this is bbc news. i'm sally bundock with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. ukraine's president says russia is guilty of a war crime after a maternity and children's hospital was bombed in the besieged city of mariupol while a ceasefire was supposed to be in place. the mayor says president putin has destroyed a peaceful city. translation: they wanted to take the lives of our - children, ourwomen, our doctors, who had been fighting for m days of war, for the lives of every child who came under fire from enemy weapons. meanwhile, in the city of irpin, uprooted civilians have managed to leave the town. the united nations is calling the situation a �*dark, historic first�* getting ready to meet the russian army.

residents of ukraine's biggest sea port, odessa, make home—made bombs as the prepare for a possible russian attack. translation: ukraine's surge —— third—largest city has been bracing for an assault. they know what to expect when it comes. and we meet some the professional ukrainian ballet dancers living in hungary, as they come together to help their country. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, says russia is guilty of a war crime after a maternity and children's hospital was bombed in the besieged southern city of mariupol. officials say at least 17

people were injured. the attack came while a ceasefire was supposed to be in place. elsewhere in the country, ceasefires did hold, allowing more civilians to flee other besieged cities. james reynolds has the latest. ukraine calls this strike which had maternity hospital in mariupol a war crime. it buried patients underneath the rubble. for so many in the city these buildings will have been the sight of their happiest ever days. forthem —— sight of their happiest ever days. for them —— where they and their children were born. that's life is now gone. the city of mariupol besieged by russian forces. without food, water electricity or gas. if a hospital is hit, how can anywhere be safe? translation:

we have not done and would never do anything like this war crime in any of the cities of don yet regions or any region because we are people but are you? because we are people but are ou? , ., , ., you? the bombing of the maternity _ you? the bombing of the maternity hospital- you? the bombing of the maternity hospital is - you? the bombing of the maternity hospital is the | you? the bombing of the - maternity hospital is the final proof. proof the genocide of ukrainians is taking place. europeans, you can't say that you didn't see what happened to ukrainians. what happened in mariupol, with the people of mariupol. you saw, you know. and irpin north of kyiv residents make the slow walk to safety. ukrainians here fair a renewed russian assault. more than 2 million people have now fled their country, the fastest exodus in europe since the second world war. we exodus in europe since the second world war. we want to extend the _ second world war. we want to extend the humanitarian - extend the humanitarian corridors to allow people out

and allow supplies to the besieged citizens, who are living in a mediaeval way. that is priority number one and we want to stop the war, hear what they can come up with but we do not believe there are some compromises can be given on our side. we have tried 48 years to give all the compromises and unfortunately it didn't work, they came with war against us and kill people as we speak. ukraine has put its points to russian negotiations in three rounds of talks, so far without breakthrough. now the respective foreign ministers will meet in turkey, the highest level contact since russia's invasion began. the white house has warned that moscow could deploy chemical or biological weapons in the war and blame their use on ukrainian forces. it's also accused the kremlin of spreading false claims that america has been developing chemical weapons in the country. with more on this story,

our correspondent david willis joins us from los angeles. this is a real concern. what is the white house saying? there are all those _ the white house saying? there are all those claims, _ the white house saying? there are all those claims, unproven | are all those claims, unproven claims, various russian officials that ukraine is as far as it is concerned working on nonconventional weapons to deploy on the battlefield. in the last few days various russian officials have claimed work is under way on a dirty bomb, even that ukraine is trying to get its hands on nuclear weapon. all of these claims are unproven, and were dismissed at the white house today byjim sutton the spokesperson today is preposterous and she said and i quote we should be on the lookout for russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in ukraine, the suggestion being it could be some kind of false flag operation of the kind it is thought russia has been intent

on mounting before now. so this another example _ on mounting before now. so this another example of _ on mounting before now. so this another example of the - another example of the propaganda war going on? bier? propaganda war going on? very much so. propaganda war going on? very much s0- us — propaganda war going on? - much 50. us intelligence much so. us intelligence officials of course have sought to get ahead of the game, if you like, by releasing various bits of intelligence material they have relating to possible false flag attacks by russia. on its own troops. basically as a pretext for some kind of attack on ukrainian opponents. so far, there has not been much evidence of that but there is still a lot of concern and clearly, sally, growing concern among officials here, that russia may be about to use nonconventional weapons in this war. ,. nonconventional weapons in this war. . , nonconventional weapons in this war. ~ , .,~ nonconventional weapons in this war. ~ , ., war. david willis, thank you, with the latest _ war. david willis, thank you, with the latest on _ war. david willis, thank you, with the latest on that - with the latest on that development. in ukraine's biggest sea port, odessa, residents are setting up barricades and sandbags amid fears it could be the next major target for russian forces. as volunteers prepare to defend

the city, our correspondent lucy williamson has been speaking to evacuees who have left for the border. ata at a secret location, near the southern city of odesa, they are getting ready to meet the russian army. testing recipes for molotov cocktails and getting some target practice. two weeks ago, many locals was in his final year of a law degree. now he is making home—made bombs with ukraine's civil defence force, working side—by—side with electrician, welder and olympic athlete. where did you learn how to make molotov cocktails he was asked? "it's an optional course for the fourth year of a degree equips. bob dunn was in kyiv looking for work as a lawyer when the war began. my family

said i had to come back home because they needed my help. ukrainians across the country have met the russian aggressors with these weapons. the team here have been making two crates, they have got a lot better at it, bob dan has. it’s better at it, bob dan has. it's like making — better at it, bob dan has. it�*s like making sure, you have to do everything step—by—step. they have been watching russian ships of the coast for days. opera houses barricaded women and children heading out. the queue at the moldova crossing renews itself day and night. this is the first safe or port for people living in odesa, ukraine's third largest city has been braced for a russian assault for many days now and having seen what's happened elsewhere, they know what to expect when it comes. angela has just arrived from edessa with one of her daughters and two grandchildren. her elder

daughter is serving in the ukrainian army. translation: it's not peaceful.— it's not peaceful. they destroyed _ it's not peaceful. they destroyed the - it's not peaceful. they destroyed the militaryj it's not peaceful. they - destroyed the military barracks in our village, we live for three days in the bottom of the house because of the air raid sirens. �* , ., sirens. behind them odesa is a ci in sirens. behind them odesa is a city in waiting. _ sirens. behind them odesa is a city in waiting, the _ sirens. behind them odesa is a city in waiting, the city - city in waiting, the city watching as its people leave, waiting for the russians to come. hundreds of thousands of ukrainian refugees are now in poland and local people are doing their best to accommodate them. in helm, just 15 minutes from the poland—ukraine border, an average of 200 people a day are sleeping on the floor of a church. jonasz skripkovsky is a tax lawyer from ernst & young who was visiting his parents when the war broke out and decided to stay and help the refugees. hejoins me now via skype from helm in poland. i understand this is, the church where your dad is the

minister, talk us through what's going on?- minister, talk us through what's going on? thank you for havin: what's going on? thank you for having me- _ what's going on? thank you for having me- i— what's going on? thank you for having me. i came _ what's going on? thank you for having me. i came to _ what's going on? thank you for having me. i came to visit - having me. i came to visit my parents for a weekend, and we got all those phone calls from ukraine, those two weeks ago, from ourfriends, and other churches, congregations and ukraine, just asking for helping them to find a bed for the night, so we decided we just need to do something. we have 20 beds here in the chapel, and saturday morning, we went and just bought all mattresses that we could find, in a town 80 miles of the borderfrom ukraine, and after a few days we have more than 200 people come, every night, for to rest after waiting for hours at the border. 50.

for to rest after waiting for hours at the border.- hours at the border. so, i understand _ hours at the border. so, i understand you _ hours at the border. so, i understand you have - hours at the border. so, i. understand you have cleared away the pews to make as much space as possible, and local restaurants and bars are helping with food, is that correct?— helping with food, is that correct? , , , ~ correct? this is 'ust right. we have friends, _ correct? this isjust right. we have friends, all— correct? this isjust right. we have friends, all the - correct? this isjust right. we have friends, all the church, | have friends, all the church, small congregation just 60 people, but we do our best and we have got a great response from all of our friends and neighbours. so they are helping with bringing food, with volunteers coming, because this is a lot of work, you know, we have more than 200 people every night, we help them to come here from the border and then send them to poland and other european countries because, obviously, we are not able to have them here, with already 1.5 million ukrainians coming to poland, and last weeks. find to poland, and last weeks. and how are they —

to poland, and last weeks. and how are they when _ to poland, and last weeks. and how are they when they arrive. we obviously are seeing pictures and hearing from our correspondence in various places is this conflict progresses, what have you witnessed?— progresses, what have you witnessed? , . , ., , witnessed? they are 'ust really tired, for many _ witnessed? they are 'ust really tired, for many of_ witnessed? they are just really tired, for many of them, - witnessed? they are just really tired, for many of them, they i tired, for many of them, they travel for, travelling four days. mostly women and kids, older people, and yet, they just, you know, they arejust said, they don't know what to expect, so we try to not only give them and rest, but also hope, that there is a better place and when they cross the border, they can find at least, some food, some meal and the transportation to where they can stay for a longer time, and being in a safe place. find being in a safe place. and jonas, being in a safe place. and jonas. have _ being in a safe place. and jonas, have they - being in a safe place. and jonas, have they given . being in a safe place. and jonas, have they given you extended leave so you can help

with this wave, what's the situation as far as you are concerned? i situation as far as you are concerned?— situation as far as you are concerned? ., , , ., ., concerned? i was supposed to go to a vacation _ concerned? i was supposed to go to a vacation to _ concerned? i was supposed to go to a vacation to mexico _ concerned? i was supposed to go to a vacation to mexico for - concerned? i was supposed to go to a vacation to mexico for two i to a vacation to mexico for two weeks and i resigned before my flight to come here to help. i have two weeks off and we will see what's next. they have been very understanding. it’s see what's next. they have been very understanding.— very understanding. it's been very good _ very understanding. it's been very good to _ very understanding. it's been very good to talk _ very understanding. it's been very good to talk to - very understanding. it's been very good to talk to you, - very good to talk to you, jonas, best of luck for all you are doing their helm in helm. a brilliantjob you are doing there, looking after people. some of the other events in ukraine making the news: the us house of representatives has approved around $14 billion in aid for ukraine, as part of a huge spending bill proposed by the biden administration. the aid is intended to give support to ukraine's military, and help provide humanitarian assistance. it still needs to be approved by the senate. the international monetary fund says it has approved $1.4 billion in emergency financing for ukraine to help it

deal with the economic and humanitarian crisis caused by the russian invasion. the imf�*s managing director said the package provided "critical financial support" to mitigate the economic impacts of the war. twitter has launched a new version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship after russia restricted access to its service in the country following the invasion of ukraine. users will be able to use this version of twitter if they download the tor browser. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: we still to come: will tell you how these ukrainian we will tell you how these ukrainian ballet dancers in hungary are flying the and yellow flag or their country stop. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this, the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times.

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

ukraine's president says that russia is guilty of a war crime after a children's hospital was bombed in the city of mariupol while a ceasefire was supposed to be in place. meanwhile in another city, uprooted civilians have managed to leave the town. you un calls the situation a dark historic first. the uk's visa scheme for refugees fleeing the war in ukraine, has been branded �*a shambles�* and �*totally chaotic�* by the government�*s critics. some mps say those seeking sanctuary are being held up by bureaucracy or turned away, and they�*ve been heavily critical of the home office response to the crisis. borisjohnson says almost a thousand visas have now been approved, but there are at least 22,000 applications yet to be processed. our correspondent mark lowen reports from eastern poland, where some ukrainian refugees are hoping to make their way to the uk.

their long journey of life yields not peace but struggle, for 92—year—old olena and her 70—year—old daughter lyubov. etched on their faces, the barbarity of the elderly driven from their homes. a halting shuffle to get here, the british visa centre in eastern poland, trying tojoin family in the uk. they�*re safe, she knows it, but not yet at rest. "what�*s happening to us is a horror," she says. "the attackers are savages, bandits, killing children. "i would like tojoin my son in britain. "of course, i would hope getting there could be easier." the process can be long. after applying, a wait for days for an appointment here. i will let them know that yours is at 11. visas given four hours away in warsaw.

while eu countries have scrapped them for ukrainians, britain hasn�*t. natasha and her family hope tojoin relatives in bristol. you applied on the 8th of march? eventually. her parents stayed behind in occupied kherson. we speak with parents every day, and we say that everything will be fine and wait. maybe we must wait one week, maybe two weeks, if we want a visa. it�*s very difficult. natalya has come from newcastle, her parents still queueing on the ukrainian side. when the war started and i rang my mum, i did not know if she was alive or not. the anxiety of getting them out, compounded by not knowing when britain will grant them papers. on one hand, it is fair because we have to protect the old people but, on the other hand, for the people

of ukraine, it is not fair because they are looking for shelter, they are looking for somewhere safe to live. what�*s striking is that this scene, with long waits and few appointments, is happening here in poland, which has thrown open its arms to well over a million people from ukraine. at the border, the refugees are fighting congestion. here, they�*re battling through british bureaucracy. a generation now on the move, waiting to be welcomed — and for theirjoy, snatched away, to return. mark lowen, bbc news, rzeszow, eastern poland. some other news for you now — south korea�*s presidential election has been narrowly won by the conservative opposition leader, yoon suk—yeol. in one of the tightest races in the country�*s recent history, he beat the governing democratic party candidate, by less than one percentage point. our correspondent, laura bicker, is in seoul with more details. usually the counting is done by 1am but it took another three hours, until 4am before they could call it. there were only

240,000 odd votes that separated the candidates but south korea is about to usher in a new era. that was laura�*s voice but clearly you could not see her so we will bring you more details of that later stop that update you now on some other news. the north korean leader, kimjong—un, says his country is developing a reconnaissance satellite in order to collect information on the us military in the region. on saturday, pyongyang test fired a ballistic missile it said was linked to the development of the satellite. millions of voters go to the polls in the final stage of voting in india�*s most populous state, uttar pradesh. the issue of religious freedom has become central to the election campaign. the hindu nationalist bjp party is hoping to hold on to power in the state. the body of the cricket star shane warne is being flown from

thailand to australia today where the former spin bowler will receive eight state funeral. warne, who was 52, dated suspected heart attack at a villa on the island last week. died of a suspected heart attack. as hundreds of thousands of people flee ukraine to the west, the ukrainian community living outside the country has mobilised to help them. some of europe�*s most talented professional ballet dancers are ukrainian and live in the hungarian capital budapest. this week, they organised a photo shoot there. nick thorpe sent this report. we wa nted we wanted to wake up but you can�*t. i we wanted to wake up but you can't. , ,.. i can't. ifeelvery scared. i have all— can't. ifeelvery scared. i have all my _ can't. ifeelvery scared. i have all my family - can't. ifeelvery scared. i have all my family here i can't. ifeelvery scared. i. have all my family here but can't. ifeelvery scared. i- have all my family here but my parents — have all my family here but my parents are still in ukraine. a parents are still in ukraine. photoshoot for the ukrainian ballet dancers of budapest. it is their way of flying the blue and yellow flag. the pictures taken here will be posted on

social media to draw attention to the plight of their country, to the plight of their country, to inspire hope and raise money. to inspire hope and raise mone . , to inspire hope and raise money-— to inspire hope and raise mone . , ., �* ~ ., money. they don't know when the can money. they don't know when they can come _ money. they don't know when they can come home, - money. they don't know when they can come home, when i money. they don't know when i they can come home, when they can meet theirfamily they can come home, when they can meet their family again. and all of this happens from one day to the next. the ballet photographer _ one day to the next. the ballet photographer organise - one day to the next. the ballet photographer organise the - photographer organise the photoshoot.— photoshoot. i wanted to show all of them — photoshoot. i wanted to show all of them together - photoshoot. i wanted to show all of them together in - all of them together in difficult times. i wanted to show how strong there. the idea with this project _ show how strong there. the idea with this project was _ show how strong there. the idea with this project was to - show how strong there. the idea with this project was to share - with this project was to share information about volunteering information about volunteering in budapest, in hungary among everyone — in budapest, in hungary among everyone who knows us. the ambition— everyone who knows us. the ambition is to bring the brightest feelings. we hope that the bright side will win. what — that the bright side will win. what a _ that the bright side will win. what a useless profession you

have — what a useless profession you have you _ what a useless profession you have you are _ what a useless profession you have. you are not _ what a useless profession you have. you are not a _ what a useless profession you have. you are not a doctor, i what a useless profession you i have. you are not a doctor, you do not — have. you are not a doctor, you do not have _ have. you are not a doctor, you do not have professions- have. you are not a doctor, you do not have professions that. do not have professions that can really— do not have professions that can really help. _ do not have professions that can really help. but - do not have professions that can really help. but we - do not have professions that can really help. but we try . do not have professions that| can really help. but we try to find — can really help. but we try to find any— can really help. but we try to find any power _ can really help. but we try to find any power in _ can really help. but we try to find any power in our- can really help. but we try to find any power in our souls . can really help. but we try to| find any power in our souls to remind— find any power in our souls to remind of— find any power in our souls to remind of the _ find any power in our souls to remind of the beautiful- find any power in our souls to| remind of the beautiful culture we have — remind of the beautiful culture we have that _ remind of the beautiful culture we have that we _ remind of the beautiful culture we have that we should - remind of the beautiful culture we have that we should fight l we have that we should fight for. ., , , we have that we should fight for. . , , , ., for. yuri has been performing in budapest _ for. yuri has been performing in budapest for _ for. yuri has been performing in budapest for ten _ for. yuri has been performing in budapest for ten years. - for. yuri has been performingj in budapest for ten years. his is a three pronged message. to hungary, for help, to ukraine in solidarity... and to the people of russia to understand. we want to show to stand by the ukrainian people and the ukrainian people and the ukrainian army, we protect our families there. my father is russian and we try to keep contract that make my wife is russian and we try to keep contact with her parents. they get information just from the

television which i guess is fake. , , ., television which i guess is fake. ,, ., , , fake. the russian president insists that _ fake. the russian president insists that there _ fake. the russian president insists that there is - fake. the russian president insists that there is no - fake. the russian president insists that there is no such | insists that there is no such country as ukraine. the dancers have put a pest around to remind everyone who will listen that there is. it remind everyone who will listen that there is.— that there is. it is my homeland. _ that there is. it is my homeland. it - that there is. it is my homeland. it is - that there is. it is my homeland. it is a - that there is. it is my - homeland. it is a country, not russian and ukraine. let me take you back to kyiv, where members the city�*s orchestra held an impromptu, open—air concert in the city�*s independence square. here they are — in hats and coats — playing in freezing temperatures with a small crowd waving ukrainian flags. the conductor said the aim was to promote the ukrainian government�*s call for a no—fly zone across the country and an end to the war. the concert was broadcast live on ukrainian tv. let�*s have a listen to some of them playing the ukrainian national anthem.

they play ukrainian anthem let�*s go to the capital right now and show you with this morning as the sun comes up. president deborah earlier today accused russia of committing a word that make war crime of bombing a children�*s hospital on wednesday in the southern city of mariupol. officials at least 17 people were injured. next we will have all the economic implications of the invasion of ukraine. the price of oil has dropped significantly in the last 24—hour�*s, partly in response to the situation in regard to oil supply from the middle east as opposed to russia and we will have that conversation and

just a moment. also we will look at some of the other consequences of this war and the impact on the global economy. we will be back in just a moment. hello there. this week starts off on a cold, chilly note for many of us, but temperatures have been rising as the week�*s worn on, in fact, we are staying in the very mild theme for the rest of the week, certainly for the working week, but it will become more unsettled with breezy, even windy conditions and also rain at times. now, we�*ve got high—pressure to the east of us over the near continent, low pressure to the west over the atlantic. it�*s drawing up some very mild airfrom biscay and iberia. this weather front continuing to thicken the cloud up across more central parts of the country today. so we start off with quite a bit of cloud around, bit more cloud generally across england and wales than we had through yesterday morning.

cold, frosty start for northern ireland but bright with some sunshine, some sunshine getting into western scotland, and it will also be bright across eastern england and the southeast, where, again, we will see temperatures very mild for the time of year 14—15 degrees, even double figures further north and west. it will be a little bit breezier as well. now, as we head through thursday night, it turns cloudy, outbreaks of rain pushing up from central and southern areas, it will spread northwards across northern england and in toward scotland. so more cloud around, more breeze, so it will be a milder night for most of us and a mild night certainly for northern ireland. so that�*s how it�*s looking to end thursday, into friday we see a little more active weather front start to sweep in from the atlantic. that will bring more windy weather but also some heavier rain, which will start to push into southwest england and wales, northern ireland, as the day wears on. one or two showers ahead of it, but generally dry and bright, quite mild and windy across northern and eastern areas. this rain will be spilling

its way northwards, and it will be a blustery day wherever you are, certainly windy across more northern and eastern areas, especially close to the coast. temperature wise, again, it�*s pretty mild, highs of 10—13 degrees, maybe not quite as mild as it will be for thursday because we�*ve got more cloud and rain around. now, into the weekend, it stays unsettled, a particularly deep area of low pressure moves in towards the southwest and the west of the uk during the latter part of saturday into sunday, and as that spreads northwards for sunday, we will see a mixture of sunshine and blustery showers. some of these will be quite heavy. so it is an unsettled picture into the weekend, some wet and windy weather pushing into the south and west later on saturday, and it�*s sunshine and showers for most on sunday.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. food alert — uk farmers say prices and supplies will be badly affected by the war in ukraine. relief in the pipeline? the price of crude plunges on hopes opec can fill the gap left by russian oil. reparations demand. use russia�*s frozen billions to rebuild our country — says ukraine�*s central bank chief. plus — neon warning signs. supplies of the rare gas vital for the tech industry are being choked off by the war. we hearfrom a manufacturer in ukraine.