this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. lam iamjoanna i am joanna gosling. our top stories... air—raid sirens sound in cities across ukraine, including in the capital, kyiv, as russia pushes into new areas. the president remains defiant. translation: i assure you that 100% of all people in all— democracies will know this. the actions of the russian invaders will be equated with the actions of isis terrorists. ukraine says it hopes a number of humanitarian corridors from the besieged city of mariupol will open up, and accused russia of blocking supplies. iam i am yalda hakim, live in the western city of lviv where tens of

thousands of people continue to arrive to flee the fighting. concerns grow about the protection of ukraine's nuclear power plants — as shelling and air raids threaten their safety. it's estimated more than 2.5 million people have now left ukraine to escape the war. hello. a huge armoured column of russian troops appears to be slowly closing in on the ukrainian capital, kyiv. air raid warnings have sounded there, and also in many other cities across ukraine as moscow steps up its military campaign. here's the latest situation with areas held by russian forces in red and stripes where they are making progress. we mentioned advances near kyiv, and also the south, with troops

moving towards odessa. the other key news lines this hour... the ukrainian government has said it hopes several humanitarian corridors will be open today so more civilians can escape towns and cities including mariupol. over two and a half million people have now left ukraine to escape the war. moldova says every eighth child on its territory is a refugee. president biden has again insisted the united states will not become directly involved against russia. jon donnison has the latest. gunfire in the forests outside kyiv, a firefight as ukrainian solders take on russian troops. in some areas, the enemy is now less than ten miles from the centre of the capital. on the road to the town of bucha, close to the front line, the streets are almost deserted. but 72—year—old anatoly is risking his life, out looking for petrol. "everything is destroyed," he says.

"there is no electricity or gas." cries "it's very cold in the house," he goes on. from the air, north—west of kyiv, you can make out houses on fire after coming under attack, as well as a small airport. explosion dnipro, in the centre of ukraine, was previously considered safe but that's no longer the case. the city of almosti million people bombed for the first time since the conflict began. "we didn't ask them to come and save us," irina says, as she cleans up some of the damage. "we were doing fine in our own country." some of the worst russian shelling has come at night. this is the southern city of mykolaiv, on the black sea. at a local hospital, many of the injured are too fragile to be moved to safety and doctors

here say they want a no—fly zone. mykolaiv is a border between the russians and western civilisation. further east, the port city of mariupol continues to be besieged. speaking overnight, president zelensky has said there will be another attempt to allow civilians to escape. translation: today, russian troops also disrupted the work of most - humanitarian corridors. but, despite everything, 7,114 people were saved from enerhodar, bucha, hostomel and kozarovychi, and these are 7,144 reasons to try to organise evacuation for ukrainians from the besieged cities tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. ukraine's international allies are continuing to ramp up sanctions and there have been further warnings to russia about the use of chemical weapons. direct confrontation between nato and russia is world war iii — - something we must strive to prevent.

but we already know putin's waragainst ukraine - will never be a victory. he hoped to dominate i ukraine without a fight. he failed. all the while, the refugee crisis continues to grow. as the russians widen their assault, less and less of ukraine remains safe, and more and more families feel they have no choice but to leave. jon donnison, bbc news. my colleague yalda hakim is in the city of lviv in western ukraine. until now, it has seemed like western ukraine was safe. does it feel like that might be changing? it really does, joanna, although if you look at today, the sun is out and if you look at this incredible skyline behind me, this is a world unesco heritage site. it is an old city, and the people here, the mayor and

the citizens of the city are extremely worried that up until now it hasn't been touched by the russian bombardment, butjust to give you a sense of our last 24 hours. air raid sirens have been going off across this country and western ukraine has not been excluded from that. from the early hours of this morning, from about 3am, we have been in an underground bunker because of the air raid sirens, because there was a strike on lutsk. and ivano—frankivsk, which is also in the western part of the country. in the last 48 hours we have seen strikes in the western part of the country. this part of western ukraine is preparing itself for that. western ukraine is preparing itself forthat. everywhere western ukraine is preparing itself for that. everywhere you go, whether it is a gymnasium or and art gallery, they are making camouflage nets and helmets for soldiers. i went to a brewery the other day and they said they have been making molotov cocktails in the last two weeks. in fact they made 2000 molotov cocktails in the space of a

few days and sent them out to where fighting is worse, around kyiv and in the south of the country. this city may feel like any other european city. the sun is out and it feels like a peaceful part of the country, but they are dealing with this influx of internally displaced people, and this ongoing concern that they could be hit at any time. and in terms of whether people will stay there or at what point they might decide it is no longer safe to stay, what is your sense of that? we are 'ust stay, what is your sense of that? - are just 65 kilometres from the polish border, and don't forget this very long border with the european union, so we have got hungary, slovakia, romania, moldova alongside poland although the majority of people, well over 1.5 million people have made their way into poland, so most people are going there. but people are thinking about what they should do. it certainly doesn't feel like the residents of lviv have left

the city yet. there are people coming from kharkiv for example or kherson, which had thousands of people evacuating. i spoke to the mayor of the city, and he said we are completely overwhelmed and overstretched. we have 200,000 more people who have arrived in the city in the last week or so, and we are putting them where we can. people have opened their homes. like i said, they have turned gymnasiums into shelters for people in desperate need. our hotel for example, every floor has extra rooms and space where mattresses are laid out. there are children running around from kharkiv and kyiv for example. i spoke to a family with a tone to have old, and the father said to we only want to stay here for a few weeks and then we want to

go back. people are on edge and you see that everywhere you go in the city. see that everywhere you go in the ci . , ., , , , see that everywhere you go in the ci . , ., _ , ' city. obviously very different ictures city. obviously very different pictures depending - city. obviously very different pictures depending on - city. obviously very different pictures depending on the i city. obviously very different - pictures depending on the different locations across ukraine in terms of what people have. how would you describe the picture?— what people have. how would you describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv — describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv for _ describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv for example, _ describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv for example, all - describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv for example, all of - describe the picture? well, when you look at lviv for example, all of the i look at lviv for example, all of the aid comes in, but then they send that to other parts of the country, to the north and east and south where things are really, really bad. when you think about mariupol for example, devastating, grim, dire stories, horrific stories coming out, dead bodies in the street. the deputy mayor of mariupol told me a few days ago they had to have a mass grave with up to 70 bodies in there because they couldn't bury people individually. many had people from other parts of the country desperately checking their phones, is my family member in that mass grave? have they died in the bombardment? you heard in the

previous report people weeping because of the cold. last night it was —15 degrees, absolutely freezing conditions. we have heating here but they have no electricity. they have been plunged into darkness and it is freezing cold. most of the people stuck in these places are the vulnerable, the children. the number of people emerging from lviv train station, every mother, young women with two or three children with them, having gone through the most brutal of journeys. them, having gone through the most brutal ofjourneys. i8 them, having gone through the most brutal ofjourneys. 18 hour them, having gone through the most brutal ofjourneys. i8 hourjourney is trying to get to safety, trying to flee the bombardment. one mother told me, my children have seen the sorts of things that i don't think i can ever wipe that horror from their memories. so people are going through a very desperate, difficult time, running out of food and water from places like mariupol. but then you look at the port city of odesa for example, and i did an interview about an hour ago with someone

working there in terms of humanitarian aid, and he said to me it is relatively calm but they are preparing for the worst. he described odesa as the bread of not just ukraine but the whole of the world when it comes to wheat for example, and that is what the main import was for ukraine, and all of that has been disrupted. people's lives have been turned upside down. this is a country completely in turmoil, schools have stopped, health facilities are being targeted, women and children are being torn apart from the men who remain in many of these cities, staying in places like odesa where the fighting is worst. you see the women on the board is trying to get away with their children, children weeping because their fathers away with their children, children weeping because theirfathers have been left behind, forced to fight. everyone you speak to here wants to stay on defend their country, but there are those who are very frightened and don't want to fight. men between the ages of 18 and 60 saying goodbye to their children and

mothers. forthem, saying goodbye to their children and mothers. for them, they leave this country, those who can, with the uncertainty because they don't know what kind of country they will come back to, they don't know when this will end. forthose back to, they don't know when this will end. for those who remain, they don't know if they will ever see their family don't know if they will ever see theirfamily members don't know if they will ever see their family members again. yalda hakim, thank— their family members again. yalda hakim, thank you. _ as we've been hearing, the fighting has spread to more areas of ukraine — with dnipro, in the east of the country, attacked for the first time. dnipro is home to around one million people. our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford has been assessing the impact of the attack on the ground. 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. let's speak now to artem bardas, dean and director of economics at dnipro university of technology. how are things now where you are? hello, thank you for inviting me, and i am now in the university. i would like to say that yesterday wasn't the first attack. the first attack on our city was on the 21st of february, but it was the first time when russians attacked the

residential area in our city and today, in the morning, the cruise missile shot down all of the city again. so today it was the third attack on dnipro. our city now is quiet and a little bit empty. people try not to leave their homes without necessity, but we are working and we prepared to defend our city. find necessity, but we are working and we prepared to defend our city.— prepared to defend our city. and on that, are prepared to defend our city. and on that. are you _ prepared to defend our city. and on that, are you prepared _ prepared to defend our city. and on that, are you prepared to _ prepared to defend our city. and on that, are you prepared to fight? - that, are you prepared to fight? yes. we are prepared to fight, and at the same time we try to continue to perform our main mission here. we reach our students, our schools are working and teach our schoolboys and schoolgirls also in distant form. we

are open and shelter refugees from other regions. many of our students and our professors have been volunteering with organisations and help people who come to our city from the eastern regions. some of our students and our professionals already in the army or the territorial defence.- already in the army or the territorial defence. �* , ., , ., territorial defence. and you say you are continuing _ territorial defence. and you say you are continuing to _ territorial defence. and you say you are continuing to teach, _ territorial defence. and you say you are continuing to teach, i _ territorial defence. and you say you are continuing to teach, i mean - territorial defence. and you say you are continuing to teach, i mean it . are continuing to teach, i mean it must be an extraordinary situation to be in, trying to keep that normality going while the shelling happens and as you have been describing there, you are all preparing potentially to have to fight. preparing potentially to have to fiuht. , , , f . fight. yes, it is very difficult because we _ fight. yes, it is very difficult because we can _ fight. yes, it is very difficult because we can hear - fight. yes, it is very difficult because we can hear the - fight. yes, it is very difficult - because we can hear the sounds of

air attack sirens all the time and sometimes such signals last for two, three and more hours. all our air forces and our army bravely defend the country, but unfortunately enemy has the numerical advantage in the air. that is why we ask the western countries to close the sky. we don't ask to send your pilots and your soldiers, but we ask to give us more serious weapons, the portable anti—aircraft systems. because dnipro is defending itself and such cities as mariupol, kharkiv and sue me, they already lost their anti—air defence and people are suffering greatly here. defence and people are suffering greatly here-— greatly here. each of the cities obviously has _

greatly here. each of the cities obviously has a _ greatly here. each of the cities obviously has a particularly - obviously has a particularly important strategic aspect in ukraine. tell us more about dnipro which is sometimes referred to as rocket city because of its space heritage there.— rocket city because of its space heritage there. rocket city because of its space heritaue there. , , . , heritage there. yes, they always say dni - ro is heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the — heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the key _ heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the key to _ heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the key to the _ heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the key to the centre - heritage there. yes, they always say dnipro is the key to the centre of. dnipro is the key to the centre of ukraine because it is the biggest city in the centre of ukraine, and it opens the way to the heartland of our country. it is an important city, an important financial centre, and many railroads use our roads, they are crossing here in this area. so it is very important to defend this region and defend our city. thank you very much forjoining us, artem bardas. thank you very much for “oining us, artem sweat

more than two and a half million people have now fled ukraine and the humanitarian situation is stretching resources to the limit in several countries. at least a million and a half of the refugees have made their way to poland. some are being housed in reception centres near the border and others have been welcomed into the homes of local people. our correspondent danjohnson joins me now from krakow. yes, this is the main rail station of the city, one of the focal points where ukrainian people are arriving all the time and being sent onto that temporary relief centre space or to temporary accommodation. or put on buses to other parts of poland or indeed other countries in search of longer term solutions. so many people are coming and going, it is changing the whole time and yet repeating all the time because every day more people are arriving from ukraine and getting help from all sorts of organisations and volunteers. some have come here from other countries. let's grab a quick

word. you have come from germany? yes, we arrived early in the morning. _ yes, we arrived early in the morning, may be at three o'clock, and have — morning, may be at three o'clock, and have little sleep, so we are now looking _ and have little sleep, so we are now looking for— and have little sleep, so we are now looking for people to come with us to germany, yes. we looking for people to come with us to germany. yea-— to germany, yes. we have accommodation _ to germany, yes. we have accommodation for - to germany, yes. we have accommodation for all - to germany, yes. we have accommodation for all of l to germany, yes. we have - accommodation for all of them for free _ accommodation for all of them for free they— accommodation for all of them for free they can _ accommodation for all of them for free. they can stay _ accommodation for all of them for free. they can stay as _ accommodation for all of them for free. they can stay as long - accommodation for all of them for free. they can stay as long as - accommodation for all of them for| free. they can stay as long as they want, _ free. they can stay as long as they want. and — free. they can stay as long as they want, and families, _ free. they can stay as long as they want, and families, we _ free. they can stay as long as they want, and families, we will- free. they can stay as long as they want, and families, we will help i want, and families, we will help them _ want, and families, we will help them to— want, and families, we will help them to organise _ want, and families, we will help them to organise everything - want, and families, we will help them to organise everything in. them to organise everything in germany _ them to organise everything in germany so. _ them to organise everything in germany. so, but— them to organise everything in germany. so, but it _ them to organise everything in germany. so, but it is - them to organise everything in germany. so, but it is very- them to organise everything in. germany. so, but it is very hard them to organise everything in- germany. so, but it is very hard to find someone _ germany. so, but it is very hard to find someone. you _ germany. so, but it is very hard to find someone. you can _ germany. so, but it is very hard to find someone. you can see - germany. so, but it is very hard to find someone. you can see the - find someone. you can see the situation — find someone. you can see the situation is _ find someone. you can see the situation is very— find someone. you can see the situation is very tough - find someone. you can see the situation is very tough and - find someone. you can see the| situation is very tough and very hard _ situation is very tough and very hard. .,. .., , situation is very tough and very hard. , .,~ situation is very tough and very hard. , g ., ,, hard. practically making it work, makin: hard. practically making it work, making the _ hard. practically making it work, making the connection - hard. practically making it work, making the connection is - hard. practically making it work, l making the connection is difficult? yes, very difficult. most of the people. — yes, very difficult. most of the people. they— yes, very difficult. most of the people, they don't _ yes, very difficult. most of the people, they don't talk - yes, very difficult. most of thej people, they don't talk english yes, very difficult. most of the i people, they don't talk english or german, — people, they don't talk english or german, so— people, they don't talk english or german, so we_ people, they don't talk english or german, so we have... _ people, they don't talk english or german, so we have... yes, - people, they don't talk english or german, so we have... yes, of. german, so we have... yes, of course, — german, so we have... yes, of course, we_ german, so we have... yes, of course, we are _ german, so we have... yes, of course, we are looking - german, so we have... yes, of course, we are looking for- german, so we have... yes, of. course, we are looking for people who can _ course, we are looking for people who can translate _ course, we are looking for people who can translate for— course, we are looking for people who can translate for us. - course, we are looking for people who can translate for us. it - course, we are looking for people who can translate for us. it is - course, we are looking for people who can translate for us. it is a l who can translate for us. it is a bil who can translate for us. it is a big problem _ who can translate for us. it is a big problem for— who can translate for us. it is a big problem for us. _ who can translate for us. it is a big problem for us.— who can translate for us. it is a big problem for us. what do you think about _ big problem for us. what do you think about the _ big problem for us. what do you think about the whole _ big problem for us. what do you think about the whole situation l big problem for us. what do you i think about the whole situation you can see here? that think about the whole situation you can see here?—

can see here? at the first look, we think, 0k... _ can see here? at the first look, we think, 0k... it— can see here? at the first look, we think, ok... it is _ can see here? at the first look, we think, ok... it is not _ can see here? at the first look, we think, ok... it is not a _ can see here? at the first look, we think, ok... it is not a train - think, ok... it is not a train station. _ think, ok... it is not a train station. i — think, ok... it is not a train station, i don't _ think, ok... it is not a train station, i don't know- think, ok... it is not a train station, i don't know what i think, ok... it is not a train| station, i don't know what it think, ok... it is not a train - station, i don't know what it is. it is station, i don't know what it is. is terrible. yes, it is terrible. you — is terrible. yes, it is terrible. you can— is terrible. yes, it is terrible. you can see _ is terrible. yes, it is terrible. you can see people are very tired, they are _ you can see people are very tired, they are in — you can see people are very tired, they are in panic. _ you can see people are very tired, they are in panic, let's _ you can see people are very tired, they are in panic, let's say- you can see people are very tired, they are in panic, let's say it- you can see people are very tired, they are in panic, let's say it like l they are in panic, let's say it like that, _ they are in panic, let's say it like that, it _ they are in panic, let's say it like that, it is — they are in panic, let's say it like that, it is really— they are in panic, let's say it like that, it is really terrible. - they are in panic, let's say it like that, it is really terrible. you. that, it is really terrible. you have already _ that, it is really terrible. you have already got _ that, it is really terrible. have already got people? that, it is really terrible. you| have already got people? we that, it is really terrible. you - have already got people? we have already won _ have already got people? we have already won family, _ have already got people? we have already won family, two _ have already got people? we have already won family, two women i have already got people? we have l already won family, two women with two small— already won family, two women with two small children, _ already won family, two women with two small children, they— already won family, two women with two small children, they are - already won family, two women with two small children, they are below l two small children, they are below three _ two small children, they are below three years. — two small children, they are below three years, and _ two small children, they are below three years, and they— two small children, they are below three years, and they will- two small children, they are below three years, and they will arrive i two small children, they are below three years, and they will arrive atj three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm _ three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and — three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and they _ three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and they will _ three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and they willjoin - three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and they willjoin us - three years, and they will arrive at 5:00pm and they willjoin us to . 5:00pm and they willjoin us to germany — 5:00pm and they willjoin us to germany they— 5:00pm and they willjoin us to germany. they are _ 5:00pm and they willjoin us to germany. they are now - 5:00pm and they willjoin us to germany. they are now on - 5:00pm and they willjoin us to| germany. they are now on their 5:00pm and they willjoin us to - germany. they are now on their way to krakow— germany. they are now on their way to krakow on— germany. they are now on their way to krakow on a — germany. they are now on their way to krakow on a train, _ germany. they are now on their way to krakow on a train, and _ germany. they are now on their way to krakow on a train, and they- germany. they are now on their way to krakow on a train, and they will. to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully— to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully arrive _ to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully arrive at _ to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully arrive at 5pm. _ to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully arrive at 5pm. do - to krakow on a train, and they will hopefully arrive at 5pm.— hopefully arrive at 5pm. do you think there _ hopefully arrive at 5pm. do you think there should _ hopefully arrive at 5pm. do you think there should be _ hopefully arrive at 5pm. do you think there should be more - think there should be more coordination and organisation? flit coordination and organisation? of course, yes, of course, but i can understand — course, yes, of course, but i can understand that _ course, yes, of course, but i can understand that is _ course, yes, of course, but i can understand that is very- course, yes, of course, but i can understand that is very difficult i understand that is very difficult for the — understand that is very difficult for the people _ understand that is very difficult for the people here _ understand that is very difficult for the people here in - understand that is very difficult for the people here in poland. i understand that is very difficult. for the people here in poland. the situation _ for the people here in poland. the situation came _ for the people here in poland. the situation came within _ for the people here in poland. the situation came within a _ for the people here in poland. the situation came within a few- for the people here in poland. the situation came within a few days l for the people here in poland. thel situation came within a few days so it is very— situation came within a few days so it is very tough _ situation came within a few days so it is very tough for _ situation came within a few days so it is very tough for the _ situation came within a few days so it is very tough for the people - it is very tough for the people

here — it is very tough for the people here. �* , ., ., it is very tough for the people here. �*, ., ., , ., ., , here. it's another situation they are very- -- _ here. it's another situation they are very... organised, - here. it's another situation they are very... organised, but - here. it's another situation they are very... organised, but they| are very... organised, but they don't have _ are very... organised, but they don't have so _ are very... organised, but they don't have so many _ are very... organised, but they don't have so many refugees i are very... organised, but they - don't have so many refugees there. there _ don't have so many refugees there. there are _ don't have so many refugees there. there are a — don't have so many refugees there. there are a lot _ don't have so many refugees there. there are a lot but _ don't have so many refugees there. there are a lot but not _ don't have so many refugees there. there are a lot but not like - don't have so many refugees there. there are a lot but not like this. - there are a lot but not like this. you _ there are a lot but not like this. you are — there are a lot but not like this. you are handing _ there are a lot but not like this. you are handing out— there are a lot but not like this. you are handing out chocolate. i there are a lot but not like this. - you are handing out chocolate. yes, i hel the you are handing out chocolate. yes, i help the children _ you are handing out chocolate. yes, i help the children be _ you are handing out chocolate. yes, i help the children be happy with this little... just i help the children be happy with this little. . .— i help the children be happy with this little..._ i | this little... just a little help. i have seen _ this little... just a little help. i have seen the _ this little... just a little help. i have seen the difference - this little... just a little help. i have seen the difference it - this little... just a little help. i - have seen the difference it makes. thank you, guys. that is the sort of kindness on offer from so many polish people as well as international volunteers. as you have seen, the problem is the practicality of organising this and making it happen. that's why there is a message from polish authorities to try and spread the pressure out of it. there are signs here saying that if ukrainians are able to go to smaller places, perhaps places they haven't heard of, they might find it easier to get a bed and somewhere to stay. but you can see the difficult situation people are in, so many sad

scenes and difficult decisions people are facing. they have done the hard bit getting to the border, but then where do they go next? how do they find somewhere to sleep, somewhere to be safe? there are so many difficult situations here and so many people trying to resolve it. dan johnson so many people trying to resolve it. danjohnson in krakow. let's get more now on the latest evacuations in northern ukraine. our correspondent abdujalil abdurasulov sent this update from irpin which is about 25 kilometres north—west of kyiv. people drive towards this bridge and leave their cars and then cross the river on foot. there are a lot of people who are on wheelchairs, disabled, elderly people who can't walk. forthem, this disabled, elderly people who can't walk. for them, this is a massive obstacle. so let me show you how they cross this river. there are 15

humanitarian corridors announced by the ukrainian authorities today in order to evacuate ukrainian citizens. you can hear the sound of explosions. even though the evacuation from this area is still going on. we can't say the ceasefire is holding because we can hear the sound of explosions and the sound of artillery fire including the ongoing —— outgoing fire as well. despite this fact, people from irpin and other areas are trying to flee because they say staying at home is much more dangerous. let because they say staying at home is much more dangerous.— much more dangerous. let me 'ust tell ou much more dangerous. let me 'ust tell you we — much more dangerous. let me 'ust teuyou we fl much more dangerous. let me 'ust tell you we are hearing * much more dangerous. let me 'ust tell you we are hearing that i tell you we are hearing that france's president, emmanuel macron, and germany's chancellor olaf scholz have had a telephone call with vladimir putin, and according to reports they demanded a ceasefire from russia and a negotiated solution to the crisis. so those

diplomatic efforts are going on behind the scenes. you are watching bbc news. hello. changeable weather this weekend. we will all get to season rain at times but it definitely won't be raining all the time. there will be sunshine occasionally too. today, afterfor will be sunshine occasionally too. today, after for many a will be sunshine occasionally too. today, afterfor many a damp will be sunshine occasionally too. today, after for many a damp start, it is a brightening up story now and there will be sunny spells with the chance of a shower. throughout the weekend it is windy, and getting windier still, particularly close to this area of low pressure which moves into south—west england and south west wales first this afternoon. we have an area of rain that has been pushing northwards overnight and into this morning, this afternoon, it is into northern scotland. still raining during the end of the afternoon into the northern isles. elsewhere there is a lot of fine weather, broken cloud

and sunshine, the chance of catching and sunshine, the chance of catching a shower. the weather going downhill though to cornwall and pembrokeshire as we see heavy rain and ever strengthening winds moving in. there are some met office wind warnings for western areas of the uk as we go on through this weekend, so have a look at those if you have travel plans. there could be disruption because of the gusts in the isles of scilly and cornwall, up to 60 mph. with the rain moving in here to south—west england and more of wales as we go through the evening, across northern ireland, into western scotland and overnight feeding east into england. also a spell of rain running close to the north sea coast could keep it cloudy and damp overnight. some clear spells north and north—west of scotland mayjust allow for a touch of frost in the coldest spots. here is the area of low pressure, running northwards during sunday so this is where it will be windiest again, gales through the irish sea, winds reaching 60 mph. with a spell of

rain clearing through, the eastern side of england and east scotland by the start of the afternoon, and then again a case of sunshine and showers. some heavy, possibly thundery. gusty winds around the showers, more widely windy across the uk tomorrow but again, particularly through northern ireland and western scotland through the afternoon. if anything, tomorrow will feel a touch cooler. not as windy in the week ahead, still some rain around, not much change in the feel of the weather across the northern half of the uk but the further south you are, it mayjust become very mild for a time. that is your latest forecast.

this is bbc news. welcome if you are watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm joanna gosling. our top stories: air—raid sirens sound in cities across ukraine, including in the capital, kyiv, as russia pushes into new areas. the president remains defiant. translation: i can assure you that 100% of all people j in all democracies will know this. the actions of the russian invaders will be equated with the actions of isis terrorists. ukraine says it hopes a number of humanitarian corridors from the besieged city of mariupol will open up and accused russia of blocking supplies. concerns grow about the protection of ukraine's nuclear power plants as shelling and air raids threaten their safety. it's estimated more than two and—a half million people have now left ukraine to escape the war.

let's bring you some breaking news now. ukraine's president zelensky has been speaking in the last few minutes. he is demanding the immediate release of the city mayor of melitopol, who has been kidnapped. he says he has discussed that with german and french leaders. the german and french leaders. the german and french leaders. the german and french leaders have been speaking with vladimir putin in the last few moments, we also understand. volodymyr zelensky says

the losses of the russian army are the losses of the russian army are the largest in decades. he the losses of the russian army are the largest in decades.— the losses of the russian army are the largest in decades. he has also said 31 russian _ the largest in decades. he has also said 31 russian battalion _ the largest in decades. he has also said 31 russian battalion tactical. said 31 russian battalion tactical groups had been enabled unable to be in combat, and ukraine will not lower its combat intensity. those are the latest lines coming from volodymyr zelensky. one area where the russian advance on the ground has made tangible progress is in the south of ukraine. they have captured the city of kherson and are pushing west towards the key port of odesa on the black sea, but the city of mykolaiv stands in their way and, while ukraine's forces are standing firm, it too has suffered extensive damage. from there, andrew harding sent this. a snowstorm enfolds us as we head for the front lines 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. explosions. 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. ok, wejust 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.

odesa is a very important city for ukraine, it was its largest port. the experts which are happening from the southern parts of ukraine, odesa in particular, are now fully displaced. there is no possibility to perform those operations as of now. however, if we are speaking about getting humanitarian aid into odesa, most of it arrives by truck from europe, through the polish border. my friends just yesterday received a few trucks from germany, so the humanitarian aid does come in, but it comes in fire trucks. ihtnd in, but it comes in fire trucks. and do they face _

in, but it comes in fire trucks. and do they face difficulty on the path to odesa, are they facing any kind of shelling, rocket attacks, firing from russian forces? i of shelling, rocket attacks, firing from russian forces?— of shelling, rocket attacks, firing from russian forces? i believe that the western _ from russian forces? i believe that the western parts _ from russian forces? i believe that the western parts of _ from russian forces? i believe that the western parts of ukraine - from russian forces? i believe that the western parts of ukraine are i from russian forces? i believe that| the western parts of ukraine are not as endangered as the rest of the country, especially the north and eastern parts of the country. therefore, i assume that they are also travelling with protection and there are certain corridors made by the government which are deemed secure. therefore, so far, we are not blockaded at all, and it is quiet in odesa itself and in the bordering regions. if we are speaking about the western parts. what are people saying they need most? well, you see the main issue right now is the finished product, the finished product as in child produce, child food, all the necessary things for child care.

and, well, finished products themselves are the main issue right now because many, many families are facing a tremendous lack of income. possibly their income has been shut down. they've lost their jobs. there are a lot of families with children. elderly people who also require daily assistance. and we are, well, basically everyone in the city who has the ability is trying to assist those people and get them what is needed. and these humanitarian corridors, are people able to safely get out if they want to make their way to the west and out of the country? at this stage, yes. there's been huge queues in the very beginning, and now we see that women and children are able to get out. some parts of my distant relatives have also left the country, especially women with children.

all the men have stayed, but we have taken them to the borders of moldova, where they then travelled to romania and then flew into spain. the russian defence minister has said that 16,000 fighters from the middle east have volunteered to fight with the russian army in ukraine. if they do take up weapons there, it won't be the first time russia has actively engaged in recruiting what many people consider mercenaries. hanan razek has the story. syrian fighters that reportedly want to go and fight in ukraine alongside the russian troops. and a warm welcome from the kremlin that says it has received more than 16,000 applications from middle eastern fighters. but the bbc has learned that russian mercenary fighters are already in ukraine.

first seen supporting separatists in ukraine in 2014, the russian wagner group has been infamous for operating mercenaries in other countries, including syria and libya. one wagner fighter told us about his involvement in the current invasion. his words have been voiced by an actor. there have been reports that there are around 400 wagner fighters in ukraine. a sign of desperation. it allows the russian government to keep the death toll down because they are not going to report the deaths of mercenaries within ukraine, nor are they going to report the deaths of syrians who may have gone over to volunteer to essentially serve as foreign fighters on behalf of vladimir putin.

we understand from mercenary sources the recruitment was first carried out weeks before the invasion by russian military intelligence. we have been told they are being trained near this military base in southern russia. we have asked the russian ministry of defence about this and they have not responded yet. we have learnt that recruitment is taking place on a private telegram group used by mercenaries. there have been invitations to what's called a picnic to taste pork fat, a popular dish in ukraine. the message appeals to those with mortgages, debts, or those who have been banned from mercenary groups to apply. the brand has changed. 0k? if you really think about it, for the last five or six years now we have been hearing more and more about the wagner group's human

rights abuses in places like syria, libya, central african republic. moscow has always denied always denied any ties with mercenary groups but the worry is that the involvement of mercenaries might deteriorate the humanitarian situation even further. hanan razek, bbc news. volodymyr zelensky has been speaking, let's listen to what he has been sent translation: if brave people of ukraine this morning in melitopol, people were gathering for a demonstration against russian forces trying to subdue the city. more than 2012 people in the square.

please go in moscow, lesson, if against occupation 2,000 people go to demonstrate against occupation, how many of them should be there, to be honest and to be fair? yesterday the invaders sees the mayor of melitopol and the community of melitopol and the community of melitopol demand for him to be briefed —— be freed and i am grateful for every resident of the city for this position. the invaders should feel that they are alien to our land of ukraine and they will never be accepted. during the night and today we are in conversation with our partners, with our city mayor and the demand is simple. free him immediately. we address those all those in contact with moscow, israel, germany, others, i have personally called the chancellor of

germany and talk to the french president. i will be talking to anyone necessary to free our people. i want the leaders of the world to demonstrate how they can influence the situation. how they can do simple tasks to free one person, one individual. an individual who is the image of all our community of melitopol. armed forces are doing everything to stop the enemy from continuing this operation. the dynamics of day 17, the dynamic of their losses, we can say that this is the biggest blow to the russian army for the last year's. they never lost more than in this war. the

russian military has capitulated in groups and they were trying to leave ukraine in groups to go back to russia. the losses of invaders, technically are impressive. more than 306 tanks, 1205 vehicles and this is not even counting the losses of last night and this morning. more than 60 aircraft. more than 85 helicopters. hundreds of pieces of equipment, including the most modern ones that russia is always proud of. the other armies of the world don't have this quantity that the russians lost during these days. i want you to understand me in the right way. we have some extraordinary success and the way the ukrainian people are posing —— opposing these imitators,

this has become history now, but we cannot allow to lower the intensity of our defence. we can't lower the energy of our position. the enemy brings in new columns into our territory. they are looking for fighters anywhere for conscripts, for mercenaries. they are trying to overcome us with the quantity of the fighters, and the equipment. they are using terror to bring —— break our belief in ukraine. i'm confident they will succeed. but in order for them to fail, we need to continue ourfights, we need to them to fail, we need to continue our fights, we need to concentrate. we need old ukrainians to work for the defence of our country, to work together without any arguments inside, supporting each other in all

of ukraine. the same way as we have been doing for day 17 of this work. this day we sent humanitarian aid to mariupol again. we will be trying on a daily basis to do that to save our people. i am grateful to every driver who is trying to execute this difficult mission. i'm grateful to religious leaders who got involved to protect a humanitarian corridor from shelling. ukrainian forces guarantee a full regime of silence along the whole corridor for mariupol to get food, medication, water, and that the peaceful residents of mariupol will be able to lead to a safer area. we are also having corridors in other parts. the

rusting child should provide a regime of silence on each of those roads, otherwise what else could russia guarantee in any negotiations? we are continuing our cooperation work with the europeans. first of all, ukraine joining the eu. we are working with the european commission to speed up all the procedures and the second priority area. we are expecting a new package of sanctions against russia in order to influence them to pieces because they should realise that the economy won't survive this war. the cabinet ministers of ukraine have made

important decisions, cancelling the vat for fuel, petrol, important decisions, cancelling the vat forfuel, petrol, diesel fuel. this is being done not in the context of the campaign, we should sort as soon as possible, but also taking into consideration the needs of all our stench —— citizens in order to prevent the deficit of fuel in the country for stable prices. the government has made this part of its work and it is up to the mps they to support this decision and they to support this decision and the speaker of the parliament is organising the session of the parliament. secondly, for those communities who receive our people from the war zones, we have adopted the decisions on compensation for utility bills when accepting our

people and ten regions of ukraine will receive specific funds for our people to be provided with everything. ukrainians, this is the time which demands for us to be efficient, also in ourfamilies, to help assist our colleagues, to take care of our nearest and dearest and provide everything that is necessary for the defence, for our defenders. this is the patriotic work. this is the people's work, this is our work, this is the work for our independence, notjust as a state, but for old ukrainians, glory to ukraine. ., , but for old ukrainians, glory to ukraine. . , ., but for old ukrainians, glory to ukraine. ., , ., ukraine. that is vladimir zelensky, the president _ ukraine. that is vladimir zelensky, the president of _ ukraine. that is vladimir zelensky, the president of ukraine _ ukraine. that is vladimir zelensky, the president of ukraine describingj the president of ukraine describing the president of ukraine describing the war as a people's war, a war for

independence, he said, and he was talking about hoping that there would be a number of humanitarian corridors in a number of cities that are currently underfire corridors in a number of cities that are currently under fire and he called on russia to observe the humanitarian corridors along with ukraine. he also spoke of his concerns about what is happening in melitopol where the city mayor has been kidnapped and he is demanding the immediate release of that city mayor, and he is saying that russia has sustained its largest losses in its military in decades. he said that 31 russian battalion tactical groups have been rendered incapable of combats. let's look at how the military situation is developing now. we know that russia has deployed huge forces into ukraine and we also know that, so far, only one major city has fallen to them. so are things going to moscow's plan? i put that question to glen grant, a retired royal artillery lieutenant colonel and now a senior defence analyst at the baltic security foundation.

the russians are pushing forward where they can, but every time they try a new route, for example round kyiv to try and block off kyiv or around kharkiv to block off kharkiv, they are actually being stopped, and there are lots of small counterattacks at the moment going on outside of kyiv and outside of kharkiv that are actually taking the russians in their rear, so to speak. this is causing the russians a lot of hardship and there is quite a lot of destruction and they are losing a lot of vehicles and losing a lot of people, especially in the north. in the north—west, you said 25 kilometres. well, they are now, but they have actually been a lot closer than that. irpin, which they held previously, was actually right on the edge of the entrance of kyiv. i've driven through it many times.

now they have been pushed back to bucha, which is further away, but it's a residential area and there are still a lot of people living there. we are only 17 days into this, so is it possible at this stage to say, although it is not going, it seems, as russia had intended, which side actually has the upper hand currently? i think it is fair to say that, in military terms, ukraine has got the upper hand. although they have lost quite a lot of ground in all sorts of places, the russians are stuck with staying on the roads and they haven't actually captured any of the major places, the major towns or cities yet and, as you know, from mariupol, they are fighting in mariupol like mad and day after day mariupol is actually surviving. so what russia has intended to do has not worked and now they are moving towards more terror and war atrocities, targeting

schools, targeting people wherever they can and in kherson, which they've taken, now they are actually targeting individuals in the city and detaining them and probably, in that case, torturing them. the uk's ministry of defence has given this update of the latest developments in the fighting in ukraine. it says that its intelligence indicates that fighting north—west of kyiv continues, with the bulk of russian ground forces now around 25 kilometres from the centre of the city. it continues — elements of the large russian column north of kyiv have dispersed.this is likely to support a russian attempt to encircle the city. it could also be an attempt by russia to reduce its vulnerability to ukrainian counter attacks,

which have taken a significant toll on russian forces. it concludes — beyond kyiv, the cities of kharkiv, chernihiv, sumy and mariupol remain encircled and continue to suffer heavy russian shelling. let's just share with you some of the footage filmed by the reuters news agency in kyiv, shortly after dawn on saturday. you can hear what appears to be gunshots and firing in the distance. it's not clear who is shooting, nor who they may be firing at — but it's perhaps the first time gunshots have been so audible in the centre of kyiv since the russian invasion began. we have a constantly updating live page on the events in ukraine on our website. the chancellor of germany and the president of france are currently on a call with vladimir putin.

we have a constantly updating live page on the events in ukraine on our website. hello. changeable weather this weekend and we will all get to see some rain at times, but it is definitely not going to be raining all the time. there will be some sunshine occasionally, too, and in fact today, after what, for many, was a cloudy, damp start, it is a brightening up story now. and there will be sunny spells with the chance of a shower. throughout the weekend it is windy and in fact later today getting windier still, particularly close to this area of low pressure which moves into south west england and south west wales first this afternoon. we have got an area of rain that has been pushing its way northwards overnight and into this morning and this afternoon it is into the north of scotland and still raining at the end of the afternoon towards the northern and western isles. for many other places, though, this afternoon, there is a lot of fine weather out there, broken cloud, sunshine, the chance of catching a shower. the weather going downhill, though, to cornwall, to pembrokeshire,

as we see rain and ever strengthening winds moving in. highs of around 9—13 c. there are some met office wind warnings for western areas of the uk as we go on through this weekend, so do have a look at those if you have got travel plans. there could be some disruption because of these gusts in the isles of scilly, cornwall, 60—70 mph, 50—60 elsewhere, with the rain moving in here to south west england and more of wales as we go on through the evening. across northern ireland, into the west of scotland, overnight, just feeding a little bit further east into england. also that spell of rain just running close to this north sea coast and that could keep it rather cloudy and damp overnight. some clear spells to the north and north west of scotland mayjust allow for a touch of frost in the colder spots. so, here is that area of low pressure, running northwards across western areas during sunday. this is where it is going to be windiest again, again, gales through the irish sea and we are going to see gusts of 50—60 mph, windiest in northern ireland and western scotland by the end of the afternoon. a little spell of rain clearing through the eastern side of england and eastern scotland by the start

of the afternoon and then again it is a case of sunshine and showers, some heavy, possibly thundery, gusty winds around the showers, it is more widely windy across the uk tomorrow, but again particularly through northern ireland and the west of scotland by the end of the afternoon and if anything, tomorrow is going to feel a touch cooler. not as windy in the week ahead, still some rain around, but not much change in the feel of the weather across the northern half of the uk, but the further south you are, it mayjust become very mild for a time. that is your latest forecast.

this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. i'm tim willcox. our top stories... air—raid sirens sound in cities across ukraine, including in the capital, kyiv, as russia pushes into new areas. residents of the city of melitopol have reportedly come out to protest against the alleged abduction of the mayor by russian forces. yesterday the invaders seized the mayor of melitopol, and the community demand for him to be freed. ukraine says it hopes a number

of humanitarian corridors from the besieged city of mariupol will open up and accuses russia