this is bbc news — more attacks in ukraine — with large numbers of russian forces nowjust around 20 kilometers from the centre of the capital. barricades on the outskirts of kyiv, where they're preparing for any assault, possibly within days. we hearfrom the young ukrainian recruits at the checkpoints they'll be defending. i feel a bit scared because no one wants to die, even if it is for your country. a 3—way phone call between president macron, the russian leader and the german chancellor is described as �*difficult�* — with the french saying putin did not show any willingness to end the war. poland's parliament has passed emergency legislation that allows ukrainians fleeing the war the right to live and work in poland for eighteen months.

violinists from around the world come out in solidarity with the people of ukraine in a virtual performance. hello, and welcome to bbc news. furtherfighting has been taking place outside the ukrainian capital, kyiv, where russian forces are around 15 miles from the centre of the city. british military intelligence believes those russian troops have been regrouping, possibly for a fresh offensive in the coming days. a military airfield was destroyed

this morning near kyiv. the latest information about russian positions is shown here in red. outside the capital, the cities of chernihiv, sumy, and kharkiv continue to be shelled. while the ukrainian military say the eastern outskirts of the beseiged city of mariupol have been captured by russian troops. the city has endured days of shelling. president zelensky has said russian and ukrainian negotiating teams have started discussing what he called "concrete topics rather than exchanging ultimatums". meanwhile, the french president emmanuel macron and germany's olaf scholz have held talks with president putin. ourfirst report tonight is from jeremy bowen, on the outskirts of kyiv. pictures of russian forces, time and place indeterminate, emerge from their side. among their potential targets here in kyiv,

no—one knows their precise orders, but they're assuming an attack is coming. on the ukrainian side, they're trying to make checkpoints into real obstacles. the professionals are a few miles closer to the russians. the soldiers here are all volunteers. they are still expected to fight, even with only a few days training. just over a week ago i met two university friends, maksym, aged 19, and demytro, 18, as they signed up in kyiv. what are you studying? i am studying economy. and i am studying biology. most of the recruits that day were about the same age, making jokes to hide their nerves. when they lined up outside, they looked as if they were off to a festival — except for the guns. now, demytro and maksym have been

given uniforms, three days training and they are facing the russians. get used to my gun, i learned how to shoot and act in the battle. also many other things that will be very crucial during the fight with some russians. i feel much more confident than i was before. because we get enough knowledge in tactics. do you think the battle is coming for kyiv? yes, it is definitely possible. but we just have to stop them here in brovary, because if they get to kyiv then this war might be over. what do your parents think about what you're doing? "mum, i'm on the war, i am fighting

with a gun in my hands." and she said, "oh, maksym..." "nice joke." "don'tjoke with your mother, it's war. just set in the shelter and do your work, volunteer or do something else." do you feel scared? not much. but it is human nature to feel scared. and of course, deeply in my soul, ifeel a bit scared. because no—one wants to die, even if it's for your country. so, death is not an option for us. for now, they are on the checkpoint. if the russians come, they will be firing out of a trench in the war�*s key battle. war always has a political, as well as a military dimension. while president zelensky and his government are here in kyiv, no—one can say that they have been defeated, even if they are losing territory elsewhere. at the same time, president putin cannot claim victory in this war

if his men can't take this city. everyone here is waiting — soldiers, civilians in and out of uniform, and maksym and demytro. jeremy bowen, bbc news, kyiv. my colleague yalda hakim is in liviv — and has been giving us the latest on what's been happening across ukraine. in the last 2a hours things have intensified in the west. if you look at a map of the country you can see russian presence and bombardment in the north and east and south and we can talk more about the besieged city of mariupol but in the last 48 hours takeovers we have seen more air strikes in the west of the country, just north—west of year. a military airbase was struck there and ukrainian soldiers were killed we understand

and we have not heard about any civilian casualties but that makes people here in lviv nervous because up until now, this part of the country has remained untouched, we haven't had russian bombing or shelling, no fighting, although people are desperately trying to protect monuments, ancient monuments, greek gods that exist, this is a world unesco heritage site, so people are very concerned, in world war ii for example, it remained untouched they are worried about russian bombardment and the kinds of scenes we are seeing around the country and in and around kyiv, for example, it will happen to lviv so this is a city on edge but they are continuing to host thousands of people who have been arriving from places like mariupol where we are hearing devastating stories, i was reading a report

from the international community of the red cross and one of their workers says there is no electricity, water and gas meaning no heating. last night it was —15 and children and incredibly scared, staying in an underground bunker, they have managed to bring people from the city into the bunker, the icrc, and keeping children there and they are saying many parents are reporting they are running out of food for their children. so the situation is desperate, bodies lying in the streets, thousands of bodies we are hearing lying in the streets, and nowhere to bury them, hearing about mass graves so a very desperate situation and reports in the last hour that the eastern outskirts of the city have been taken over by russian forces and many people say once mariupol falls it really is a doom situation because it could cut of this country from the sea, this is in many ways a country that a lot of trade takes place from the southern ports in odesa and mariupol

so there is concerns makes the country landlocked president zelensky says about 1300 ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of russia's invasion. he told journalists in kyiv that far larger numbers of russian soldiers had died — perhaps ten times as many, but those figures can't be verifed. as russian forces continued to shell kyiv, mr zelensky said they'd have to destroy the capital and its population to occupy it. our security correspondent, frank gardner, has this assessment of russian�*s military strategy. it looks like, and it feels like, the beginning of the endgame — although who knows how long that's going to last? if we look at the map here on day 17, the red areas are where russian forces have taken control. in the south, they continue to make advances. they are pushing to the north—west. in the north is where the real

battle is going to be fought. that's for the capital, kyiv, around here. now, you remember that great big russian armoured column that was stuck for days north of the capital? most of that has redeployed into the forests, to the north—west, moving their artillery and rocket systems within range of the capital, looking to encircle it. if president putin can't take kyiv, then his war has failed. and that appears to be what he is determined to do, is to capture the capital. but it's not going to be an easy battle. and who knows when that assault is actually going to begin? a direct hit on a russian armoured column as it advances on the capital, kyiv. western supplied anti—tank weapons have slowed the russian advance, but they haven't stopped it. in the air, russian warplanes remain wary of ukraine's air defences. but they have the advantage of numbers on their side. the latest pentagon assessment is that the russian air force is flying an average of 200 missions a day, compared tojust ten for the ukrainians.

now, some of those russian sorties don't even need to cross into ukrainian airspace. they can fire their cruise missiles from inside russian territory. this is what they're up against, western supplied missile systems, plus some old soviet—era stock. the ukrainians have shot down a number of russian helicopters and planes. russia has threatened to start targeting the supply of western weaponry. meanwhile, the pentagon has dismissed fears that some of these weapons could end up with criminals and terrorists. "we believe that risk is worth taking," says a us defence official, president putin has made it clear what he intends to do with any anti—aircraft missiles his forces captured from the ukrainians.

the kremlin's position towards ukraine has barely moved since the day this invasion began, two and a half weeks ago. "this war can stop when you want it to, you just need to lay down your arms, surrender, give in to all our demands and forget about being a part of western europe." frank gardner, bbc news. in russia, the kremlin continues to try to control its narrative for the russian public about what it calls a special military operation. in the last three weeks, thousands of people have been detained for protesting against the war. but there is strong support among some for the reassertion of russia's influence in the region. our moscow correspondent, caroline davies, reports. it's received support from all political parties. there is overwhelming sympathy

here in poland for the ukrainians, the refugees and against russia, against the war in ukraine. there is a real, assertive, bond that poles field with their neighbour ukrainians. —— there is a real, a sort of, bond that poles field with their neighbour ukrainians. and they've performed extraordinary feats as polish society in terms of welcoming ukrainians because, as you mentioned, the number of refugees is actually 1.6 million have crossed into poland. we think there's probably about1 million refugees still in poland because some will have already left poland and gone on to other countries. but this legislation was crucial because this is the biggest refugee crisis that poland has faced, certainly since the numbers are overwhelming. so what this legislation does is it legalises the state and right —— so what this legislation does is it legalises the stay and right to work for these people who have come in across the border,

some without documents, who are not registered, and this also allows them to have access to social benefits. it gives them a one off one time payment and allows them to get a national identification number so they can access free health care and also they can send their children to schools, because, of course, most of the people, 90% of the people who are fleeing ukraine are women and children. and there may be as much as half a million children of school age who have crossed into poland, certainly already the education minister has said 211,000 ukrainian schoolchildren are now attending polish schools just in the short time since the war started. so that gives them comfort that they can do that. it also allows ukrainians whose spouses are not ukrainian citizens the same rights as well, and as i was mentioning the phenomenal response from polish society,

we've got thousands of poles who have actually opened up their houses to put up ukrainians who have nowhere to stay. this bill gives them some financial support to continue to cover those extra costs that they have. we do apologise, that was marked east end, just updating us on —— adam east end, updating us on the emergency legislation that was passed in poland's parliament that allowed for fleeing that ukrainians the right to live and work in poland for 18 months. —— or two. the right to live and work in poland for18 months. —— ortwo. —— the right to live and work in poland for 18 months. —— or two. —— easton. let's get more now on the latest evacuations in northern ukraine. our correspondent abdujalil abdu—rasulov sent this update from irpin which is about 25 kilometres north—west of kyiv people drive towards this blown—up 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.

a group of top international violinists from 29 countries have collaborated on a video performance to raise money for the plight of ukrainians. lets take a listen. sombre violin. music intensifies.

how beautiful is that? i'm so pleased to say that i'm joined by the violinist kerenza peacock in los angeles, who put this project together. and from slavske, ukraine, illia bondarenko — whom you saw playing at the start of that video performance. thank you both forjoining us here on bbc news. how did this project come about? on bbc news. how did this pro'ect come abounfi on bbc news. how did this pro'ect come about? well, on that day that putin invaded _ come about? well, on that day that putin invaded ukraine, _ come about? well, on that day that putin invaded ukraine, i _ come about? well, on that day that putin invaded ukraine, i was - come about? well, on that day that putin invaded ukraine, i was goingl putin invaded ukraine, i was going about my normal day as a violinist, i was about to practice scales and run a few errands, and ijust thought such a horrific situation i

wondered what my fellow violinists were doing in the ukraine, so i randomly befriended some on instagram and ended up talking to a whole bunch of violinists there who said they were also practising their scales but then going to work out how to arm themselves. ijust thought it was such a horrific situation and i ended up getting in touch who has sheltering in his basement, and that's how this whole idea came about.— idea came about. have a doctor who ractice idea came about. have a doctor who practice piano _ idea came about. have a doctor who practice piano scales, _ idea came about. have a doctor who practice piano scales, so _ idea came about. have a doctor who practice piano scales, so you - idea came about. have a doctor who practice piano scales, so you mightl practice piano scales, so you might as well put those skills to use. i wonder if i could come to you. what did you think when she reached out to you? i did you think when she reached out to ou? . , did you think when she reached out to ou? ., , ., , did you think when she reached out to ou? .,y , ,, to you? i was really impressed because they _ to you? i was really impressed because they didn't _ to you? i was really impressed because they didn't expect - to you? i was really impressed| because they didn't expect that to you? i was really impressed - because they didn't expect that they had seen _ because they didn't expect that they had seen that video on instagram with my— had seen that video on instagram with my string quartet and who answer — with my string quartet and who answer me and ask me about and i say if i answer me and ask me about and i say if i may— answer me and ask me about and i say if i may -- _ answer me and ask me about and i say if i may -- my— answer me and ask me about and i say if i may —— my health, and i was

reaiiy— if i may —— my health, and i was really surprised and impressed, i'm reaiiy— really surprised and impressed, i'm really grateful for her that she offered — really grateful for her that she offered me that made the outcome of that video. _ offered me that made the outcome of that video, that project, it's wonderful. gf that video, that pro'ect, it's warmth that video, that pro'ect, it's wonderful. , ., , that video, that pro'ect, it's wonderful. , , wonderful. of course, there has been a articular wonderful. of course, there has been a particular music _ wonderful. of course, there has been a particular music video _ wonderful. of course, there has been a particular music video that - wonderful. of course, there has been a particular music video that has - a particular music video that has gone viral, and that was playing to lift the spirits of those in bomb shelters in ukraine. have either of you reached out to her or heard from her? ., ., , ~' her? no, actually i think we were already collecting _ her? no, actually i think we were already collecting our _ her? no, actually i think we were already collecting our videos - her? no, actually i think we were already collecting our videos for i already collecting our videos for this one that came into the news, unfortunately i hadn't heard about her or got her contact details, but i'd love for her tojoin her or got her contact details, but i'd love for her to join with us on something. i'd love for her to 'oin with us on somethingh i'd love for her to 'oin with us on somethin. a, , .. ., ., something. maybe we can arrange it. how much money _ something. maybe we can arrange it. how much money has _ something. maybe we can arrange it. how much money has been _ something. maybe we can arrange it. how much money has been raised . something. maybe we can arrange it. how much money has been raised so | how much money has been raised so far? i don't know who's got that figure for us. we far? i don't know who's got that figure for na— far? i don't know who's got that figure for us-— far? i don't know who's got that fiaure for us. ~ ., ., , , figure for us. we have actually been shafinu figure for us. we have actually been sharin: the figure for us. we have actually been sharing the links _ figure for us. we have actually been sharing the links to _ figure for us. we have actually been sharing the links to a _ figure for us. we have actually been sharing the links to a lot of - sharing the links to a lot of different charities, but on our

youtube video, we are donating to the un refugee agency, and i think we only put the donate button on their and we arty have a few thousand dollars, so, yeah. encouraging people to get where they can and to the international rescue committee as well.— can and to the international rescue committee as well. obviously you are in ukraine. how— committee as well. obviously you are in ukraine. how have _ committee as well. obviously you are in ukraine. how have you _ committee as well. obviously you are in ukraine. how have you managed i committee as well. obviously you are in ukraine. how have you managed to take parts in this virtual concerts logistically? wasn't quite challenging? it logistically? wasn't quite challenging?— logistically? wasn't quite challenging? logistically? wasn't quite challenuuin? ., challenging? it was really hard because in _ challenging? it was really hard because in that _ challenging? it was really hard because in that moment - challenging? it was really hard because in that moment i - challenging? it was really hard because in that moment i was| because in that moment i was underground because at the moment there was— underground because at the moment there was bombing. i was only with my grandmother and there was bombing. i was only with my grandmotherand i there was bombing. i was only with my grandmother and i asked her to make _ my grandmother and i asked her to make the _ my grandmother and i asked her to make the video it was just a few minutes— make the video it was just a few minutes because when we were leaving the upstairs— minutes because when we were leaving the upstairs and, we are trying to not make — the upstairs and, we are trying to not make so much sounds because

every— not make so much sounds because every sound — not make so much sounds because every sound we are trying to hear the siren — every sound we are trying to hear the siren or— every sound we are trying to hear the siren or something and run underground.— the siren or something and run underuround. ~ , . , , underground. music is very powerful. what has it done _ underground. music is very powerful. what has it done to _ underground. music is very powerful. what has it done to those _ underground. music is very powerful. what has it done to those who - underground. music is very powerful. what has it done to those who have l what has it done to those who have been listening to you play in ukraine, those around you? what sort of things have they been saying to you? i of things have they been saying to ou? ., , . of things have they been saying to ou? ~' , . .., of things have they been saying to ou? ~' , . . ., , , ., you? i think music can inspire and ukrainian music— you? i think music can inspire and ukrainian music and _ you? i think music can inspire and ukrainian music and ukrainian - ukrainian music and ukrainian musicians _ ukrainian music and ukrainian musicians now our understanding that they are _ musicians now our understanding that they are soldiers now on their own battlefield — they are soldiers now on their own battlefield and music can inspire people. — battlefield and music can inspire people, we can't be with weapons on the battlefield now we have our own weapons, _ the battlefield now we have our own weapons, our instruments, our music, all musicians _ weapons, our instruments, our music, all musicians in — weapons, our instruments, our music, all musicians in ukraine and in other— all musicians in ukraine and in other countries trying to help ukraine — other countries trying to help ukraine to make charity concerts, make _ ukraine to make charity concerts,

make videos like that one and to come _ make videos like that one and to come music about the whole situation, _ come music about the whole situation, i think is a great power, and i_ situation, i think is a great power, and i think— situation, i think is a great power, and i think in— situation, i think is a great power, and i think in that ukrainians are powerful. — and i think in that ukrainians are powerful, because in these few weeks ukraine _ powerful, because in these few weeks ukraine got— powerful, because in these few weeks ukraine got so much support from different— ukraine got so much support from different people, different types of work from different kinds ofjobs and it's— work from different kinds ofjobs and it's incredible and i think ukraine _ and it's incredible and i think ukraine has already won. ifi and it's incredible and i think ukraine has already won. if i could 'ust turn ukraine has already won. if i could just turn too _ ukraine has already won. if i could just turn too quickly _ ukraine has already won. if i could just turn too quickly because - ukraine has already won. if i could just turn too quickly because we i ukraine has already won. if i could | just turn too quickly because we are going to hear some music from you both, i am going to hear some music from you both, iam really looking going to hear some music from you both, i am really looking forward to that. there are some big names involved here, notjust in terms, the symphonies to me that the oslo philharmonic, the london symphony orchestra, but also characters as well, tamp —— tell us very quickly was taken part in this. i well, tamp -- tell us very quickly was taken part in this.— was taken part in this. i was so impressed _ was taken part in this. i was so impressed because some - was taken part in this. i was so impressed because some of. was taken part in this. i was so | impressed because some of the was taken part in this. i was so - impressed because some of the top violinists in the world drop everything they were doing to make these videos, so we have concert

masters and soloists like leo gould in the uk, we have mark o'connor who is the most famous american fiddle player, so many people that have joined us, people from the punch brothers, fiddle players, classical players and the best musicians from around the world, they've dropped everything they were doing to make a video, i was very impressed. ok. i video, iwas very impressed. ok, i think were going _ video, iwas very impressed. ok, i think were going to _ video, iwas very impressed. ok, i think were going to listen - video, iwas very impressed. ok, i think were going to listen to - video, i was very impressed. ok, i think were going to listen to some of the music now, and i wonder if he could start for us, just tell us very quickly the piece you are going to play and the floor is yours. yes. to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm going to _ to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm going to play— to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm going to play this _ to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm going to play this piece, - to play and the floor is yours. yes, i'm going to play this piece, it's called _ i'm going to play this piece, it's called the — i'm going to play this piece, it's called the ukrainian song, and i cannot— called the ukrainian song, and i cannot imagine howl called the ukrainian song, and i cannot imagine how i can translate it to you _ cannot imagine how i can translate it to you but it's a brilliant song and i'm — it to you but it's a brilliant song and i'm going to play it right now. thank— and i'm going to play it right now. thank you —

sombre violin. going to say thank you very much, we lost a little bit of sound that, but what a fantastic project that is. those

were two violinists taking part in a project that has gone viral. you are watching bbc news. hello. this beautiful image you see behind me is a classic sunshine and showers sky, we saw many images similar to this being sent in by our weather watchers on saturday. puffs of white cloud skittering across bright blue skies occasionally. then those clouds tower high enough to drop some showers. sunday is going to be a very similar looking day unsettled, breezy with showers sweeping across the uk thanks to this area of low pressure. at the moment, though, the low is pushing through a more organised weather front, so there will be some more persistent rain moving from west to east overnight into the small hours of sunday and then the centre of the low across the republic of ireland, pushing its way northwards through the small hours. very windy for many of our irish sea coasts, thanks to the wind, the cloud and the rain, though we have got

a mild nightahead. and then through sunday daytime, perhaps the biggest question is how quickly this weather front will sweep away eastwards. how heavy any rain tied in with it may be. and then behind this front, which i think will make for some quite grey skies, perhaps first thing across some eastern counties on sunday bring some patchy rain. it looks a lot brighter, but this low centre will drag in some areas of showers. at the moment, looks like perhaps wales and the southwest could see some heavier ones. we could see some, though just about anywhere. it will be blustery where we have showers generally quite gusty winds across the uk throughout the day. the showers could bring some hail and thunder. they're going to be quite frequent, i think, close to the low center across northern ireland and western scotland. highs of 11 or12 degrees for sunday. and then we look on into the week ahead. and in contrast, actually for many of us, it's a relatively drier story throughout the week ahead. high pressure is always going to be trying to build in monday. we've got the remnants of sunday's lowjust sitting across scotland.

it will still make for quite a windy story here. also for northern and eastern reaches of northern ireland. chance of some showers for northern ireland early on, but it's scotland that tends to get targeted through monday, perhaps a few for northern england. some brighter intervals, though in between times and some drier weather as well. getting a lot milder, though warm feeling if you like 13 or 1a degrees across england and wales with sunshine on monday and then much of the uk, the week ahead is going to bring plenty of dry weather. but wednesday looks like our wettest day, with some pretty heavy rain across a central swathe of the uk.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. massed russian troops and armour are pressing closer to kyiv, on the 17th day of the invasion of ukraine. british military intelligence says the bulk of russian forces are now within 25 kilometres of the centre of the capital. russian forces have made some further gains in the south of the country. the ukrainian authorities say moscow has captured the eastern outskirts of the besieged port of mariupol. officials in paris say, vladimir putin showed no willingness to end the war during a phone conversation with the french president and german chancellor this morning. emmanuel macron and olaf scholz again urged the russian leader to introduce an immediate ceasefire.

poland's parliament has passed emergency legislation that allows ukrainians fleeing the war the right to live and work in poland for 18 months. the refugees will receive the right to access free health care and education, as well as social benefit. now on bbc news — it's time for unspun world with john simpson. hello and thank you forjoining me for the programme where we put the big questions of the moment to the bbc�*s large range of experts. the war in ukraine grinds on and though the russian forces have been pretty brutal, they haven't been all that successful so far.