welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm mariko oi. the headlines: ukrainian officials say a theatre in mariupol that was being used as shelter for civilians has been destroyed. russia denies attacking it. president biden brands vladimir putin a war criminal — as the us pledges a further $800 million of military support for ukraine. russia counts its dead in the war, but vladimir putin insists the invasion is going to plan. also in the programme: freed after six years. nazanin

zaghari—ratcliffe will land shortly in the uk to be reunited with her family. her husband, who led the campaign for her release, called it "the beginning of a new life". we will look back in years to come and be a family again. this will be a chap in our life but there will be more chapters to come. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello to viewers on pbs in the us and around the globe. officials in ukraine say russian forces have bombed a theatre in the besieged port city of mariupol, where it's thought more than 1200 civilians were sheltering. the number of casualties is not yet known — and russia denies it's responsible. and in the capital kyiv, the emergency services said russia had shelled a residential building. the city is currently observing a 35—hour curfew. our first report is from jeremy bowen in kyiv — a warning it contains

some flashing images. just after dawn, another attack at a residential area in kyiv. ukrainian forces say they're keeping russian artillery out of range, but missiles can be fired from russia, and they are harder to stop. it was another harsh day. in the besieged city of mariupol, a theatre was hit, where the deputy mayor says civilians were sheltering. it isn't yet clear how many were in there when it was destroyed. siren blares. and by mid—morning in kyiv, sirens and smoke on the horizon from the ukrainian counter—attack, trying to push back the stalled russian offensive to the north—west. that was why there was a curfew — making it impossible to check out the sounds of battle.

ukraine's president zelensky dropped more hints about a ceasefire. but decisions, he said, had to be in ukraine's interest. perhaps the missile attacks on kyiv are to pressure ukraine to offer concessions for a ceasefire. so far, the attacks are isolated, threatening how bad it could get. for residents cleaning up before the curfew, even a single missile is terrifying. "i'm so stressed," she says. "i can't even tell you anything, i'm still shaking." but really big tests of ukrainian resolve in the capital have not yet happened. more missiles could be that test. ukraine's will to resist, though, is still strong. workshops have switched to war production, strengthening fortifications.

the ukrainians say they're part of the reason why russian troops are not able to break into kyiv. this was filmed before the curfew. what they're working on here is a tyre ripper. the idea is that anyone driving over this will get their tyres destroyed, and they've even got little extra bits that go into the tyre to make it even worse. after three weeks, is a ceasefire possible? if not, will russia punish this city? would that break ukraine's will to fight? jeremy bowen, bbc news, kyiv. president putin has insisted the invasion of ukraine after nearly six years of being held in iran, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe is returning home to london — she's expected to land within the next hour or so.

this is the scene live at the airbase. the british—iranian aid worker was arrested in 2016 and convicted of plotting to overthrow the iranian government — a charge she's always denied. another british—iranian national has also been released after serving a ten year sentence. 0ur diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley, has the very latest. the sheer relief, the joy are written all over her face. this is the moment nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and her relatives have dreamt of for almost six desperate years. gratitude for those that made it happen, as she arrived from tehran in oman, then she boarded another plane, carrying her back to the uk and her excited family. it's the beginning of a new life, a normal life. and there'll be bumps, no doubt, and all the normal squabbles we had before, but, yeah, we're really looking forward to seeing her. gabriella was not yet two when her mother was arrested. now, she's nearly eight. there have been so many false dawns for the family that

richard says she won't believe this is real until she's back in her mother's arms. there's a recovery process. you can't get back the time that's gone, that's a fact, but we live in the future, not in the past, so we'll take it one day at a time. day after day, week after week, richard ratcliffe waged a tireless campaign for nazanin, working around the clock, and last year went on hunger strike for nearly three weeks — an act of desperation to pressure the government to do more to get her home. we are coming back from that package because we want to show you the live pictures at the raf brize norton airbase. we think that that is the plane that may be carrying the british iranian aid worker, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe who was held in around since 2016, accused of plotting to

overthrow the government of iran which she has always denied. 0n the plane as well is a man who was also arrested in 2017 and accused of spying. again, he denies that. he had served his sentence and has been released and both of them are on that plane coming back to the uk and we understand that nazanin will be reuniting with herfamily, richard and gabriella her daughter there as well. let's bring in mark lobel well. let's bring in mark lobel, our reporter here. firstly, talk this how significant this moment is for the two of them to be returning home. you just have to think about how richard and gabriella are feeling right now for the significance of this moment. we're moments from this plane touching down at an raf base and this will be the moment where two much missed british iranian national�*s return on british soil. i think we are about to see that moment happen

now live and for all the families involved, to finally breathe a sigh of relief as the plane, that boeing 757 charter from muscat touches down in england at raf brize norton. moments away and there it is, touched down and a huge sigh of relief for the families of those two much missed british iranian nationals.— iranian nationals. indeed. the famil of iranian nationals. indeed. the family of the _ iranian nationals. indeed. the family of the other _ iranian nationals. indeed. the family of the other man - iranian nationals. indeed. the family of the other man was l family of the other man was saying that they could not believe it until the plane left tehran but, i guess, many questions have been asked about why they have been released now. because they have been repeated efforts by the british government to have them released so why now? it is interesting. _ released so why now? it is interesting. there - released so why now? it is interesting. there has - released so why now? it 3 interesting. there has been a change in tone between the british and iranian governments, no doubt, that is certainly what the foreign secretary, liz truss, who, incidentally, is expected to

meet nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe at raf brize norton now that they have landed there and deliver a statement to the media shortly. the reason is that the government in iran change —— iran changed and messy interests changed. a third member who was arrested in iran was also an american national had brought americans into the negotiations and a change of tack from something that was being held up by the americans, they were nervous about money being paid over because of sanctions was alleviated by the foreign secretary, liz truss. so what happened is that the £400 million debt that uk had owed a run —— iran, was finally paid although it has been ring—fenced for humanitarian needs. but what we see now is a sense of a homecoming and the focus now is really on many people including seven—year—old gabriella who we know has made welcome home signs with her friends and isjust

welcome home signs with her friends and is just keen to hold a mothers hands, to get her back into the house and show her what she has missed out on all those many years of her life when naranin zaghari—ratcliffe was stuck in a iranians prison, going on hunger strike herself with her husband on hunger strike, trying to get the message across that they should not be bargaining chips in an international debt obligation. and for viewers who are joining us, we are seeing life is from raf brize norton airbase where the plane has just landed carrying naranin zaghari—ratcliffe as well as anoosheh ashoori who has been released from prison in iran. talk through exactly what those two were accused of doing in iran. both of them have denied the charges. iran. both of them have denied the charges-— the charges. absolutely. naranin _ the charges. absolutely. | naranin zaghari-ratcliffe the charges. absolutely. - naranin zaghari-ratcliffe was naranin zaghari—ratcliffe was accused of plotting to overthrow lahri's government and strenuously denied those charges throughout. with her

background as a journalist, the reigning government was trying to show that she was in some way taking part in operations within the country. she was there to visit, she says, her parents and the same was true of anoosheh ashoori. he said he was there to visit his mother and he was accused of spying. this is way back in 2017 for him and 2016 41 lack three naranin zaghari—ratcliffe. both protested their innocence but both were put in jail and both of them had very, very difficult times at one point, anoosheh ashoori tried to take his own life and it is very well documented with naranin zaghari—ratcliffe or both her and her husband were doing in order to get herfreed. and her husband were doing in order to get her freed. but now we can see that the plane is coming to the hangar and we are wondering whether her family and the family of anoosheh ashoori are, will they be there to meet them? and also, whether the foreign secretary will come

out onto the tarmac to meet them as well. it is a moment of pride for the british government, as you said, though questions about why it took so long for them to pay that debt and is the defence secretary said, it was that debt, that money that was exchanged, get them released in the end. money that was due to be paid for tanks in the late 1970s that were never actually exchanged and so money that iran wanted back. �* . , , ., and so money that iran wanted back. �* back. and as you said, the lane back. and as you said, the plane just _ back. and as you said, the plane just at _ back. and as you said, the plane just at raf - back. and as you said, the plane just at raf brize - back. and as you said, the - plane just at raf brize norton and we are waiting to see if those two will be reunited by their families. those two will be reunited by theirfamilies. you were their families. you were talking theirfamilies. you were talking about richard, the husband of naranin zaghari—ratcliffe and their daughter gabriella, saying much of her life has been without seeing her mother in person. what conditions do we know of those two, what conditions where they held in in iran in the present? difficult

conditions and difficult prison circumstances. an they are conditions that, unfortunately, led naranin zaghari—ratcliffe through depression, hair loss, ptsd, at one point, to make had to go to hospital. it was very difficult for anoosheh ashoori. in a hunger strike as well. now, naranin zaghari—ratcliffe was released on house arrest and kept in her home in tehran since march last year but was constantly kept in the dark about what would happen, right until the end until she was given her passport is a dual national, given her british and iranian passports and on wednesday and yet was still keptin wednesday and yet was still kept in the dark, right until the last moment when she was suddenly taken to the airport by her lawyer and for something that are dragged on for such a long time, a slow speed, the end seemingly came incredibly quickly and in the words of the

m p in the constituency of naranin zaghari—ratcliffe, she said that the biggest moment now is for the daughter of naranin zaghari—ratcliffe, gabrielle. naranin zaghari-ratcliffe, gabrielle.— naranin zaghari-ratcliffe, gabrielle. ,, ., , gabrielle. she said that this time mummy _ gabrielle. she said that this time mummy really - gabrielle. she said that this time mummy really is - gabrielle. she said that this l time mummy really is coming home. as we can see, she is moments away now from meeting her daughter. it is moments away now from meeting her daughter-— her daughter. it is indeed a very emotional _ her daughter. it is indeed a very emotional moment - her daughter. it is indeed a very emotional moment for her daughter. it is indeed a - very emotional moment for them to be able to finally reunite with their family. to be able to finally reunite with theirfamily. but, of course, gabriella has missed much of her mother but, also, anoosheh ashoori's family talking about how difficult it will be for both of them to just back to a normal life after going through such an ordeal. ., , after going through such an ordeal. . , . ., ordeal. that is right. richard has really — ordeal. that is right. richard has really spoken _ ordeal. that is right. richard has really spoken about - ordeal. that is right. richard has really spoken about this| has really spoken about this being the beginning of a new life. he is most looking forward to getting his wife into the house and making her a cup of tea. 0ne into the house and making her a cup of tea. one of those normal things that we all take for granted that we can do for our

partners and he says that is the kind of thing he wants to get back to doing and as for the family of anoosheh ashoori, they said they just the family of anoosheh ashoori, they said theyjust need to rebuild the foundations of their family and they said it is great to have their cornerstone, as they called their dad and husband, back. that is their daughter, and wife, he is a father of two and children's lives have passed over the last six or seven years without their parents involvement. they've been able to see them at the end of a phone, at one point gabriella was able to see her mother in 2018 for three days, i think, in tehran but she has made all her new friends that she wants to introduce to her mother, she has learned all these new skills and i think she just wants the agony of not knowing when she is going to see her again, because there were many false dawns in this incredible story, but this is for real and this is something that, i think, as we have seen from the news coverage over the past few days, notjust the close

families are notjust politicians but the wider british public spratly need some good news at the moment and they have welcomed this with open arms.— and they have welcomed this with open arms. indeed, you can see live pictures _ with open arms. indeed, you can see live pictures and _ with open arms. indeed, you can see live pictures and a _ see live pictures and a cameraman trying to get a glimpse of hopefully nazanin may be anoosheh ashoori inside the plane, that is the plane that we believe both of them have come back to the uk from iran. it seems like the plan has now stopped taxiing at raf brize norton airbase. —— plane. so hopefully we will get to see them coming off the plane very soon, as mark has been talking about, it has been a very emotionaljourney for both families. let's not forget there is a third person, morad tahbaz, a dual citizen of iran and the us, who has been released from prison but is not yet allowed to leave iran. so

the two of them, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, an aid worker, as well as anoosheh ashoori, a retired engineer, who has been released from prison and were allowed to leave iran to come back to the uk, and we are seeing live pictures from the airbase. mark, let's remind our viewers of the ideal those families have gone through, because just about a year ago, even, nazanin was charged again, wasn't she? she faced a couple of charges and just as she finished serving a five year prison sentence she was charged again. that's right. and although she was held under house arrest since march last year, this has been a real ordealfor since march last year, this has been a real ordeal for them all. in fact, been a real ordeal for them all. infact, in been a real ordeal for them all. in fact, in the last 24 hours, but has probably been some of the most extraordinary for them. this you are seeing at the moment, this boeing 757,

has come from muscat in oman. the second flight they have taken, this one was just over seven hours. the first one was the private plane of the sultan of oman, which took them from tehran to muscat. 0man�*s role shouldn't be underplayed, they helped broker this deal behind the scenes, they are very proud of the role they had in all of this. when we saw nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and anoosheh ashoori getting off the plane in oman it was incredible to see nazanin�*s beaming smile, looking so well at the end of what has been, as you say, such an ordeal. i think everybody nowjust an ordeal. i think everybody now just wants to see an ordeal. i think everybody nowjust wants to see her on british soil, stepping out onto the tarmac, congratulating possibly the pilots there or they are discussing what is happening next, peoplejust happening next, people just want happening next, peoplejust want to finally see her with her daughter, and anoosheh ashoori with his wife and his children, and just to get that

door open of that plane, and allow them time with their family. allow them time with their famil . a ~ allow them time with their famil . ~ ., ~ �* family. indeed, mark, we're waitin: family. indeed, mark, we're waiting for— family. indeed, mark, we're waiting for that _ family. indeed, mark, we're waiting for that moment. i family. indeed, mark, we're i waiting for that moment. mark lobel waiting for that moment. mark lobel, thank you. let's bring in our reporter simonjones, in our reporter simon jones, who in our reporter simonjones, who is at the airbase where that plane has just landed. what is the mood there, simon? 0urfamily members or our family members or government 0urfamily members or government ministers, who is there? , ., , government ministers, who is there? , . , , , there? yes, family members i hear, richard _ there? yes, family members i hear, richard ratcliffe - there? yes, family members i hear, richard ratcliffe is - hear, richard ratcliffe is here, ready to greet his wife. —— are here. we also understand the uk foreign secretary liz truss is here at raf brize norton. we know thisjourney back from iran here today has taken around 12 hours, but the campaign to get nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe free, allowing her to return to the uk, well, but has taken almost six years. there has been a huge amount of diplomacy. that

has been stepped up in the past six months or so, and then really well wind 24 hours when the family were suddenly told there was a possibility that nazanin could be returning home and could be returning home very quickly. —— whirlwind 24 hours. it is something they feared might never happen, and even once the news emerged yesterday of a possible return to the uk, they almost didn't dare believe it. but now this has actually happened. she is now back in the uk, and the reunion is certainly going to be an emotional one. we have heard from richard ratcliffe, who says that he just can't wait to begin what he is describing is a new chapter in the life of the family. but it is certainly going to be a challenging chapter, given what nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe has been through, almost six years in detention, psychological torture, a trial that was

considered unfair, charges that were considered trumped up, accused of spying, plotting to overthrow the government in iran, something she always denied. but now, chance back in the uk tojust denied. but now, chance back in the uk to just enjoy some family time, to try to get back to a sense of normality. —— a chance. what is expected is that the family are likely to go away for a couple of days to have some quiet time, some privacy, just to really spend time together for the first time together for the first time in years. they will also do medical checks on nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe after she has been through. but really, a sense here in the early hours, just after one o'clock uk time, a sense of relief that finally, this has happened. irate a sense of relief that finally, this has happened.— a sense of relief that finally, this has happened. we saw those ste s, this has happened. we saw those steps. getting — this has happened. we saw those steps, getting closer _ this has happened. we saw those steps, getting closer to _ this has happened. we saw those steps, getting closer to the - steps, getting closer to the plane, giving us hope she was about to come down, but those steps have been taken away. so

we will continue to wait. simon, i guess a lot of people have been asking why now? as you said, her husband richard has been campaigning for the release of the many years she has been held in iran. why do we think that both of them had been allowed to leave and come home? i been allowed to leave and come home? ~ , been allowed to leave and come home? ~' , ., , home? i think there is a number of reasons _ home? i think there is a number of reasons behind _ home? i think there is a number of reasons behind the _ home? i think there is a number of reasons behind the release. l of reasons behind the release. a key one has been relations between the uk and iran have improved a little bit over the past six months or so. there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity, diplomats from the uk have been sent over to iran in recent months. one really key factor is the fact that britain decided to pay a historic debt around £400 million, over $500 million, dated from the 1970s. it was money given to pay for

tanks that were never delivered. so that has been a key point as well. plus, i think from the iranian side, there is now a feeling they do want to try to improve relations with the west. sanctions are really biting from the point of view of the west, as well, there is the issue of oil. they would like to be able to secure uranian oil —— iranian oil. that has been banned due to sanctions. both sides, both britain and iran, have seen that actually improving the relationships can benefit both sides. but also, you have to pay tribute to the family of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, and also the ashoori family, who have campaigned for years to get these releases. i think the pressure the family has been placing on the government here, the political pressure they have in applying, the pressure from the public as well to get this result, that has played a key part in all of this too.

indeed. these steps are finally there, simon, so hopefully we will see her, as well as anoosheh ashoori, coming out of that plane very soon. but talk us through about the debt the uk government has now settled with iran? ~ ., uk government has now settled with iran? ~ . ., ., , with iran? well, that that was around £400 _ with iran? well, that that was around £400 million. -- - with iran? well, that that was around £400 million. -- that| around £400 million. —— that debt. $500 million. it has been in dispute since the 1970s, and has particularly come to a fore. it was seen as a real sticking point in the relations between the two countries. now, britain recently found it difficult to find how to actually pay that debt, given the sanctions around iran, given the fears that any money handed over could be used to fund terrorism... handed over could be used to fund terrorism. . ._ handed over could be used to fund terrorism... ok, the door has 'ust fund terrorism... ok, the door

hasjust opened. _ fund terrorism... ok, the door hasjust opened. this - fund terrorism... ok, the door hasjust opened. this is - fund terrorism... ok, the door has just opened. this is the i hasjust opened. this is the moment — hasjust opened. this is the moment we _ hasjust opened. this is the moment we are _ hasjust opened. this is the moment we are waiting - hasjust opened. this is the moment we are waiting to l has just opened. this is the - moment we are waiting to see, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. indeed, simon, we are seeing live pictures of raf brize norton airbase, where we have now seen that plane's door has now seen that plane's door has now opened. we are waiting for nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe as well as anoosheh ashoori coming out of that plane, which has left iran yesterday. nazanin was held in iran since 2016, accused of plotting to overthrow the iranian government, which she denied. anoosheh ashoori also arrested. there she is, coming out of the plane, looking very well, aren't they? nazanin and anoosheh ashoori, coming off the plane, and as mark and

simon have been saying, it was a very surprise announcement that we found out and they are finally home and about to get reunited with their families. you are watching bbc news, and you are seeing live pictures from raf brize norton, where the plane had landed. we saw nazanin and anoosheh ashoori coming off the plane. let's bring back simonjones, who is at the airbase for us. i am sure richard, her husband, and both theirfamily sure richard, her husband, and both their family members, must be thrilled to see them finally stepping off that plane? yes. stepping off that plane? yes, it is a moment _ stepping off that plane? yes, it is a moment they _ stepping off that plane? yes, it is a moment they have - stepping off that plane? yes, | it is a moment they have been waiting for four years. both

families —— waiting forfor years. both families campaigning tirelessly for this moment, some of it in the public eye and some of it behind the scenes. that is what they wanted to see, what we're seeing here in the early hours of this morning. finally, their loved ones back on uk soil, awaiting that reunion. that may take place away from the cameras, it is likely be very emotional. both families have been through a traumatic period, a period lasting years, both families had been putting pressure on the government here and also in iran, but both families had really said they feared they might never see this day actually happen. but now it is becoming a reality, they are back on british soil. but i think it is going to take quite a long time for them to acclimatise, to get over what

they have been through, both families having to endure what has been a trauma. finally now the news that people have been waiting for, something positive for people to enjoy.— for people to en'oy. indeed, simon, for people to en'oy. indeed, simon. an h for people to enjoy. indeed, simon, an emotional- for people to enjoy. indeed, i simon, an emotional moment for people to enjoy. indeed, - simon, an emotional moment for both families, and the viewers. a very emotional moment for two families finally returning back to the uk. there's going to be a different look to the weather on thursday and a change of fortune for much of the country as well. with the rain having cleared away, we had the sunnier skies across more western parts of scotland. there was almost an inch of rain in wiltshire and, for a while, we actually had some quite heavy rain here in lincolnshire as well. with that wetter weather clearing away out into the north sea and these showers yet to arrive from the northwest, we're going to have some clearer skies developing. so, by the time we get to early thursday morning, it could be quite cold and frosty in a few places. temperatures will be close to freezing, maybe down to —4 or so in the northeast of scotland. we'll find those showers coming in from the northwest

across scotland and northern ireland — notjust one band of showers, but two, and they could be quite heavy as well. some sunshine in between. those showers tending to die out as they move over the irish sea, one or two in the afternoon for northern parts of england and wales. but for much of england and wales, it will be dry with more the way of sunshine this time and lighter winds towards the southeast — temperatures here making 14, perhaps even 15 degrees. we do have some weakening weather fronts moving down from the northwest, bringing those bands of showers, but high pressure is going to be building by the end of the week, so it looks like it'll be dry on friday. could have some moisture left over from the earlier showers, giving this patchy mist and fog across parts of wales and the midlands. that will tend to lift, and we'll see a good deal of sunshine, i think, on friday, the breeze starting to pick up in some areas later in the day, but those temperatures are tending to climb as well. 13 degrees in the central belt of scotland, 15 or 16 perhaps in the east midlands and towards the fens. the weekend remains quiet and dry as well. a lot of sunshine around this weekend, but we're likely to have some stronger winds, too. after a chilly—ish start, i think, on saturday,

it looks like a fine spring day — lots of sunshine around, dry day, but a noticeably stronger east or southeasterly wind, which means the highest temperatures are likely to be along the coast of northwest england and around the moray firth — 16 or 17 celsius. high pressure in charge this weekend. the centre of the high is drifting to the east of the uk, allowing these stronger winds to arrive and maybe threatening one or two showers in the evening on sunday in the far southeast of england. 0therwise, sunday is a dry day. temperatures a little bit lower. we may see a bit more cloud on monday and perhaps one or two showers. this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.