this is bbc news, the headlines: russia has intensified its attacks across ukraine. this was the result of an airstrike near the city of lviv. in the southern city of mykolaiv, dozens of people have been killed in a russian missile strike on an army base. president zelensky called for comprehensive peace talks with russia. fighting has reached the centre of the southern port city of mariupol, both sides have confirmed. many civilians are still trapped in the city, with more than 80% of residential buildings either damaged or destroyed. vladimir putin has praised russia's unity, over what he calls the country's "special operation" in ukraine, and he thanked russia's military. his comments came in a public speech

to a packed stadium in moscow. some students and public workers said they'd been pressured into turning up to the rally. now on bbc news, ukraine: reporting from the front lines. three weeks and and despite the continuing diplomacy care is a city on edge. nowhere is so. it is as reading west but towards lviv, until now relatively substantive. and an attack on a centre for peacekeeping activity, a0 kilometres north

of lviv mark and escalation. many are trapped in cities under heavy bombardment and ukraine is facing a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. as the conflict enters its 19th day russian forces step up their campaign to capture ukraine's major cities. in kyiv, the sound of activity and sirens are ever present. russian troops are on the outskirts of the capital and getting closer. at least one person dies and i2 getting closer. at least one person dies and 12 are injured after a russian airstrike a block of flats north of care. jerry witnesses of the attack. this is the nightmare for the city, more attacks like this and of course they are vulnerable to missile strikes. but kyiv is big and sprawling

and the defenders have many advantages which they are using. problems for the russians include rivers, not just the one running through kyiv but it's tributary is an large areas of marshland that can hold up and bogged down armies. at the headquarters, the generals running kyiv defence invited us to their war room and said they are confident, like their president. they are tracking the two main russian thrusts from the east and from the north—west, which they say have barely moved and are being attacked. we have heard about the long russian convoy to the north—west of the city, what has happened to that? translation: has happened to that? tuna/mom- has happened to that? translation: ., ., , ., ~ translation: that was a week auo, our translation: that was a week ago, our military _ translation: that was a week ago, our military heated. - translation: that was a week ago, our military heated. they i ago, our military heated. they moved a bit but they never did anything we felt in kyiv. what anything we felt in kyiv. what do ou anything we felt in kyiv. what do you think _ anything we felt in kyiv. what do you think the _ anything we felt in kyiv. what do you think the russians - anything we felt in kyiv. what do you think the russians want to do with the city? do they

want to come into the city and concrete or encircle it? translation: concrete or encircle it? tuna/mom- concrete or encircle it? translation: , , ., concrete or encircle it? translation: , ., ., translation: maybe they want to encircle the city _ translation: maybe they want to encircle the city but _ translation: maybe they want to encircle the city but i _ translation: maybe they want to encircle the city but i do _ translation: maybe they want to encircle the city but i do not - encircle the city but i do not think they have enough soldiers and they understand that in kyiv, around 20,000 people have received weapons and the city is fortified. attacking will cost them a very large losses. but the russians have not turned anything like that full force on the capital city yet. —— that full force. a convoy is finally able to live the embattled city of mariupol which has been underferocious russian abutment but it is a drop in the ocean a city of nearly half a million people. for those who remain, conditions are described as apocalyptic, with bodies on the street and shortages of food,

water and medicine. mariupol is a big important city and the russians need to capture it to help their advancing southern ukraine and at that x are becoming briefly familiar. if you cannot seize ascetic, then simply flatten it. —— they attack six. since the beginning of this while russia has launched an unprecedented crackdown on freedom of expression and protesters. instagram, one of the last platforms for russians to raise opposition to the invasion, is blocked and the main news programme on russia channel one is disrupted by an audacious protest against the wall. in russia, tv is tightly controlled. to transmit the prevalent line. but look what happened tonight, live on the main evening news. a woman runs onto the set to condemn

russia's onslaught in ukraine. she is a channel one editor. a sign reads, no walk, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here, russians against the wall. —— war. before the protest she recorded this message. russian was committing a crime in ukraine, she said, and vladimir putin was responsible. quite extraordinary, i have never seen anything like that here. and what it shows that despite the almost total control of the media, it is still struggling to persuade some people within the system that what the kremlin is doing is right. she is reportedly detained by police and there has been an internal investigation by the television station stop three weeks ago, aa million people

lived in ukraine, nowi.7 million of them, mostly women and children have escaped to poland. in the last 19 days, the population of the capital warsaw has increased by staggering 15%. we are there to meet the volunteers who stepped in to welcome refugees. trained by train, wave after wave of refugees makes its way to warsaw, as long as russia's onslaught continues. an army of polish volunteers open their hearts and homes the start of the crisis. by now, they tell us they are pretty overwhelmed. translation: i us they are pretty overwhelmed. translation:— us they are pretty overwhelmed. translation: i have seen fellow volunteers fainting from - volunteers fainting from exhaustion. we need the authorities to step in and get organised. authorities to step in and get organised-— organised. slowly, refugee centres are _ organised. slowly, refugee centres are setting - organised. slowly, refugee centres are setting up - organised. slowly, refugee centres are setting up here organised. slowly, refugee - centres are setting up here now and the eu has promised funds, but not enough says warsaw's

mayor. but not enough says warsaw's ma or. . , . , but not enough says warsaw's ma or. . , . _ mayor. inhabitants increased by 5096 and we're _ mayor. inhabitants increased by 5096 and we're doing _ mayor. inhabitants increased by 5096 and we're doing everythingj 50% and we're doing everything can to help but slowly we are becoming overwhelmed. we need a european and international response. mil european and international re5ponse-_ european and international resonse. ~ , response. all the rest says it wants to _ response. all the rest says it wants to help _ response. all the rest says it wants to help ukrainian - response. all the rest says it wants to help ukrainian but i response. all the rest says it| wants to help ukrainian but it is neighbouring holland that feels like a first responder, very much into the eye of the storm and onto france, this ever—growing influx of refugees seeking safety and ongoing concern that russia's aggression could spread over the border. translation: what the border. translation: what vladimir putin is doing _ ukraine is part of it you a political plan. we have to help ukrainian is because they are fighting for our freedom as well. the 20th day of a deepening

conflict and in kyiv, they met want the city is facing a difficult and dangerous moment after five people are killed difficult and dangerous moment afterfive people are killed in russian as drugs overnight stop 35 hour curfew is imposed from the evening onwards. kyiv is a city living on its nerves. for the second day running, kyiv has woken up to this, this is a residential building. there is no sign of anything else around except blocks of flats. there is a real sense that the danger, the conflict is coming closer and a feeling here now that nowhere save. four people were killed here in their homes. svetlana, who is russian and horrified by moscow's attacks, is warranted for her friends. translation: isilfrom my window _ friends. translation: isilfrom my window the — friends. translation: isilfrom my window the building - friends. translation: isilfrom my window the building was - friends. translation: isilfrom my window the building was on l my window the building was on fire. —— i saw. my friend

leaves on the iath floor. i assume she is dead because she was bedridden. many people lived in the building. some left. i am very sorry i did not leave this place earlier. find leave this place earlier. and this also _ leave this place earlier. and this also is _ leave this place earlier. and this also is part _ leave this place earlier. and this also is part of _ leave this place earlier. and this also is part of ukraine's new normal, at the funeral of a soldier killed resisting the russians. this kernel was mind in his town outside kyiv. there is grief over the losses in a battle. still, ukrainians are standing firm. united in sorrow. north—west of kyiv,

ukrainian troops fight to stay the advance of russian forces but they are making headway to the south. russia claims it is now in control of an entire region here. andrew harding spoke to some of the residents trapped in the city. in a city under russian occupation, another display of public fury. the citizens of kherson hurling insults against the russians. we are against the russian invasion. we are against the russian invasion-— we are against the russian invasion. ~ ., invasion. we cannot reach the ci riaht invasion. we cannot reach the city right now _ invasion. we cannot reach the city right now but _ invasion. we cannot reach the city right now but a _ invasion. we cannot reach the city right now but a local- city right now but a local teacher agreed to film for us. look, almost the entire city is here. , ,. , ., here. describing what it is like to confront _ here. describing what it is like to confront russian i like to confront russian soldiers. i like to confront russian soldiers-— like to confront russian soldiers. . , . , ., soldiers. i was crying to them, no soldiers. i was crying to them, go home. _ soldiers. i was crying to them, go home. so _ soldiers. i was crying to them, go home. so to _ soldiers. i was crying to them, go home, go to your— soldiers. i was crying to them, go home, go to your mum. - soldiers. i was crying to them, | go home, go to your mum. did they reply? two were laughing. i was really furious so ijust

cried out some curse words to them. �* ._ cried out some curse words to them. �* , ., cried out some curse words to them. ., , , them. away from the protests, empty shelves _ them. away from the protests, empty shelves in _ them. away from the protests, j empty shelves in supermarkets but for now there is still food to be found here. remarkably, ukrainians are still in control of the mayor's office, for now. can here shelling outside, says the deputy mayor. an we are getting used to it. the russians have allowed us to keep working but it is not clear how long that will last. western countries apply more sanction to increase the pressure on moscow. talks between ukraine and russia continue and it ukraine's president hence at what might form part of any future settlement. translation: ukraine is not a member of nato. we heard four years the doors were open but we also heard we could notjoin. it is

a truth and it must be recognised. a truth and it must be recoanised. ~ . ,, ., �*, recognised. meanwhile russian's forei . n recognised. meanwhile russian's foreign minister _ recognised. meanwhile russian's foreign minister set _ recognised. meanwhile russian's foreign minister set up _ recognised. meanwhile russian's foreign minister set up some - recognised. meanwhile russian's foreign minister set up some ofl foreign minister set up some of russia's demand. translation: the neutral military status of ukraine, security guarantees for all participants, demilitarisation of ukraine so that no threat to the russian federation ever come from its territory. this federation ever come from its territo . �* , , ., territory. as this war intensifies, - territory. as this war intensifies, the - territory. as this war - intensifies, the diplomacy is intensifying as well but it has to be said, for all the talk of cautious optimism, possible compromise at the ukrainian— russian negotiation table, there is still no strong signal from moscow, from president putin that this war is going to end anytime soon. the country has now enjoyed three long weeks of war and for those in the capital, the battle is getting closer. for the third

consecutive mornings, they bear the brunt of the shelling. here, two people were injured. 35 had to be evacuated. most of the city is underground, waiting for a the city is underground, waiting fora 1.5 the city is underground, waiting for a 1.5 day curfew to finally end. the language of diplomacy between russia and ukraine is shifting but russia has many redlines in this crisis. and the sounds of war here are louder than the statements. the russian foreign minister talks of hope of compromise. the question is, who is going to be doing the compromising? president zelensky addresses a joint session of the us congress, calling again for a no—fly zone of a more military aid, including fighterjets. speaking in english, he makes an impassioned plea to president biden.

you are the leader of the great nation. they wish you to be the leader of the world. being the leader of the world. being the leader of the world. being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace. applause what's at stake here is the principal�*s of what the united states and the united nations across the world stand for, is about freedom, is about the right for people across the world to determine their own future. it's about making sure that ukraine will never be a victory for vladimir putin. hours later, president biden denounces president putin as a war criminal. i denounces president putin as a war criminal.— war criminal. i think he is a war criminal. i think he is a war criminal. _ war criminal. i think he is a war criminal. western - war criminal. i think he is a i war criminal. western ukraine has escaped — war criminal. western ukraine has escaped relatively - has escaped relatively unscathed so far. for weeks it has been a century for the displays, those fleeing bombardment. lviv, though, has been a city getting ready for

an attack, jonah fisher med volunteers going through a crash course in weapons handling. we have been invited to a school building in lviv to see volunteers being given a crash course in handling a gun. a grandmother is here with her architect husband. lode grandmother is here with her architect husband.— grandmother is here with her architect husband. we need to be prepared- _ be prepared. translation: ., translation: normally i wouldn't _ translation: normally i wouldn't even _ translation: normallyl wouldn't even point - translation: normally i wouldn't even point a - translation: normallyl wouldn't even point a gun| translation: normally | | wouldn't even point a gun at translation: normally | - wouldn't even point a gun at an animal. — wouldn't even point a gun at an animal, but this is now a time to learn— animal, but this is now a time to learn how to hold weapons and shoot them. its to learn how to hold weapons and shoot them.— to learn how to hold weapons and shoot them. as one by one the volunteers _ and shoot them. as one by one the volunteers take _ and shoot them. as one by one the volunteers take their - and shoot them. as one by one the volunteers take their turn, | the volunteers take their turn, we are entering by the awful soundtrack of this war. so you can just hear their the air raid siren has gone off. some people are leaving, some people are carrying on. in the

basement, those on the gun course mingle with the local children and mums that have decided not to flee ukraine. we find a doctor at lviv hospital. she is out there training. her job is to save lives, but she says she is now ready to kill. i'd stay here and i'd defend under bombing, under different military troops. and a stay underfire. military troops. and a stay under fire.— military troops. and a stay under fire. �* ., ., , under fire. and you are ready to ull under fire. and you are ready to pull the — under fire. and you are ready to pull the trigger— under fire. and you are ready to pull the trigger on - under fire. and you are ready to pull the trigger on that - under fire. and you are ready| to pull the trigger on that gun if it comes to that? if to pull the trigger on that gun if it comes to that?— if it comes to that? if they have no — if it comes to that? if they have no choice, _ if it comes to that? if they have no choice, yes. - if it comes to that? if they | have no choice, yes. when if it comes to that? if they - have no choice, yes. when the all clear sounds _ have no choice, yes. when the all clear sounds we _ have no choice, yes. when the all clear sounds we are - have no choice, yes. when the all clear sounds we are invited | all clear sounds we are invited ljy all clear sounds we are invited by yuri and alessia back to their apartment to see their new guns. this is normally for hunting. bought after russian arrays in western ukraine this weekend.

translation: �* , �* , translation: it's sad. it's very sad- — translation: it's sad. it's very sad. sometimes - translation: it's sad. it's very sad. sometimes it - translation: it's sad. it's i very sad. sometimes it seems like a — very sad. sometimes it seems like a had _ very sad. sometimes it seems like a bad dream. it's not right _ like a bad dream. it's not right. this should be happening. —— this shouldn't be happening _ happening. music plays. how many russian soldiers have been killed in what the kremlin still refuses to call a war? is criminal offence in russia to quote anything but official figures. steve rosenberg looks at the human cost of pution's conflict. many russians rally around the lead in times of crisis. it's as if they don't want to believe their present may have taken a fatal decision. " we are doing the right thing, nato wanted to sent up shop right next was in ukraine and it 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 leaving that in large numbers, they'll start wondering why sons, brothers, and husbands have been sent into ukraine for what has been called here the special military operation. father ivan is wondering why. he easily delivered an anti—war sermon and he criticised the criminal�*s offensive on the church website. he was detained and find undera church website. he was detained and find under a new law for discrediting the russian armed forces. translation: i forces. translation: , ., ., , translation: i believe that any bloodshed, _ translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however _ translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however you - translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however you try - translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however you try to i bloodshed, however you try to justify it, is a sin. blood is on the hands of the person who

spilt it. if an order was given, it's on the hands of whoever gave the order, supported it, or stayed silent. 0n supported it, or stayed silent. on his finaljourney, full military honours for soldier mikaeel. 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. but at what cost?

as the conflict enters its 22nd day, ukraine's second city, tarkeeth, is in ruins. most residents have fled, but despite heavy bombardment, local fighters continue to hold off the russian advance —— kharkiv. quentin sommerville is embedded with the ukrainian forces. russia says it is to militarising ukraine, instead it is creating a wasteland. what it can't have it destroys with a vengeance. these were family homes on the edge of kharkiv. civilians are daily targets of vladimir putin's war. by the back door, a dead russian soldier. suburban gardens have become battlefields. from europe's

pasztor. —— past. but here the men of ukraine's 22nd battalion have pulled off a miracle. they have pulled off a miracle. they have stopped the might of the russian army at their city gates. ill—equipped and vastly outnumbered, three weeks on they are still holding the line. russian boots have failed to gain hold here. frustrated, they have sent troops elsewhere, leaving heavy artillery to bomb the city into submission. constantine, a former air force pilot, has come out of

retirement to fight. translation: , , , translation: this is the first line of defence _ translation: this is the first line of defence for _ translation: this is the first line of defence for the - translation: this is the first line of defence for the city. . line of defence for the city. if they get through here they will enter kharkiv. this road takes you from russia to the very heart of the city. but the heart of kharkiv _ very heart of the city. but the heart of kharkiv and - very heart of the city. but the | heart of kharkiv and ukrainian resistance is still beating. just beyond this position there's only open country and russians. they've tried to punch through here again and again and again, and their fails. ukrainian armed forces are keeping them at bay. the russians try to encircle the city, gaining the field, taking out the frustration with artillery. you can hear it. not just these frontlines, but on the entire population of kharkiv. a russian missile

screeches above us. in this crater, six ukrainian soldiers died in a single strike. and away from the front, no neighbourhood is a safe. —— is safe. russian rockets fall all around us. safe. russian rockets fall all around us— safe. russian rockets fall all around us. , w' around us. get in here, quick, aet around us. get in here, quick, net in! around us. get in here, quick, get in! this — around us. get in here, quick, get in! this is _ around us. get in here, quick, get in! this is the _ around us. get in here, quick, get in! this is the reckless - get in! this is the reckless targeting _ get in! this is the reckless targeting of— get in! this is the reckless targeting of a _ get in! this is the reckless targeting of a human - get in! this is the reckless targeting of a human life. | get in! this is the reckless i targeting of a human life. to the south, the invaders are advancing. but here in ukraine's second city, kharkiv stands defiant while russia

rages with incandescent fury. survivors emerged from the bombing of a theatre in the already busy city of marion. rescuers are struggling to reach those already trapped under the rubble. president zelensky accuses russia of deliberately targeting the theatre that was being used as a shelter. russia denies carrying out the attack. 0fficials carrying out the attack. officials in kyiv say russia is carrying out a genocide. so the intention of _ carrying out a genocide. so the intention of russian _ carrying out a genocide. so the | intention of russian aggressors is to— intention of russian aggressors is to destroy mariupol to the ground _ is to destroy mariupol to the ground. but the main thing and the main— ground. but the main thing and the main tragedy that they are losing — the main tragedy that they are losing other people. we will rebuild _ losing other people. we will rebuild ukraine. but we will not, _ rebuild ukraine. but we will not. you _ rebuild ukraine. but we will

not, you know, we cannot bring back— not, you know, we cannot bring back our— not, you know, we cannot bring back our people. they died. the ci of back our people. they died. the city of lviv. _ back our people. they died. the city of lviv, well _ back our people. they died. tie: city of lviv, well away from the main battle zones in the east and south of the country, awakes to a series of explosions. a large plume of smoke can be seen in the international airport. the authorities _ international airport. the authorities here - international airport. the authorities here are - international airport. ti2 authorities here are saying that an aircraft repair plants or maintenance centre was hit, not the actual airport itself. the authorities say that no—one was working at the plant at the time, but one person sustained medium injuries. what we don't know is what kind of aircraft they may have been repairing stop we would guess that russia is trying to go after any infrastructure of ukraine's, potentially including aircraft ukraine were used to potentially fight russia. russia's aggression in ukraine has turned millions of lives upside down. and with each day the conflict moves a step closer to the west point while russian forces continue to be

frustrated at the level of ukrainian defence, the question is, for how much longer? hello. there will be a few pockets of fog around this morning — not as widespread as yesterday morning, and the frost won't be as well, but still a fairly chilly start. 0therwise plenty of sunshine, i think, once again through the day. a bit more breeze picking up compared with yesterday, so quite strong and gusty for western and southern coasts in particular, and coming in off the cold north sea, it will temper the feel for the east coast. so a breezy day but plenty of sunshine still, and temperatures will notch up to 1a or 15 degrees, but we could see 18 potentially in the north—west highlands. now, the high pressure bringing the settled weather will continue throughout the weekend. but coming in from the east, that breeze, as i say, will make things feel a little

on the chilly side and actually may bring a slight chance of showers into eastern areas. but i think, more widely, a bit of frost sunday morning and a bit more fog around as well. but because of the risk of showers in eastern areas and a bit more cloud in the west, i think slightly cooler on the whole.

this is bbc world news. i'm lucy grey. our top stories: russia intensifies its attacks across ukraine, on multiple fronts. this is the result of an airstrike near the city of lviv. those reaching safety, escaping the besieged city of mariupol, have endured weeks of russian shelling. translation: there are dead people lying around _ and no—one to take them. they just lie there. it shouldn't be like this. someone must intervene. at a rally in moscow, vladimir putin praises what he calls "russia's heroic deeds" in ukraine. solidarity in space — three russian cosmonauts have arrived at the international space station, but are they wearing the colours of ukraine?