lining the and bodies being 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, \ 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 odesa. 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. loud and deadly. the russians are trying to blast a path through this city in order to seize the whole black sea coast. but mykolaiv is proving obstinate. sirens wail. 0k, we just heard some artillery in the distance and then an air raid siren so we are going to suit up. you too. in a cellar volunteers follow the example set by millions of ukrainians nationwide, forming a diy army. it's plates for body arms what we need from our factory. it's really heavy, but it's good. that defiance is echoed by the local governor who tells us the russians are actually in retreat here, for now. we pushed the enemy back

from the borders of our city for about 15, 20 kilometres in the southern and western part. for now they are almost surrounded, we are attacking them. so from your perspective you are winning this war? you know, we are winning this fight but not this war. not winning the war, and in the local morgue it's a struggle to keep up with the bodies, soldiers and civilians alike out in the cold. some survivors here are still too frail to be moved to safer ground. 250 casualties in under a fortnight. what would you say to the world? to the world? what is your message? close our sky, close our sky. we cannot work under the bombs, under the rockets. it's dangerous. you want a no—fly zone enforced by the west? yes, of course. in the meantime, the russians stick to their familiar routine, shock and horror, almost no weapons

too gruesome, no target off—limits. the fear in civilian neighbourhoods like this one is that this is just the start, that because russian ground troops are being blocked from sweeping through this city they will now do what they have done in so many other parts of ukraine and simply intensify their aerial bombardment. and then what? this woman survived, but her city's fate remains unclear. andrew harding, bbc news, mykolaiv. joining me now for more from the city of lviv — in the west of ukraine — is the bbc�*s yalda hakim. as the fighting draws closer to where you are, have you noticed a change in mood among the people there? ~ ., , there? well, for in the past few da s, there? well, for in the past few days. there _ there? well, for in the past few days. there is — there? well, for in the past few

days, there is a _ there? well, for in the past few days, there is a sense - there? well, for in the past few days, there is a sense that - there? well, for in the past few| days, there is a sense that here, western ukraine, which has been relatively safe, and it has been a hub for those fleeing the fighting in the north, east and the south of the country, tens of thousands of people have made their way, you go to the train station and people in the marriage every day. the mayor was saying to me that last friday, 100,000 people arrived here. it's also become a hub for the resistance. i've been meeting people who have been making camouflage nets, for example, making helmets, making molotov cocktails, but of the country is vital for another reason. it has this very long border with the european union, and across the border is coming weapons and ammunitions. there's a lot of arms flowing over the border, also the people who are trying to get into places like poland. so there has been some concern for some time by the authorities here that the west of ukraine isn't necessarily immune from the fighting like other parts

of the country. today in the last 2a hours, we have heard about these reports in the northwest of the country, just north of here, and air base being targeted and four ukrainian soldiers being killed there. there is a sense that while it is relatively calm here in the west, that could change at any moment. there are no illusions that any part of this country is safe. thank you so much. president zelensky has rejected russia's unfounded claims that chemical or biological weapons had been developed in ukraine. in a video address, he also warned that russia would get "the most severe sanctions response" if it were to use such weapons. the us meanwhile said the allegations were intended to justify a potential russian chemical attack. with more here's our security correspondent gordon corera. the aftermath of a shelling in kharkiv. as russia's tactics become more

aggressive and desperate, a growing fear is that it could use chemical weapons. ukraine's leader today added his voice to those warning of that danger. translation: what else have you prepared for us? - where will you strike with your chemical weapons? at the maternity hospital in mariupol? at the church in kharkiv? or at the children's hospital? so, what are chemical weapons? they release a toxin or poison, often a gas, and were used to devastating effect in the syrian conflict by russia's ally, the assad regime. and russia itself used a nerve agent, a type of chemical weapon, in salisbury in the uk four years ago. so, what is russia saying? one concern is that moscow has been making claims that ukraine has its own weapons programmes. russia actually called a un meeting today amid claims of a secret us—backed biological weapons lab, something washington and ukraine deny. russia asked the security council for today's meeting for the sole

purpose of lying and spreading disinformation, and that is exactly what you have heard from the russian pr this morning. the fear is that russia is preparing for what's called a "false flag" — using chemical weapons itself, and then blaming the ukrainians in order to justify the invasion. that, one western official said today, seems more likely than widespread military use of chemicals. so, what would the consequences be? in 2013, parliament voted not to take military action after the use of chemical weapons in syria, even though they'd been described by the west as a "red line," so what would happen this time? officials here at the foreign office and across the west have been vocal about their concerns, but also careful not to say exactly how they would respond. i'm not going to speak about the intelligence, but russia would pay a severe price if they used chemical weapons.

a strike on lutsk overnight, the devastation is already terrible. the hope will be that public warnings may dissuade moscow, though, from taking action which could bring even more suffering. gordon corera, bbc news. the us and its western allies are stripping russia of its routine trade benefits — putting further economic pressure on the kremlin over its invasion of ukraine. joe biden has also announced a ban on russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. our state department correspondent barbara—plett usher is outside the white house. barbara, i have lost count of how many different rounds of sanctions we have had now, but this suspension of normal trading relations, what impact is not going to have? yes. impact is not going to have? yes, there have _ impact is not going to have? yes, there have been _ impact is not going to have? yes, there have been a _ impact is not going to have? yes, there have been a lot _ impact is not going to have? yes, there have been a lot of- impact is not going to have? yes there have been a lot of sanctions. what that says is that mr biden has revoked russia's preferential trade status, which is equal trade treatment that russia could expect

as a member of the wto. but now the americans will be able to raise tariffs on some russian goods. by itself, that's actually not going to have a significant impact because the americans don't really have much trade with russia. the allies in europe and the group of seven nations they are outside of the club, so to speak, joining nations like north korea and cuba. this bannin: like north korea and cuba. this banning of _ like north korea and cuba. this banning of these _ like north korea and cuba. this banning of these headline items, seafood, diamonds, alcohol, is this just symbolic? or will this put more pressure and squeeze president putin? .,, ., pressure and squeeze president putin? ., ., , putin? those are what they call si . nature putin? those are what they call signature sector _ putin? those are what they call signature sector is _ putin? those are what they call signature sector is kinda -- - putin? those are what they call| signature sector is kinda -- kind putin? those are what they call. signature sector is kinda -- kind of signature sector is kinda —— kind of like products that are iconic trademarks of russia, the alcohol, the vodka, for example. banning that is largely a symbolic step, but they

are also going to ban the experts of american luxury goods, such as expensive clothes, cars on a watches. this is all part of targeting the wealthy elite was not mr biden is also adding more oligarchs to the sanctions list. the strategy is to squeeze the economy as much as possible, to squeeze the circle around mr putin to arm the ukrainians so that there is more and more pressure on the battlefield and to hope that that will force mr putin to change course. congress is 200% behind a strategy. it would like to see mr biden do more and put its money behind this plan last night it's passed a ukraine supersized ukraine aid package of nearly $14 billion stashed nearly $14 billion. ,, , ., ,, nearly $14 billion stashed nearly $14 billion. ,,, ., ,, ., ., , , $14 billion. speaking of congress. the pentagon _ $14 billion. speaking of congress. the pentagon has _ $14 billion. speaking of congress. the pentagon has rejected - $14 billion. speaking of congress. | the pentagon has rejected playing any role in helping get polish warplanes to ukraine, but congress is pushing back on that. can you tell us if there has been any movement on that debate? yes,

con . ress movement on that debate? yes, congress is _ movement on that debate? yes, congress is really _ movement on that debate? yes, congress is really pressing - movement on that debate? is: congress is really pressing for this, both parties actually want the us to help ukraine get warplanes, but this is a good example of how the administration is trying to balance sending weapons to ukraine but not crossing a line that would draw nato into direct conflict with russia. the intelligence community has assessed that sending warplanes could cross such a line. a college and ask a dilatory step. mr biden has want to avoid world war iii. this could lead to that. the pentagon has also said it wouldn't actually necessarily have that much benefits, much of the bombing is coming from ground—based artillery and missiles, so the idea is to send more anti—air defence systems to ukraine, and they argue that this is defensive weaponry, not attack mode like a warplane might look. shall like a warplane might look. all riaht, like a warplane might look. all right, barbara platt i share with that analysis for us, thank so much. as we've been reporting, president putin has said russia is planning to send thousands of fighters from the middle east —

whom he described as volunteers — to eastern ukraine. the plan appears to be to deploy battle—hardened mercenaries from conflicts like syria to bolster his russian forces. from moscow, our russia editor steve rosenberg reports. for russia's defence minister, sergei shoygu, it was a busy day. medals for his troops wounded in action. and a video call with the kremlin to announce that 16,000 volunteers from the middle east want to fight for russia in ukraine. "good idea," said the president. translation: if you see that some volunteers would like to come - and help people in the donbas, especially without being paid, then we should meet them halfway and help them relocate to the war zone. soon after, this. chanting. russian tv showed what it said were pro—russia fighters in syria, ready and willing.

they've helped moscow in the syrian war, but what will happen if they fight in ukraine? they'll be very ruthless, and they'll use syrian tactics liberating ukrainian cities by reducing them to rubble. this war is turning into a war of attrition in which russia cannot win because the ukrainians are going to have more supplies, more money coming their way, while the russian financial system is going broke because of sanctions, the russian economy is tanking. vladimir putin has much to reflect on after 16 days of what he calls his "special military operation". the kremlin says that by sending thousands of foreign fighters to ukraine, it's acting no differently from the ukrainian government, which has also been signing up volunteers. but remember, it was russia that launched this offensive, sending its troops across the border into a sovereign nation. moscow seems determined to secure a military victory.

but at what cost to the russian people? in moscow today, more queues, more western shops closing, more economic pain from sanctions. for some, the priority now is buying an air ticket out of here. but president putin insists his country will get through this. when he met the leader of belarus, vladimir putin said, in the past, sanctions had made russia stronger. from the kremlin leader, no hint of regret. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. and before we go tonight, a reminder of the latest developments in ukraine. russia made claims — without evidence — of us biological weapons activities in ukraine at a meeting of the un security council. the us has dismissed such claims "laughable". and moscow has announced it's blocking instagram due to calls for violence against russian soldiers. remember you can find more

on all the days news at our website. thank you for watching and have a great weekend. good evening. well, the weekend is almost upon us now, and the weather's looking a little bit mixed over the next few days. it's been turning increasingly unsettled through the day on friday. this was the picture in cornwall during the afternoon. so, a bit of sunshine, some big shower clouds around as well, and we'll continue to see that mix of sunshine and showers through the course of the weekend. we've got one weather front which is clearing off towards the north—east, another one following in its wake and then another area of low pressure approaching from the atlantic. so, low pressure in charge over the next couple of days. plenty of showers, lots of cloud around across much of the uk through the course of tonight. fairly breezy, too, especially up towards the northern isles and for southern england. so, temperatures 6—7 degrees for most of us, a little bit cooler for northern ireland with lighter winds and clearer skies here. could be some misty patches,

in fact, to start off your day on saturday. but after a fairly cloudy, drizzly start for most areas, there is some sunshine developing in the south. sunny spells for much of southern england up towards northern ireland as well before the next area of wet, windy weather arrives from the south—west later on. temperatures about 9—13 degrees for most of us, a little bit cooler where the showers persist for the north of scotland. but let's concentrate on the wind gusts for south—west england and south wales, 50 to perhaps 60 mph gusts later on on saturday afternoon during the evening, so some really windy weather developing as we move through saturday night and on into sunday. the winds progressing more widely across the uk as we start the second half of the weekend. so, sunday morning, again it's looking frost—free, it is looking cloudy, breezy and damp from the word go. so, outbreaks of rain with us on sunday. as you can see, low pressure is in charge, lots of isobars on the map, so another windy spell of weather, particularly windy closer to that area of low pressure. around some of these irish sea coasts, gales developing with gusts of 50—60 mph, but breezy wherever you are.

and you can see a mix of some showery rain, but some sunny spells developing as well, especially later in the day. top temperatures a little bit cooler than recent days, between about 8—12 degrees and feeling cooler in the breeze. but there will be some sunshine in between those showers as well. these are the gusts we're expecting, though, 50—60 mph through some of these irish sea coasts, the likes of pembrokshire up towards northern ireland. for instance, the isle of man looking very windy, but wherever you are, you'll notice that breeze. and looking ahead into next week, and higher pressure builds, so not completely dry, but it's looking drier and brighter. we could see temperatures in the south up to about 18 degrees by wednesday. bye— bye.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are kevin schofield, political editor at huffpost uk and mo hussein, a former conservative adviser. let's start with the telegraph, which leads with a call from jeremy hunt to increase defence spending, following the russian invasion of ukraine. as russian forces build up to the west of kyiv,