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 of blocking supplies. the russian defence minister says 16,000 fighters from the middle east have volunteered to fight with the russian army in ukraine. on friday, president putin backed the plan. concerns grow about the protection of ukraine's nuclear power plants as shelling and air raids threaten their safety. and it's now estimated more than two and a half million people have left ukraine to escape the war. welcome to bbc news. 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. russian advances near kyiv are mirrored in the south with troops moving towards 0desa. the other key news lines this hour. the ukrainian government says it hopes several humanitarian corridors will be open today so more civilians can escape towns and cities including mariupol. can escape towns and cities more than two and a half million people have now left ukraine to escape the war. moldova says that every eighth child on its territory is a refugee. residents in the ukrainian city of melitopol — one of the first to fall to the russian forces — have come out to protest against the alleged abduction of the mayor by russian forces. sean dilley has the latest.

it is the universal sound of trouble. for more than two weeks, ukraine has slowed the progress of occupying troops as they have sheued occupying troops as they have shelled and fought their way through cities across the country. in kyiv, people know it is only a matter of time before the russians are here. they know through scenes played out across the country what to expect. the loss of lives has been significant for both sides. western allies have so far declined ukraine's request to implement a no—fly zone. we ukraine's request to implement a no-fly zone-— ukraine's request to implement a no-fl zone. ~ ., ., ., no-fly zone. we will not fight a war auainst no-fly zone. we will not fight a war against russia _ no-fly zone. we will not fight a war against russia and _ no-fly zone. we will not fight a war against russia and ukraine. - no-fly zone. we will not fight a war against russia and ukraine. directl against russia and ukraine. direct confrontation between nato and russia is world war iii. the ukrainians _ russia is world war iii. the ukrainians though - russia is world war iii. the ukrainians though say they are desperate for any assistance as they accuse russia of preventing civilian evacuation in the southern port city of mario paul. the ukrainian foreign ministry says russian forces shelled a mosque here where more than 80 adults and children had sheltered. russia meanwhile has blamed ukraine forfailing russia meanwhile has blamed ukraine for failing to evacuate. sirens have

sounded too in other cities. the northern city of china heave has been subject to heavy shelling. no residents are left without a water supply and electricity has cut off in some areas of the city —— in chernihiv. these pictures from sue me show the extent of fire power that has been unleashed in what president putin described as a special military operation. around 40 special military operation. around a0 kilometres south of kyiv, fire rages. this ukrainian military airfield has been struck by missiles. the mayor says a fuel depot was destroyed in the attack. many ukrainians have accepted that their country is no longer safe. more than 2.5 million have already left the country, some are still hoping to make it to safety. 0thers though choose to remain and fight. sean dilley, bbc news.

lets just bring you up to date on the situation in melitopol — one of the first ukrainian cities to fall to russian forces. residents have reportedly come out to protest against the alleged abduction of the mayor by russian forces. ukrainian officials posted this video saying it shows ivan fedorov being led away blindfolded at the top of the shot on friday. after refusing apparently to comply with some of the russian forces�* demands. in the last half an hour, the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has given an adress to the nation — and events in melitopol were the first thing he raised. translation: the brave people of on some durable — translation: the brave people of on some durable ukraine _ translation: the brave people of on some durable ukraine this _ translation: the brave people of on some durable ukraine this morning, . some durable ukraine this morning,

in melitopol people were gathering for a demonstration against russian forces trying to subdue the city. more than 2000 people in the square. please, those in moscow, listen. if against occupation 2000 people go and demonstrate, how many people should be there to be honest and fair? yesterday, the invaders seized the mayor of melitopol and the community of melitopol demand for him to be freed. i'm gratefulfor every resident of the city for this position. the invaders should feel that they are alien to our land and all our land of ukraine. 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.—

him immediately. president zelensky in the nationwide _ him immediately. president zelensky in the nationwide address. _ let's get more now on the latest evacuations in northern ukraine. 0ur 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. 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 citizens. you can hear the sound

of explosions. even though the evacuation from this area is still going on, we can't say that the ceasefire is holding because we can hear the sound of explosions and the sound of artillery fire including the outgoing fire as well. but despite this fact, people from irpin and other areas are trying to flee because they say staying at home is much more dangerous. that is the situation in irpin where so many casualties have been reported in the last few days, with residents trying to get across the bridge which was blown up by ukrainian forces to stop the russian advance. when it comes to diplomacy, we have hurd in the last ten minutes orso we have hurd in the last ten minutes or so from german chancellor 0laf scholz that emmanuel macron has begun his latest phone call with vladimir putin. we will try and get a readout about that when that call

is over. let's see what is happening now in the city of lviv, which is very close to the border with poland. my colleague yalda hakim is there. 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 2a 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. that is just north—west from here. and ivano—frankivsk, which is also in the western part of the country. in the last a8 hours, we have seen strikes in the western part of the country. this part of western ukraine is preparing itself for that.

everywhere you go, whether it's a gymnasium or an 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 instead of beer. in fact they made 2,000 molotov cocktails in the space of a few days and sent them out to where fighting is worst, around kyiv and in the south of the country. this city may feel like any other european city. the sun's out and it feels like a peaceful part of the country, but they're dealing with this influx of internally displaced people, and this concern, this ongoing concern that they could be hit at any time. we 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 here 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, or sumy, which had thousands of people evacuating. they are making their way here, some are staying, some are going. 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 those in desperate need. our hotel, for example, every floor has extra rooms and extra space where mattresses are laid out. there are children running around from kharkiv and kyiv for example. i spoke to a family with a two year old, and the father said

to we only want to stay here for a few weeks and then we want to go back. we hope this fighting will end. but people are on edge and you see that everywhere you go in the city. yalda hakim. mads nissen is a photographer for the danish newspaper politiken, who won world press photo of the year in 2021. he is now in krakow, in poland. you spent two weeks in ukraine, where were you, and how did the scenes you had captured compare with the other war and disaster zones you have been in?— have been in? yes, i 'ust got out of ukraine and _ have been in? yes, i 'ust got out of ukraine and the _ have been in? yes, ijust got out of ukraine and the situation _ have been in? yes, ijust got out of ukraine and the situation is - ukraine and the situation is absolutely overwhelming. especially, i was in the west part of the country, where you see this huge influx of refugees as being explained just before. the numbers are overwhelming. families, mostly women and children, old people trying to get out. women and children, old people trying to get out-— trying to get out. let's 'ust look at some oft trying to get out. let's 'ust look at some of your h trying to get out. let's 'ust look at some of your work _ trying to get out. let'sjust look at some of your work now. -

trying to get out. let'sjust look at some of your work now. we l trying to get out. let'sjust look- at some of your work now. we have got... i think this is at the train station there, and every face obviously tells a story. what were the images and who are the people that struck you most? because it is mainly women and children, but all ages. figs mainly women and children, but all aces. �* , y ., mainly women and children, but all mes, m 4' ., �* mainly women and children, but all aces. a ~ ., �* ., ., ages. as you know, i'm a father m self, ages. as you know, i'm a father myself. i _ ages. as you know, i'm a father myself. i have _ ages. as you know, i'm a father myself, i have three _ ages. as you know, i'm a father myself, i have three children, i ages. as you know, i'm a father| myself, i have three children, so one of the things that affected me the most and put tears in my eyes was seeing the father saying farewell to the children, especially at the train station when the trains were going off. because as we know, the men are not allowed to leave the country, they have to stay back and fight. so seeing them, of course there is uncertainty sending their family to an unknown life as a refugee is hard enough, but really the farewell is also to the man who will go and risk his life fighting. so this farewell was just absolutely hard to witness. and yes, it's the new reality in europe that we all

woke up to just a very short while ago. woke up to 'ust a very short while auo. , ., , ., woke up to 'ust a very short while auo. , . , ., , , ago. the temperatures are bitterly cold. we ago. the temperatures are bitterly cold- we are _ ago. the temperatures are bitterly cold. we are looking _ ago. the temperatures are bitterly cold. we are looking at _ ago. the temperatures are bitterly cold. we are looking at another. cold. we are looking at another photograph with two young women wrapped in either duvets or blankets, with hoods on as well. people looked resigned and they look calm. is that what you found as well? there was no panic, no scuffles in terms of people trying to get onto trains to flee the country? to get onto trains to flee the count ? ., ~ ., �*, to get onto trains to flee the country?— to get onto trains to flee the count ? ., ~ ., �*, ., , country? you know, it's a very stron: country? you know, it's a very strong nation, _ country? you know, it's a very strong nation, a _ country? you know, it's a very strong nation, a very - country? you know, it's a very strong nation, a very strong i strong nation, a very strong population. the culture isjust, you know, you eat it up, you fight on. but i must also say these people have been on the run for many days, and in that queue specifically they had been standing for 2a hours, some of them, 12 hours, eight hours, just exhausted. when you are so exhausted you hear children crying, but most of them are too exhausted to even

give a sound. of them are too exhausted to even give a sound-— of them are too exhausted to even give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to — give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to the _ give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to the west _ give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to the west of _ give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to the west of lviv - give a sound. other towns near lviv and that to the west of lviv have i and that to the west of lviv have been attacked by russian forces, especially the airfield is there. what sort of preparations are being made in lviv? and did you capture any images of that? because so far it is peaceful there. you any images of that? because so far it is peaceful there.— it is peaceful there. you go down the streets. _ it is peaceful there. you go down the streets, it _ it is peaceful there. you go down the streets, it is _ it is peaceful there. you go down the streets, it is sunny _ it is peaceful there. you go down the streets, it is sunny and - it is peaceful there. you go down the streets, it is sunny and nice, | the streets, it is sunny and nice, nice cafe of!, people going out for a nice walk, but on the other hand everyone is getting ready in their own ways. making plans to escape, making molotov cocktails, all kinds of preparations, but can you ever prepare for a war like that? can you ever prepared to be shelled by the russian troops? i think you cannot but they are doing whatever they can. you also see the war as it comes. you get the breeze of the war all the time. you get the air raid alarms but also refugees coming

directly from the conflict zones. from kharkiv, from the northern suburbs of kyiv. and they carry with them stories, and you can see it in their eyes that the war is so present. their eyes that the war is so resent. ~ their eyes that the war is so present-— their eyes that the war is so resent. ~ , , ., present. when we first started s-ueakin present. when we first started speaking and _ present. when we first started speaking and we _ present. when we first started speaking and we looked - present. when we first started speaking and we looked at - present. when we first started l speaking and we looked at some present. when we first started - speaking and we looked at some of your photos which i think we can go back to now, i was asking about how the most vulnerable coped. because presumably as a photographer these are the characters and the images you are looking for. what about those people who are desperately ill or extremely old? what did you notice about that and what images did you specifically take there? i saw some people collapse. i saw a man, he must be dead by now, just waiting for the train, he collapsed. i don't know how old he was, i couldn't speak to him because there were no relatives. another woman of 80, we spoke to

the son, he could not leave the country and his mother was too weak to leave. already this conflict has taken a lot of lives, and also the mental trauma. taken a lot of lives, and also the mentaltrauma. i taken a lot of lives, and also the mental trauma. i am just thinking, you know, of the children, everyone basically experienced that kind of trauma, it's overwhelming. mada: trauma, it's overwhelming. mads nissen, thank _ trauma, it's overwhelming. mads nissen, thank you _ trauma, it's overwhelming. mads nissen, thank you very _ trauma, it's overwhelming. mads nissen, thank you very much - trauma, it's overwhelming. mads nissen, thank you very much indeed for talking to us about your experiences in lviv. 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 201a, the russian wagner group has been infamous for operating mercenaries in other countries, including syria and libya. 0ne 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 a00 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 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. 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.

0ur correspondent danjohnson joins me now from krakow. 100,000 people a day i think coming in, every day. is this wave of bottom—up support from locals there running out of steam? that bottom-up support from locals there running out of steam?— running out of steam? that is the worry because — running out of steam? that is the worry because it's _ running out of steam? that is the worry because it's been _ running out of steam? that is the worry because it's been such - running out of steam? that is the worry because it's been such a i worry because it's been such a relentless waves of people coming and it has been a really strong welcome and a big effort from loads of local organisations and authorities. but the fear is they can't keep that going indefinitely. you can see how many people arguing he had to get some accommodation for the night. some have been sleeping on the station concourse. there is a real turnover, on the station concourse. there is a realturnover, people on the station concourse. there is a real turnover, people keep moving through, but the scene keeps repeating because so many people are arriving. we are three hours from the border here, but this is still a main focal point, a real staging

post on the migration route. there are posters on the walls here suggesting people make their way to some smaller polish cities where pressure is less but the overriding message is that they need more international help and support from other countries to move more of these ukrainian women and children in the main onto other places. but you can understand why they may be reluctant to move even further from the border, because they are hopeful they can go home one day and don't want to go to other countries even further away. want to go to other countries even furtheraway. it want to go to other countries even further away. it is an international effort and there are volunteers from across europe. robert, you are here from the netherlands. tell us why you came. brute from the netherlands. tell us why ou came. ~ . you came. we are here with some friends and _ you came. we are here with some friends and they _ you came. we are here with some friends and they were _ you came. we are here with some friends and they were asking - you came. we are here with some friends and they were asking us i you came. we are here with somej friends and they were asking us to bring _ friends and they were asking us to bring people to families in the netherlands.— bring people to families in the netherlands. that is a long way awa . netherlands. that is a long way awav- yes- _ netherlands. that is a long way away. yes. have _ netherlands. that is a long way away. yes. have you _ netherlands. that is a long way away. yes. have you got - netherlands. that is a long way l away. yes. have you got people? netherlands. that is a long way - away. yes. have you got people? yes, we are waiting — away. yes. have you got people? yes, we are waiting for _ away. yes. have you got people? yes, we are waiting for two _ away. yes. have you got people? yes, we are waiting for two people - away. yes. have you got people? yes, we are waiting for two people more - we are waiting for two people more and then_ we are waiting for two people more and then we will drive back. they

are austrian families, they have sometimes a top floor or side house where _ sometimes a top floor or side house where they— sometimes a top floor or side house where they can give them temporarily a place _ where they can give them temporarily a place to— where they can give them temporarily a place to live. is it where they can give them temporarily a place to live-— a place to live. is it a long-term 0 tion? a place to live. is it a long-term option? in _ a place to live. is it a long-term option? in the _ a place to live. is it a long-term option? in the netherlands - a place to live. is it a long-term option? in the netherlands they a place to live. is it a long-term - option? in the netherlands they can sta for option? in the netherlands they can stay for two — option? in the netherlands they can stay for two years — option? in the netherlands they can stay for two years at _ option? in the netherlands they can stay for two years at least _ option? in the netherlands they can stay for two years at least and - option? in the netherlands they can stay for two years at least and work| stay for two years at least and work with no _ stay for two years at least and work with no reason necessary. they can io with no reason necessary. they can go there _ with no reason necessary. they can go there and — with no reason necessary. they can go there and work. so with no reason necessary. they can go there and work.— go there and work. so how is it practically _ go there and work. so how is it practically working _ go there and work. so how is it practically working out? - go there and work. so how is it practically working out? are i go there and work. so how is it| practically working out? are you trying to block people from the crowd? , , .,, trying to block people from the crowd? , , ., ~ ., crowd? yes, some people do know where they — crowd? yes, some people do know where they want _ crowd? yes, some people do know where they want to _ crowd? yes, some people do know where they want to go _ crowd? yes, some people do know where they want to go but - crowd? yes, some people do know where they want to go but many i crowd? yes, some people do know i where they want to go but many don't know where _ where they want to go but many don't know where they are going and some think they— know where they are going and some think they want to stay in the area because _ think they want to stay in the area because they think the war will be finishing — because they think the war will be finishing. that is what they hope and the — finishing. that is what they hope and the netherlands is a long trip for them, — and the netherlands is a long trip for them, a strange country. it is uuite for them, a strange country. it is quite chaotic— for them, a strange country. it is quite chaotic here, _ for them, a strange country. it 3 quite chaotic here, but you feel you are able to make a difference? you never know — are able to make a difference? you never know if _ are able to make a difference? you never know if you _ are able to make a difference? you never know if you are doing the right— never know if you are doing the right thing. but if nobody would step up— right thing. but if nobody would step up and come here, then nobody -ets step up and come here, then nobody gets a _ step up and come here, then nobody gets a good — step up and come here, then nobody gets a good place so we hope we are

doing _ gets a good place so we hope we are doing the _ gets a good place so we hope we are doing the best. gets a good place so we hope we are doing the best-— doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk— doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk to _ doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk to us. _ doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk to us. that - doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk to us. that is - doing the best. thank you for taking the time to talk to us. that is the i the time to talk to us. that is the sentiment from quite a few people, really impressive effort on the ground but it could be better coordinated and the warning as it cannot sustain the ongoing pressure indefinitely. lian cannot sustain the ongoing pressure indefinitel . g ., ., ,, indefinitely. dan johnson in thank ou. let's get some of the day's other news. a man has been shot dead by police in france, after allegedly wounding an officer with a knife. it happened in the southern city of marseille. officials say the attacker was not known to the security services, had no previous criminal record, and his motivation is not yet clear. the united states has imposed sanctions on three russian companies and two russian individuals it accuses of helping north korea to develop illicit weapons. the measures were announced a day after washington and seoul said that pyongyang had been testing a powerful new intercontinental missile system. saudi arabia has placed a ten—year travel ban on the activist and blogger raif badawi, who was released from prison earlier this week, after spending

ten years behind bars. he had been found guilty of insulting islam in his work, by calling for less religious influence on public life. human rights groups had criticised his imprisonment. just to bring you some breaking news about roman abramovich, the director of chelsea football club. as we know there have been sanctions against him by the british government, and now the premier league in the last few minutes have said that they have decided to disqualify roman abramovich as a director of chelsea football club. the decision though doesn't impact on the club's ability to train and play, its fixtures are set out under the terms of a licence issued by the government which expires at the end of may. so some quite strict strictures on the club including just £20,000 allowed for

the club to travel to any of their fixtures, which doesn't seem anything like what chelsea club would need. that is it from me for the moment on bbc news. hello. changeable weather this weekend. we will all get rain at times but it definitely won't be raining all the time. there 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 and this afternoon, it is into northern scotland. still raining during the end of the afternoon into the northern and western isles. elsewhere there is a lot of fine weather, broken cloud 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. highs strengthening winds moving in. of around nine to1 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 70 mph. up up to 60 elsewhere. 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 rather 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's the area of low pressure, running northwards across western areas 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 eastern 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, it is 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's your latest forecast.

this is bbc world news. the headlines: 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. translation: yesterday the russian invaders sees — translation: yesterday the russian invaders sees the _ translation: yesterday the russian invaders sees the mayor _ translation: yesterday the russian invaders sees the mayor of _ translation: yesterday the russian invaders sees the mayor of melitopol| invaders sees the mayor of melitopol and the community of melitopol

demand for him to be freed.