of that. how did you get involved. i was the last person j aware of that. how did you get i involved. i was the last person to 'oin and i involved. i was the last person to join and i went— involved. i was the last person to join and i went into _ involved. i was the last person to join and i went into the _ involved. i was the last person to join and i went into the pub i involved. i was the last person to join and i went into the pub for. involved. i was the last person to join and i went into the pub for a | join and i went into the pub for a point— join and i went into the pub for a point on— join and i went into the pub for a point on friday— join and i went into the pub for a point on friday night, _ join and i went into the pub for a point on friday night, and - join and i went into the pub for a point on friday night, and 72 i join and i went into the pub for a i point on friday night, and 72 hours later, _ point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here — point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here i— point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here i am _ point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here i am on _ point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here i am on the _ point on friday night, and 72 hours later, here i am on the ukraine i later, here i am on the ukraine horden — later, here i am on the ukraine horden it— later, here i am on the ukraine border. it has— later, here i am on the ukraine border. it has been— later, here i am on the ukraine border. it has been a _ later, here i am on the ukrainel border. it has been a whirlwind, later, here i am on the ukraine i border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotional— border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotionaljourney, _ border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotionaljourney, we _ border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotionaljourney, we are _ border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotionaljourney, we are tired i border. it has been a whirlwind, and emotionaljourney, we are tired butl emotionaljourney, we are tired but very thrilled, — emotionaljourney, we are tired but very thrilled, we _ emotionaljourney, we are tired but very thrilled, we wanted _ emotionaljourney, we are tired but very thrilled, we wanted to - emotionaljourney, we are tired but very thrilled, we wanted to do i very thrilled, we wanted to do something _ very thrilled, we wanted to do something in— very thrilled, we wanted to do something in person - very thrilled, we wanted to do something in person and i- very thrilled, we wanted to do something in person and i am| something in person and i am delighted _ something in person and i am delighted to _ something in person and i am delighted to be _ something in person and i am delighted to be here. - something in person and i am delighted to be here.- something in person and i am delighted to be here. what about when ou delighted to be here. what about when you get _ delighted to be here. what about when you get here? _ delighted to be here. what about when you get here? do _ delighted to be here. what about when you get here? do you - delighted to be here. what about when you get here? do you know delighted to be here. what about - when you get here? do you know where you can drop all of this of two we

started you can drop all of this of two we: started at you can drop all of this of two we: started at the train station you can drop all of this of two we started at the train station and they told us they are full and they have directed us somewhere else. we are going to try that now. iwaiiiiii have directed us somewhere else. we are going to try that now.— are going to try that now. will you sta or are going to try that now. will you stay or will — are going to try that now. will you stay or will you — are going to try that now. will you stay or will you go _ are going to try that now. will you stay or will you go back? - are going to try that now. will you stay or will you go back? i - are going to try that now. will you stay or will you go back? i think i are going to try that now. will you | stay or will you go back? i think we will do it again. _ stay or will you go back? i think we will do it again. from _ stay or will you go back? i think we will do it again. from here, - stay or will you go back? i think we will do it again. from here, we - stay or will you go back? i think we will do it again. from here, we will| will do it again. from here, we will go west, get home by friday, and we will take it from there.— will take it from there. would you come with him _ will take it from there. would you come with him again? _ will take it from there. would you come with him again? i _ will take it from there. would you come with him again? i am - will take it from there. would you come with him again? i am proudi will take it from there. would you i come with him again? i am proud to be a art come with him again? i am proud to be a part of— come with him again? i am proud to be a part of this _ come with him again? i am proud to be a part of this journey. _ come with him again? i am proud to be a part of this journey. to - come with him again? i am proud to be a part of this journey. to be - be a part of thisjourney. to be here _ be a part of thisjourney. to be here for— be a part of thisjourney. to be here for the people of ukraine. and to see it for — here for the people of ukraine. fifth. to see it for yourself. it is different when you stand somewhere like this and you see people with their luggage and children. we all wanted to be _ their luggage and children. we all wanted to be here _ their luggage and children. we all wanted to be here and _ their luggage and children. we all wanted to be here and see - their luggage and children. we all wanted to be here and see it - their luggage and children. we all wanted to be here and see it for l wanted to be here and see it for ourselves— wanted to be here and see it for ourselves and _ wanted to be here and see it for ourselves and it _ wanted to be here and see it for ourselves and it is _ wanted to be here and see it for ourselves and it is hugely- wanted to be here and see it for- ourselves and it is hugely emotional about_ ourselves and it is hugely emotional about the _ ourselves and it is hugely emotional about the dignity— ourselves and it is hugely emotional about the dignity of— ourselves and it is hugely emotional about the dignity of the _ ourselves and it is hugely emotional about the dignity of the ukrainian i about the dignity of the ukrainian people. _ about the dignity of the ukrainian pe0ple. they— about the dignity of the ukrainian pecule. they are _ about the dignity of the ukrainian people, they are very _ about the dignity of the ukrainian people, they are very stoic. -

about the dignity of the ukrainian people, they are very stoic. they| people, they are very stoic. they are calm. — people, they are very stoic. they are calm, respectful, _ people, they are very stoic. they are calm, respectful, we - people, they are very stoic. they are calm, respectful, we cannoti are calm, respectful, we cannot imagine — are calm, respectful, we cannot imagine what _ are calm, respectful, we cannot imagine what they _ are calm, respectful, we cannot imagine what they have - are calm, respectful, we cannot imagine what they have come . are calm, respectful, we cannot - imagine what they have come through and their— imagine what they have come through and their emotions— imagine what they have come through and their emotions and _ imagine what they have come through and their emotions and it _ imagine what they have come through and their emotions and it is _ imagine what they have come through and their emotions and it is an- and their emotions and it is an owner— and their emotions and it is an owner to— and their emotions and it is an owner to be _ and their emotions and it is an owner to be here _ and their emotions and it is an owner to be here and - and their emotions and it is an ownerto be here and in- and their emotions and it is an owner to be here and in some| and their emotions and it is an- owner to be here and in some small way to— owner to be here and in some small way to try— owner to be here and in some small way to try and — owner to be here and in some small way to try and help— owner to be here and in some small way to try and help them. _ owner to be here and in some small way to try and help them. safe - way to try and help them. safe 'ourne way to try and help them. safe journey back- _ way to try and help them. safe journey back. i _ way to try and help them. safe journey back. i hope _ way to try and help them. journey back. i hope you find way to try and help them.“ journey back. i hope you find the place to off—load your very full van. i think that is an example of the kind of outpouring of support there has been for ukrainians in the last 13 days since the invasion began. one small part of what is a busy relief effort here and in many other places like this in south—eastern poland. that was our correspondent on poland on the refugees situation. ukrainian officials have confirmed that humanitarian corridors have been opened to evacuate civilians from two northern cities. a ceasefire has been agreed —— after similar proposals in recent

days haven't materialised and suggested corridors had lead to russia or belarus. ukraine's foreign ministry released this video of people evacuating a short while ago. as well as people leaving sumy, people are also being allowed to leave the kyiv suburb of irpin. russia says citizens are also being allowed to evacuate from chernihiv, kharkiv and mariupol — but there's been no official confirmation. well, the number of people who've fled ukraine since the conflict started is now almost two million according to the united nations. joining me now is dr aglaya

from the school of slavonic and eastern european studies at university college london can we talk about the killing of the meetjoe general, it has not been confirmed by rush about his death has been reported by the ukrainians. if confirmed, how significant would his death be? late if confirmed, how significant would his death he?— his death be? we don't know the importance _ his death be? we don't know the importance of— his death be? we don't know the importance of him. _ his death be? we don't know the importance of him. what - his death be? we don't know the importance of him. what is - importance of him. what is significant is the symbolism. it plays into the overall narrative that the russian army is suffering heavy losses, the ukrainian forces have been able to push them back, it is important in that sense. it is not going to derail the russian operation but symbolically represents the extent to which the russians are suffering heavy losses. would be surprising to you or not that a seniorfigure would be surprising to you or not that a senior figure like would be surprising to you or not that a seniorfigure like him would be surprising to you or not that a senior figure like him would be in a position, would be on a

front line where he would be in a position to be injured or indeed killed? lute position to be in'ured or indeed killed? . :, :, position to be in'ured or indeed killed? :, :, ~ :, :, killed? we do not know how he was killed. realistically _ killed? we do not know how he was killed. realistically it _ killed? we do not know how he was killed. realistically it would - killed? we do not know how he was killed. realistically it would be - killed. realistically it would be surprising but at the same time there have been many surprises at since this conflict started. most analysts had been surprised at the way the russians have chosen to wait there is conflict, the types of forces, how they carry out their assault to begin with, even the way they have carried on 13 days later. it plays into the overall picture of a rather disorganised somewhat surprising operation.— surprising operation. could that exlain surprising operation. could that exolain why _ surprising operation. could that exolain why a — surprising operation. could that explain why a senior _ surprising operation. could that explain why a senior figure, - surprising operation. could that explain why a senior figure, in i explain why a senior figure, in general would be close to the front line if things had not been going to plan for the russians, with the scent senior figures plan for the russians, with the scent seniorfigures in plan for the russians, with the scent senior figures in to get a feel for what is actually happening on the battlefront? i feel for what is actually happening on the battlefront?— on the battlefront? i think operationally _ on the battlefront? i think operationally that - on the battlefront? i think operationally that is - on the battlefront? i think - operationally that is something that has to be verified, the role he was

playing on the ground. we do not know that at this point.- know that at this point. looking more broadly — know that at this point. looking more broadly at _ know that at this point. looking more broadly at the _ know that at this point. looking more broadly at the situation, l know that at this point. looking i more broadly at the situation, the relative positions of the russian forces and the ukrainian forces, what is your assessment on day 13 of this work? , , . , what is your assessment on day 13 of this work? , , :, , ., what is your assessment on day 13 of this work? , , . , . ., what is your assessment on day 13 of this work? , , . , :, :, . this work? russians have not made ma'or this work? russians have not made major advances. _ this work? russians have not made major advances. we _ this work? russians have not made major advances. we are _ this work? russians have not made major advances. we are still- this work? russians have not made| major advances. we are still looking at the type of campaigns in the last few days, they russians have stayed change their approach, after the initialfew change their approach, after the initial few days, we do not know how it will be after three days, the russians have changed some of their strategies. using more power, on controlling the cities, they have been changes, they are trying to resupply their troops which has been the discussion about their ability

to supply their troops and what was going to happen, they are changing their tactics and their strategy so we will continue to see an evolution of the russian strategy on the ground because you do not wage such a conflict in the first week, the russians have failed in putting in place a regime change in the first week for a short term or approach, week for a short term or approach, we are now looking at a more longer term on the ground. we will continue to see the changes, but we are seeing ukrainian forces and civilians seeking to ensure they are able to push back and nato and the west sending n and providing military assistance even if a natal no—fly zone has not been implemented.

about these humanitarian corridors, there has been lots of confusion around them being set up for people to leave cities under bombardment and that not happening, or people being shelled while they were trying to leave. is it typical, inner conflict, to see that, to see talk of humanitarian corridors which prove not to give people safe passage and, to what extent could this tell us something about communication, could it be a failure of communication on the ground, so that russian forces continue to she“ that russian forces continue to shell areas that are supposed to be free for a period at least four people to escape?— free for a period at least four --eole to escae? :, , people to escape? you will remember the last time. — people to escape? you will remember the last time, the _ people to escape? you will remember the last time, the discussion - people to escape? you will remember the last time, the discussion was - the last time, the discussion was over syria and humanitarian corridors there. they are very problematic to put in place because you are meant to guarantee the safe passage of civilians, and they are

actually quite difficult to implement. they were reported by the humanitarian organisations that were trying to organise them, the red cross and others, that they were not safe. today's operations seemingly are working better than they have done over the last couple of days. yesterday, it was put on the table that civilians would be evacuated to russia and belarus which the ukrainian side had rejected so there is still a lot of debate about humanitarian corridors, but there has been an important agreement. the one thing that has come out of the negotiations between the ukrainian and russian sides, so that is a element of agreement both sides have is that they should be able to implement that. they are vital, mariupol has been without electricity and running water, food and medical supplies for seven days

so it is very important to get the civilians out, because most deaths as a result of war and conflict do not happen on the battlefield but because of people not being able to get running water, food, medicine, so it is important to make sure that this doesn't end up being even more of a humanitarian disaster than it already is. of a humanitarian disaster than it alread is. :. .. of a humanitarian disaster than it alread is. :, ,, , :, , of a humanitarian disaster than it alread is. :. ~' , :, , : of a humanitarian disaster than it alread is. :, ,, , : :, already is. thank you very much for our time already is. thank you very much for your time today- — already is. thank you very much for your time today. thank _ already is. thank you very much for your time today. thank you. - already is. thank you very much for your time today. thank you. russia i your time today. thank you. russia has said it may _ your time today. thank you. russia has said it may close _ your time today. thank you. russia has said it may close its _ your time today. thank you. russia has said it may close its main - has said it may close its main pipeline for gas to germany if the west goes ahead with the ban on russian oil. joining me to talk about this is our international business correspondent. joining me now is our international business correspondent theo leggett.

is this a sign of how worried russia is, about the possible ban on russian oil, because it is issuing this counter threat, saying that it may close its gas pipeline to germany so it is a sign ofjust how worried russia is about this. i would say there is a certain element of posturing here. yesterday we had a lot of talk about a potential embargo on russian oil by western nations, led by the united states with comments coming from the secretary of state antony blinken. the idea that europe and the us could cut off supplies of russian oil, that would be a very big move, because russia is gaining a lot of its foreign income from exporting gas and oil in particular to europe at the moment, and because it is short of other forms of funding, you could say that is helping to fund the war, but european leaders quickly poured cold water and that

suggestion. the german chancellor olaf scholz said that germany needed reliable, safe energy supplies and therefore it wasn't the time to be attempting to cut them off. also we had the dutch prime minister as well saying very much the same kind of thing. so the chances of a wide—ranging ban on imports of russian oil and not that high, so this is a counter threat from russia, saying that if there were to be a ban on imports of russian oil, into the west, then russia would take its own countermeasures. now, that would hurt russia, a lot scott russia supplies about 40% of europe's —— needs. it needs that money stock it is making a lot of money, but that can help push up the prices of energy, which russia benefits from you have to be cynical, i think, benefits from you have to be cynical, ithink, this benefits from you have to be cynical, i think, this is a counter threat against something that probably won't happen that has the option of distorting energy markets a bit and pushing up the already sky—high energy prices and potentially generating extra revenue

for russia, so we should be a little bit cynical about it.— bit cynical about it. what is the latest theo. — bit cynical about it. what is the latest theo, on _ bit cynical about it. what is the latest theo, on those - bit cynical about it. what is the latest theo, on those prices i bit cynical about it. what is the latest theo, on those prices of| bit cynical about it. what is the i latest theo, on those prices of oil and gas? latest theo, on those prices of oil and as? : :, latest theo, on those prices of oil anduas? :, , : ,. and gas? although the prices are ve hiuh and gas? although the prices are very high by _ and gas? although the prices are very high by recent _ and gas? although the prices are very high by recent standards, i very high by recent standards, remarkably, we have not seen the huge spikes that we saw yesterday for example. the wholesale price of gas is something like ten times what it was before the conflict but it is nowhere near the levels we saw yesterday. likewise, oil is hovering at around $123 a barrel of brent crude. we so it's back to $139 yesterday. that tells us that although antony blinken's comments suggesting a ban on russian oil had a big effect, the counter threat from russia has had a much smaller effect. :. .. from russia has had a much smaller effect. :, ,, , :, :, from russia has had a much smaller effect. :, ,, i. :, . ,, , effect. thank you for taking us throuuh effect. thank you for taking us through that. _ effect. thank you for taking us through that, theo _ effect. thank you for taking us through that, theo leggett. i sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre,

here's jane dougal. scotla nd scotland were due to have a world cup qualifier with ukraine, what is the latest on that? it cup qualifier with ukraine, what is the latest on that?— the latest on that? it has been postponed. — the latest on that? it has been postponed. the _ the latest on that? it has been postponed, the tie _ the latest on that? it has been postponed, the tie would - the latest on that? it has been postponed, the tie would be i the latest on that? it has been - postponed, the tie would be moved back, and there had been talks between the nations and fifa over rescheduling the game which is now likely to be staged injune. if you have set ok to that. circumstances permitting, the winner of that match if it was to go ahead supposed to play the winner of wales against austria. that match will also be delayed. that would then come after the draw for the world cup on april one. last week, the scottish fa president rod petrie said "football was inconsequential amid conflict" and offered support to the ukrainan fa. a large number of the ukraine squad have players who are based in ukraine, with 15 out of the 23—man pool for patrick

november's world cup qualifiers playing in their home leagues. the world cup finals take place from 21 november to 18 december. tidge that tie between scotland and ukraine has been moved tojune, if circumstances permit it between —— permitted to take place. what circumstances permit it between -- permitted to take place.— permitted to take place. what is ha -tenin permitted to take place. what is happening with _ permitted to take place. what is happening with club _ permitted to take place. what is happening with club football- permitted to take place. what is happening with club football in l happening with club football in russia itself? than? happening with club football in russia itself?— happening with club football in russia itself? : , :, , , russia itself? any foreign players -la in: a russia itself? any foreign players playing a rush _ russia itself? any foreign players playing a rush can _ russia itself? any foreign players playing a rush can temporarily - playing a rush can temporarily suspend their contracts and leave the country without any repercussions of being in breach of contract, which is unprecedented. the announcement will affect players like the former chelsea midfielder victor moses who plays for spartak moscow. they were the last russian team left in european competition before russian teams are excluded, all club and national teams were suspended from all competitions until further notice by fifa and

uefa, the football governing bodies. russia have been banned from competing in their play—off semifinal against poland which means that poland have a bye into the final. foreign footballers and coaches playing and working in russia have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with any russian clubs until the end of the season in russia, which is injune, and they went on to condemn the ongoing use of force by russia and ukraine. : :. .. ongoing use of force by russia and ukraine. : . ,, :, . ukraine. and talk to me about the klitschko brothers, _ ukraine. and talk to me about the klitschko brothers, the _ ukraine. and talk to me about the klitschko brothers, the boxers, i klitschko brothers, the boxers, turned politicians. latte klitschko brothers, the boxers, turned politicians.— klitschko brothers, the boxers, turned politicians. we have heard from former— turned politicians. we have heard from former world _ turned politicians. we have heard from former world heavyweight i from former world heavyweight champion wladimir klitschko, his brother is the mayor of kyiv. vladimir has said the boxing authorities should not allow russia's world champion to fight canelo alvarez in may. he is the wba light heavyweight champion and a fight against alvarez would be

expected to be one of the most lucrative in the sport. klitschko said no athlete should be permitted to represent russia at the moment. this is nothing against the personalities or athletes but about the politics of russia. every russian _ the politics of russia. every russian representative in this case needs— russian representative in this case needs to _ russian representative in this case needs to be sanctioned, because this way, we _ needs to be sanctioned, because this way, we show to russia that the world _ way, we show to russia that the world is— way, we show to russia that the world is against this senseless war, and there _ world is against this senseless war, and there is— world is against this senseless war, and there is no good in this war. the klitschko brothers, and that full interview is available on the bbc sport website. thank you, jane dougal. here in the uk, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky will virtually address mps in the house of commons later today. prime minister borisjohnson will also host meetings with the leaders of poland, hungary, slovakia and the czech republic today, to discuss security in central europe. our chief political correspondent, adam fleming told us

more about the address from president zelensky. already it is going to be unprecedented because screens have been installed in the chamber of the house of commons so the mp5 can be addressed for the first time by a world leader live by video link who is fighting for the survival of his country. it is pretty unprecedented. if you look at the reception the ukrainian ambassador got at prime minister's questions last week, a standing ovation, that is the minimum that volodymyr zelensky will get from british mps. in terms of what he'll say, i imagine warm words for the uk, it was at the forefront with the us about warning about a potential russian invasion, providing military assistance to ukraine, but there will be tough words too because vlodymyr zelensky�*s number one military priority is to get a no—fly zone which has been opposed by western leaders because it could potentially lead to a direct military confrontation with russia.

also, it questions in strategic terms because it would stop the ukrainian air force and their drones from flying as well. irrespective of the diplomacy and the content, it will be an emotional moment. on the diplomacy, those further meetings of borisjohnson with other leaders today, what can we expect from that? yesterday it was the dutch prime minister and the canadian one, today we are meeting the leaders of poland, the czech republic, slovakia and hungary. the visograd 4 group. i think the uk is expecting to talk about the offer of british troops that has been made to those countries to help them deal with the humanitarian crisis, 1000 british soldiers on standby to go and help with the refugee issue further east in europe. also, the uk might be expected to get some further demands from them of military support. actually, soldiers to go and bolster their defences as part

of nato's eastern flank rather than as humanitarian offer made by the uk so far. any hint of that from defence secretary ben wallace earlier? he was saying, making a number of points, saying that whatever happens in ukraine, vladimir putin is a spent force, did he have anything more specific to say on further offers of help? not to the visograd 4 countries, but he is planning to make a statement to parliament tomorrow about what more lethal aid, military kit help the defence of ukraine that the uk could send in the near future and what the options might be for other nato allies to contribute to that as well. the reason he would make that offer is because of the current confrontation and he gave this sitrep. first of all, russia has still not been making its advances, it is day 13, the northern column that we've often talked

about is still pretty much stuck, i mean, really stuck so that's not advancing. russian casualty rates are continuing and what we've seen is, yes, a number of the cities have been effectively encircled, but when russian forces try and enter, they are either repelled or they only manage to take a small part of the city, suffering very large casualties. so russia is not getting its way at all. — despite its overwhelming forces. it is getting more desperate which is why we see huge amounts of indiscriminate shelling. your own reports show the damage to civilian areas which is outrageous, and the united kingdom would urge, call on putin to stop that immediately. we are seeing the russiansjust double down on brutality and we've all seen the reports about humanitarian corridors being shelled. that is what happens, that is what i think i warned last week, the russians will get more desperate and do more and more horrendous things, but the reality is the ukrainian people are united as one to fight

against this aggression. the other thing the mod is offering is support to the home office to help them process ukrainian visa applications abroad which seems to be having a few teething problems. there were two routes for ukrainians to get into the uk, the second has not been open, the sponsorship scheme where individuals, companies, organisations and communities can sponsor a ukrainian to come to the uk. we think the levelling up secretary michael gove in charge of that is updating the cabinet on progress about establishing that scheme right now. the route that is open is the first scheme allowing ukrainian nationals to come and join family members who are already here. the first batch of statistics of how that is going — in the first four days of this team there were 9000 applications which led to 300 visas being granted. conservative mps are increasingly concerned that the system is not working fast enough. ben wallace echoed those concerns

too, saying it needed to speed up. to that end, home office has sent me a statement saying they are going to be opening a second processing centre in france. they have not said where it will be and it will only be by referral by border force officials only. which makes me think it will be up near calais and it will be for people who turn up at the british border in france and say they want to get a visa to get... having come from ukraine, and they will be sent to a second processing centre because of those concerns that people are being sent as far away as brussels or paris which is extra after an arduousjourney, also places where there are very few appointments to be granted a visa. adam fleming, our chief political correspondent. for months, vladimir putin denied repeatedly that russia would invade its neighbour. it means that today's awful reality

is one that many ukrainians didn't think they would be facing. our special correspondent fergal keane has caught up with three people he met in the days just prior to russia's invasion. we didn't imagine this. explosion that these streets of chernihiv, where we'd walked last month, would now be a place of fire. but even as we took a group photograph on the nearby northern border, the russians were close, getting ready. a thought that haunts our ukrainian producer, sofia. i couldn't believe that it's happened in the same place. when i was with you, i didn't believe at all. within a fortnight, sofia was a refugee, fleeing tojoin herfamily on the polish border. anna! her daughter, anna, aged

four, exiled but safe. now, from the polish city of krakow, sofia told me of life outside her country. every day and night, i think of what will be next, so it's very stressful. but still, if i speak with ukrainian people who are still in ukraine, i can't say that i'm stressed because they are more stressed than me. not far from the border, down along the roads now dominated by the russian army... 1989. ..we met valery and galina. he is ukrainian, she is russian. married a0 years, and worried even then about broken relationships with russian friends and family. it's terrible, because we... we lose a lot of friends.

we have no food in the supermarket. now i can only reach them online. they are trapped inside a town surrounded by the russians. you even cannot imagine, all people got together, and they are waiting for the russians to kill them. how is galina? hi, galina. hi. translation: | feel only. disappointment and anger. and i cannot understand how this can be happening. this isn't possible. in kyiv, at the end of ourjourney then, we witnessed the beginning of another. hello! hello. vasily and olga zelensky with their newborn baby, jaromir. his name means "peace". translation: we need to think about a better life, _ especially now, when we have such

a miracle in our arms. we can't think about bad things any more. but not long after, this came — the invasion that forced them to flee to the countryside ahead of the russian advance. olga, what is it like for you, all of this now, with the baby and the war? translation: we met your team a week before the war started. _ who would have thought that when our son was two weeks old, we were going to speak here, right now, after seeing these rockets flying over our house? to say that i was shocked is saying nothing. that's why our whole lives turned all over, from head to toe. butjaromir gives them hope. he is a superstar! laughter maybe he knows that. all of these people once lived in peace. caused no harm to anyone.

that's the kind of world they stand for, and which they hope can return for their children. fergal keane, bbc news, lviv. 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 version of hell. but then for 15 years, hell was what i did. this is shane, ex soldier. he's been in combat. he works on a farm with other veterans providing experiences for children with educational needs. orat least he did.

field dressings... he is also trained to deal with the horrific injuries of war. gunshot wounds, shrapnel wounds, possibly loss of limbs. he is on his way to kyiv to set up a field hospital, 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 you have no military experience and no medical experience, stay out of the fight. the only thing you are going to do is get yourself killed and, potentially, someone like me is going to have to run in and get you out if you have been injured. but at stansted airport, we met up with sam ottaway, heading to ukraine with no military experience. i certainly don't have a death wish. i've got a really comfortable life and good life. that is no excuse just to sit back and watch this horror unfold. he tried, but he was turned away by ukraine's embassy in berlin. but hundreds of fully—trained

former soldiers are willing to go. in kent, this small convoy was heading to ukraine at the weekend. we've got a lot of emergency medical kit that we were asked to bring with us. i was sat at home and i watched a ten—year—old girl on the telly. she had been murdered by the russians, that is the only way to put it. and i can't sit idly at home watching, so i said 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 to support the relief effort. but they have concerns that one government minister said they should go, another said they shouldn't, and official advice is they may be prosecuted, even for just assisting others engaged in conflict. they say the government should be supporting them. i hope they get their act together. any ex—military, anyone going out there to support the effort, they need to help them. because these are their boys that decided that enough's enough.

there are bad people in the world and it shouldn't be happening. more former soldiers will follow these men in the days to come, but the british government and military chiefs say stay at home, help the people of ukraine from the uk. tom symonds, bbc news. we're just we'rejust going to we're just going to you in tallinn, estonia, the rumour is that we expect to see very soon the us secretary of state antony blinken and his estonian counterpart, and of course you will be aware that antony blinken has been on a tour over the past few days visiting nato allies, reaffirming the support of the us for the alliance. later on he will travel to paris, as well, before heading back to the us. continuing coverage of the war in ukraine on bbc news throughout the day. you are

watching bbc news. hello again, it has been a cold and frosty start to the day today, but many of us have started off with some sunshine. as we go through the rest of this week it is going to turn milder, the wind will change direction and there will be rain at times, especially so in western areas. that is what we have got today. a clutch of fronts coming in from the rest introducing thicker cloud and rain through the day. and look how close those isobars are, telling you that it is going to be windy wherever you are. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. cloud thickening, introducing some rain through the day. once again preceded by showers. and gusty winds as well. the black circles telling you what you can expect where you are, and the northern and western isles could have gusts of up to 65 mph,

and locally even a bit more than that. temperatures, looking at 7—12, so temperatures up for some on yesterday, but it will be tempered by the wind. as we head on through the evening and overnight, the weatherfront producing the cloud and rain continues to advance eastwards. it is still going to be windy, and by the end of the night, we have some heavy, persistent rain coming in from the west, so with all of this going on, it is not going to be as cold a night as the one just gone and temperatures will not be as low either so we're not anticipating issues with frost. as we head through the rest of wednesday, we have this clutch of fronts coming our way, introducing some rain, you can see from the isobars that it is going to be windy, but as the winds change direction, we are pulling in this milder air, but note the blues across the north—west. as the weather front comes in with its heavy and persistent rain, behind it it will turn colder so we will see snow on the hills of scotland and northern ireland. gales, too, across the north and west and across the irish sea but, ahead of this weather front,

we hang on to the milder air, and still a fair bit of sunshine. temperatures between 9—13 celsius, but don't forget it will be windy, with the winds easing in scotland and northern ireland through the day. wednesday into thursday, this weather front looks like it is going to stall before it gets into the south—east, a change from yesterday's forecast. the isobars once again telling you it is going to be blustery. during the course of thursday, looking at something drier and brighter, with a weather front coming into the west later which will cross us during the course of friday, which will also be blustery.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: the un says the number of refugees fleeing ukraine has surpassed 2 million — it's as russia opens so—called humanitarian corridors — such as this one in the north—eastern town of sumy a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian corridors have been opened. even lviv and mary says they are overwhelmed by the number of people fleeing here from the fighting. i am

in poland where thousands more ukrainians are entering every hour. there is a debate in the polish parliament about how to support them and they call for other countries to do more to help. ukraine killed. there has been no comment from moscow. there has been no comment from moscow. speaking from the ukrainian capital, president zelensky vows to fight on. translation: i'm staying here| in kyiv, on bankova, not hiding. and i am not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this war, our national war. this is the senior military commander ukraine says has been killed. russia warns it may close its gas pipeline to germany if the west goes

ahead with a ban on russian oil. and the symbol of russia's military defiance — but what does it actually mean? as the russian invasion intensifies in ukraine, more than two million refugees have now fled the country, acording to the united nations. ukrainian officials say humanitarian corridors have now opened to evacuate civilians from five key cities. let's take a closer look now at russia's proposed evacuation routes, dismissed by ukraine. four of the suggested safe corridors go to east, to russia or to belarus. the other two routes take those fleeing further into ukraine. these are pictures of civilians

fleeing the northeastern city of sumy, where an air strike has killed at least 21 people. president zelensky says a convoy has been sent towards the southern port city of mariupol to rescue civilians who've been living without running water or power for almost a week. the number of civilians being killed continues to rise. he mentioned the north—east of the country. overnight we have had dozens of civilians being killed there including children. there are other parts of this country in the cells, movie poll where people are desperately trying to evacuate those humanitarian corridors which have not been yet set up. we have had the

defiance of president zelensky. he has continued to give addresses day in and day out and yesterday we saw him come out of his office to say he is not afraid and he will continue to fight. we have the latest. civilians hoping to escape the danger have sought whatever shelter they can as russian shelling has prevented their escape. many have hung their hopes on a new agreement to create a new humanitarian corridor which is now in place in the north—east city when nine people reportedly died yesterday. the ceasefire, planned to last until 9pm local time, will mean civilians will be able to travel 175 kilometres south. ukraine's president, though, says he is going nowhere. trans back right to life to everyone. that is

what fighting for in ukraine. later, president zelensky will plead directly to uk employees at his request. ukraine's head of state will be hosted inside the main commons chamber by video link. he is expected to ask uk lawmakers to do more to help as the un believes the number fleeing will hit 2 million today or tomorrow. so far, the uk government says it has granted visas to 300 refugees but its defence minister says the process needs to be sped up. minister says the process needs to be sped up— minister says the process needs to besed u. . . , be sped up. fundamentally, the able scheme is going _ be sped up. fundamentally, the able scheme is going to _ be sped up. fundamentally, the able scheme is going to produce - be sped up. fundamentally, the able. scheme is going to produce thousands of ukrainians in the united kingdom. it is not the case of allowing 300 people in. it is a case of the system has not while the chalet has temporarily stopped in some areas the economic war rages. ibm is the latest to pull out of a shed a new law to make it easier to sanction

oligarchs has passed its first stage in the uk parliament last night. meanwhile, the united states says it is exploring a potential ban on russian oil but russia said it would consider closing its gas pipe to germany in response. this consider closing its gas pipe to germany in response.- consider closing its gas pipe to germany in response. this is an unlikely scenario _ germany in response. this is an unlikely scenario with _ germany in response. this is an unlikely scenario with germanyl germany in response. this is an i unlikely scenario with germany and the netherlands rejecting the idea. today's agreement between the two countries to help civilians escape all surely be seen as a positive move but the international community is holding its breath for a way forward as ukraine and russia meet forward as ukraine and russia meet for a fourth round of peace talks. let's hear now from the us secretary of state anthony blinken who is in estonia. he is in the estonian capital meeting the estonian prime minister who is speaking right now. let's have a listen.— let's have a listen. political, humanitarian, _ let's have a listen. political, humanitarian, economic- let's have a listen. political, humanitarian, economic but| let's have a listen. political, -

humanitarian, economic but also military. second, ourfocus must be on full isolation of russia. from the free world. and third, we need to adapt to the new reality and also make changes in our own defence. ukraine fight bravely for its homeland. what it needs urgently now is our military help. and here the american commitment and help have been and are continues to be crucial. estonia together with the united states was one of the first to give military support even before the actual military attack happened on the 24th of february. we should stop the military machine of the aggressor. the democratic world has stepped up against the war with speed, strength and determination. our unity in action will help tame

the aggressor. but we need to be prepared for the worst. that the worst is still to come. hence, put in's violence must be in correlation with further sanctions and also isolation decisions. first, we need to finalise and fully disclose swift for russia and belarus. second, we have to respect also crypto currencies. this is equally important to close the loopholes. we have also closed our airspace but we need to take a step forward and also closed the seaports for russian vessels. and we will keep finding new tools in our tool box until putin's war machine has been paralysed. we are in this for the long haul. we see already tremendous policy shifts vis—a—vis russia across the european union. but we need next is also to have a strategic patience to keep these

decisions in place. russia expects as to, you know, make a step back soon as was explained to putin in the recent public meeting of the security council. sooner or later they will get tired of their own initiative. they will come to ask us about returning to discussions and negotiations regarding all the matters of strategic security, end of quote. so we will prove them wrong. they will come to testers and, yes, we will have to resist. the new security situation also demands rapid changes to european including estonian defence. estonia has long spent over 2% of our gdp on defence and we continue to call others to do the same. injanuary, my government made a decision to

raise it even more. this means that in 2023, our increased defence budget will be 2.44% of our gdp. nato needs to adapt quickly as well. decisions we have to make in the coming weeks and months needs to include an upgraded strategy of defence in our region. this means permanently strengthening our defence in air, on land and at sea. i would like to thank the us for your presence and for your quick decisions that lead to increased footprint in the baltic countries. we have to keep on working together for the decisions. that is by i also asked today to establish a permanent and meaningfulforward defence in the baltic region. in conclusion, i

would like to thank you, secretary blinking, and the us administration, for your heavy work including intense consultations that you have had with us and our other allies in building the unity within nato. our unity and scale of ourjoint decisions proved the strength of our democracies. thank you. first decisions proved the strength of our democracies. thank you.— democracies. thank you. first of all, tood democracies. thank you. first of all, good afternoon _ democracies. thank you. first of all, good afternoon everyone. i democracies. thank you. first of - all, good afternoon everyone. prime minister. _ all, good afternoon everyone. prime minister, thank you so much notjust for the _ minister, thank you so much notjust for the warm — minister, thank you so much notjust for the warm welcome today but for the very— for the warm welcome today but for the very good conversation. i deeply appreciate _ the very good conversation. i deeply appreciate your insights and admire your leadership so, thank you for today _ your leadership so, thank you for today it — your leadership so, thank you for today. it was very good, as well, to be with— today. it was very good, as well, to be with nry— today. it was very good, as well, to be with my friend the foreign minister— be with my friend the foreign minister and be with my friend the foreign ministerand i want be with my friend the foreign minister and i want to send best wishes _ minister and i want to send best wishes of— minister and i want to send best wishes of course to the president as well _ wishes of course to the president as well it— wishes of course to the president as well it is— wishes of course to the president as well. it is great to be here

secretary of state for the first time — secretary of state for the first time it — secretary of state for the first time it is— secretary of state for the first time. it is meaningful to be here, in particular, and this 100th anniversary year of a diplomatic relations— anniversary year of a diplomatic relations but, as the prime minister said, _ relations but, as the prime minister said. i_ relations but, as the prime minister said. ialso— relations but, as the prime minister said. ialso it— relations but, as the prime minister said, i also it was under different circumstances. together, over many months. _ circumstances. together, over many months. as— circumstances. together, over many months, as we saw the mounting likelihood — months, as we saw the mounting likelihood of russian aggression against — likelihood of russian aggression against ukraine, we continue to hope for the _ against ukraine, we continue to hope for the best— against ukraine, we continue to hope for the best but we prepared for the worst _ for the best but we prepared for the worst and — for the best but we prepared for the worst. and we have acted in all of those _ worst. and we have acted in all of those preparations and i will come to that _ those preparations and i will come to that in — those preparations and i will come to that in a — those preparations and i will come to that in a minute. but, overthe past _ to that in a minute. but, overthe past several — to that in a minute. but, overthe past several days, at what is a critical — past several days, at what is a critical moment for ukraine, europe, and for— critical moment for ukraine, europe, and for the _ critical moment for ukraine, europe, and for the world, i have been engaged — and for the world, i have been engaged with allies and partners across— engaged with allies and partners across the continent in brussels, nato, _ across the continent in brussels, nato, the — across the continent in brussels, nato, the european union, g7 nreetings, _ nato, the european union, g7 meetings, in poland where i visited a refugee _ meetings, in poland where i visited a refugee welcome centre and stayed with the _ a refugee welcome centre and stayed with the ukrainian foreign minister on ukrainian soil. in moldova, the country— on ukrainian soil. in moldova, the country seeking further integration into europe and finally the three

baltic— into europe and finally the three baltic nations, lithuania v and today— baltic nations, lithuania v and today estonia. at every stop, i have emphasised — today estonia. at every stop, i have emphasised the core values that bring _ emphasised the core values that bring our— emphasised the core values that bring our countries together, democracy, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity _ for sovereignty and territorial integrity and the international rules— integrity and the international rules —based order that helps maintain _ rules —based order that helps maintain peace and security everywhere. and, as i said yesterday in lithuania _ everywhere. and, as i said yesterday in lithuania and latvia, the people of estonia — in lithuania and latvia, the people of estonia who lived through decades of estonia who lived through decades of soviet— of estonia who lived through decades of soviet occupation a profound way how wrong — of soviet occupation a profound way how wrong russia's unprovoked war in ukraine _ how wrong russia's unprovoked war in ukraine is— how wrong russia's unprovoked war in ukraine is and what has to defend uk prospect— ukraine is and what has to defend uk prospect right to exist as a sovereign democratic country free to choose _ sovereign democratic country free to choose its _ sovereign democratic country free to choose its own future. the numbers of killed _ choose its own future. the numbers of killed and — choose its own future. the numbers of killed and wounded civilians in ukraine — of killed and wounded civilians in ukraine continue to rise. as of today. — ukraine continue to rise. as of today, more than 1.7 million people have been— today, more than 1.7 million people have been forced to flee their own country _ have been forced to flee their own country. more than 800,000 people have become internally displaced within— have become internally displaced within ukraine, many more people are

trying _ within ukraine, many more people are trying to— within ukraine, many more people are trying to free but cannot get out of besieged _ trying to free but cannot get out of besieged areas. there continue to be besieged areas. there continue to he reports _ besieged areas. there continue to he reports of— besieged areas. there continue to he reports of shelling by russian forces — reports of shelling by russian forces on _ reports of shelling by russian forces on agreed—upon humanitarian corridors~ _ forces on agreed—upon humanitarian corridors~ it— forces on agreed—upon humanitarian corridors. it continued to call on russia _ corridors. it continued to call on russia to — corridors. it continued to call on russia to allow for humanitarian access _ russia to allow for humanitarian access on— russia to allow for humanitarian access on the ground both for supply to people _ access on the ground both for supply to people who have been cut off from food, _ to people who have been cut off from food, from _ to people who have been cut off from food, from water, from medicine, every— food, from water, from medicine, every humanitarian organisation like the red _ every humanitarian organisation like the red cross that can negotiate true humanitarian corridors so that civilians _ true humanitarian corridors so that civilians can — true humanitarian corridors so that civilians can safely leave the country _ civilians can safely leave the country. estonia and the united states— country. estonia and the united states together with our allies and partners _ states together with our allies and partners will continue to stand with ukraine~ _ partners will continue to stand with ukraine. we are increasing our security— ukraine. we are increasing our security assistance to strengthen ukraine's— security assistance to strengthen ukraine's capacity to defend itself working _ ukraine's capacity to defend itself working without humanitarian partners _ working without humanitarian partners on the ground, we are providing — partners on the ground, we are providing more aid to people who are still inside _ providing more aid to people who are still inside ukraine as well as those — still inside ukraine as well as those who left. and we are raising the costs — those who left. and we are raising the costs in— those who left. and we are raising the costs in the kremlin and all who aid and _ the costs in the kremlin and all who aid and abet its efforts in continuing this war of choice. our administration is also working with congress _ administration is also working with congress to see to it we can do even more _ congress to see to it we can do even more. president biden's request for

an additional $10 billion would enable _ an additional $10 billion would enable us to serve security, humanitarian and economic assistance where _ humanitarian and economic assistance where it— humanitarian and economic assistance where it is— humanitarian and economic assistance where it is needed. for its part, estonia — where it is needed. for its part, estonia has— where it is needed. for its part, estonia has provided many kinds of assistance — estonia has provided many kinds of assistance to ukraine including anti-tank— assistance to ukraine including anti—tank missiles. food and medical aid to— anti—tank missiles. food and medical aid to the _ anti—tank missiles. food and medical aid to the front lines, pledged to welcome — aid to the front lines, pledged to welcome more than 10,000 refugees if they choose _ welcome more than 10,000 refugees if they choose to come here into estonian — they choose to come here into estonian homes, into estonian communities. and, as everywhere we have been— communities. and, as everywhere we have been in— communities. and, as everywhere we have been in the baltics over the last day. — have been in the baltics over the last day, we continue to see an outpouring _ last day, we continue to see an outpouring of support for the ukrainian people and the yellow and blue on— ukrainian people and the yellow and blue on homes and buildings. and it is a powerful message of solidarity. and together, as the prime minister said, estonia and the united states are bolstering our shared security and shared defence. as president

biden— and shared defence. as president biden said, we will defend every inch of— biden said, we will defend every inch of nato territory with the full force _ inch of nato territory with the full force of— inch of nato territory with the full force of our collective power. our commitment to article five is ironclad _ commitment to article five is ironclad. an attack on one would be an attack— ironclad. an attack on one would be an attack on— ironclad. an attack on one would be an attack on all. we and our nato allies— an attack on all. we and our nato allies are — an attack on all. we and our nato allies are prepared to meet any threat — allies are prepared to meet any threat coming direction from wherever it comes. nato activated our defence plans for the eastern flank— our defence plans for the eastern flank in _ our defence plans for the eastern flank in the first time in our history— flank in the first time in our history in— flank in the first time in our history in response to russia's aggression giving the authority to deploy— aggression giving the authority to deploy nato defence forces as needed — deploy nato defence forces as needed. many allies have increased troop— needed. many allies have increased troop presence and contributed additional capabilities. president biden— additional capabilities. president biden ordered the deployment of an additional 7000 us troops to europe and move _ additional 7000 us troops to europe and move forces already in europe to native's _ and move forces already in europe to native's eastern flank. we deployed 35 strike _ native's eastern flank. we deployed 35 strike fighterjets to the region and we _ 35 strike fighterjets to the region and we are augmenting nato's enhanced policing mission and we are working _ enhanced policing mission and we are working with estonia and baltic neighbours on cyber security which is also _ neighbours on cyber security which is also critically important our

shared — is also critically important our shared security. over the past 30 years. _ shared security. over the past 30 years. the — shared security. over the past 30 years, the baltics are formed. you are hearing _ years, the baltics are formed. you are hearing from _ years, the baltics are formed. ti’f7l. are hearing from the us secretary of state anthony blinken and the estonian capital where he is meeting the estonian prime minister. anthony blunkett has been touring europe for the past few days. he has been in poland, moldova and now in lithuania and estonia. and he has called on russia to allow a humanitarian corridor for russia to allow a humanitarian corridorfor all russia to allow a humanitarian corridor for all those stuck in the fighting. he said we are raising the cost in the kremlin. we describe it as a war of choice and he continued to reiterate the unity of nato members. the situation here in ukraine is absolutely devastating. almost two weeks into this conflict. civilians continue to be trapped in some of the most worst affected areas like the east and the south of the country and there have been attempts for at least three or four

days now to create those humanitarian corridors but they have not been successful. russia said they would allow a humanitarian corridor if the civilians moved to russia and belarus. that is simply the ukrainian authorities have described as immoral. they said that as russia is the aggressor inflicting this kind of pain on the civilians they should not be then making those kinds of demands. peace talks between the two sides continue and we will be bringing you more coverage of the situation here in ukraine but let's go now to poland. we can speak to my colleague who has been speaking to many of the people who were leaving this country. over to you. thank you. yes, i am who were leaving this country. over to you. thank you. yes, lam in south—eastern poland about eight miles from the ukrainian border and in this area there are so many places where you can see the ukrainian refugees and others across the border almost everywhere you look. even though we are now

accustomed to the scenes of the last 1213 days it is worth thinking for a moment about what it means to leave your country in these kinds of circumstances. you often see these groups of women and children with very few, even elderly men. you see multi—generation groups. the mothers of young children and the grandmothers looking after the children while the mothers arrive here and try to make arrangements and vague about they are going to do next and this is the train station which is on the mainline between lviv in ukraine and crack of an dotted around the station you the signs offering people transport to different countries. there is one there written in ukrainian. transport being offered to buy then free and safe and there is a number you can call. similar posters elsewhere. transport offered to lithuania, estonia. these are ways of trying to get refugees the

information they need to type into one of the hospitals here and it is already clear that there are some refugees who have needed hospital treatment when they have arrived here. there are women who have gone into labour and children dehydrated and sick, infections. obviously it is very cold and that has its own challenges with conditions. often they have had to walk with a considerable distance coming up to the border so is a very difficult situation. lots of uncertainty. as far as the polish government is concerned parliament will spend the next two days debating a package of support, financial support and other support, financial support and other support being offered for an 18 month period but many of them will not be staying in this part of poland. many of them won't be staying in poland at all but as one of the big countries dealing with this refugee flow poland is understandably and rightly thinking about the medium and longer term as well as the present. are deceived. thank you so much forjoining us from poland. lets talk more now

about the thousands of people who are on the move and mother in ukraine. really worrying scenes we have been hearing from my pole. let's speak to someone who fled four days ago were 200,000 people are trapped under heavy bombardment by russian forces. it is good to see you safe and well now that you've managed to leave. we are hearing it is really bad. heavy bombardment. no running water. what was it like when you are there. hi running water. what was it like when you are there-— you are there. hi everyone. it was exactly like _ you are there. hi everyone. it was exactly like you — you are there. hi everyone. it was exactly like you described. - you are there. hi everyone. it was exactly like you described. heavy| exactly like you described. heavy bombing on civilian quarters, residential quarters, just randomly, hospitals, colleges, schools, bus

station. malls and shops, everything that could help people survive. including, of course, powerstation was bombed. it was a week ago. so i spent three days in this blockade with no electricity, light or heating. no connection at all, nothing, no network. you cannot call, cannot text, you don't know what is going on in the world, in ukraine or in your city. you can only now that when you hear where the bomb falls further in that direction where your city is in that direction where your city is in that direction where your granny lives. you cannot go out because it is very, very dangerous. you can only go out to get some drinking water supplies and you stand in a line of

kilometres to get that water and plan to go to the food market to get the leftovers they sell but it was only four days ago. it is very very long time ago because a lot changed. now it has been worse and worse and worse and we are working with very tiny bits of information about what is going on there and it is just survival. i would never imagine that in any nightmare. today, the third time the green corridor is again, the third time, it is a trek from russia. they are shelling the humanitarian corridor right now and they are trying to get some first aid good and to get some water to people because it is just a total blockade. they don't let help in and

don't bet anyone, civilians, it is not war. what is happening now, no heat, no water, cold, dark buildings with no gas even to just cook anything that is left of food in the city. it anything that is left of food in the ci . , :, anything that is left of food in the ci . ,:, ,:, , . city. it sound so terrifying, what ou are city. it sound so terrifying, what you are describing. _ city. it sound so terrifying, what you are describing. that - city. it sound so terrifying, what you are describing. that was - city. it sound so terrifying, what| you are describing. that was four days ago and we can only imagine that things have got worse. when you say you're getting tiny bits of information from the city, where are you getting that information from and what is the latest you are hearing about how it is right now? there are a couple of telegram channels, it is the most popular messenger in ukraine. it is a military battalion defending mariupol and they're doing a great job in defending the city on the ground but they can do nothing from this guy. ground but they can do nothing from this tu . :, , :, ground but they can do nothing from this tu . :, . . ground but they can do nothing from this tu . :, i. . . :, this guy. how did you manage to get awa , how

this guy. how did you manage to get away. how did _ this guy. how did you manage to get away. how did you — this guy. how did you manage to get away, how did you manage - this guy. how did you manage to get away, how did you manage to - this guy. how did you manage to get| away, how did you manage to leave? it was a suicide mission. after three days of the blockade me and my husband we were like, terrified and we just sat on the car and we wanted, we decided to make this attempt and we broke through to lines and russians. it was just very mild and now we thought it was just a crazy adventure suicide mission but now when i spoke with a family in the gas station yesterday who escaped the day after, now what they spoke about, what they told me, that was crazy. that was given much more brutal and very scary too for them so every day gets worse and worse and worse. i’m so every day gets worse and worse and worse-—

and worse. i'm afraid we have to leave it there _ and worse. i'm afraid we have to leave it there but _ and worse. i'm afraid we have to leave it there but thank - and worse. i'm afraid we have to leave it there but thank you - and worse. i'm afraid we have to leave it there but thank you so l and worse. i'm afraid we have to - leave it there but thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. we know 200,000 people are still trapped inside mariupol and our thoughts are very much with them. president zelensky has said we will try to get them out. hello again, it has been a cold and frosty start to the day today, but many of us have started off with some sunshine. as we go through the rest of this week it is going to turn milder, the wind will change direction and there will be rain at times, especially so in western areas. that is what we have got today. a clutch of fronts coming in from the rest introducing thicker cloud and rain through the day. and look how close those isobars are, telling you that it is going to be windy wherever you are. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. cloud thickening, introducing some rain through the day. once again preceded by showers. and gusty winds as well. the black circles telling you what you can expect where you are, and the northern and western isles could have

gusts of up to 65 mph, and locally even a bit more than that. temperatures, looking at 7—12, so temperatures up for some on yesterday, but it will be tempered by the wind. as we head on through the evening and overnight, the weatherfront producing the cloud and rain continues to advance eastwards. it is still going to be windy, and by the end of the night, we have some heavy, persistent rain coming in from the west, so with all of this going on, it is not going to be as cold a night as the one just gone and temperatures will not be as low either so we're not anticipating issues with frost. as we head through the rest of wednesday, we have this clutch of fronts coming our way, introducing some rain, you can see from the isobars that it is going to be windy, but as the winds change direction, we are pulling in this milder air, but note the blues across the north—west. as the weather front comes in with its heavy and persistent rain, behind it it will turn colder so we will see snow on the hills of scotland and northern ireland.

gales, too, across the north and west and across the irish sea but, ahead of this weather front, we hang on to the milder air, and still a fair bit of sunshine. temperatures between 9—13 celsius, but don't forget it will be windy, with the winds easing in scotland and northern ireland through the day. wednesday into thursday, this weather front looks like it is going to stall before it gets into the south—east, a change from yesterday's forecast. the isobars once again telling you it is going to be blustery. during the course of thursday, looking at something drier and brighter, with a weather front coming into the west later which will cross us during the course of friday, which will also be blustery.

this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: the un says the number of refugees fleeing ukraine has surpassed two million — it's as russia opens so—called humanitarian corridors, such as this one in the north—eastern town of sumy. translation: a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian - corridors have been opened. speaking from the ukrainian capital, president zelensky vows to fight on. translation: i'm staying here| in kyiv, on bankova, not hiding. and i am not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this

war, our national war. ukraine claims a senior russian military commander has been killed in a battle near kharkiv. there has been so comment from moscow. russia warns it may close its gas pipeline to germany if the west goes ahead with a ban on russian oil. as the russian invasion intensifies in ukraine, more than two million refugees have now fled the country, acording to the united nations. ukrainian officials say humanitarian corridors have now opened to evacuate civilians from five key cities. these are pictures from the northeastern city of sumy, where an air strike has killed at least 21 people. people are trying to flee there and as well as other places across the country.

the ukrainian defence ministry says a senior russian military commander has died in a battle on the outskirts of kharkiv. major general vitaliy gerasimov was reported to be a veteran of the second chechen war and russian's intervention in syria. there's been no comments from moscow. live to ukraine and we can speak now to oleksandr danylyuk from the ukraine—nato joint group for countering hybrid warfare. good for countering hybrid warfare. to have you with us. describe good to have you with us. can you describe to us what hybrid warfare is and what russia's hybrid campaign is and what russia's hybrid campaign is against ukraine? it is is and what russia's hybrid campaign is against ukraine?— is against ukraine? it is a combination _ is against ukraine? it is a combination of— is against ukraine? it is a combination of all- is against ukraine? it is a combination of all of - is against ukraine? it is a combination of all of the | is against ukraine? it is a - combination of all of the possible means. it is not only military means, but also psychological, diplomatic, economic. it is all

based on a significant level of deception. for instance, right now while russians need to capture at least one big ukrainian city because they want to bring in tx residents in. they want to try to hide their military activities in the ukraine behind this public regime. that is why it is so important for ukrainians to protect their cities and for our western partners to understand the strategy. fline and for our western partners to understand the strategy. one of the thins understand the strategy. one of the thin . s that understand the strategy. one of the things that we _ understand the strategy. one of the things that we are _ understand the strategy. one of the things that we are seeing _ understand the strategy. one of the things that we are seeing and - things that we are seeing and hearing for our monitoring service is that russia is really ramping up the rhetoric that ukraine is developing a nuclear weapon. can you clarify for us what is the situation with ukraine and nuclear weapons? in

1993 ukraine abandon nuclear weapons and countries like the united kingdom, the us, russia became our security sponsors. russia violated that agreement and attacked ukraine in 2013 and are attacking us now. of course ukraine never had an idea to build any unconventional weapon and this is propaganda. but what is the most dangerous about this narrative, for sure, most dangerous about this narrative, forsure, russia most dangerous about this narrative, for sure, russia is trying to justify to at least its own population and the potential use of unconventional weapons against ukraine and we believe that russia started preparing its population for tactical nuclear is against ukraine. what is the volume of cyber attacks that ukraine is having to deal with and how people there are managing to defend your system is against them?

the level of cyber attacks and is the level of electronic warfare is much lower than we would expect. i think right now russia is trying to use its tactic of psychological pressure on ukraine, that is why it started using air strikes and artillery strikes on ukrainian infrastructure and apartment buildings just to make that war unbearable for ukrainian people, to break their spirits and to force them to surrenderfrom break their spirits and to force them to surrender from this point of view cyber attacks, even jamming wouldn't be efficient enough because russians need ukrainians to see all

of the horrible things that russia is doing to ukrainian civilians. again more evidence that the nature of this war is hybrid and what russia is trying to do is terrorise not only the ukrainian population and ukrainian leadership, but also the leadership of the west. they are trying to show that they are in such a desperate position that they are ready to start global conflict. at the same time we can see that russia is a paper tiger and without nuclear weapons, it wouldn't be a problem for ukrainians to win this war. there are these reports from ukraine that they have killed a major general, vitaliy gerasimov. that hasn't been commented on by anyone

in russia, it hasn't been confirmed, but if it is true how significant is a blow would it be? this but if it is true how significant is a blow would it be?— a blow would it be? this is the second general— a blow would it be? this is the second general killed - a blow would it be? this is the second general killed during i a blow would it be? this is the i second general killed during the last week, about and we're pretty about that. maybe there were some other senior russian generals but we don't have any other confirmation. about vitaliy gerasimov we are pretty sure, also some other senior officers, some of his personal staff who were killed. at least two of them. and two more kernels. a group of senior officials who were killed by ukrainian artillery.— by ukrainian artillery. thank you for 'oinin:

by ukrainian artillery. thank you forioining us— by ukrainian artillery. thank you forjoining us with _ by ukrainian artillery. thank you forjoining us with your- by ukrainian artillery. thank you | forjoining us with your expertise. i'm joined now by ukrainian mp and leader of the golos party, kira rudik, who is in kyiv. it is very good to see you. what is happening in kyiv at the moment. kyiv has been attacked three times during the night on the outskirts had been severely destroyed. we have been advocating for people today and yesterday —— we have been evacuating people. it is cruel what is happening and why russians are attacking the peaceful outskirts of the city. kyiv is before is prepared for a siege. today we just finished military training and it has been 13 days while we were training to bear arms, to paragons, to run with guns etc, just to get ready to what is

coming next. etc, just to get ready to what is coming next-— etc, just to get ready to what is comint next. :. , :, , . ,, coming next. have you been taking art in coming next. have you been taking part in that — coming next. have you been taking part in that training? _ coming next. have you been taking part in that training? yes, - coming next. have you been taking part in that training? yes, of- part in that training? yes, of course. part in that training? yes, of course- and _ part in that training? yes, of course. and how— part in that training? yes, of course. and how was - part in that training? yes, of course. and how was that i part in that training? yes, of| course. and how was that for part in that training? yes, of- course. and how was that for you to be personally _ course. and how was that for you to be personally involved _ course. and how was that for you to be personally involved in _ course. and how was that for you to be personally involved in that - course. and how was that for you to be personally involved in that levell be personally involved in that level of military training? it is be personally involved in that level of military training?— of military training? it is a good work-out and _ of military training? it is a good work-out and i _ of military training? it is a good work-out and i am _ of military training? it is a good work-out and i am trying - of military training? it is a good work-out and i am trying not i of military training? it is a good work-out and i am trying not to i work—out and i am trying not to think about what i will have to do when the russian soldiers come. i am thinking about it as just normal training as i would have in life before war started. when you have to execute, you will be able to execute on your training. i used to do boxing before, and you just train them when you are in the rear fights your body is working for you. this is trainin: your body is working for you. this is training that _ your body is working for you. this is training that involves choosing a weapon potentially? yes. is training that involves choosing a weapon potentially?— weapon potentially? yes. this is trainin: weapon potentially? yes. this is training to _ weapon potentially? yes. this is training to protect, _ weapon potentially? yes. this is training to protect, we _ weapon potentially? yes. this is training to protect, we are - weapon potentially? yes. this is| training to protect, we are trying to defend our country and a city

thatis to defend our country and a city that is under siege. this is how i am thinking about it. i will need to defend my country. i will do it and i need to be as prepared as possible for that. :, , . , :, :, for that. how is it that you get to that lace for that. how is it that you get to that place in _ for that. how is it that you get to that place in your _ for that. how is it that you get to that place in your mind, - for that. how is it that you get to that place in your mind, from - for that. how is it that you get to | that place in your mind, from just for that. how is it that you get to i that place in your mind, from just a few weeks ago to now, that you are training to use a weapon and are prepared to use a weapon? it training to use a weapon and are prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, _ prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, but _ prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, but for _ prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, but for the - prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, but for the last i prepared to use a weapon? it still seems surreal, but for the last 13| seems surreal, but for the last 13 days we have seen so many destroyed cities. we have seen so many people killed, children killed. we have seen children traumatised by the war and will be for ever. i have hundreds of people —— i have helped hundreds of people —— i have helped hundreds of people —— i have helped hundreds of children chifley and i have seen so much pain and despair. i have seen people from the east when their homes were destroyed in just one seconds, where whether families were killed and they were

starving, just walking to get to kyiv. after i have seen all of that i did not put into my mind why, why would this happen to us, a normal country in the 215t—century? why, because some crazy tyrant decided to rebuild the russian empire? this brings me to such anger on people who are bringing this suffering to us. i want to stop it with the bottom of my heart. the bullets don't care which hand is firing them. i could be useful to my motherland with the way i could fight and that is why i will be useful. as a member of parliament, my people are looking to me, they are looking to meet to see the tiniest sign of despair and i cannot show them any sign of despair, i can only show them bravery, the total

belief in our victory and i think that we will definitely go to rates and get through it then we will be building our new country. this is what we should be concentrating on right now, and i can be concentrating on my own feelings or sufferings. this is nothing to what the people in ukraine are going through. bill the people in ukraine are going throuth. : :, :, , . through. all of our viewers can hear our through. all of our viewers can hear your passion — through. all of our viewers can hear your passion and — through. all of our viewers can hear your passion and determination i through. all of our viewers can hear your passion and determination andi your passion and determination and your passion and determination and your belief that you have to stay in kyiv. you have been helping refugees, people who want to leave. if you are in kyiv and you want to get out, can you do that safely? yes, it is possible to do it. the safety depends on the time of the day and your luck. russian forces are doing this around kyiv and they are doing this around kyiv and they are trying to take over the entrances and exits because this is their plan. we are trying to make it

as safe as possible for the people who are trying to get out. kira rudik, thank _ who are trying to get out. kira rudik, thank you _ who are trying to get out. kira rudik, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. do please stay safe. thank you and glory to ukraine. let's get a check on how global markets have been absorbing the latest developments related to the war in ukraine. ben boulos is here. oil prices have spiked higher. oil prices are again on the rise as a tit—for—tat energy war emerges between the west and russia in response to the invasion of ukraine. european leaders yesterday stepped back from us plans to ban russian oil — and that momentarily calmed markets. but russian counter threats seem to be driving prices higher yet again. the price of brent crude oil — the world benchmark — has crept past $126 a barrel, after hitting the highest level for 13 years last week. prices of wheat and nickel have also seen record highs.

the london metal exchange suspended trading in nickel after skyrocketing values overnight. this is all on the back of russian threats to turn off the gas it supplies to europe in response to talks by the west of banning russian oil. the russian deputy prime minister warned of "catastrophic consequences for the global market" — causing oil prices to more than double to $300 a barrel. europe is simply to connected with russian hydrocarbons to enable an oil ban, but voices in the us are growing as michelle fleury reports. a growing number us politicians are calling for a ban on importing russian oil into the us despite concerns it could raise already sky high petrol prices that american consumers. we need to cut off the funding that is going to vladimir putin and his war machine.

one example of this, just one but an important one, is not to buy russian oil and send blood money to russia. such a change may pave the way for sanctions on venezuelan oil to be lifted. us officials met with the government of president nicolas maduro. there are also reports the biden administration is considering a trip to saudi arabia to convince the kingdom to pump more oil. over the weekend, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky spoke directly to us senators, making the case for america to stop purchasing russian oil. in europe, though, the us idea for a russian oil pan met with opposition. you can't simply close—down use of oil and gas overnight, even from russia. that is obviously not something that every country around the world can do. the british prime minister echoing the sentiment of his dutch counterpart. we have to dramatically reduce our dependency on gas and oil from russia.

it will take time. with the us and its allies are scrambling to replace russia's oil, could us producers help fill the gap, given america's substantial oil producing capability? michelle fleury, bbc news, new york. the us may be able to help with oil supplies to europe — but gas supplies are another matter. europe currently relies on russia for about 40% of its gas, most of which is supplied by pipeline. so if russia followed through on its threat of cutting gas supplies what would be the consequences? could europe cope? for more on this i'm joined now by tom marzec—manser, head of gas analytics at icis. what would be the immediate impact if that were to happen? goad if that were to happen? good morning- _ if that were to happen? good morning- i — if that were to happen? good morning. i think— if that were to happen? good morning. i think the - if that were to happen? good i morning. i think the immediate impact if europe stop taking any russian gas at all would be

incredibly high prices, much higher than we have seen in the last few weeks. those were the highest prices that we have seen in the 20 years have been tracking these markets. is have been tracking these markets. is it realistic that russia would turn up it realistic that russia would turn up the gas supplies, given that it relies on that for so much of its income at a time when its economy is really feeling the pinch from other sanctions? i really feeling the pinch from other sanctions? .. :. really feeling the pinch from other sanctions? ~ . , . :, , sanctions? i think that is a really valid point- _ sanctions? i think that is a really valid point. russia _ sanctions? i think that is a really valid point. russia cannot i sanctions? i think that is a really l valid point. russia cannot actually supply and other markets without gas, were it not to supply into europe. it would be detrimental to its own revenue should not supply europe with gas. it it its own revenue should not supply europe with gas.— its own revenue should not supply europe with gas. if it were looking to other markets _ europe with gas. if it were looking to other markets to _ europe with gas. if it were looking to other markets to sell— europe with gas. if it were looking to other markets to sell to, i europe with gas. if it were looking to other markets to sell to, would i to other markets to sell to, would china be a possible option, or where? :, :, :. china be a possible option, or where? :, :, :, :, china be a possible option, or where? :, :, . . , , where? no, not at all. the pipeline network within _ where? no, not at all. the pipeline network within western _ where? no, not at all. the pipeline network within western siberia i where? no, not at all. the pipeline network within western siberia is i network within western siberia is designed to feed the european union, so while there is a relatively small

pipe compared to the un state —— a side connecting russia to china, there is no way that volume could suddenly appear on the chinese border. the pipeline system just doesn't allow for it. it is border. the pipeline system 'ust doesn't allow for iti doesn't allow for it. it is one thing for _ doesn't allow for it. it is one thing for russia _ doesn't allow for it. it is one thing for russia to _ doesn't allow for it. it is one thing for russia to make i doesn't allow for it. it is one thing for russia to make a i doesn't allow for it. it is one i thing for russia to make a decision about cutting off the supply to europe, it is quite another thing for to rely less on russian oil and gas. where could your potentially source the energy from? that gas. where could your potentially source the energy from?- gas. where could your potentially source the energy from? that is the real problem- _ source the energy from? that is the real problem. the _ source the energy from? that is the real problem. the german - source the energy from? that is the | real problem. the german chancellor is aware of this issue. the options for extra gas into europe are very few. norway and algeria, which are key pipeline suppliers to europe are running close to maximum. the big option lse play, which is liquefied natural gas, gas in tankers, boots, that market is incredibly tight and

all the terminals around the world are produce to staff are running close to maximum. it would really require global economies, the economy such as china, japan, korea, to say we will take less energy than we would like, such that europe can take a bit more. even then that wouldn't solve the problem completely. wouldn't solve the problem completely-— wouldn't solve the problem comletel . . . :, , , . wouldn't solve the problem comletel .~ . :, , , . :, completely. what does this mean for eo - le completely. what does this mean for --eole da completely. what does this mean for people day today? _ completely. what does this mean for people day today? already _ completely. what does this mean for people day today? already in - completely. what does this mean for people day today? already in the i completely. what does this mean for| people day today? already in the uk, people's household energy bills are touching record highs that they have not seen for a long time. the projected bills that people are getting for the coming financial year are higher. other countries will inevitably feel the effects, as well. are we already feeling the effects of what is going on or is it yet to filter through? it effects of what is going on or is it yet to filter through?— yet to filter through? it certainly is et to yet to filter through? it certainly is yet to filter _ yet to filter through? it certainly is yet to filter through. - yet to filter through? it certainly is yet to filter through. we i yet to filter through? it certainly is yet to filter through. we saw. is yet to filter through. we saw retail prices rise in the uk earlier this year, which was a response to the tightness in the global market that we saw in the second half of

last year. the step change higher we are seen in the last three weeks is yet to even begin to filter through to those retail prices. the longer this goes on the more it will filter through to retail. let's get a quick look now at the markets. they have somewhat steadied. brent crude has exceeded $126 a barrel, it is now over $127 a barrel. not quite as high as the records last week, but it is still an elevated price, nonetheless. it is a jump of more than 3% on the day. we will bring you any big moves or developments as we get them. back to you, lucy.

there is a short supply of essential medical supplies in ukraine — that's the dire warning by health officials as they condemned at least 16 attacks on healthcare services in the country. the world health organisation say there had been 16 attacks on healthcare services, including damage to facilities and hospitals. dr hans kluge is the europe regional director for the world health organization. he outlined the w—h—o's respose to ukraine. two shipments totalling 76 tonnes of trauma and emergency health supplies, as well as freezers, refrigerators, ice packs boxes are in are in transit in ukraine. we have further shipments of 500 oxygen concentrators and more supplies are on their way. concentrators and more supplies are on their way. with me is our global health correspondent, naomi grimley. can you give us a broad overview of what is happening? the can you give us a broad overview of what is happening?— can you give us a broad overview of what is happening? the good news is the had what is happening? the good news is they had managed — what is happening? the good news is they had managed to _ what is happening? the good news is they had managed to get _ what is happening? the good news is they had managed to get some i

they had managed to get some consignments in, but the big problem is infrastructure. where it has been disrupted and where bridges have been taken out, it is hard to get it to where it needs to be. as to what is needed, it is an array of things. things like freezers, but also oxygen is running low in many hospitals. you also needs insulin, trauma packs, ppe. we are having to think of this on an array of different fronts over what is needed. :. . different fronts over what is needed. . , , :, different fronts over what is needed. : needed. there was some concern raised about _ needed. there was some concern raised about specific _ needed. there was some concern raised about specific things i needed. there was some concern raised about specific things that l raised about specific things that would be happening in ukraine, everyday things like women having babies. what can be done to help women giving birth? it is babies. what can be done to help women giving birth?— babies. what can be done to help women giving birth? it is a massive issue. just women giving birth? it is a massive issue- just in _ women giving birth? it is a massive issue. just in the _ women giving birth? it is a massive issue. just in the next _ women giving birth? it is a massive issue. just in the next three - women giving birth? it is a massive| issue. just in the next three months 80,000 women are due to give birth. for the vast majority, that would be a perfectly normal thing without complications in a relatively developed country. of course, many are now on the road. others are in facilities that just don't

are now on the road. others are in facilities thatjust don't have the right personnel, many people have been diverted to trauma wards. the real worry is that you will end up with women having unsafe births because they won't have access to maternal services as you would expect in normal times. he made the point it is international women's day today and they are at the health care service in every country. how else are women in the country going to be affected? it is often women that end up displacing their families and moving to the borders to try to get out. they are often the chief caregivers and their family, and they may well be trying to hold down jobs family, and they may well be trying to hold downjobs if the men are fighting, so on all fronts, women do end up being disproportionately affected by these complex and we know that from what has happened before in syria. remember, there will be a huge mental health crisis to this. they have already said that they are worried about what is

happening to some of those arriving on the border, so there will be an emphasis on getting the right psychological help, but it willjust be a tiny drop in the ocean given the numbers that we are seeing are massing now in those neighbouring countries. :. .. massing now in those neighbouring countries. :. ~' , :, nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg is holding a news conference with latvian president egils levits after a meeting in riga. we will protect and defend every inch of latvia and every inch of all allied territory. north america and europe together standing strong in nato, the strongest alliance in history.

we are keeping a cross that news conference in any specific news lives we will bring with you. these are pictures from the northeastern city of sumy, where an airstrike has killed at least 21 people. people are trying to flee there and as well as other places across the country. more than two million refugees have now fled the country acording to the united nations. we were hearing what life was like in mariupol, which is being heavily bombarded by russian artillery. there is a complete lack of basics like water, electricity, any kind of food or communications, so people are desperate to get hold of their relatives. 200,000 people are trapped in mariupol. president zelensky said he was sending a convoy of buses to mariupol to try

to get people out. we will print you all the latest on the crisis in ukraine coming up on bbc news. hello, again. we have some thicker cloud and rain coming in through the day and look out close those isobars are, telling you it is going to be windy wherever you are. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon with the cloud thickening, introducing rain through the day, preceded by a few showers and gusty winds, as well. the black circles telling you what to expect where you are. in the

northern and western africa that gusts up to 65 miles an hour. we are looking between seven and 12 degrees, so temperatures up on some from yesterday, but will be tempered by the wind. through this evening and overnight the weather from producing this cloud and rain will continue to advance eastwards. at the end of the night we have heavy and persistent rain coming in from the west. it will not be as cold and night as the one just gone. temperatures will not be as low. we are not anticipating any issues with frost. through the rest of wednesday we have this culture fronts coming our way, we have this culture fronts coming ourway, introducing we have this culture fronts coming our way, introducing some rain. as the wind changed direction we are pulling in this milder air, but note the blues across the north west. as the blues across the north west. as the weather front comes in, just behind that it will turn that bit colder so we will see some snow on the hills of scotland and northern

ireland. gilts in the north and west into the irish sea. ahead of the weather front we hang on to the mild air and still weather front we hang on to the mild airand stilla bit weather front we hang on to the mild air and still a bit of sunshine with temperatures between nine and 13. it will be windy, the wind is easing in northern ireland and scotland through the day. wednesday into thursday, this weather front looks like it. before getting to the south—east, which is a change from the forecast yesterday. it will be blustery. during the course of thursday itself, looking at something drier and brighter, with the weatherfrom coming into something drier and brighter, with the weather from coming into the west later will cross us during the course of friday, which will also be blustery.

if this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: the un says the number of refugees fleeing ukraine has surpassed 2 million — it's as russia opens so—called humanitarian corridors — such as this one in the north—eastern town of sumy. a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian corridors from tf, kharkiv and mariupol have been opened. the mayor says they are completely overwhelmed by the number of people fleeing here. speaking from the ukrainian capital,

president zelensky vows to fight on. translation: i'm staying here| in kyiv, on bankova, not hiding. and i am not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this war, our national war. ukraine claims a senior russian military commander has been killed in a battle near kharkiv. there's been so comment from moscow. russia warns it may close its gas pipeline to germany if the west goes ahead with a ban on russian oil. and the symbol of russia's military defiance — but what does it actually mean? as the russian invasion intensifies in ukraine, more than two million refugees have now fled the country acording to the united nations.

ukrainian officials say humanitarian corridors have now opened to evacuate civilians from five key cities. this map shows the areas — here in red — where russian forces are present, but not necessarily in control. moscow says it's opening corridors today to allow people to leave chernihiv, kyiv, sumy, kharkiv and mariupol farther down in the south east. president zelensky says a convoy has been sent towards mariupol to rescue civilians who've been living without running water or power for almost a week. and these are pictures of civilians fleeing the northeastern city of sumy, where an airstrike has killed at least 21 people. let's go live now to lviv in western ukraine — and join my colleague yalda hakim.

thank you. among those 21 people killed we understand several children as well. the situation here is desperate. promise two weeks into this conflict, take a moment to think about the elderly, the children, the disabled, all these people trapped in this conflict in the north, the east in the south of the north, the east in the south of the country is the shelling, the bombing continues and the authorities here, the ukrainian government are desperately trying to create some kind of humanitarian corridor but for those four days discussions have taken place and were yet to see a successful evacuation without disruption from showings and bombings. of course sean has the very latest. in large parts of ukraine the bombardment has been relentless. civilian hoping to escape the danger have sought whatever shelter they can as russian shelling has prevented their escape. many are hanging their hopes on a

new agreement between russia and ukraine to create a new humanitarian corridor now in place in the north—east city were nine people reportedly died yesterday. the ceasefire plan to lessen to 9pm local time will mean civilians will be able to travel 175 kilometres south. ukraine's president says he is going nowhere. that south. ukraine's president says he is going nowhere.— is going nowhere. that is what we are fighting _ is going nowhere. that is what we are fighting for — is going nowhere. that is what we are fighting for a _ is going nowhere. that is what we are fighting for a new— is going nowhere. that is what we are fighting for a new ukraine. i are fighting for a new ukraine. president zelensky will plead directly to uk mps at his request. in a historic first, ukraine's head of state will be hosted inside the main commons chamber by video link. he is expected to ask uk lawmakers to do to help as the un believes the number of those fleeing will hit 2 million today or tomorrow. so far, the uk government says it has granted visas to 300 refugees but

its defence minister said the process needs to be sped up. fundamentally, the overall scheme is going to produce hundreds of thousands of ukrainians in the united kingdom and that is a good thing to do. it is not the case we allowing 300 in. it is a case that the system has not been quick enough. the system has not been quick enouah. ~ the system has not been quick enouth.~ : the system has not been quick enouth,: . , enough. while the cracks in shelling had stopped — enough. while the cracks in shelling had stopped in _ enough. while the cracks in shelling had stopped in some _ enough. while the cracks in shelling had stopped in some areas - enough. while the cracks in shelling had stopped in some areas the i had stopped in some areas the economic war rages. ibm's latest tech giant to pull out of russia and the new law to make it easier to sanction oligarchs has passed the first stage in the uk parliament last night. the oil company has also said it will stop its operations there after it apologised for buying discounted crude oil from there after it apologised for buying discounted crude oilfrom russia last week. last week the united states said it is proposing a potential buyer but russia said it would continue to be potential buyer but russia said it would continue to he might consider closing the gas pipeline to germany in response was that this is

unlikely scenario with germany and the netherlands rejecting the idea. today's agreement to help more civilians escape through humanitarian corridors will surely be seen as a positive move with the international community holding its breath for a way forward as and russia meet for a fourth round of peace talks. lviv has become a hub for the tens of thousands of people fleeing the fighting. it has also become a hub for the resistance. you will remember about two weeks ago and this war began president zelensky called on the citizens of this country to pick up arms, to do what you can, volunteer, make molotov cocktails. at a former brewery which is now turned into a place where they're making molotov cocktails, they are also making t—shirts to support the resistance and i have the person running the t—shirt operation. thank you for joining us. tell us about what you are doing here. taste joining us. tell us about what you are doing here.— joining us. tell us about what you are doing here. we are making these t-shirts around _ are doing here. we are making these t-shirts around five _ are doing here. we are making these t-shirts around five years _ are doing here. we are making these

t-shirts around five years but - are doing here. we are making these t-shirts around five years but still i t—shirts around five years but still ukrainians, to our mind, this has a different meaning now. we want to send it all over the world for people tojoin is send it all over the world for people to join is wearing the t—shirt because, to my mind, today, fight like ukrainians, it is not only about ukraine or russia because to my mind russia now is fighting with all the normal human world and means that fighting for freedom and we cannotjust look means that fighting for freedom and we cannot just look at the means that fighting for freedom and we cannotjust look at the children dying on your eyes and say come on, so we need support and we want people to go out on the streets wearing t—shirts t—shirts and just say, help ukraine and close the sky and support ukraine with everybody all over the world.—

all over the world. you're trying to sell these t-shirts _ all over the world. you're trying to sell these t-shirts internationally. i sell these t—shirts internationally. where do proceeds go? where does the money go? taste where do proceeds go? where does the mone to? ~ . :. where do proceeds go? where does the mone to? : , ., , :, . :, money go? we started production here and we want — money go? we started production here and we want all — money go? we started production here and we want all the _ money go? we started production here and we want all the money _ money go? we started production here and we want all the money and - money go? we started production here and we want all the money and the i and we want all the money and the profit go to the aid of the humanitarian and ukrainian army support. so we're not talking about any business at all. we're just talking about surviving here and to help people who are here.- help people who are here. you're makint help people who are here. you're making these _ help people who are here. you're making these t-shirts _ help people who are here. you're making these t-shirts and i help people who are here. you'rel making these t-shirts and running making these t—shirts and running this t—shirt making factory but if the war does come here to western ukraine do you think you have to pick up arms?— pick up arms? you know, i am a civilian and _ pick up arms? you know, i am a civilian and have _ pick up arms? you know, i am a civilian and have no _ pick up arms? you know, i am a civilian and have no arms - pick up arms? you know, i am a civilian and have no arms to i pick up arms? you know, i am a i civilian and have no arms to shoot but we can shoot in the hearts of the people all over the world because that is my words in my speech to the heart of the people had to say, come on, we cannotjust let this divide people, children, if

this continues this world has no future. it does not depend on if it is us are not us because the people all over the world are fighting for the rights of their animals. they are going on the streets because of climate change but if you just look in the normal streets and you see that your children are dying you cannotjust that your children are dying you cannot just look at that your children are dying you cannotjust look at this. that your children are dying you cannot just look at this. you that your children are dying you cannotjust look at this. you must do something. you must stop it. i believe that all humans in the world. this because it is not aggression against ukraine only. and we're not talking about any armed conflict. it is not conflict. it is just aggression of people who are coming here and shooting. larisa just aggression of people who are coming here and shooting. lviv now has 200.000 _ coming here and shooting. lviv now has 200,000 people _ coming here and shooting. lviv now has 200,000 people staying i coming here and shooting. lviv now has 200,000 people staying here l has 200,000 people staying here looking for shelter. what do you think when you see so many children, so many women arriving from different parts of the country. taste

different parts of the country. we are different parts of the country. e are making our best. because in a normal time, are making our best. because in a normaltime, in are making our best. because in a normal time, in a civilian time, we are restaurant company and we are now preparing about 10,000 meals every day to help this and a lot of people are coming here just to volunteer and we believe that these people will come back into the country again soon.— people will come back into the country again soon. thank you very much forjoining — country again soon. thank you very much forjoining us. _ country again soon. thank you very much forjoining us. that _ country again soon. thank you very much forjoining us. that was i country again soon. thank you very much forjoining us. that was one i country again soon. thank you very i much forjoining us. that was one of the volunteers here now running this t—shirt company to try to sell t—shirts and create proceeds for humanitarian needs. there are tens of thousands of people pouring over the borders of neighbouring countries and that is where my colleague michelle hussein is with more details. for many days now the relief effort here in poland has been up and running and this is where you can see what a refugee

flow on the scale that the ukrainian exodus is actually looks like. this train station, you see these multi—generational groups, mothers, their children and grandmothers who have come over together from ukraine. often bringing their pets with them. you see people dogs on leads our cats and small dogs and pet carriers. you watch them when you ask yourself, what you would take if you had to leave your home in the circumstances that they have. todayis in the circumstances that they have. today is international women's day and amidst that is happening some of the women are carrying flowers which have been handed out here. many of these people are probably not going to stay certainly in this part of poland close to the ukrainian border, possibly not in poland at all. they are queueing up for train here but also right around the station there are signs on the wall offering help of different kind, offering help of different kind, offering medical support, offering sim cards, offering transport to different countries. one patient might see a sign saying buses

available to germany or transport available to germany or transport available to germany or transport available to lithuania and there are numbers people can call if they want to get to those particular countries. these people are now in a place of safety but when you look at them, it is very hard to think of them, it is very hard to think of them as being fortunate or lucky in any way because of everything they've gone through, because of the arduous nature of theirjourney, because of family and friends still in ukraine they are worried about and also because of their own conditions. in hospitals here they have been treating dehydrated children. delivering babies of women have gone into labour and tragically there are also some pregnant women who came from ukraine who have lost their babies and the hospital here in this town has been telling me about that so difficult times for everyone here and of course this is likely to go on for days to come.

michelle reporting from the poland ukraine border. what is so striking about the images of people flowing over the borders is it is mainly women and children, mothers who have been forced to separate from their sons, wives who have been forced to separate from their husbands and children from their fathers because of martial law. the men stayed to fight. it is the women in their desperate states leaving this country uncertain about when they will be returning. the other thing i was just noticing, just how cold it is an ukraine right now as well. there is another cold snap in the way. some cities will experience a biting wind chill. as cold as —13 — -28 biting wind chill. as cold as —13 — —28 times over the next few days so bitterly cold making it so more difficult for people who are desperate to leave and everyone working on the ground as well. that is well below the seasonal average.

this is where we leave our viewers who have been with us on bbc two. thank you so muchjoining us. stay with us on the bbc news channel and bbc news. russia has said that among the ukrainian cities where it will observe a ceasefire today, to allow evacuations along a humanitarian corridor, is mariupol. president zelensky says a convoy has been sent towards the southern port city to rescue civilians who've been living without running water or power for almost a week. i was able to speak to diana, who fled mariupol four days ago — and ask her what it had been like living there under a russian bombardment. hi, everyone. exactly like you describe. heavy bombing, heavy rocket sharing in civilian quarters, and residential buildings, just randomly. hospitals, colleges,

schools, malls and shops, everything that could help people survive including of course power stations, was bombed. it was a week ago so i spent three days in this blockade with no electricity, no light and no heating because it tells of powers from electric stations. and no connection at all. nothing. no network. you call, cannot take so that we don't know what is going on in the world, in ukraine or in your city. you can only know it when you hear where the bomb falls whether in that direction where your sister lives in that direction where your granny lives. so that is it but you cannot go out because it is very very dangerous. you can only go out to get drinking water that the city

supplies a new stand in a line of kilometre to get that water and to then go to the food market to get then go to the food market to get the leftovers they sell but it was four days ago. it is very very long time ago because a lot changed. now it has been worse and worse and worse and we are receiving, like, very tiny bits of information about what is going on there and it is just survival. i would never imagine that in a nightmare. today, the third time the green corridor is, the third time, it is a trick from russia. they are showing the humanitarian corridor right now and they're trying to get through, to get some first aid good. and to get some water to people. it'sjust get some first aid good. and to get some water to people. it's just a total blockade. they do not let in, and don't let out any, anyone,

civilians. it is not war. what is happening now, no heat, no water, cold dark buildings with no gas even to just cook any thing that is left of food in the city. it to just cook any thing that is left of food in the city.— of food in the city. it sounds so terri int of food in the city. it sounds so terrifying what _ of food in the city. it sounds so terrifying what you _ of food in the city. it sounds so terrifying what you are - of food in the city. it sounds so i terrifying what you are describing. and that was four days ago. we can only imagine things got worse. and you say you're getting tiny bits of information from the city, where you getting that information from and what is the latest your hearing? there are two telegram channels because telegram is the most popular messenger in ukraine. first a channel of the military battalion defending the city. they're doing a greatjob defending the city on the ground but they cannot do nothing from the sky.

ground but they cannot do nothing from the sky-— ground but they cannot do nothing from the sky. ground but they cannot do nothing from the s . :, i. . . :, from the sky. how did you manage to net awa ? from the sky. how did you manage to get away? how _ from the sky. how did you manage to get away? how did _ from the sky. how did you manage to get away? how did you _ from the sky. how did you manage to get away? how did you manage i from the sky. how did you manage to get away? how did you manage to i get away? how did you manage to leave? it was a suicide mission. after three days of this blockade me and my husband, we were like, terrified and we just sat in the car and we decided to make this attempt and we decided to make this attempt and we decided to make this attempt and we broke through to vines of russians. it was just very mild. we thought it was just a crazy adventure suicide mission but now when i spoke with family at a gas station yesterday who escaped the day after, now what they spoke about, what they told me, that was a crazy, that was even much more brutal and very scary too for them so every day gets worse and worse and worse. diana describing what she

went through trying to get out. the fear that they have that they just do not know what is happening at the moment and the desperation trying to get any information, any news from that city. we are getting more pictures emerging from the city which is followed to the russian military. that show you pictures. monday. streets very quiet and people take part in protests. they are there waving ukrainian flags. there are reports of a shortage of basic supplies since russian forces took control. these pictures were filmed in a supermarket on monday and in the background you can see the empty shelves and all those people queueing for those remaining items available. the mayor of lviv has said

the city is at the limit of its capacity for helping people who have fled the violence. more than 1.7 million people — most of them women and children — have left ukraine 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. it is the fastest—growing refugee crisis in europe since world war ii. our correspondent lucy williamson is in the moldovan we were talking to many of those refugees walking across. this is one of the shelter is more diverse for refugees coming to the country. 600 beds inside. probably a little bit quiet. people arejust beds inside. probably a little bit quiet. people are just waking up, breakfast is just starting to be served. the shots of shelters over the filling up here. that is partly because the flow of refugees he has changing a little bit. the first wave of refugees, as you might imagine, where more prosperous. they were arriving in cars and staying in

hotels. those crossing the border now, many more people on foot. vulnerable people and shelters like this the government is providing is all they can rely on. i've spoken to so many people who turn up at the body and have no real idea what to do next. that is when the government steps in with transport and they bring people to places like this. ukraine's government has been reporting what it says are regular and ongoing cyber attacks, which it believes are being carried out by russia, taking place alongside the military action. there has also been frequent condemnation of the ukrainian authorities by spokespeople in moscow, including president putin himself. i've been speaking to oleksandr danylyuk from the ukraine—nato joint group for countering hybrid warfare and i asked him just exactly what hybrid warfare is, and how russia is using in against ukraine. hybrid warfare is a modern warfare. it is a combination of all of the possible means. it is not only military means, but also psychological, diplomatic, economic, etc. it is all based on a significant level of deception. for instance, right now

while russians desperately need to capture at least one big ukrainian city because they want to bring in the ex—president yanukovych in, who escaped ukraine after the revolution of dignity eight years ago and they want to try to hide their own military activities in the ukraine behind this puppet regime. that is why it is so important for ukrainians to protect their cities and for our western partners to understand their strategy. one of the things that we are seeing and hearing for our monitoring service is that russia is really amping up the rhetoric that ukraine is developing a nuclear weapon. can you clarify for us what is the situation with ukraine and nuclear weapons?

in 1993, ukraine abandoned nuclear weapons and countries like the united kingdom, the us and russia itself became our security sponsors. russia violated that agreement and attacked ukraine in 2013 and are attacking us now. of course, ukraine never had an idea to build any unconventional weapon and this is complete propaganda. but what is the most dangerous about this narrative, for sure, russia is trying to justify to at least its own population the potential use of unconventional weapons against ukraine, and we believe that russia has started preparing its population for tactical nukes against ukraine. what is the volume of cyber attacks that ukraine is having to deal with and how are people there managing to defend your systems against them?

the level of cyber attacks and the level of electronic warfare is much lower than we could expect. i think right now russia is trying to use its tactic of psychological pressure on ukraine, that is why it started using air strikes and artillery strikes on ukrainian civilian infrastructure and, you know, apartment buildings just to make the war unbearable for ukrainian people, to break their spirit and to force them to surrender. from this point of, view cyber attacks, even jamming wouldn't be efficient enough because russians need ukrainians to see all of the horrible things that russia is doing to ukrainian civilians. again, another evidence that the nature of this war is very hybrid and what russia is trying to do is terrorise not only the ukrainian population and ukrainian leadership, but also the leadership of the west. they are trying to show that they are in such a desperate

position that they are ready to start global conflict. at the same time, we can see that russia is a paper tiger position that they are ready to start global conflict. at the same time, we can see that russia is a paper tiger and without nuclear weapons, it wouldn't be a problem for ukrainians to win this war in very conventional ways. many have been asking what role china can now play. there's been a meeting today with the french

president and the german chancellor and the chinese leader has described the situation as well being and called for maximum restraint. hello again, it has been a cold and frosty start to the day today, but many of us have started off with some sunshine. as we go through the rest of this week it is going to turn milder, the wind will change direction and there will be rain at times, especially so in western areas. that is what we have got today. a clutch of fronts coming in from the rest introducing thicker cloud and rain through the day. and look how close those isobars are, telling you that it is going to be windy wherever you are. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. cloud thickening, introducing some rain through the day. once again preceded by showers. and gusty winds as well. the black circles telling you what you can expect where you are, and the northern and western isles could have gusts of up to 65 mph,

and locally even a bit more than that. temperatures, looking at 7—12, so temperatures up for some on yesterday, but it will be tempered by the wind. as we head on through the evening and overnight, the weatherfront producing the cloud and rain continues to advance eastwards. it is still going to be windy, and by the end of the night, we have some heavy, persistent rain coming in from the west, so with all of this going on, it is not going to be as cold a night as the one just gone and temperatures will not be as low either so we're not anticipating issues with frost. as we head through the rest of wednesday, we have this clutch of fronts coming our way, introducing some rain, you can see from the isobars that it is going to be windy, but as the winds change direction, we are pulling in this milder air, but note the blues across the north—west. as the weather front comes in with its heavy and persistent rain, behind it it will turn colder so we will see snow on the hills of scotland and northern ireland. gales, too, across the north and west and across the irish sea but, ahead of this weather front, we hang on to the milder air,

and still a fair bit of sunshine. temperatures between 9—13 celsius, but don't forget it will be windy, with the winds easing in scotland and northern ireland through the day. wednesday into thursday, this weather front looks like it is going to stall before it gets into the south—east, a change from yesterday's forecast. the isobars once again telling you it is going to be blustery. during the course of thursday, looking at something drier and brighter, with a weather front coming into the west later which will cross us during the course of friday, which will also be blustery.

this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm lucy hockings. our top stories: the un says the number of refugees fleeing ukraine has surpassed two million. it's as russia opens so—called 'humanitarian corridors', such as this one in the north—eastern town of sumy. translation: a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian - corridors from kyiv, chernihiv, sumy, kharkiv and mariupol have been opened. speaking from the ukrainian capital, president zelensky vows to fight on. translation: i'm staying here| in kyiv, on bankova, not hiding. and i am not afraid of anyone, as long as needed to win this war, our national war.

ukraine claims a senior russian military commander has been killed in a battle near kharkiv. there's been so comment from moscow. russia warns it may close its gas pipeline to germany if the west goes ahead with a ban on russian oil. after several days of claims and counterclaims between ukraine and russia, it seems some humanitarian corridors have been opened to allow civilians to leave ukrainian cities which have been coming under attack from russian military forces. a ukrainian government twitter account posted these pictures, showing the evacuation of people by bus in the north—eastern city of sumy. the region's governor says around 1,000 foreign students were evacuated in the first wave. sumy has been hit hard

by fighting in recent days, with ukraine reporting 21 deaths from airstikes, including several children. russia says it has also set up other evacuation routes, though the ukrainian government, which has accused russia of blocking so—called safe routes with mines and shelling vehicles, has not confirmed this. here's russia's military spokesman. translation: in order to safely evacuate civilians _ translation: in order to safely evacuate civilians from _ translation: in order to safely i evacuate civilians from settlements, today from 10am moscow time, a ceasefire has been introduced and humanitarian corridors from kharkiv, 20 -- humanitarian corridors from kharkiv, 20 —— chernihiv, kharkiv has been opened. chernihiv, kharkiv has been opened. ukraine's president volodymir zelensky had this warning for russia if it did not honour its promise of honouring those humanitarian corridors. translation: we sent convoys with humanitarian help to mariupol,

transport to rescue people. everyone understands they are heroes, brave people. they understand the russian army can simply shoot at them, should at the convoy en route as they have already killed people that dry to simply come onto this safe territory, but if you also shoot the humanitarian convoy and those people, you have to know the whole world will be watching. president zelensky will make a historic address to the uk parliament in a few hours' time, speaking via videolink at 17.00 gmt. we will bring you that live here on bbc news. let's quickly recap today's other main developments in the war in ukraine. the number of people who've fled ukraine since the conflict started is now over two million according, to the united nations. ukrainian officials claim the senior russian commander general vitaliy gerasimov was killed in a battle near kharkiv — but the reports have not been independently verified. moscow has warned that it may

close its main gas pipeline to germany if western countries implement a ban on russian oil. whilst the british gas and electricity firm shell has announced its complete withdrawal from russian oil and gas. let's get more now on the refugee crisis, as over two million people have fled ukraine during this conflict. i'm joined byjoung—ah ghedini—williams from the un's refugee agency. i have just had a i havejust had a look i have just had a look at the forecast and it is bitterly cold in ——.

cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly _ cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly cold, _ cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly cold, i _ cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly cold, i was - cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly cold, i wasjust - cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it is bitterly cold, i wasjust at i cold in --. it is bitterly cold. it| is bitterly cold, i wasjust at the is bitterly cold, i was just at the border crossing in poland and people have been waiting in line for more than 2a hours. they are already coming across incredibly tired, traumatised and in need of humanitarian support. ht traumatised and in need of humanitarian support. h is traumatised and in need of humanitarian support. it is a very lona wait humanitarian support. it is a very long wait for— humanitarian support. it is a very long wait for people _ humanitarian support. it is a very long wait for people who - humanitarian support. it is a very long wait for people who are - long wait for people who are traumatised, cold and possibly hungry as well. would you say that things are fairly well organised at the border or could more be done? ht the border or could more be done? ht is so well organised. i have been working for the um for over 25 years and this is possibly the most well—organised and supported response i have seen. between the polish authorities, but also local responders, more importantly. people are coming and donating supplies. i saw a mountain of nappies, apt pile of baby strollers, food, blankets, anything that you can possibly think

of, so the outpouring of support is the only heart—warming thing that i have seen in this crisis. we the only heart-warming thing that i have seen in this crisis.— have seen in this crisis. we are lookin: have seen in this crisis. we are looking at _ have seen in this crisis. we are looking at pictures _ have seen in this crisis. we are looking at pictures at _ have seen in this crisis. we are looking at pictures at the - have seen in this crisis. we are i looking at pictures at the moment have seen in this crisis. we are - looking at pictures at the moment of people who have crossed. many women and children, families as you have mentioned. are you also seen children on their own?- mentioned. are you also seen children on their own? what we are seeinu is children on their own? what we are seeing is that _ children on their own? what we are seeing is that there _ children on their own? what we are seeing is that there are _ children on their own? what we are seeing is that there are children - seeing is that there are children that are travelling perhaps either with distant relatives or with neighbours. some children are being brought across by parents who are then going back, either to care for elderly family or to get other family members back across. that is definitely a concern. asked along with other partners on the ground are looking to make sure we can guarantee their protection and their safety. guarantee their protection and their safe . .,, . . safety. those children are incredibly _ safety. those children are incredibly vulnerable. - safety. those children are. incredibly vulnerable. what safety. those children are - incredibly vulnerable. what can be done to protect them? {line incredibly vulnerable. what can be done to protect them?—

done to protect them? one of the thins done to protect them? one of the thin . s we done to protect them? one of the things we are _ done to protect them? one of the things we are doing _ done to protect them? one of the things we are doing is _ done to protect them? one of the things we are doing is quickly - things we are doing is quickly trying to put into place child friendly places where we can assess their need. really, to identify those children, and not only children but young girls and women travelling on their own, that could be exposed to great risk that would only add to their suffering. we were watchin: at only add to their suffering. we were watching at who _ only add to their suffering. we were watching at who press _ only add to their suffering. we were watching at who press conference i watching at who press conference this morning and they were paying particular attention at the end of that news conference to the trauma that news conference to the trauma that people have been through and some of the mental health challenges that lie ahead. all of those needs being addressed, or is it too soon? they definitely are. we have a different part of our programme, other protection programme that specifically looks at psychosocial trauma and support for that. it is one that will be a huge issue that will have to be addressed. there is not one single family that has crossed as refugees who are not

separated from loved ones, who have not faced very, very serious trauma and loss. they have witnessed an incredible amount of violence and the sheer level of fear. people are looking shell—shocked. they are completely lost and they will need a great deal of support. we completely lost and they will need a great deal of support.— great deal of support. we are lookin: great deal of support. we are looking at _ great deal of support. we are looking at pictures _ great deal of support. we are looking at pictures that - great deal of support. we are looking at pictures that you i great deal of support. we are l looking at pictures that you will have seen before of elderly people crossing our river, planks have been laid across a river for them to get across. this is the promise of these humanitarian corridors that are meant to be set up. can you explain how it works, how difficult it is to get safe passage for refugees? this is one of our— get safe passage for refugees? “in 3 is one of our greatest concerns. the only way that humanitarian corridors can work is if people protect and guarantee that space, which means that the guns have to stop, that the fighting has to stop, that the war

has to cease so people will be able to move safely. i saw a tremendous number of elderly as well as disabled refugees. there is no way that even able—bodied people have a difficult time moving like that. for older refugees, for disabled refugees, being able to move freely and safely is an absolute necessity right now. and safely is an absolute necessity riaht now. ., ., , ., ., , right now. you mentioned your many ears of right now. you mentioned your many years of experience _ right now. you mentioned your many years of experience in _ right now. you mentioned your many years of experience in this _ right now. you mentioned your many years of experience in this field - years of experience in this field and we are now looking at the worst refugee crisis since the second world war here in europe. i wonder what your message would be. the stories we are hearing will now continue for weeks, if not months. we have past 2 million refugees in just 12 days. i cannot remember in my time working with you and h cr such a huge crisis in europe. all of

the humanitarian agencies are preparing because we knew there needs are going to be even greater in the coming weeks. however, we are still holding out hope, so if there is one message it is that it can stop. if the war is ended, then no additional people need to suffer. nobody else will need to be made a refugee. while we are preparing for the worst and while we are reinforcing our staff, our surprise, our message would be just to end the violence, and the war now so that nobody else has to suffer. that violence, and the war now so that nobody else has to suffer.- violence, and the war now so that nobody else has to suffer. that is a aood nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message _ nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message for— nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message for us _ nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message for us to _ nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message for us to end - nobody else has to suffer. that is a good message for us to end the - good message for us to end the interview on. thank you forjoining us. let's hear now from one of the parts of ukraine which has faced an onslaught from the russian military. 0kturka is town to the east of ukraine,

not far from sumy, where evacuations have been taking place. its mayor, pavlo kuzmenko, has just posted this video on social media. translation: tonight there were two air raids on our — translation: tonight there were two air raids on our town, _ translation: tonight there were two air raids on our town, the _ air raids on our town, the bombardments were with happy bombs, bombs that leave craters up to 20 metres in diameter, and like aerial bombs. the centre of the city is completely destroyed. as of today we can find several people. happy bombs also fell on the thermal power station. it is completely destroyed. the substation is also completely destroyed. we will clear up and prepare for more bombing raids. take care. in the last hour, the british prime minister borisjohnson has started talks with leaders of the v4 group — poland, hungary, czech republic and slovakia — before the meeting began — he made a short statement.

we canjam we can jam the barbaric aggression of vladimir putin and his regime and i know that we are all determined to work together diplomatically, politically, by means of our economic strength, are massive collective economic strength, and also doing what we can with defensive military support to help our ukrainian friends in their hour of desperation and need. i thank you all for all the leadership that you have been shown, the work that you have been shown, the work that you have been shown, the work that you have been doing. you are countries that are in the front line of this crisis and you are facing the risk of a huge humanitarian crisis and big exegesis of refugees already. the uk stands prepared to help you in any way that we can. the fighting may be taking place inside ukraine's borders — but its economic effects are being felt around the world.

the us is looking into possible bans on buying oilfrom russia, and moscow has responded by saying it could cut off its supplies of gas to western europe. that in turn has sent the price of oil and gas soaring — here in the uk, petrol has reached a new record high price. it's also prompted the european commission to draw up plans to try to end eu dependence on russian energy — those details should be released later today. joining me now is our international business correspondent theo leggett. what is happening with oil and gas prices? what is happening with oil and gas rices? , ._ what is happening with oil and gas rices? , .y ., , , prices? yesterday, it was very dramatic on — prices? yesterday, it was very dramatic on the _ prices? yesterday, it was very dramatic on the energy - prices? yesterday, it was very i dramatic on the energy markets. we saw gas spiking 60% at one point to unheard of levels, up to 20 times what we saw last year. there was also a spike in the oil price up to $139 a barrel, that is close to the all—time record of $147. today has been a bit calmer, prices are still

very high but we are not saying the tumultuous rises we saw earlier in the week. we saw the comments from anthony blank, the us secretary of state, saying he was talking to european leaders about a possible ban on russian oil. that put the cat among the pigeons, made traitors very anxious, and prices shot up. that suggestion, cold water was poured on it by the german and dutch leaders, suggesting they are too reliant on imports of gas and oil and this would be unlikely to happen. today what we have seen is russia coming back with this counter threat, suggesting it might cut off supplies of gas to germany through the pipeline if a ban on russia and always put into place. the ban on oil is unlikely to happen. russia is incredibly reliant on exports of oil and gas at the moment for foreign currency earnings. the economy is

being squeezed in all directions by the impact of sanctions. it is depending on the money it is getting from oil and gas to finance itself, including funding the war in ukraine. it is highly unlikely that russia would go through with this threat. that is a counter threats to something which is unlikely to happen, which probably explains why we are not seen such dramatic moves on the energy markets today. shell came under— on the energy markets today. shell came under huge _ on the energy markets today. shell came under huge criticism at the weekend after they brought in russian crude.— weekend after they brought in russian crude. shell have now announced _ russian crude. shell have now announced plans _ russian crude. shell have now announced plans to _ russian crude. shell have now announced plans to withdraw. russian crude. shell have now- announced plans to withdraw from all russian hydrocarbons, so it will no longer by consignments of oil on the market, it will not renew any of its long—term supply contracts, it will close its forecourts in russia, close its forecourts in russia, close its forecourts in russia, close its aviation fuels business, its lubricant business, it wants to

get out of its liquid natural gas business in russia. all of this is complex and will take time but it seems determined to do it. this comes after it received a huge amount of criticism last week for buying a consignment of russian crude oil at a discounted price. the ukrainian foreign minister tweeted to shell, did russian oil smell of ukrainian blood? there was a massive backlash on social media and in a statement today shell has apologised for doing that. 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 seen here has since become ubiquitous as the conflict rages on. moving from the battlefields to being painted onto ordinary cars and vans, sprayed onto bus stops and even promoted on advertising boards in st petersburg. 0n social media there is debate over what the letter is being used to signify. some say that it is a sign of nationalism, others are likening it to a swastika. some people have compared this to the swastika. i think it is a valid comparison. in the third reich, the third reich also valued displays of loyalty, of uniforms, salutes, etc and putin's regime also values that. experts are divided. one explanation is that it is designed to identify russian forces, and prevent friendly fire. another is the z is for "zapad" a technical instruction meaning "west" in russian. another theory is that it stands for za pobedu, meaning for the victory in russian. the russian defence ministry has implied this on their social media, and others say that it

stands for zelensky, a key target of the war. defence experts have called it wall marketing or tribalism, a symbol that doesn't exist in the russian alphabet being used to show loyalty. russian gymnast ivan kuliak is in trouble after taping the z symbol onto his top during a ceremony, after he was beaten by a ukrainian. a former olympian has been criticised after sharing the letter on her instagram. and social media users have condemned the photo of ill children in a hospice in kazan, standing outside in the snow to form a z. in some areas of the russian offensive, the v is being used, seen here on the official instagram some think that it means vostok, meaning east, others think that it means "power of truth". stephanie prentice, bbc news. in the last hour, nato secretary—generaljens stoltenberg said there were credible reports russia is targeting

civilians in ukraine. president putin's assault continues and the impact is devastating. many civilians have been killed or wounded and 2 million people have fled ukraine. this is your�*s fastest growing refugee crisis since the second world war. there are very credible reports of civilians coming under fire as they try to evacuate, targeting civilians is a war crime and it is totally unacceptable. for months, vladimir putin denied repeatedly that russia would invade its neighbour. it means that today's awful reality is one that many ukrainians didn't think they would be facing. our special correspondent fergal keane has caught up

with three people he met in the days just prior to russia's invasion. we didn't imagine this. explosion that these streets of chernihiv, where we'd walked last month, would now be a place of fire. but even as we took a group photograph on the nearby northern border, the russians were close, getting ready. a thought that haunts our ukrainian producer, sofia. i couldn't believe that it's happened in the same place. when i was with you, i didn't believe at all. within a fortnight, sofia was a refugee, fleeing tojoin herfamily on the polish border. anna! her daughter, anna, aged four, exiled but safe.

now, from the polish city of krakow, sofia told me of life outside her country. every day and night, i think of what will be next, so it's very stressful. but still, if i speak with ukrainian people who are still in ukraine, i can't say that i'm stressed because they are more stressed than me. not far from the border, down along the roads now dominated by the russian army... 1989. ..we met valery and galina. he is ukrainian, she is russian. married 40 years, and worried even then about broken relationships with russian friends and family. it's terrible, because we... we lose a lot of friends. we have no food in the supermarket.

now i can only reach them online. they are trapped inside a town surrounded by the russians. you even cannot imagine, all people got together, and they are waiting for the russians to kill them. how is galina? hi, galina. hi. translation: | feel only. disappointment and anger. and i cannot understand how this can be happening. this isn't possible. in kyiv, at the end of ourjourney then, we witnessed the beginning of another. hello! hello. vasily and olga zelensky with their newborn baby, jaromir. his name means "peace". translation: we need to think about a better life, _ especially now, when we have such a miracle in our arms. we can't think about bad things any more.

but not long after, this came — the invasion that forced them to flee to the countryside ahead of the russian advance. olga, what is it like for you, all of this now, with the baby and the war? translation: we met your team a week before the war started. _ who would have thought that when our son was two weeks old, we were going to speak here, right now, after seeing these rockets flying over our house? to say that i was shocked is saying nothing. that's why our whole lives turned all over, from head to toe. butjaromir gives them hope. he is a superstar! laughter maybe he knows that. all of these people once lived in peace. caused no harm to anyone. that's the kind of world they stand for, and which they hope can return for their children. fergal keane, bbc news, lviv.

in just a few hours' time, ukraine's president zelensky will make an historic video address to the uk parliament. in the meantime, he's taken to the streets in the centre of kyiv — posting this video on instagram. he says it's snowing, even though it's spring and insists again that ukraine will win in the conflict. the wind chill bear is done at —15 at the moment we are hearing, it is making things much worse for people in their homes with no power or electricity. president zelensky there saying it is snowing. he says spring is harsh, but everything will be fine, we will win. those words from president zelensky. i want to

draw your attention to our live page. at the moment, the team are trying to piece together a picture of what is happening with all those evacuations and the humanitarian corridors. i think we can show you the website. we can show you what is happening in mariupol, where the defence ministry has accused russian forces of shelling the humanitarian corridor. but eight buses are on their way to deliver humanitarian aids and also to try to evacuate civilians. we don't know yet whether those trucks will be able to go in. we have seen pictures today of an evacuation ill —— an evacuation column —— from sumy. foreign

students are also in the first wave of evacuees. i hope you can stay with us throughout our coverage. hello again, it has been a cold and frosty start to the day today, but many of us have started off with some sunshine. as we go through the rest of this week it is going to turn milder, the wind will change direction and there will be rain at times, especially so in western areas. that is what we have got today. a clutch of fronts coming in from the rest introducing thicker cloud and rain through the day. and look how close those isobars are, telling you that it is going to be windy wherever you are. a lot of sunshine through the afternoon. cloud thickening, introducing some rain through the day. once again preceded by showers. and gusty winds as well. the black circles telling you what you can expect where you are, and the northern and western isles could have

gusts of up to 65 mph, and locally even a bit more than that. temperatures, looking at 7—12, so temperatures up for some on yesterday, but it will be tempered by the wind. as we head on through the evening and overnight, the weatherfront producing the cloud and rain continues to advance eastwards. it is still going to be windy, and by the end of the night, we have some heavy, persistent rain coming in from the west, so with all of this going on, it is not going to be as cold a night as the one just gone and temperatures will not be as low either so we're not anticipating issues with frost. as we head through the rest of wednesday, we have this clutch of fronts coming our way, introducing some rain, you can see from the isobars that it is going to be windy, but as the winds change direction, we are pulling in this milder air, but note the blues across the north—west. as the weather front comes in with its heavy and persistent rain, behind it it will turn colder so we will see snow on the hills of scotland and northern ireland. gales, too, across the north and west and across the irish sea but, ahead of this weather front,

we hang on to the milder air, and still a fair bit of sunshine. temperatures between 9—13 celsius, but don't forget it will be windy, with the winds easing in scotland and northern ireland through the day. wednesday into thursday, this weather front looks like it is going to stall before it gets into the south—east, a change from yesterday's forecast. the isobars once again telling you it is going to be blustery. during the course of thursday, looking at something drier and brighter, with a weather front coming into the west later which will cross us during the course of friday, which will also be blustery.

today at one... we are live in ukraine — from where the evacuations begin, as russia agrees to open humanitarian corridors for key cities under siege. people from the northeastern city of sumy and the town of irpin — near the capital kyiv — have a 12—hour ceasefire in which to get out. the mayor of the city of okhtyrka says the city centre has been completely destroyed. as the ukrainian president prepares to address mps in westminster via a video—link, he has this message for the world: translation: i'm staying here in kyiv, on bankova - not hiding, and i'm not afraid of anyone — as long as needed to win this war, our national war.