this is bbc news, our top stories: we witness life on the frontline for ukrainian forces, fighting to defend the country's second largest city kharkiv from russia's relentless assault. if these tactics are unfamiliar to you, then you have not been paying attention because this is the russian attack playbook, perfected over ten years of war in syria. the ukrainian army head into no man's land towards russian forces. they say their spirits are stronger than ever. we are fighting on our land and protect our families, so it doesn't matter how they fight. we fight like lions and they will not win. new satellite images show the russian military convoy

heading towards kyiv has now dispersed, with artillery deployed in firing positions. 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. and roman abramovich, the russian owner of chelsea football club, is among seven more oligarchs sanctioned by the british government. the sale of the club is now on hold. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. we start with an exclusive report from the city of kharkiv, in the east of ukraine. the country's second largest city, after the capital, kyiv, 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. our correspondent quentin sommerville and camera journalist darren conway are the firstjournalists to be embedded with the ukranian army as they continue to 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 up—ended. 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? ruski soldat. ..

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 i9ai. they're attacking, just like in front, now they don't do any assault. 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 would like to inform you that a fire 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 sommerville, bbc news, kharkiv, in eastern ukraine. in kyiv, russian forces continue their advance towards the capital. more than half the population 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. jeremy bowen 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. the police commander said they had had many phone calls 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 5km 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. in the last few hours, ukraine's president vlodmyr zelensky has been speaking. our news reporter, mark lobel gave an update on what mr zelensky said including how many people had managed to escape through the humanitarian corridors. he began by saying 100,000 people had been evacuated over

the last two days which is good news but then turned to the besieged city of mariupol in the south and said that not even essentials could get in because russian tanks were attacking a humanitarian corridor there and he was furious about that. he described it as "outright terror from experienced terrorists," that was how he put it. 0ne ukrainian politician said hundreds may have died already in mariupol and another politician based in mariupol whose parents are also there, said that russians are killing people forfun. he said something else, listen. there are 350,000 — 350,000 people without any convoys of humanitarian aid, water, food, medicine, and bodies are laying on the streets. and mass graves already. and this is in a european city that was totally peaceful two weeks ago. stark words there. and we have some new satellite images which are quite interesting. can you talk us through?

you see troops in a forest here and there you see troops and military vehicles in a town and this is of significance because we have been focusing on that a0 mile convoy north—west of kyiv, the capital, which has been stalled for a while around the airport. but now it looks like there are manoeuvres, they are dispersing and redeploying and so those shots have been going further into town closer to the airport and elsewhere, some have moved north to another airport with long—range missiles there. it is interesting, given the picture of the movement of the russian side is there. what is the plan when it comes to ukrainian forces? we saw another part of a convoy north—east of kyiv recently partly destroyed, that was the ukrainian ministry, defence ministry releasing those pictures. we also saw quentin somerville's report

from the front line and he describes a different type of battle, a battle of wills. and a former retired commanding general of the us army in europe watched that report and he had this to say. the human dimension is so much more powerful and important than the material or technical part. this is why i think that ukraine is going to win in the end. they have time on their side, the logistical situation is getting better by the day and the russians have a manpower shortage, i think they have an ammunition shortage will start showing up soon. hinting that the tide is turning. another unexpected development on russian state tv it was reported that on a debate show some people were being critical of the war and likening it to afghanistan but much worse, referring to the soviet union's humiliating invasion in 1989 there. so interesting that that was let through. one last thing to pick up with you, the issue of chemical weapons. what do we know?

deeply concerning to the international community if russia uses chemical weapons and the uk in the us who have often spoken about false flag operations in the past have said that they suspect chemical weapons may now be being considered by the russians. 0ne chemical weapons expert thinks it is likely they will use them and this is his explanation as to why. people can hide among the rubble, the ukrainian military can hide there, jump out and kill vulnerable tanks. but if you use chemical weapons that has not stopped by concrete walls. it seeps underground and kills people underground. the russians are accusing the americans of biological activities inside ukraine and they called a security council meeting to discuss it on friday. president zelensky says to know russia's plans you just have to look at what russia is

accusing others of and he says there is absolutely no such activity on his land. thank you to mark for that update. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: we'll tell you how residents of one city in the far west of ukraine — which has been spared the russian assault — is helping defend the country. 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 world news. the latest headlines: ukrainian forces are fighting to defend the country's second largest city kharkiv from russia's relentless assault. the city has endured nightly air attacks. new satellite images show the russian military convoy heading towards kyiv has now dispersed with artillery deployed in firing positions.

president putin has claimed that russia will emerge stronger from international sanctions. in a televised video conference, mr putin said western governments were deceiving their own people and russia would calmly solve its problems. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg is in moscow. i think this is wishful thinking on vladimir putin's part because this tsunami of international sanctions hitting russia threatens to cripple the economy here. now, today, president putin said, "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 vladimir potanin, one of the richest men in russia, wrote today that those kind 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 that

he promised russians was sustainability and for years after, he cultivated the image of mr stability — the only man in the country capable of keeping russia together. but 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". thank you to steve rosenberg in moscow. let's round up some of the other developments on ukraine. 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. facebook�*s parent company meta is changing its rules on violent speech because of the invasion of ukraine. the company says it has "temporarily" relaxed its policies. a post saying, for example, "death to the russian invaders"

that would usually break its rules, is now allowed. the changes cover russia, ukraine and nearby countries. the russian owner of chelsea football club, roman abramovich, is among another seven people who've been hit with sanctions by the uk government because of their suspected close links to president putin. the decision means that although chelsea can still play matches, the sale of the club is on hold and it's now banned from selling tickets, players and any merchandise. the mobile phone company three has said it is suspending its sponsorship with the club. the bbc�*s asad ahmad gave this update from chelsea's stamford bridge ground. well, there is a huge amount of interest in what's happening here at chelsea. just a week ago, roman abramovich, the owner for nearly 20 years, said he was going to sell the club. that caught a number

of chelsea fans by surprise. but they weren't necessarily shocked — it is because of events in ukraine. in the days that followed, a number of billionaires stepped forward, saying they'd be interested in buying the club but then, today, the government slapped some sanctions on mr roman abramovich, which means he's not allowed to sell the club as of yet. 0ther implications of those sanctions means that club's shop has to remain closed at the moment. now, you might say that's not a big deal, the club's shop being closed, but it's the significance of it — that mr roman abramovich is not allowed to benefit from a single pound made in that club shop, so that has to remain closed until further notice. as far as the team is concerned as well, travel costs for away games is being capped at £20,000. sounds like a lot of money — not when you have to move a squad of players, backroom staff, physios and the managers to away games, including to lille in france next week. a lot of people will be wondering will what is happening

behind the scenes at the club itself be affecting the players? we will find out soon enough. thanks to asad there. lviv, in the far west of ukraine, has been spared the russian assault and if you go out onto the streets, you might imagine that people are going about their everyday business. but the war is all—consuming and ordinary people are doing what they can to help in the defence of their country. reeta chakrabati reports from lviv. —— reeta chakrabarti reports from lviv. lviv is a city that hasn't been touched by the violence of the war, but this semblance of normality is deceptive. look beyond it and you find many who have abandoned their daily routines to join the fight against russia. like 0lesya. she's 32 and she is a clothes designer — or, rather, she was. but now, it's not fashion but flakjackets she's making, for the swelling ranks of the country's military. it's the first time in my life that i've been doing this. it's totally different

to anything i've ever made. why are you doing this? because our boys need this. because we don't know what else we can do. how do you feel about what is happening to ukraine? 0h, we are feeling very angry, actually. yes. and it's... it's very hard feelings. very hard feelings and... ..we are trying to stop it. you feel quite emotional? yes. yes, yes. we all. this is a city on edge, with people making moves to protect what is precious. there are now checkpoints manned by people who last month spent their days at a desk. like 0leks, a company executive. i was sitting in a suit in a very comfortable office. i had 50 people

under supervision. are you frightened ? here, you are in quite a dangerous situation. no, nobody is frightened here. there is not — i can easily get out from ukraine. i can easily take my family from ukraine. speaks ukrainian. this guy has come and given us cars for the army, free. i see. so the same, i am doing. i am also collecting the cars, paying my own money and delivering these cars to army. everybody — every single citizen in ukraine is trying to do something for army. you see how the people are united. that unity extends to people seeking sanctuary. lviv has become a hub for ukrainians fleeing the violence. lyana has opened her art centre for those displaced and has been working night and day

to help shelter them. and what about you? what's the toll on you, emotionally and psychologically? i understand that i cannot control everything, i cannot help everyone. i decided to take some few ways i can help and one of them is staying alive in this art centre and to help people who come here. the art here is now mostly political. this reads, "our own truth, power and will," expressing perfectly the defiance of this city. reeta chakrabarti, bbc news, lviv. so, this is the scene in kyiv right now. it is eerily calm but we are hearing that russian forces are going push towards the city, having advanced about five kilometres orso advanced about five kilometres or so in the past 2a hours,

that's according to the united states. that's it. i'm lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news. goodbye. 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 south—western parts of england, through wales, the midlands. the rain will reach

wales and eventually south—western 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 south—western parts of england. sunshine and showers here 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 south—west, 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 or 18 celsius, at least temporarily, in south—western parts of the uk, so the southerly winds will bring milder but changeable weather.

it seeps underground and kills people underground.

this is bbc news, the headlines: ukrainian forces are fighting to defend the country's second largest city kharkiv from russia's relentless assault. the city has endured nightly russian air attacks and suffered dozens of civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries. most of the city's one and a half million residents have fled. new satellite images show a large russian military convoy seen heading towards kyiv has now dispersed, with artillery redeployed in firing positions. the convoy was last seen northwest of the capital, near antonov airport. the images show armoured units manoeuvring in and through the towns close to the airport. more than 2 million people are thought to have fled the capital, kyiv, but others have arrived, after escaping from the russian soldiers moving closer to the city. humanitarian organisations have warned that many people have run out of food and are still living without water or gas.

now on bbc news, hardtalk with zeinab badawi.