welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... inside kharkiv — a special report — on the frontline with the ukranian army. we're with ukrainian forces fighting to defend kharkiv from russia's relentless assault. if these tactics are unfamiliar to you, you have not been paying attention. because this is the russian attack playbook perfected in over ten years of war in syria. more than 2 million people have been said to have fled the capital, but more right after escaping russian soldier is moving ever closer to the

city. they take, like, stones, with guns. and — exodus from sumy, as humanitarian corridors are set up to escape the fighting, we meet some of the tens of thousands who have now fled. live from our studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday. it's 7am in singapore, and 1am in the ukrainian city of kharkiv — from where we have an exclusive report. the country's second largest city — after the capital kyiv — in the east of ukraine has endured nightly russian air attacks and suffered dozens of civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries. most of the city's 1.5 million

residents have fled. the ukrainian forces fought back a russian armoured column in the early days of the invasion — and have been fighting since to stop a further russian advance. our correspondent quentin sommerville and camera journalist darren conway are the first journalists to be embedded with the ukranian army as they fight the russian advance. i should warn you their report contains graphic images from the frontline that some viewers will find disturbing. head to the very eastern edge of ukraine and a ghostly vision of the country's fate unfolds before you. the city of kharkiv is being purged of life. in near total blackout, the police in the country's second largest city take us on patrol. the russians aren't far. explosion. shelling happens every night.

this close to the russian border, there's another threat here — saboteurs. no—one escapes scrutiny. alina, 76—years—old, is lost and confused. in an instant, everybody�*s life here has been upended. but this young nation has surprised russia and the world with its resolve. we weave our way past the fallen, into no man's land, with the ukrainian army. here is 21—year—old yevgen gromadsky. where are the russians? over the sound of shelling,

he tells me, "the russian soldiers are standing about 900 meters away from here. you can hear right now that they're firing on our positions and we are firing back". it's a grenade launcher, british. but it's more than just a grenade launcher — it's a guided missile. is it good against tanks? it's the best we have right now. how are the russians fighting? they're fighting like soldiers of 1941. they're attacking, just like in front, now they don't do any manoeuvrers. so, yeah, they have a lot of people here, a lot of tanks, a lot of their vehicles and techniques. but we're fighting in our land and we protect our families. so it doesn't matter how they fight, we fight like lions and they won't win. this city of a million plus people has emptied out. this civilian, so close to ukrainian lines, just didn't make it.

we've actually come beyond the ukrainian front line, and we know that because look at all the destruction around here, and this whole area's littered with dead russian bodies. these men, in fact, and there are two more over there. there are two more over. there are chechen, they have ids on them. their weapons have been removed. the ukrainians keep telling us they're really comfortable with this type of fight because this is their territory, they're defending their city, theirfamilies. but the challenge from them is what comes from the sky. they want more aircraft and they want more air defences. and that might be where this battle, this war, is won and lost. in a war with russia, the front line is everywhere. shouting, explosion. this is what people have been

fleeing in kharkiv — endless bombardment for the past two weeks. automated alert: our administration i would like to inform you that a fire i has started in the building. for that reason, please go - to the ground floor and from there, leave the building. this is what russia does to cities, it bombards them, it besieges them, it surrounds them. it terrorizes entire populations. and if these tactics are unfamiliar to you, then you haven't been paying attention, because this is the russian attack play book, perfected in over ten years of war in syria. we know that russia bombs hospitals. so here at the city's hospital number four, they keep the wounded in hallways — away from the windows. miss valentina has been hit by shrapnel. "i have a poem for you", she says. translation: these stupid russian shrapnel pieces - i will carry all my life. but as long as my heart still beats,

i will still live and love. and so too, will eight—year—old dmitri, now that this has been removed from his skull. this is the war that russia has fought before and is fighting again. we don't know the rest of ukraine's fate, but kharkiv has already shown what's coming next. translation: defenders, we will ride together. - we will win this war and all our heroic people will gather to rebuild our beloved ukraine. quentin somerville, bbc news, kharkiv, in eastern ukraine. in kyiv, russian forces continue their advance towards the capital. more than half the population of kyiv has fled since the invasion began. the mayor of the city descibed it as a fortress.

humanitarian organisations have warned that many people have run out of food and are still living without water or gas. russian forces are said to have rolled their armoured vehicles up to the north—eastern edge of the city today. jeremy bowen has sent this report from kyiv. when your world is turned upside down, there's separation, loss, confusion, and relief at getting out alive. hundreds more have been evacuated from villages in the firing line outside kyiv in the last few days. taking bad memories into new uncertain lives. did you see any russians? yes. what were the russians like, did they speak to you? they were mute, mute. they were mute. no comments, no words, no. and nothing. they were mute. they stayed like... ..stones.

medics can help with the physical pain of wounds. kyiv�*s hospitals are ready, expecting many more. but what do you say to someone who needs the comfort of home? when everything familiar has gone? this minibus was from the children's home, many with special needs, and carers who had spent two weeks in cellars trying to keep them calm. the police took videos to record who had escaped. then they checked their bags. the fear of russian infiltrators is strong. food is not in short supply, along with plenty of questions what about the russians will do next, and allegations about what they are doing now.

translation: the police commander l said they had had many phone calls i about violation of the rights of civilians and weapons, injuries and murders. appeals for information about the missing. at another crossing point, hundreds more walking out of the firing line. and a priest who helped rescue them from the russian army. there is nothing which is related to god in the actions. so, there's no reason for them to attack ukraine. we are not attack anybody, so we just made decision to have different future, we want to have democracy, so if russians they want to restore soviet union, may god bless them, but we ask them to do it within their borders. ten miles east of kyiv, russia's tactical blunders continued. tanks are easy targets

when they push forward, bunched up, in broad daylight, but the ukrainians are still outnumbered and outgunned. at strong points round the city, ukrainian troops are waiting. they know the russians are regrouping, and will try again. petrol bombs aren't all they have got. nato has sent in thousands of modern anti—tank weapons for whatever is coming down the road. the russians are about 5k in that direction. if they want to come into the city, they will have to take this piece of ground and push in. if they are encircling kyiv, they can probably stay more or less where they are. the men at this position have to assume that an attack is coming. for the soldiers who waited, the sky was bright, and the forest still and lonely. jeremy bowen, bbc news, kyiv. well, within ukraine, humanitarian corridors have been set

up in an attempt to allow hundreds of thousands of civilains to escape the fighting. one of those corridors is from sumy in the northwest — to poltava almost 200 kilometres away. in the past three days around 60,000 people — that's one in five of the population — have left sumy. 0ur eastern european correspondent sarah rainsford has been meeting some of them. sleeping peacefully at last. after 15 days of fear. this little boy arrived from sumy last night. to a city where there are no bombs and no fighterjets. but the children here have brought their memories. daniel's poem is about enemies and occupiers and longing for peaceful skies. he and his mum escaped sumy squeezed into a car with strangers when the shooting was stopped for a few hours.

translation: we walked over broken glass, we saw the ruined build, - the bombing, the roofs ripped off, it was scary. that is why we are fleeing, running as far as possible from the shooting. trying to save our lives and the children above all. "it is so russia doesn't kill us," daniel pipes up. he is eight years old. russia is trying to bomb his city into submission. tens of thousands of civilians have now been evacuated, but ukraine's soldiers are still resisting. and behind the lines there is a giant support effort. the school that is now housing evacuees is also feeding hundreds of soldiers. teachers and residents all pitching in. now we are cooking for our soldiers so they can protect our homes, our children, our parents, grandparents and our whole country.

just two weeks' ago that was a normal school kitchen, but now all of this is being prepared to feed ukrainian soldiers, and people displaced by the fighting. the lady in charge told me she can't believe they are doing this, but it's a massive collective effort to provide the food and to make it here at the school. this classroom is now home for a family from kharkiv. safe, but stranded, with nowhere else to go. svetlana talks of the terrifying sound of russian fighterjets, but also of friends in russia itself, who tell her ukraine provoked this war and who claim even now that no civilians are suffering. "that really hurts", svetlana says. her niece's world has shrunk to this. it is safe for now, but katya's learned it can be shattered in an instant. sarah rainsford, bbc news.

let's take a look at some of the day's other developments concerning ukraine. charities are warning of appalling conditions in the ukrainian city of mariupol, which is being besieged by russian troops. the international red cross says many people have run out of food and water in freezing temperatures, with some residents resorting to fighting each other for supplies. attempts to get people out have repeatedly failed as the bombardment continues. in the highest level of talks so far since the invasion began, ukraine and russia have failed to agree on a ceasefire to help people trapped by the fighting escape. both sides did indicate a willingness to continue talking, but russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov made no concessions. there's been a lot of discussion about the repercussions of this war — for both ukraine and russia, as well as other countries involved.

in a minute we'll hear from lyse docuet in kyiv and gordon corera at the uk foreign office, but first here's our russia editor steve rosenberg. i think this is wishful thinking on vladimir putin's product because the tsunami of international sanctions hitting russia threatens to cripple the economy here. now, today, president put the side we will adapt, we will overcome. we will take measures, he said, against those foreign companies pulling out of russia, raising fears of nationalisation, seizing of assets, but is that really the solution to russia's problem right now? the russian oligarch, one of the richest man in russia, he wrote today that those kinds of measures would put russia back 100 years, back to 1917, the time of the russian revolution. now, when vladimir putin came to power more than 20 years ago, the one thing he promised russians was

stability. foryears one thing he promised russians was stability. for years after, one thing he promised russians was stability. foryears after, he cultivated the image of mr stability, the only man in the country capable of keeping russia together. that stability is gone now. it's been shattered by president putin's decision to send troops into a sovereign nation into ukraine for what he still calls a special military operation. the alarm bells — special military operation. the alarm bells have _ special military operation. the alarm bells have been wrong, today, the foreign— alarm bells have been wrong, today, the foreign secretary said she was very concerned about the possible use of— very concerned about the possible use of chemical weapons, the white house _ use of chemical weapons, the white house had _ use of chemical weapons, the white house had something similar last night _ house had something similar last night the — house had something similar last night. the prime ministers that he was worried that what he was seeing was worried that what he was seeing was straight out of the kremlin playbook, and his words. so what is behind _ playbook, and his words. so what is behind this? — playbook, and his words. so what is behind this? well, it appears that there _ behind this? well, it appears that there was— behind this? well, it appears that there was some kind of intelligence in the _ there was some kind of intelligence in the last— there was some kind of intelligence in the last week that the kremlin might— in the last week that the kremlin might be — in the last week that the kremlin might be considering using chemical weapons _ might be considering using chemical weapons. we obviously don't know what exactly that intelligence was, but also _ what exactly that intelligence was, but also russia has formed, it uses nerve _ but also russia has formed, it uses nerve agent, type of chemical weapon here in_

nerve agent, type of chemical weapon here in the _ nerve agent, type of chemical weapon here in the uk and salisbury in 2018. — here in the uk and salisbury in 2018. and_ here in the uk and salisbury in 2018, and its ally, repeatedly syria. — 2018, and its ally, repeatedly syria, but then also there is the way in _ syria, but then also there is the way in which russian officials in the last— way in which russian officials in the last few days have talking about ukraine _ the last few days have talking about ukraine developing nonconventional weapons, _ ukraine developing nonconventional weapons, for instance, that ukraine had a _ weapons, for instance, that ukraine had a secret— weapons, for instance, that ukraine had a secret biological warfare lab funded _ had a secret biological warfare lab funded by— had a secret biological warfare lab funded by americans, the concern is that that _ funded by americans, the concern is that that kind of language is paving the way— that that kind of language is paving the way for what is called a forced fla- the way for what is called a forced flag operation in which the russians perhaps— flag operation in which the russians perhaps used chemical weapons but then blame it on the ukrainians, something — then blame it on the ukrainians, something that was tried in syria, hence that— something that was tried in syria, hence that reference to the kremlin playbook— hence that reference to the kremlin playbook will stop the hope is that by calling — playbook will stop the hope is that by calling this out based on whatever intelligence there is, they might— whatever intelligence there is, they might be _ whatever intelligence there is, they might be able to deter and stop russia — might be able to deter and stop russia from going forward. this might be able to deter and stop russia from going forward. this is a city tonight bitterly _ russia from going forward. this is a city tonight bitterly cold _ russia from going forward. this is a city tonight bitterly cold and - russia from going forward. this is a city tonight bitterly cold and very i city tonight bitterly cold and very quiet, eerily quiet when we see the images of how so much more of this country burns with every day. there is no doubt that this capital is in

moscow's sites and we have seen over the past two weeks how its advance is notjust been installed, but also attacked and ambushed. tonight, we hear reports that russia is still trying to advance in multiple directions, but on every approach, there is also intense fighting and in effect, fight back. some of the images we saw today were in the east where the ukrainian forces were able to repel a russian armoured convoy. russia is said to be trying to advance on two parallel tracks in the east, from the northeast where the east, from the northeast where the us believes they are about 25 miles away. the closest approach is from the northwest. the us again estimates that it's less than ten miles and has moved a few miles in the past 2a hours. that is why bay city has emptied of its rituals and read them. he mentioned at the start of the programme, the mayor has said that about a little less than 2 million people have emptied the

city. war has pulled life from kyiv, but many of the people who are staying here are staying to fight. they want to be fighting in front, and we have seen in the past two weeks that it also has a power of its own. as fighting between ukraine and russia intensifies, its left another country in a challenging diplomatic position — india. it's been trying to maintain a neutral position between moscow and the west since the invasion began. last week india notably abstained from a un security council resolution which criticised russian aggression and has so far directly avoided criticizing moscow for its actions. tanvi madan is the director of the india project at the brookings institution, in washington, and shejoins us now. it's great to get you on the show. let's start by tackling that head on. as india's silence tacit

approvalfor on. as india's silence tacit approval for what's going on on. as india's silence tacit approvalfor what's going on in ukraine? india has little interest in endorsing the powerful countries to impinge on another country's territorial integrity, especially if they are neighbours. 0r their sovereignty, especially when they have a country like china city next door that has also threatened its territorial integrity. as prime minister of india said in his speech today, he talked about how a number of sentience interests have been adversely affected by this war, whether it's adversely affected by this war, whether its economic interest, defence, complicating india's partnership with various countries, as well as the fact that it's led to price rises across a range of commodities. this, with india grappling with inflation concerns as other countries have is becoming a

problem as they try to recover from covid. so there's very little interest in the sentience mind of condoning, endorsing, supporting this invasion, but as he mentioned, the same time, it has a relationship with russia that it wants to maintain, so what you have seen is a combination, but an indirect criticism. combination, but an indirect criticism-— combination, but an indirect criticism. . ., ., , , criticism. on that relationship with russia, criticism. on that relationship with russia. isn't _ criticism. on that relationship with russia. isn't a _ criticism. on that relationship with russia, isn't a part _ criticism. on that relationship with russia, isn't a part of _ criticism. on that relationship with russia, isn't a part of the - criticism. on that relationship withj russia, isn't a part of the equation and the fact that india does depend on russia for arms and defence equipment?— on russia for arms and defence eu-uiment? ~ , ~., equipment? absolutely. along with the need to get _ equipment? absolutely. along with the need to get sentience - equipment? absolutely. along with the need to get sentience nationalsj the need to get sentience nationals out from ukraine, that was one of them are approximate reasons for india to take this stance. india's defence —— dependence is leading it to take this middle—of—the—road stance, 70% of the existing military equipment including that being used

on the front line at the border with china where there is still an ongoing crisis, that equipment is of russian origin and it requires russian origin and it requires russian spare parts, additional supplies, maintenance. so for india, it has to maintain that supply line, even as it doesn't approve of this invasion. there is also some concern that at this particular plains, beijing might seek to take advantage of the world's focus on europe to take further military action at the china india border, and in that context, delhi would rape up the stance that moscow beijing alliance would take. i stance that moscow bei'ing alliance would take. , . ~' , ., stance that moscow bei'ing alliance would take. , ., ,, ,., ,., stance that moscow bei'ing alliance would take. , . ~' ,. . would take. i see. thank you so much for “oininr would take. i see. thank you so much forjoining us— would take. i see. thank you so much forjoining us on _ would take. i see. thank you so much forjoining us on the _ would take. i see. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. - forjoining us on the programme. great to get your thoughts on these day. —— on news year's day. —— newsday. in australia, the ukrainian community has been calling for more international support against russia's invasion of ukraine. halfway across the world there is concern for families trapped in the conflict, and despair at the worsening situation. phil mercer

has more from sydney. chanting: help ukraine, help ukraine! _ fear and rage on the streets of australia's biggest city. protesters want the world to do more to stop russia's attack on ukraine. some say they could return home to help their families, resist the occupation, despite warnings from australia's prime minister not to go and fight against russia. i can do much more being here and helping, but if necessary, i have no reservations. i will pick up a gun, i will go. my father is sitting with his rifle, with his hunting rifle, at the window, waiting for the invaders to come so he can shoot them. my father is over 70 years old. ukraine is thousands of kilometres from australia, but the conflict has cut deep into the soul of its expatriate community here. it's doing all it can to stand in solidarity with friends and family members back home. this rally here in sydney is part of a loud, global chorus of support. there's also condemnation of putin's

invasion by russian demonstrators. ukrainian people are our brothers. it's a massive mistake. we can see it now. you can't do this. it's the 21st century. saint andrews ukrainian catholic church in sydney has become a beacon of prayer and pride. for many in the congregation, being so far away from relatives in the conflict zone is unbearable. that was phil mercer reporting for us. before we end the programme, let's remind ourselves of today's development. russia has continued to bombard the ukrainian port city of mariupol, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without food, water or power in freezing temperatures. the first top level talks between russia and ukraine since president putin lauched his invasion have made no progress towards agreeing a ceasefire to help

aid reach civilians. that is it for us i newsday. thanks so much forjoining us. do stay with bbc news. hello. the last couple of days, the weather really has been quite good. beautiful, sunny skies for some of us, particularly across eastern parts of the uk. but things are going to turn now — the cloud you can see on the satellite picture is a weather front, it's approaching. it means rain, wind, and really, that's how it'll be over the next few days. so through the early hours of the morning, the outbreaks of rain are reaching western parts of the uk. even ahead of it, we have some rain across scotland and parts of england. but generally speaking, it is a dry night and early morning. very, very mild, 8—10 celsius in many areas. then quickly through the morning, the rain becomes quite heavy in southwestern parts of england, through wales, the midlands. the rain will reach

wales and eventually southwestern scotland, too, and through the afternoon, i think many of us will have had at least some rain. now through the afternoon or so, it'll brighten up across wales and southwestern parts of england. sunshine and showers here the second half of the day. there could be some thunderstorms, too, and on top of that, the winds will strengthen. but you can see it across the uk — it is a real mixed bag, i think, through friday and into friday night. now saturday, we see another area of low pressure with new fronts approaching us — this, once again, spells heavy rain initially for western parts of the uk. but in the southwest, as this low pressure increases, you can see strong winds blowing around it, and we could be talking about gusts of 60—70mph around the isles of scilly and the tip of cornwall. so really very blustery, even quite stormy weather for a time here. but elsewhere eastern parts of the country on saturday — look at that, newcastle, hull, london — fine, sunshine. breezy, yes, but at least you'll have the sunshine. and then come sunday, that low pressure really

spreads across the country. it'll become windy elsewhere, gale force winds around some of the coasts, but there will be plenty of sunny spells occasionally interrupted by some heavy showers brought in by those strong winds. so, yes, there'll be some sunshine around through the weekend, but there'll be blustery winds around, too, and heavy showers, with temperatures hovering around 12 celsius or so. how about next week? well, we're expecting the temperatures to rise even as high as 17—18 celsius, at least temporarily, in southwestern parts of the uk. so the southerly winds will bring milder but changeable weather.

this is bbc news, the headlines... 15 days into russia's invasion of ukraine, we have a special report on the front lines of the conflict. a bbc team spent a week inside kharkiv, where the ukrainian forces are fighting to defend the city from russia's relentless assault. kharkiv has endured nightly russian air attacks and suffered dozens of civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries. more than two million people are said to have fled the capital kyiv, but others have arrived after escaping from the russian soldiers moving ever closer to the city. ukraine and russia fail to agree on a ceasefire to help people trapped by the fighting, in their highest—level talks since russia's invasion began. the uk government has imposed sanctions against roman abramovich, the russian billionaire and owner of chelsea football club. he's one of seven oligarchs facing tough new measures,