this is bbc news, i'm lewis vaughanjones. our top stories: ukrainian officials say a theatre in mariupol 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. back home, after six years in captivity in iran, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe arrives back in britain to be reunited with her family. i think it has been a really difficult 48 hours. the expect

patient that they would be released, but we weren't sure and fighting to the last minute. families reunited, the first picture of the nazanin back with her husband and daughter. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. we start in ukraine and the besieged port city of mariupol. officials say russian forces have bombed a theatre, where it's thought more than 1,200 civilians were sheltering. the number of casualties is not yet known, and russia denies it's responsible. meanwhile in the capital kyiv, the emergency services said russia had shelled a residential building. the city is currently

under 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 hit 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 biden has announced a further $800 million of military aid to ukraine. it comes after ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, used a rare live address to the us congress to make an emotional appeal for more help from america. 0ur north america editor sarah smith has more.

straight to the heart of american democracy, a plea for the us to defend democratic freedom. a hero's welcome, but these lawmakers will not answer his pleas for a no—fly zone over ukraine. translation: is this a lot to ask for, to create a no—fly zone over ukraine, to save people? is this too much to ask? showing a video of brutal russian bombardment, zelensky drew a direct comparison with pearl harbor and 9/11 — times when the us was attacked from the skies — then speaking in english to appeal directly to the us president. you are the leader of the nation, of your great nation. i wish you to be the leader of the world. being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.

with this impassioned plea, president zelensky is challenging president biden to defend the very idea of democracy against autocracy, increasing the pressure on the us to do more to support ukraine. but biden is adamant — to impose a no—fly zone would risk escalating this conflict into a world war. what's at stake here are the principles that the united states and the united nations and across the world stand for. it's about freedom, it's about the right of people to determine their own future, it's about making sure ukraine will never be a victory for putin. later, and for the first time, he called putin a war criminal. 0h, ithink he is a war criminal. signing over an additional $800 million of military assistance for ukraine. hundreds of portable surface—to—air stinger missiles have already been sent there,

with many more on the way, along with anti—tank weapons, guns and ammunition to help defend against russian attacks. the us is promising a total of $13 billion for ukraine, in weaponry and humanitarian aid. there is a deep cross—party commitment to help as much as possible, but also a firm resolve that us forces or aircraft will not, cannot get involved in this conflict. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. president putin claims the invasion of ukraine is going to plan and described the attack as �*completely justified'. he also went on to detail extra support for russians, faced with sanctions and inflation. translation: we had no other option but self defence, - for the security of russia, apart from carrying out the special military operation. all the goals set will certainly be achieved. we will reliably ensure the security of russia and our people.

we will not allow ukraine to serve as a springboard for aggressive actions against russia. in terms of the military tactics developed by russian ministry of defence and the general staff, they have been completelyjustified. and our lads, soldiers and officers, have shown bravery and heroism. they are doing everything they can to avoid loss of civilian life ukrainian cities. there's a human toll being paid in russia too, with thousands of soldiers being sent to ukraine to fight in president putin's war. our russia editor steve rosenberg has been to one military funeral in the west of the country. in russia, they are grieving, too. mikhail was killed in action in ukraine. angelika is his widow.

how many russian soldiers have been killed in what the kremlin still refuses to call a war? one family's pain is being repeated across the country. it's a criminal offence in russia to quote anything but official figures. and those are 498 russian servicemen dead. that was on march 2nd. there has been no update for two weeks. many russians rally around their leader in times of crisis. it's as if they don't want to believe their president may have taken a fatal decision. "we're doing the right thing," nikolai says. "nato wanted to set

up shop right next to us in ukraine, "and they've got nuclear weapons. "well done, putin, for stopping them." the kremlin wants russians to believe that what their troops are doing in ukraine is both necessary and heroic. it's what the state media is telling them from morning till night. because if people stop believing that, in large numbers, they'll start wondering why sons, brothers and husbands have been sent into ukraine for what's been called here "the special military operation". father ivan is wondering why. he recently delivered an anti—war sermon, and he criticised the kremlin�*s offensive on the church website. he was detained and fined under a new law for discrediting the russian armed forces. translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however you try to justify

it, is a sin. blood is on the hands of the person who spilled it. if an order was given, it's on the hands of whoever gave the order, supported it, or stayed silent. on his finaljourney, full military honours for soldier mikhail. his country calls him a defender of the fatherland. and yet it was russia's army that attacked ukraine, on the orders of president putin, to restore russian power, and to force ukraine into russia's orbit. russian national anthem plays. but at what cost?

steve rosenberg, bbc news, kostroma. ukrainian forces carried out counter—offensives against russian positions on wednesday, seeking to inflict what one official called "maximum losses". troops tried to regain some momentum with counter—attacks on russian positions outside of kyiv and in the russian—occupied city of kherson, in ukraine's south, according to a senior ukrainian military official. for some analysis of the military strategies employed, i'mjoined now byjohn spencer. he's a retired major and chair of urban warfare studies, madison policy forum. thanks so much for coming on the programme.— the programme. thanks for havinu the programme. thanks for having me- _ the programme. thanks for having me. so _ the programme. thanks for having me. so what - the programme. thanks for having me. so what do - the programme. thanks for having me. so what do you | the programme. thanks for - having me. so what do you think was the aim? — having me. so what do you think was the aim? we _ having me. so what do you think was the aim? we had _ having me. so what do you think was the aim? we had this - was the aim? we had this ongoing 35 hour curfew, what were the ukrainian forces trying to achieve during that time? , ., ., time? the number one thing that all of ukraine _ time? the number one thing that all of ukraine was _ time? the number one thing that all of ukraine was trying -

time? the number one thing that all of ukraine was trying to - time? the number one thing that all of ukraine was trying to do - all of ukraine was trying to do was get civilians out of the battle area. it is a very, very common tactic and combat which is the indiscriminate bombing that russia has done. that is what the ceasefires are meant to do but also both side will start strengthening their forces, resupply, reposition, evenif forces, resupply, reposition, even if they both agree they are not supposed to. find even if they both agree they are not supposed to. and what ou rate are not supposed to. and what you rate the — are not supposed to. and what you rate the chances _ are not supposed to. and what you rate the chances of - are not supposed to. and what you rate the chances of these l you rate the chances of these ukrainian counter—attacks, effectively? obviously they have been under a great deal of pressure in kyiv and the outskirts of kyiv and this apparent attempt to get on the offensive? i apparent attempt to get on the offensive? ~ ., , offensive? i think that is critical and _ offensive? i think that is critical and what - offensive? i think that is critical and what the - offensive? i think that is | critical and what the right thing to do in a massive defensive plan like this, you want to push out if possible, you want to push up the enemy before it gets to this position, you want to encircle

kyiv and plan to penetrate it, these counter—attacks, the small ante armour and bushes keep russia from doing what it wants to do in getting ready for this big battle that they want to have. it's excellent, actually. want to have. it's excellent, actuall . �* , want to have. it's excellent, actually-— want to have. it's excellent, actuall . �*, ., ., ., actually. let's move onto the russian tactics, _ actually. let's move onto the russian tactics, they - actually. let's move onto the russian tactics, they haven't| russian tactics, they haven't managed to get into kyiv proper yet. what you think there tactic is? do you think it is to deliberately try and not do that, just to encircle it and put pressure in that way would you think it is to try to get an? ., , 4, an? no way absolutely think the coal is to an? no way absolutely think the goal is to get — an? no way absolutely think the goal is to get in _ an? no way absolutely think the goal is to get in rapidly. - an? no way absolutely think the goal is to get in rapidly. they i goal is to get in rapidly. they are running out of time, every day if they don't achieve this mission, there only two options they have stopped the first option of rapidly seizing it failed as to encircle it and do what is called a deliberate attack. not completely encircle it but cut it off from the possibility of resupply and re—support and start bombing.

they won't try to vomit into submission, nobody believes that the ukrainians willjust give up especially the underground in the cities typically, they can survive crazy amount of bombing but eventually the russians will attempt to penetrate it and push very large armour formation into the defence and find a whole and then just ran through at. the only other option is to sneak in and i think this curfew that is imposed is a really big step and preventing basically what we call the infiltration of the russians trying to sneak in. interesting stuff, we will see how this deadly and awful situation unfolds, good to get an insight on some of the tactics that could be used on both sides. thanks so much for coming on the programme. truss stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: we'll have more analysis on the arrival back in britain of the aid worker nazanin zaghari ratcliffe. stay with us.

today, we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision — all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats of the west, offering reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what the voters wanted.

this is bbc world news, our main story this hour: ukraine says russian forces have bombed a theatre in the besieged port of mariupol that was being used by large numbers of civilians as a shelter. russia has denied carrying out the attack. within the past couple of hours, the british—iranian woman, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, has touched down on british soil for the first time since she was detained in iran six years ago. this is the moment mrs zaghari—ratcliffe arrived at raf brize norton in oxfordshire just after 1am local time on thursday morning. she walked down the steps of the plane along with fellow british—iranian anoosheh ashoori, after their release was secured. the two later waved at cameras as they walked into a reception building at the air base.

they had flown back via a brief stopover in oman. our correspondent simonjones was at raf brize norton when nazanin landed and gave this update. we know that this journey back from iran today has taken around 12 hours but the campaign to get nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe freed and allowing her to return back to the united kingdom has taken almost six years. there has been a huge amount of diplomacy, stepped up in the past six months or so and then, really, well when 24 hours when the family were suddenly told that there was a possibility that nazanin could be returning home and could be returning home very quickly. it is something that they feared may never happen and even once the news emerged yesterday about a possible return to the united kingdom, they almost did not dare believe it. but now this has

fully 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 as a new chapter in the life of the family. but it's 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 by charges that were considered trumped up, accused of spying and then plotting to overthrow the government in iran, something she always denied. but now, a chance back in the united kingdom tojust enjoy some family time, to try to get back to a sense of normality. what we are expecting is that the family are likely to go away for a couple of days to have some quiet time and privacy, just to spend time together for the first time in years.

there will also need medical checks for nazanin after what she has been through but really a sense here really in the early hours, just after one o'clock uk time, a sense of relief that, finally, this has happened. the british foreign secretary, liz truss, gave this statement shortly after nazanin zaghari ratcliffe and anoosheh ashoori landed at brize norton. first of all, it's fantastic to see a new shea and naesen income of the plane safely back income of the plane safely back in britain for the first time in britain for the first time in years. in britain for the first time in years-— in years. that is truly fantastic _ in years. that is truly fantastic for - in years. that is truly i fantastic for everybody in years. that is truly - fantastic for everybody and i think— fantastic for everybody and i think everybody across the country _ think everybody across the country understands. i've met the families, they are safe and well, _ the families, they are safe and well, people are in very good spirits, — well, people are in very good spirits, it's been a very difficult _ spirits, it's been a very difficult 48 hours, the expectation that they would be released, but we weren't sure

and wait — released, but we weren't sure and wait until the last minute, so it's— and wait until the last minute, so it's been very emotional but are very— so it's been very emotional but are very happy event for the famiiies— are very happy event for the families and i'm pleased to say that they— families and i'm pleased to say that they are both in good spirits, _ that they are both in good spirits, and they are safe and well, — spirits, and they are safe and well, that— spirits, and they are safe and well, that here in britain. so, the british government has confirmed that it settled a debt that was owed to iran to secure the pair's release. in the 1970s, the shah paid the british government 530 million for an order of tanks that were never delivered because of the iranian revolution. nazanin was arrested in iran back in april 2016 as she prepared to leave for london after visiting her parents. months of solitary confinement followed, along with blindfolded interrogations. in september that year, an islamic revolutionary courtjudge sentenced her to five years in jail at a secret trial. she was accused of working against the iranian government. and last spring when she completed that sentence, she was immediately sentenced to another year on charges of propaganda against the regime. but finally she's

home, along with anoosheh ashoori — a retired engineer arrested in 2017 while visiting his elderly mother. he was serving a 10—year sentence for alleged spying, also after an unfair trial. our news reporter mark lobel has been following the story. just to pick up on where you were with the timeline, to bring us where we are today what do both sides in the uk and iran want, uk looking at cheap oil as needs what's going on in the ukraine because of the cost of living, iran wanted to lift economic sanctions, with both those needs pressing with both those needs pressing with the change of governments in iran, the story came to a conclusion, really because they realised with detainees, british detainee such high profile detainees in prison they could move on that issue from the uk point of view but iran was owed money, this £400

million was paid. let'sjust enjoy the moment, i want to show you some pet is that have just been sent out by somebody who was on the plane leaving tae rahn where nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and anoosheh ashoori. a lovely photo from a british diplomat the middle east direct in the foreign office, these are some of the fantastic moments, the moment those two found they were leaving tae rahn, they were on the plane, finally after years and years of campaigning in that time spent in prison. i am sure it must — that time spent in prison. i am sure it must have _ that time spent in prison. i am sure it must have spent - that time spent in prison. i am sure it must have spent a - that time spent in prison. i am sure it must have spent a very| sure it must have spent a very surreal, i'm sure in their minds they must have imagined this moment for so long, losing hope it would ever happen, now they are finally sitting without relief. of course this was a diplomatic effort as well? ., ., was a diplomatic effort as well? . ., , ., well? that what you said in terms of — well? that what you said in terms of losing _ well? that what you said in terms of losing hope, - well? that what you said in terms of losing hope, you | well? that what you said in - terms of losing hope, you have touched a nerve there, both of

them went through such different ordeals, difficult ordeals, anoosheh ashoori at one point thinking of taking his own life, trying to take this life and huge suppression issues for nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, at one point she had to go to hospital. now we have liz truss tweeting her absolute delight. she says she is delighted that anoosheh ashoori and nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe have landed in the uk, reunited with their family and loved ones, welcome home. she picked up on the issue of the third of the three who had been freed but not allowed to leave a run yet, he is an american national as well as a uk and rainier national, he has been released and reunited with his family in iran but she says this is far from efficient we will continue to work to secure his departure from iran, a bit of work left to do there.—

from iran, a bit of work left to do there. , .,, , ., ~ to do there. this has been work onauoin to do there. this has been work ongoing not _ to do there. this has been work ongoing notjust _ to do there. this has been work ongoing notjust by _ to do there. this has been work ongoing notjust by liz - to do there. this has been work ongoing notjust by liz truss - ongoing notjust by liz truss but predecessors and previous prime ministers, too, and not least by richard ratcliffe, extraordinary campaigning over the years? extraordinary campaigning over the ears? ., , extraordinary campaigning over the ears? ., extraordinary campaigning over the years?— the years? there was a hunger strike last _ the years? there was a hunger strike last year, _ the years? there was a hunger strike last year, mr— the years? there was a hunger strike last year, mr ratcliffe i strike last year, mr ratcliffe thanked the uk government and tweets as well. we find out no mande were working very hard at helping them out to and it needed this change of tone and change of attitude, which prompted the iranians changing, right now as we heard from simonjones earlier, richard simon jones earlier, richard ratcliffe simonjones earlier, richard ratcliffe what sort —— was supposedly at brize norton and now is the time for families to reunite. , ., now is the time for families to reunite. , . , . , ., reunite. these are pictures of mezzanine — reunite. these are pictures of mezzanine being _ reunite. these are pictures of mezzanine being reunited - reunite. these are pictures of| mezzanine being reunited with her husband and daughter. asking is that mummy? as she

came down the steps of the aircraft. all of them with anoosheh ashoori. i'm lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. hello there. 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. otherwise, 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.

both sides. thanks so much for coming on the programme. this is bbc news, the headlines: the authorities in the besieged ukrainian city of mariupol say a theatre that was being used by large numbers of civilians as a shelter has been destroyed by russian bombing. city officials say the building was deliberately targeted. russia has denied carrying out the attack. british—iranian woman nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe has arrived back in the uk for the first time in almost six years. her husband and seven—year—old daughter were waiting as her plane touched down. she had been detained in iran, after being accused of working against the government in tehran, something she denied. travelling with mrs zaghari—ratcliffe was the british—iranian man anoosheh ashoori, who has also been allowed to return to the uk.

the retired civil engineer had been detained for almost five