this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm lukwesa burak. our top stories. at least 35 are killed and dozens injured, in a missile attack on a ukrainian military base near the polish border. according to preliminary data, more than 30 missiles were fired. the air defence system worked at the number of them were shot down. ukraine's president zelensky, visits injured troops — the country says it's lost 1300 soldiers in battle. the international red cross warns mariupol is heading towards a worst—case scenario — unless aid reaches the besieged city soon. the usjournalist, brent renaud, is shot dead in the town of irpin — the first foreign reporter to die

in the conflict. officials in ukraine say at least 35 people have been killed — and more than 130 others wounded in a russian missile attack, on a military base, in the west of the country — a short drive from the polish border. the attack which took place in the far west of ukraine, hit the military training base, yavoriv. the base was previously used for joint exercises and training with nato. the attack on the base is part of a widening of russian advances, towards the west of ukraine — on the door—step of a nato member — and away from the areas which russian forces currently

control, shown here in red. russia's invasion force has advanced towards several ukrainian cities — with more intense fighting reported in the northern outskirts of the capital, kyiv. our special correspondent, fergal keane, has the latest from near the yavoriv military base. the war has come west, and brutally. "this is the russian world," a soldier says. dozens were killed here by russian missiles in the early hours of the morning. it comes after russian warnings that they would strike against weapon shipments coming from the west. they were still recovering the injured and dead as we drove into the town. air raid sirens sounding again over local radio. it's a huge, huge bomb, like, you know, sound, in the morning. and we saw here the fire.

it was very scary. the mayor called an urgent news conference. what's the feeling of the town now, after this has happened? translation: they can bomb us. but they will never be able to break ukrainian spirit. they will never be rulers at our land. they will all return back home in coffins. cameras were kept away from the scene, but last january the bbc filmed at the base. british troops were training ukrainian forces in the use of anti—tank weapons. now, in the east, those missiles are being used against russian armour, as this ukrainian soldier explained. this one was shot from this gun, from this beautiful thing. and i want to say a big thanks

to our british comrades that are helping us. back in western ukraine, people's sense of security is shaken by the russian attack. here, heading for an air raid shelter amid fresh alarms. translation: before, - it was something we only saw in the media, but finally it has affected us as well here, as sad as that may sound. the attack here in the west is an escalation, but it's not a surprise. it's weapons coming across the border from poland that have helped ukraine to mount a stiff resistance, and this is a signal from russia that it intends to expand its campaign and to try and stop the shipment of those weapons. fergal keane, bbc news, near yavoriv military base. ukraine says it's lost 1,300 soldiers since the war began just over 3 weeks ago.

it's also claimed the life of a us journalist, brent renaud, who was killed in irpin — he's thought to be the first foreign journalist to die in this war. our international correspondent, orla guerin, sent us the latest from kyiv. casualties of europe's newest war. ukrainian soldiers wounded this morning in battlefields on the outskirts of kyiv. his wounds are painful, not life—threatening, but the losses here are growing. ukraine says about 1,300 of its soldiers have been killed. sergei shows me his country's coat of arms. always close to his heart. he was a farmer before russia invaded. now, minus a few fingers, he intends

to go straight back to the fight. "the russians will not take kyiv," he says. "if they take it, they will have to raze it to the ground. we are ready to fight until victory." and from his hospital bed, he thanks borisjohnson and britain, which he says is helping ukraine a lot. and close to kyiv today, ukrainian police confirmed the killing of an american journalist. he was shot in the head by the russians, the officer says. the award—winning film—maker brent renaud was travelling in a car with otherjournalists when they came under fire. he had been documenting civilians fleeing from the town of irpin.

inside kyiv, what may be the calm before the storm. the streets are ready for battle and so are many of the residents. behind every tree, molotov cocktails. this is a very normal neighbourhood in kyiv and here is what you have here now, the shell of a bus being used as a barricade, sandbags, a gas canister. all of this has been brought here by local people to defend their own streets. they say they don't believe the russians will get this far, but they intend to be ready, just in case. yuri abandoned his business to take up a gun. and i wanted to say to all the russians, that all the streets, all the houses, entrances, roofs, basements will be an obstacle, will be an ambush for them. and kyiv will be the total cemetery for them. the only thing they will receive, it will be the mass grave for them.

fighting street by street would mean heavy losses for both sides. but russia has other options. it could bomb this city from the outside. orla guerin, bbc news, kyiv. earlier, i spoke to maya dols dejong was a friend of brent renaud. she's a documentary film—maker based in amsterdam — and met brent at harvard university in 2018. brent is an amazing person. he is very generous, he would always help his colleagues, he is funny, very smart, he doesn't talk a lot when he says something, it's always spot on and you know he would always help you whenever you needed something from him. , , , , from him. this must, it must seem like it's not — from him. this must, it must seem like it's not real _ from him. this must, it must seem like it's not real because _ from him. this must, it must seem like it's not real because you're - like it's not real because you're speaking about him in the present.

yeah. ~ , ., , ., | yeah. why did he do this “ob? i think he wanted * yeah. why did he do this “ob? i think he wanted to i yeah. why did he do this “ob? i think he wanted to tellh yeah. why did he do this job? i think he wanted to tell the - yeah. why did he do this job? i i think he wanted to tell the stories of the people who are affected by this crisis and he wanted to make the crisis that happened in the world, the people really feel what's happening by getting close to the people that he would portray. yeah, he's really good at telling human stories. i think that is what he is always aiming to do since top was ever afraid _ always aiming to do since top was ever afraid of _ always aiming to do since top was ever afraid of entering conflict areas? it ever afraid of entering conflict areas? , , ., , , , areas? it must be nervous, but he is so exnerienced- _ areas? it must be nervous, but he is so experienced. he's _ areas? it must be nervous, but he is so experienced. he's been _ areas? it must be nervous, but he is so experienced. he's been in - areas? it must be nervous, but he is so experienced. he's been in iraq, . so experienced. he's been in iraq, libya, he was in multiple difficult countries. i don't think i've had a

friend was so experienced in travelling in these sorts of countries. yet, iwas travelling in these sorts of countries. yet, i was always nervous but i don't think he was afraid and who would've imagined something like this happening. fir who would've imagined something like this happening-— who would've imagined something like this happening-_ -- i this happening. or was proud of? -- what was he — this happening. or was proud of? -- what was he most _ this happening. or was proud of? -- what was he most proud _ this happening. or was proud of? -- what was he most proud of? - this happening. or was proud of? -- what was he most proud of? his - this happening. or was proud of? -- i what was he most proud of? his work? yes, his profession. what aspect was the most proud of. what drove him? if he went away from an area in front while, so glad i got this or told that story? he front while, so glad i got this or told that story?— front while, so glad i got this or told that sto ? . , , , told that story? he was very humble so it's hard — told that story? he was very humble so it's hard to _ told that story? he was very humble so it's hard to say. _ told that story? he was very humble so it's hard to say. if _ told that story? he was very humble so it's hard to say. if you _ so it's hard to say. if you met somebody and was able to make a human portrait they really could show the horror that is happening in a place. but he could show it through human stories, that is would

be the most proud, i would say. the international red cross says time is running out to prevent a worst— case scenario in the besieged southern ukrainian port of mariupol. the city council says the russian bombardment has killed more than two—thousand—one—hundred residents, half of them since wednesday. for more on the situation in mariupol, i'm joined by martin shuepp, regional director of the international committee of the red cross for europe and central asia. worst—case scenario, what is that? the situation that is currently unfolding is simply dramatic. awaking from her colleagues is that

people are running out of water, people are running out of water, people are running out of food, people are running out of food, people are running out of medicine and they have to scramble to find something to survive on and the longer the situation lasts, the more people's lives are at critical risk. you have put this at all sites for the keisha people are evacuated or aid is allowed into mariupol, have been responded to you?— aid is allowed into mariupol, have been responded to you? respond to the conflict and _ been responded to you? respond to the conflict and really _ been responded to you? respond to the conflict and really trying - been responded to you? respond to the conflict and really trying to - the conflict and really trying to help facilitate an agreement that could bring rest fight to the civilians in the situation. but it is key to remember that international humanitarian law is very clear. civilians need to be respected by everybody who is a part of a conflict and the need to do everything they can in the power to keep them safe.— keep them safe. let's talk through the conditions, _ keep them safe. let's talk through the conditions, but _ keep them safe. let's talk through the conditions, but we _ keep them safe. let's talk through the conditions, but we understand| the conditions, but we understand that you have staff and what are

they telling you? what help is able to pass on to those in need, if any? our colleagues are still on the ground mariupol live trade everything they can to try to bring some help to the civilians trapped. and they tried to distribute food and water to over 4000 people and manage to get people to the ukrainian red cross for medical stations provide first aid. but today, the situation such that they themselves are out of basics, out of food, out of water that they themselves of the scramble for their lives. ., ., ., , ., lives. how long to they have left for the rental _ lives. how long to they have left for the rental completely? - lives. how long to they have left for the rental completely? i- for the rental completely? i don't want to speculate. _ for the rental completely? i don't want to speculate. to _ for the rental completely? i don't want to speculate. to underline l for the rental completely? i don't l want to speculate. to underline the urgency that we feel in which the solution needs to be found in order to protect the civilians. in order to protect the civilians. in order to allow them safe passage and for

those who want to leave the safety, or for humanitarian supplies to come in. ,., , ., ., or for humanitarian supplies to come in. reports of dead bodies lying on the round in. reports of dead bodies lying on the ground in _ in. reports of dead bodies lying on the ground in the _ in. reports of dead bodies lying on the ground in the street. _ in. reports of dead bodies lying on the ground in the street. surely, . the ground in the street. surely, thatis the ground in the street. surely, that is a health hazard?- the ground in the street. surely, that is a health hazard? indeed, in the current — that is a health hazard? indeed, in the current situation, _ that is a health hazard? indeed, in the current situation, the - that is a health hazard? indeed, in| the current situation, the hospitals are no longer able to cope. they are running out of medicines and situation in such that it is not possible to really treat everybody with the dignity they deserve, even after they have fallen. it is with the dignity they deserve, even after they have fallen.— after they have fallen. it is a part of humanitarian _ after they have fallen. it is a part of humanitarian international- after they have fallen. it is a part of humanitarian international law that aid should be provided in humanitarian corridors established in people evacuated. why, as you understand it or are being taught, has in this agreement been reached? it is not for us to say why the agreement has not been reached. it is up to them to respect their

obligations and the key obligation is to keep civilians safe and provide them safe passage, to bring them out of harm's way from fighting and of course, true in a situation of conflict, it's hard to build the necessary steps to get an agreement what make half of them since wednesday, in terms of the numbers, needs help? we cannot confirm the figures that we hear. before the recent event, mariupol was a city with several hundred thousand people. we understand is still several hundred thousand people still trapped in the city.— still trapped in the city. finally, what is needed? _ still trapped in the city. finally, what is needed? what - still trapped in the city. finally, what is needed? what needs i still trapped in the city. finally, what is needed? what needs to still trapped in the city. finally, - what is needed? what needs to rushed into mariupol to help? emission food

and water, what else stop an urgent need for medical supplies but more urgency, need for medical supplies but more ur en , . ., , need for medical supplies but more uruen ,. . , ., need for medical supplies but more uren ,. ., , .,, need for medical supplies but more uraen ,. ., , ~', need for medical supplies but more uraen ,. ., , ~ , urgency, civilians to be kept safe and find a safe _ urgency, civilians to be kept safe and find a safe passage - urgency, civilians to be kept safe and find a safe passage out - urgency, civilians to be kept safe and find a safe passage out of i urgency, civilians to be kept safe| and find a safe passage out of the city. and find a safe passage out of the ci . ., ~' , ., , and find a safe passage out of the ci . . ,, , ., , . and find a safe passage out of the city. thank you very much for your time with the _ city. thank you very much for your time with the international- city. thank you very much for your time with the international red i time with the international red cross. in moscow, hundreds continue to take to the streets in protest against the invasion. but the price of resistance continues to be high — as the kremlin has imposed brutal crackdowns on independent media, and banned people from describing the conflict in ukraine as a �*war�*. dissent is even punishable by prison. caroline davies reports. chanting for peace in russia can get you detained. in moscow today, anyone suspected of protesting was quickly swept away. the atmosphere here in the square is really quite tense,

obviously the police officers outnumber the protesters by far and at the moment you just see a sudden surge of activity and the police will run and grab people and carry them and put them into the vans behind me. this location had been shared on social media so the police were prepared. while the press were tolerated, some tried to stop us filming too closely. get back, this officer shouts. even wearing a yellow press vest did not stop some being taken by the police. holding flowers in the square was enough for this woman to be questioned. she was released without charge. she does not want us to use her name. in a quiet street, away from the protest, she tells me that with each passing week becomes harder. the further it gets,

the more police and fewer people. people get demotivated to go out. i go because i have not been arrested yet, so i can afford it. if i do, then for the second time, i will not go out, just because it is going to be a criminal record then. so, i go for now. around russia, some are still protesting against what the kremlin calls it special operation in ukraine. since the end of february, thousands of people have been detained for protesting so far, but in a country of over 140 million, these are not mass movements. in moscow, the authorities are taking no chances with columns with columns of police vans, barricades and document checks and in president putin's russia, there is no space for dissent. caroline davies, bbc news, moscow.

well, that is the protests taking place in russia against the war — but how do we think president vladimir putin sees the war in ukraine going and how seriously nato will take the strike at the ukrainian base near the polish border. mark galeotti is an honorary professor at university college london school of slavonic and east european studies and the author of the weaponisation of everything. i asked him whether the attack near the polish border tells us that president putin is really pushing it here. he is. and he is very much trying to send a message, send a message to the west that although he is not willing to cross the border and actually do something with nato, which are true trigger the security guarantee. he is mad about the arms

shipments and the notion that they would send fighterjets to support ukraine. he's making a point that he can reach out in a range of the country with his missiles, block pieces and generally will do what he can to stop these supplies. i5 pieces and generally will do what he can to stop these supplies.- can to stop these supplies. is that makin: can to stop these supplies. is that making ukraine _ can to stop these supplies. is that making ukraine very _ can to stop these supplies. is that making ukraine very vulnerable i making ukraine very vulnerable because of help from the west? flat because of help from the west? not reall . the because of help from the west? ijrrt really. the help from the list is on the key ways in which can assist ukrainians, but it's quite astonishing there will to resist thatis astonishing there will to resist that is driving this war. but the point is, there's no real way that putin can prevent question supplies from reaching ukraine, too many routes. he can even do that in areas close to where russian forces are, let alone off near the border. so, he is hoping one big symbolic attack like this will perhaps scare some people in the west, make people

think twice. this is psychological warfare as much as anything else. taking a look at the campaign itself, the russian campaign. they started off thinking this would be swift, it would be sharp and it would be in and out or rather an in—state and pretty quickly. what is how it's gone tell you about the command structure and is actually in control of the whole thing? than control of the whole thing? in interesting question. usually control of the whole thing? fifi interesting question. usually an operation like this would have been identified global commander. whether this is to be any such figures. everyone seems to be doing things independently and that creates all kinds of problems with coordination and social but something about how this was a phenomenally badly organised plan. given that they've been planning this for so long, it seems to be that vladimir putin insisted on some political vision of

the war which is that ukraine would collapse of the first bush and the generals did not get to fight the kind of war that the generals usually do fight. they're trying to regroup and make up for that, but it is clear that this was an area that if not lost, seriously suffered from blunders rated the beginning. there have been arrests, _ blunders rated the beginning. there have been arrests, some _ blunders rated the beginning. there have been arrests, some individuals have been arrests, some individuals have been arrests, some individuals have been put under house arrest. because he's not happy with their work. but in terms of vladimir putin himself, he must be responsible partly as well. find himself, he must be responsible partly as well-— partly as well. and to only responsible _ partly as well. and to only responsible but _ partly as well. and to only responsible but this - partly as well. and to only responsible but this is - partly as well. and to only responsible but this is the j responsible but this is the autocracy with the man at the top never makes mistakes, the only mistake is when, the person is been arrested, he was absolutely one of the key figures advising vladimir

putin and telling ukraine, telling putin and telling ukraine, telling putin what he wanted to hear about this. what next is desirous court and moscow and people of on the vladimir putin is no longer willing to give alternative perspectives. this year was basically doing what vladimir putin wanted bedard to a scapegoat because he can never be wrong. so he turned to richard and that area. is it a matter of the west not allowing being involved in what vladimir putin does next. if he does carry on like this, to those nato member countries. itruiith does carry on like this, to those nato member countries. with his messages. _ nato member countries. with his messages. how— nato member countries. with his messages, how long _ nato member countries. with his messages, how long will - nato member countries. with his messages, how long will he - nato member countries. with his messages, how long will he be i messages, how long will he be allowed to do that? would be case of western allies making a move and telling him enough, or will it be those within his own circle? in many wa s, this

those within his own circle? in many ways. this is — those within his own circle? in many ways. this is a _ those within his own circle? in many ways, this is a very _ those within his own circle? in many ways, this is a very asymmetrical. ways, this is a very asymmetrical conflict. or a 20th century work it's the 21st century war. putin's war is very old—fashioned military. where is the west has relayed instead a more indirect tactics of economic warfare, psychological, political, informational, also some things. what were actually hoping for is that ukrainians will hold the russian forces long enough for these alternative ways of attacking russia to really begin their effect and certainly a hammer blow to the economy. admin i mean the people in russia men not try to stop and toxins into vladimir putin. but to the truck at the moment, it's very likely we can do is send nato troops in which means world war iii. so, we have dobro tactics will work us but we have to wait and see.-

we have to wait and see. showing use imaaes we have to wait and see. showing use images that — we have to wait and see. showing use images that we _ we have to wait and see. showing use images that we saw _ we have to wait and see. showing use images that we saw on _ we have to wait and see. showing use images that we saw on sunday. - the ukrainian leader visited a hospital in kyiv, where he met staff and wounded soldiers. he told some of them they would be given medals for military service. earlier, the president claimed almost 13,000 ukrainians have been killed since the russian invasion began 18 days ago. that figure can't be independently confirmed. he paid tribute to the soldiers on his visit. get better soon. wishing you strength. your grade. this is all for you and all of this is on your shoulders. this is the most important thing. this is the scene live in kyiv�*s

independence square this evening. nightly hello. i think we've just about all seen some rain at some stage this weekend. there's also been a lot of sunshine around, a real mixture of sunshine and showers, courtesy of an area of low pressure to the north—west of the uk. looking through the week ahead, though, things are going to get a lot drier, particularly by the time we get to thursday and friday. quite a wet spell potentially, though, midweek. for sunday, this is the area of low pressure that's sat to the northwest of the uk, throwing out some showers, pushing a front eastwards. it's still there as we move into the early hours of monday, so some wetter weather to come for northern ireland and western scotland. it's going to clear across eastern england, but for the southwest of england, it looks like we will see

some heavier showers being thrown up from the south. they're actually tied in with an area of low pressure all the way to the south of us, off the west coast of portugal, but they could bring the odd rumble of thunder into the southwest through the small hours. quite chilly for many under clear skies, with light winds to start us off on monday. this is the weather front that ties back into that area of low pressure all that way south through monday. i think it is going to have an increasing influence, though, on southern counties of england, feeding more cloud up from the channel, bringing some heavier showers in here, some of those maybe pushing as far north as the midlands, eventually into east anglia come the afternoon. then we've got the remnants of that low further north. wet to start the day for northern ireland, drier and brighter come the afternoon, but then looking quite showery — in fact, quite soggy —for some central and southern parts of scotland and northernmost northern england through the afternoon. temperatures, well, not too bad in the sunshine — 12 or 13 degrees. looking to tuesday, i think we'll lose a lot of our showers as high pressure tries to take some influence from the east and we've got, well, i should say a weather front, part of an area of low pressure

trying to push in from the west to the northwest of scotland and northern ireland, so it'll thicken the cloud up for scotland and northern ireland through the day, but i think we'll see little in the way of rain really making inroads eastwards. a lot of sunshine for england and wales, up to 15 degrees in the southeast. could be warmer still across the southeast of england on wednesday thanks to a push of air from the south, but it looks like that southerly airstream will combine with our weather front further north and produce an area of very wet weather across parts of wales, the midlands, northern england and, eventually, into southern scotland through wednesday. perhaps half an inch of rain for some. but from then on, high pressure takes hold, looking much more settled.

this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines: at least 35 have been killed and dozens injured in a missile attack on a ukrainian military base near the polish border. ukraine's president zelensky visits injured troops — the country says it's lost 1,300 soldiers in battle. the international red cross warns mariupol is heading towards a worst—case scenario, unless aid reaches the besieged city soon. the us journalist brent renaud is shot dead in the town of irpin — the first foreign reporter to die in the conflict.

officials in ukraine say at least 35 people have been killed and more than 130 others were wounded in a russian missile attack on a military base in the west of the country, a short drive from the polish border. the attack, which took place in the far west of ukraine, hit the military training base yavoriv. the base was previously used for joint exercises and training with nato. the attack is part of a widening of russian advances towards the west of ukraine — on the door—step of a nato member — and away from the areas which russian forces currently control shown here in red. russia's invasion force has advanced towards several ukrainian cities, with more intense fighting reported in the northern outskirts of the capital, kyiv.

let's get more on that missile attack which has killed at least 35 in western ukraine. our correspondent hugo bachega travelled from lviv towards the yavoriv military base and sent us this update. this is as close as we can get to the yavoriv military base which was targeted by russia earlier this morning. we have seen about ten ambulances leaving the area. there's around two dozen parked here. now, this is a region of ukraine that, up until now, had been spared of attacks. poland isjust 20 kilometres, or 12 miles, in that direction and, of course, poland has been essential for ukrainians in this war because of the flow of weapons coming through the border. and just yesterday, russia said it could target the shipment of arms being sent by the west, so today's events could mark a significant escalation in this war.

and that was hugo bachega there. witnesses to the russian attack on the yavoriv military base have described how "the sky turned red" as missiles struck the site near the polish border. my colleague yalda hakim is in the city of lviv in western ukraine. it is not a surprise that the war has made its way to the west, because of those weapons flowing from the border with poland. the russian defence ministry said in the last 24 hours that they saw that as a legitimate target, military bases, and the weapons coming over the border, was a legitimate target for them, so really it was a matter of time. but the fact is that we are just 65 miles, 80 kilometres, away from the polish border. that military training base was also a nato training base, with many foreign trainers who were based there. we do know at this stage that 35 people were killed, over 135 have been injured. we do not know the numbers of foreigners

who were killed, versus the number of ukrainians, but the fact is that it has now gotten dangerously close to lviv. lviv was miraculously spared during the second world war and, really, the people here, the citizens are hoping against hope that the bombs do not start falling on their city, a city that is a unesco world heritage site. earlier, the mayor of lviv spoke to the bbc and he spoke about needing more military help from the west. have a listen. this attack, this morning's attack, this shock, i had a meeting with polish politicians and polish mayors, and i sent a very strong message, 20 kilometres from european union borders. we need military equipment,

we need bullet—proof vests, we need helmets. that's the mayor of lviv speaking a little earlier to the bbc, talking about the importance of needing military support and a no—fly zone, which of course this country has been asking for for weeks now. and nato has said that is frankly off the table, because it would put it at war directly with russia, so at this stage, still no military, no no—fly zone over the skies of ukraine, but as i was saying, in the last 48 hours, something has shifted in the city. there really is a sense that nowhere in ukraine is safe now. western ukraine had very much become a hub for the tens of thousands of people fleeing fighting in the north, the east and the south of the country, and now, although the soldiers have started to arrive back home, there is a sense that

there are people dying here, every day, and the president of the country, president zelensky, said there is now 13,000 — 1,300, rather — soldiers who have died in the war. were being remembered and suddenly that mass was interrupted because of the air raid sirens. we were then ushered underground to the crypt of the church, which also acts as a basement for the bombs, to protect us from any potential russian bombardment, butjust gives you a sense of when a mass like this, in such a deeply religious place, is interrupted and people do start to flow out, how much this city is under siege. and that was yalda hakim in lviv. pope francis has made an impassioned plea for an end to what he called a "massacre" in ukraine. addressing pilgrims in saint peter's square, he described russia's invasion as an unacceptable armed aggression that must end before ukrainian cities were reduced to "cemeteries".

he called for safe humanitarian corridors, and condemned the bombing of hospitals and other non—strategic civilian targets as "barbaric". christian worshippers in both russia and ukraine are turning to their faith for help in dealing with the appaling circumstance of this war. but what has the churches' response been? thomas bremer is professor of ecumenical theology, eastern european church studies and peace research at the university of munster. and i asked him if there was a place for religious diplomacy in this war. well, ifear not so much. there is a little bit already being offered, at least. you mentioned pope francis and the diplomats from the holy see have offered services, but i doubt that they can be indeed helpful. and in both countries — russia and ukraine — the majority church

is the orthodox church, and therefore it is inner orthodox matters, and ifear church diplomacy cannot do so much in such a kind of war. yeah, because there has been much written of what took place in 2016, wasn't there, between the patriarch of the russian orthodox church and pope francis in havana? in terms of the relationship between the state and the church, just how independent is the church in russia? well, it is, of course, somehow independent, but the problem, from our point of view, is that the russian orthodox church and the russian state in principle mainly share the same views, the same perception of what is going on. so the patriarch, the head of the orthodox church, said in several sermons in the last weeks that, in fact, he shares the assumptions that the war started already eight years ago, said russia has to help

the faithful in ukraine to defend themselves against western villains and so on. so he shares the same narrative as putin does, and therefore it's not so much a question of dependency, but it's a question, as i see it, that both are of the same line. there has been some criticism that some of what the patriarch has said has been slanted towards politics, and of course public discussion of politics is a violation of canon law in the russian church. has he crossed that line? well, ifear you can't be not political in such a situation, whatever you say is political. even if you don't say anything, as he did in some sermons, where he did not speak at all about politics and the situation, it is politics. and then it is also politics when, in the first sermon after the invasion, he didn't mention the word invasion or war. as you know, it's forbidden to use in russia, but he spoke about ongoing events in ukraine.

of course, it is kind of diminishing the size of the war. it's also kind of politics. so it's not my thing to judge whether he crossed the line, but of course he is a politicalfigure. i think he is very much aware of that. this invasion, this more — we will call it that, because it is — has really impacted, it's gone beyond ukraine's borders. ukrainian orthodox church, we are hearing reports that many of the parishioners are too terrified, they fear speaking out.— fear speaking out. yes, it is a very interesting — fear speaking out. yes, it is a very interesting situation, _ fear speaking out. yes, it is a very interesting situation, one - fear speaking out. yes, it is a very interesting situation, one could i interesting situation, one could say, because in ukraine, orthodoxy is split and there are two competing orthodox churches. one of them is a branch of the russian orthodox church, so, and that church, which is under patriarchy rocha very clearly from the very first day of

the war spoke clearly against the war. they demanded from president putin to stop the war, they demanded from the picture to urge putin to stop the war and so on, and it was completely given silence for moscow. now, today, in the sermon, the patriarch said he assumes these people said it under pressure from the ukrainian government, but i know also there's a lot of evidence that many priests stopped to pay for patriarchy —— pray for the patriarch. there is a large tension within the russian orthodox church, in russia itself and its ukrainian branch. �* ., ., , in russia itself and its ukrainian branch. �* ., ., in russia itself and its ukrainian branch. ., ., branch. and that was thomas bremer, who was speaking _ branch. and that was thomas bremer, who was speaking to _ branch. and that was thomas bremer, who was speaking to me _ branch. and that was thomas bremer, who was speaking to me earlier. - a usjournalist has been killed in ukraine. brent renaud was an award—winning film—maker who had previously worked for the new york times but was not on assignment for the paper

while he was in ukraine. he died in irpin after the car he was travelling in came under attack. another journalist was wounded. he's thought to be the first foreign journalist to die in this war. deborah bonetti is the director of the foreign press association. she gave her reaction to renaud's death. it is horrific. when i saw what happened and i immediately saw that he had been shot, ifelt really, really... i felt complete despair. i know so many colleagues that are there, covering, trying to cover the war in ukraine, and i felt like it was one of us, of course it is, even though i didn't know him personally. but many, manyjournalists who are members of the fpa, if they have big bureaus, they cover all of europe from london, and so i know quite a few who have become friends over the years who are there.

and they tell me that the situation there is horrific, and all the ones that i know are not freelancers. it is even more difficult for freelancers. why is that? because they have to sort out their own security, they have to pay for their own drivers and they have to do everything on their own, and they don't have the security at the back from an established news organisation. so in terms of everything on the ground, it's slightly more difficult if you're a freelancer, and i understand that brent was. i wonder if you just could talk us through some of the risks that journalists who enter war zones have to prepare themselves for, or companies like yourselves, saying, "this is what is going to happen and this is what you need to do." well, the fpa is forjournalists who are based in london and work in london. it's the fpa in london and there are many fpas around the world — this just happens to be the biggest

and the oldest as well. but what we do is, especially if we know that there are freelance colleagues covering dangerous situations, conflicts and all that sort of thing, we try to monitor where they are, we try to keep constant contact with them, and we have a plan in place to make sure that if anything happens, there is a small and very simple protocol to follow. but as i say, most of the colleagues that i know that are actually in ukraine now, between lviv and kyiv and in some other locations, they have a big news organisation on their shoulders, as it were, so they are in constant contact with their own desks, and all we can do is basically follow and make sure that the ones that we know and even the ones that we don't, if we can help in any way, then we are here. and that was deborah bonetti of the

foreign press association. despite moscow's continuing attacks, negotiators from both sides have given their most optimistic assessments of the talks aimed at ending the violence. ukraine said the russians had stopped issuing ultimatums and were beginning to engage constructively. the russians have also spoken of significant progress and of possible results within days. however, neither side would say where progress had been made or whether a ceasefire had even been discussed. melinda haring, the deputy director of the eurasia center at the atlantic council, gave her assessment on the progress of negotiations between ukraine and russia. i think it's too soon to say anything in terms of specifics, right? we know that there was allegedly some progress made. this is, i think, round four of the negotiations. in round three, the ukrainians came out saying that all the demands that russia had made were nonstarters and russia said that there

was progress, which was nonsense. so, look, if we can get a little bit of progress and get a real humanitarian zone in play, that's a very good thing. but i think it's too soon to say anything significant at this point. how open is, do you think, president putin to diplomacy? he's closed the diplomacy. he is in the catbird seat, he thinks he's in control and he wants to take all of ukraine. he's very close, within 25 kilometres of kyiv. he is wreaking havoc in the south—east, they're very close to taking the south—east. there's an enormous humanitarian crisis in mariupol that is absolutely devastating. thousands of people have been killed, children have died because they don't have water. and he just bombed in western ukraine, very close to poland and to nato territory. why should he negotiate? does it look, then, as if ukraine... we have seen particularly one city that has fallen to russian control. what's the likelihood

that the whole country will fall under mr putin's control? the whole country will not fall under putin's control. so, there will always be a remnant of ukraine. honestly, at this point, it's a question of who can outlast. the russians are not super strong and the ukrainians are fighting, so can the west continue to send ukraine the arms it needs? can the ukrainians continue to resist? we don't know a lot about what's happening within russia. we know that people don't like the fighting, some people don't like the fighting — it's probably 50—50, we don't have good, reliable numbers — and sanctions are starting to bite. the rouble has gone crazy, interest rates have gone crazy, and there is a lot of unrest in russia itself. so it's really a game of which side can outlast the other side. when we think of russia and we see the pictures, it does look as if, militarily,

they are strong. but you've said that they're not super strong. so where are their failings, where are they weak spots? so where are their failings, where are their weak spots? yeah, that's a great question. the thing that i take away, if you ask me to boil it down, the expert community overestimated the strength of the russian military and we underestimated the strength of ukrainian forces. the russian side does not have good morale, they have serious logistical issues, they're short on fuel and on food. it looks like a lot of the russian soldiers don't want to fight. and the ukrainians, on the other hand, this is not vladimir putin's first rodeo in ukraine. they've been fighting the russians in eastern ukraine for eight years. this is on their home turf, they know what they are doing. and, yes, they don't have the same kind of ships, aeroplanes and they don't have the same amount of manpower, and if you compare them, it's obvious the russians have more. but they're fighting very hard and very strong, and it's quite impressive.

melinda, just our final question. we're starting to see reports of alleged war crimes, the fact that civilians are being fired on, hospitals, for example. if that is the case, do you think this points to a lack of discipline? could it get worse, in terms of possible atrocities being committed by russian forces? yeah, there is a lack of discipline, and that's something our military experts have noted as well. so a lot of people are watching the tank convoy outside of kyiv. and the fact that all the russian soldiers are so close to each other also indicates a lack of discipline. but, yes, it could get out of control. and it's why the west needs to continue to send weapons. i think the west needs to go back to the drawing board and send those polish migs and continue to send humanitarian aid and try and fight for a humanitarian corridor, so more people don't needlessly die.

melinda haring from the atlantic council. now, sport. chelsea beat newcastle 1—0 in the premier league this afternoon in their first home game since the uk government imposed sanctions against roman abramovich. here's more from louisa pilbeam. dramatic events off the pitch and a dramatic win for chelsea on it, as they beat newcastle in the final minutes at stamford bridge, despite chelsea's entire future as a football club in chaos after their russian owner roman abramovich was sanctioned last week, of course, by the uk government. now, as you mentioned, they beat newcastle 1—0. it was in the 89th minute. abramovich was sanctioned last week by the uk government, meaning he cannot sell the club unless he gives the money to the uk government, and the club cannot sell any more tickets or sign new players. sponsors have been pulling out of the club, but you'll see there that, very interestingly, telecoms company three was still on the players�* shirts,

their logo, despite suspending their £40 million shirt deal. now, after the game, chelsea manager thomas tuchel said that he can't control what's off the pitch but that the fans are the priority. and, louisa, we had some tears on the pitch as well for west ham. what happened ? yeah, emotionalscenes when andriy yarmolenko, who is a ukrainian international, scored for west ham in their 2—1 win against aston villa. and he broke down in tears, yeah. that goal meaning so much to him after his home country was invaded russia just over two weeks ago now. he's actually been on compassionate leave and hasn't played for a month for them. powerful words also for him after the game. he said, "it was so emotionalfor me. it is so difficult for me right now in this moment thinking about football, because every day, the russian army kills ukrainian people."

and he also actually wanted to think british people, because he said that he feels a lot of support from british people. there have been some striking images coming out of ukraine. earlier, i spoke to war photographer alex lourie in kharkiv, who has been documenting the war in the country. he shared what he observed while working during the conflict. so i guess the primary observation would be — like you said, i have been here since the beginning of february — how quickly things turned on a dime. i guess it would have been the early morning hours of february the 24th. the night of the 23rd was fairly normal. what we had been doing for three weeks, bars and restaurants were full, people were taking their kids to school and stuff, and then it sort of snapped and we woke up in a different world that day. just before we go and look at some of those pictures, how difficult is it to capture that moment? well, from an emotional standpoint,

it can be incredibly difficult. you kind of have to quiet a lot of voices in your head that are what any human being would experience in a time of immense suffering and perform a job. ok, well, let's take a look at those pictures. i think you've described the state you have to be in. and if we bring up ourfirst picture, we've got an elderly lady with the destruction and we've got fire coming out of an apartment block. just tell us about this. sure, so that would have been the very first thing that i experienced after putin decided to invade ukraine. that would have been, i would say, 9am, 10am in the morning, maybe earlier, of february the 24th. we arrived at this billowing column of smoke, and we were investigating it, me and my colleagues. and it turns out a very large russian munition — people whose opinion i trust say it was a smerch rocket —

had landed in the courtyard of a residential apartment complex, had done a tonne of damage. we saw civilian fatalities. this particular woman was rocking back and forth in an agitated state on the phone, talking to, i presume, a loved one, and some guy had come up to her and wrapped the blanket around her and brought her off — and that's when i took that photo. 0k. our second image you took here, we have got a lady — oh, gosh — herface covered in blood and her head wrapped in a bandage as well. so that would be a woman named elena. she is 53 years old, a teacher, and she was actually, as far as i can recall — memories are blurry in these situations — the first person i saw on scene, bleeding from the head. she took me into her apartment and showed me the huge shard of mirror that had fallen when the munitions hit and sliced her up.

and there was blood all over the apartment, all over the floor. and...a really hard thing to watch, but she seemed keen on having it documented. ok, so an image that we saw pretty early on coming up next, and that is the making of the molotov cocktails. that's an image you can see pretty much anywhere in ukraine. there's molotovs at pretty much every checkpoint, there's molotovs anywhere where they feel like they could be encountering russians. you see it on billboards, instructions how to make them, and that was one instance of that amongst probably thousands. very quickly, alex, are people open to having their photos taken in such trauma? generally, yes. generally... every culture is different, every event is different. but i would say overwhelmingly here, people want this documented as much as possible and want as many people

to see what is going on here. alex lourie there. you are watching bbc news. hello. i think we've just about all seen some rain at some stage this weekend. there's also been a lot of sunshine around, a real mixture of sunshine and showers, courtesy of an area of low pressure to the north—west of the uk. looking through the week ahead, though, things are going to get a lot drier, particularly by the time we get to thursday and friday. quite a wet spell potentially, though, midweek. for sunday, this is the area of low pressure that's sat to the northwest of the uk, throwing out some showers, pushing a front eastwards. it's still there as we move into the early hours of monday, so some wetter weather to come for northern ireland and western scotland. it's going to clear across eastern england, but for the southwest of england, it looks like we will see some heavier showers being thrown up from the south. they're actually tied in with an area of low pressure

all the way to the south of us, off the west coast of portugal, but they could bring the odd rumble of thunder into the southwest through the small hours. quite chilly for many under clear skies, with light winds to start us off on monday. this is the weather front that ties back into that area of low pressure all that way south through monday. i think it is going to have an increasing influence, though, on southern counties of england, feeding more cloud up from the channel, bringing some heavier showers in here, some of those maybe pushing as far north as the midlands, eventually into east anglia come the afternoon. then we've got the remnants of that low further north. wet to start the day for northern ireland, drier and brighter come the afternoon, but then looking quite showery — in fact, quite soggy — for some central and southern parts of scotland and northernmost northern england through the afternoon. temperatures, well, not too bad in the sunshine — 12 or 13 degrees. looking to tuesday, i think we'll lose a lot of our showers as high pressure tries to take some influence from the east and we've got, well, i should say a weather front, part of an area of low pressure trying to push in from the west to the northwest of scotland and northern ireland, so it'll thicken the cloud up

for scotland and northern ireland through the day, but i think we'll see little in the way of rain really making inroads eastwards. a lot of sunshine for england and wales, up to 15 degrees in the southeast. could be warmer still across the southeast of england on wednesday thanks to a push of air from the south, but it looks like that southerly airstream will combine with our weather front further north and produce an area of very wet weather across parts of wales, the midlands, northern england and, eventually, into southern scotland through wednesday. perhaps half an inch of rain for some. but from then on, high pressure takes hold, looking much more settled.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. at least 35 are killed and dozens injured, in a missile attack on a ukrainian military base near the polish border. according near the polish border. to pr eliminating data more according to pr eliminating data more than 30 missiles were fired. air defence systems work and a number were shot down. ukraine's president zelensky, visits injured troops — the country says it's lost 1300 soldiers in battle. the international red cross warns mariupol is heading towards a worst—case scenario — unless aid reaches the besieged city soon. the usjournalist, brent renaud, is shot dead in the town of irpin — the first foreign reporter to die in the conflict.