i'm nada tawfik in new york and this is bbc world news america. russia launches air strikes deeper into ukraine — hitting more cities. shelling in the central eastern city of dnipro hits a nursery, an apartment block and a shoe factory. we report from the ground. this site is one of complete devastation. the smoke is still rising through the hours after the missiles struck. and on the frontline in the south of the country ukrainian fighters hold their ground despite the relentless shelling. the fear and civilian neighbourhoods like this_ the fear and civilian neighbourhoods like this one is that this isjust

the start, _ like this one is that this isjust the start, that because russian ground — the start, that because russian ground troops are being blocked from sweeping _ ground troops are being blocked from sweeping through the city, they will now do— sweeping through the city, they will now do what they've done in so many other— now do what they've done in so many other parts _ now do what they've done in so many other parts of ukraine, simply intensifying. president biden escalates sanctions against russia — banning imports of diamonds, seafood and vodka and stripping the kremlin of its routine trade benefits. i'm here on the ground in ukraine where 2.5 million people have fled the fighting. welcome to world news america on pbs and around the globe. russia is widening its war in ukraine, 16 days into its invasion. its forces are closing in on the capital keev and more

—— its forces are closing in on the capital kyiv and more ukrainian cities in the west that had previously been spared are now coming under attack. the areas in red on this map are currently under control of the russian military. overnight the cities of lutsk and ivano—frankivsk were hit by russian shelling for the first time. with the invasion now in its third week — president putin is calling on foreign volunteers tojoin his war, as he strikes deeper into ukraine. among his new targets is the city of dnipro in the east — which had been a refuge until now. from there, here's our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford. they struck at dawn and dnipro wasn't expecting it. this was not a military target. russia's missiles have destroyed a shoe factory and they have shattered the idea many had clung to here — that this city was safe. amongst the rubble of their workplace, were factory staff, trying to clean up. dazed and disbelieving.

many more could have died here, had the factory not stopped work because of the war. "you see that black bag," this woman says, "that is where our "security guard died." "what else can i tell you? "you can see it all." many ignored the wail of the air—raid siren because central dnipro had never been hit. this site is one of complete devastation. the smoke is still rising from the ruins of this building, hours after the missile struck, and the smell here is really acrid. but the thing that strikes me most, just being here, is that there are so many apartment blocks, residential buildings all round here. the shock waves swept across the square, smashing windows and shaking buildings for blocks around. we saw irina cleaning up the mess, and she called us in.

for her family, the attack was terrifyingly close, right on their doorstep. they are scared, but they are also furious here at russia. "we didn't ask them to come and save us," irina tells me. "we were living fine in our own country. "we love our country and we'll defend it," she says. across the hallway, alexander is clearing up for his 90—year—old aunt, distraught she lived through one world war, and she is now being caught up in all this. and down the road, we met natalia. demanding to know why russia is firing at them. haunted by the terrified screams of her son. they didn't make it to the bomb shelter, the missiles came in too fast. rescuers have been salvaging scraps

from the factory wreckage. but however resilient ukraine is, this kind of attack sows fear and saps morale. because when the sirens go now, no—one can feel safe here. sarah rainsford, bbc news, dnipro. as russian forces attack new targets — the column of armoured vehicles inching towards keev appear —— the column of armoured vehicles inching towards kyiv appear to have been redeployed to surrounding areas — raising fear that an attack on the capital is imminent. our international correspondent orla guerin has been to the frontline, close to the town of bucha where russian troops are battling ukrainian forces — 2a kilometres from the centre of kyiv. the lonely road towards russian positions on the outskirts of kyiv. we headed carefully towards the commuter town of bucha, bombed day and night.

there are battlegrounds along the way. well, this is as far as we can go. we've just come through the last ukrainian checkpoint. up ahead is no—man�*s land, and the next checkpoint is in the hands of the russians. we've been hearing the sounds of battle in the last few minutes, with outgoing shelling from here towards the russian positions. "the fighting is hard, very hard," says victor, breaking down. "15 days." he is a pensioner turned defender of ukraine. "overall, it's fine," he says.

"we have our children... "..our wives. "this is our land." anatoli, who is 72, was risking his life to look for petrol. "everything is destroyed," he tells me. "there is no electricity, no gas. he sobs. "it's very cold in the house. "i'm sorry. "this is life." inside bucha, there is no life. so today, once again, civilians were fleeing.

from russia, this choice — go or be bombed. documents are checked before they head for kyiv. ukrainian forces don't want russian saboteurs getting through. cars brimming with desperation and trimmed with white ribbons, a plea for safe passage. did you see the russian forces in your area? "we passed three of their checkpoints. "there were tanks there," says alexander. his wife, natalya, also weeps for ukraine. russian armour is now closing in on kyiv, according to these satellite images. the pentagon says the russians may now be less than ten miles from the city centre.

orla guerin, bbc news, on the outskirts of kyiv. orla guerin reporting from the town of bucha. more than two million people have fled the capital kyiv — where our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is. today, not a lot of air activity around the city. we often see surface—to—air missiles fired by ukrainian forces streaking across the sky. there was occasional air raid sirens. the priority for russian forces, even as they regrouped, it seems from around the capital, is there pounding cities, particularly to the south, including, of course, mary and paul, which seems to be the most grave humanitarian situation. you hear from so many people who desperate to find out about what's happening to their relatives, are they safeand i made those reports of more than 1200

bodies lining the and bodies being buried in mass graves, people fear the worst, but it's really hard to know what's happening in a place like mariupol. but it is absolutely barbaric conditions. figs like mariupol. but it is absolutely barbaric conditions. as mentioned, russian forces _ barbaric conditions. as mentioned, russian forces have _ barbaric conditions. as mentioned, russian forces have made - barbaric conditions. as mentioned, i russian forces have made progress barbaric conditions. as mentioned, i russian forces have made progress in the south of ukraine. they've captured the city of kherson and are pushing west, towards the key port of 0desa. but mykolaiv stands in their way and while ukraine's forces are holding fast, it too has suffered extensive damage. the bbc�*s andrew harding is there and sent us this report — a warning you may find some of the pictures in his report distressing. a snowstorm enfolds us as we head for the frontlines towards a ukrainian city that is blocking the russian advance. civilians gather on the outskirts of mykolaiv, fleeing the madness. are you worried about the bombs and the artillery?

yes, yes. it's also very loud, especially at night.