tonight at six — the united nations appeals for an end to the war in ukraine saying people are enduring a a �*living hell'. explosion we have a special report on the battle for a key town in the south of ukraine where ukrainian troops and local people have pushed back russian forces. this community achieved something remarkable here. but we need to put it in perspective. this war is only a few weeks old and the russians will almost certainly be back with more soldiers and a lot more firepower. fleeing the beseiged city of mariupol — survivors tell of children dying there because of a lack there because of a lack of food and water.

bombing every ten, five minutes and we hadn't any central heating, gas, electricity, food or water. also on the programme — one of president putin's most vocal critics is sentenced again. he has been sent to a high security prison. russia's opposition leader alexei navalny is imprisoned for nine years after being convicted of fraud police, please, quick now. the man is wielding a knife. the family of sir david amess is played a recording of the terrifying moment. and the families in britain linking up with ukrainians who want to come here — despite the scheme being criticised for being too complicated. and coming up on the bbc news channel — will the uk and ireland host euro 2028? with reports the bid from the five associations is set to be unopposed.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six live from the western ukrainian city of lviv. the head of the united nations, antonio guterres, has appealed for an end to the war in ukraine saying people there are enduring "a living hell", under russia's systematic bombardment. ukraine says ten hospitals have been destroyed and major cities are running short of both food and medical supplies. heavy fighting is continuing in many parts of the country. but our first report tonight comes from the southern town of voznesensk, where troops and a small population ofjust 35,000 people has seen off an attack

by the russian army. taking voznesensk would have been significant — it would have allowed russian forces to move on toward the main port of 0desa, and a major nuclear power plant. andrew harding has been meeting local people there who've won one battle — but fear another could be imminent. in war, a single bridge can sometimes make all the difference. a bridge and a town determined to keep it from the enemy. and that's what happened here in voznesensk, a quiet farming community that stood its ground. security cameras captured the moment russian tanks roared into town, determined to seize the bridge, and beyond it a clear road across southern ukraine. but the locals were already setting a trap. all hands on deck. blocking of roads, guiding the russians into an ambush.

gunfire a local shopkeeper, alexander, filmed himself on the front lines. explosion "you little beauties!" he shouts. "it was a colossal effort by the whole town," he says. "we used hunting rifles, people threw bricks, old women loaded sandbags, the russians didn't know where to look. i've never seen the community come together like that." as the invaders approached the bridge, the locals blew it up. at which point these british anti—tank weapons played a decisive role. the ukrainians destroyed almost every russian vehicle, denying them the chance to seize the town and to rebuild the bridge. tank tracks still mark svetlana nikolajevna's garden. her outhouse took a direct hit.

she says the russians took two ukrainian soldiers prisoner in there, and she feared they were going to kill them but then the battle got out of hand. that's the blood of russian soldiers who were sheltering in her house. while she hid in a cellar, her cottage became a russian field hospital. translation: they left at night in such a hurry. | they left almost everything behind. theyjust took their dead and wounded. it may be russia's heaviest defeat so far, the troops retreating far to the east. this town, this community achieved something remarkable here. but we need to put it into perspective. this war is only a few weeks old and the russians will almost certainly be back with more soldiers and a lot more firepower. not surprisingly the town hall

is crowded with people wanting help getting out of voznesensk. 0thers go straight to the 32—year—old mayor. he is well guarded these days, brimming with confidence, but realistic about what lies ahead. "we know we can't win here without more anti—tank weapons," says yevheni velichko. "we are grateful for western supplies but we need more. we know the russians will be back." back for the bridge and back for the town that stood its ground. andrew harding, bbc news, in voznesensk, southern ukraine. along the ukrainian coast, russian naval forces have started shelling the outskirts of the port city of 0desa, as part of efforts to cut ukrainians off from the black sea. there are fears the russian fleet is getting ready for a larger scale attack. 0ur security correspondent gordon corera has this assessment of russia's military strategy.

russia invaded ukraine from a number of directions but it's the south where the fighting has been fiercest and which looks to be strategically most important. russian forces entered through crimea which they had already seized in 2014. we have just seen details of some of the fighting around voznesensk. it is one of a number of places where russia has met much tougher resistance than it expected. this is a strategically important place. the reason is, if russia seized it it would offer them a land route towards the historic city of 0desa. the port of 0desa has already been preparing its defences. 0ne western official today said it remains a prime military objective for moscow. so let's look at the south—east now. we have heard a lot about mariupol. you can see the importance of the

city because it would give russia a land bridge between the east and crimea if they were able to seize it. the russian forces seen here in red have encircled the city and have started to go in. and the devastation has been pretty terrible, with some estimates putting up to 90% of mariupol destroyed. so the russian ambition may be to seize the whole of the south, leaving ukraine landlocked. that would impose economic as well as military costs. but russia has faced fierce resistance, its forces are spread thin, and it's not always been able to keep territory it has taken, so that may be an ambition to far. gordon corera reporting. as we've heard, that southern port city of mariupol is a key strategic target for the russian military. around 300,000 people are believed to be trapped there with supplies running out and aid blocked. residents have endured weeks of russian bombardment with no power or running water.

ukraine's president has said there is nothing left in the city but ruins. wyre davies sent this report from zaporizhzhia, where some people from mariupol have managed to flee. after 170 miles, mined roads and 15 russian army checkpoints — freedom. their ordeal is by no means over but for these families who have escaped from mariupol in a motley convoy of bomb—damaged vehicles, the last month has been as close to hell as any human should ever get. it was bombing the last three days, it was bombing every ten, five minutes and we haven't any central heating, gas, electricity, food or water, nothing. before leaving, katya grabbed her obstinate dog jesse. but this isn't the first time she's fled war. i passed through war in 2014.

i'm from donetsk. but it was light variant, really. and now it's my second war but it is harder and more difficult, but i will survive and i will remember it. and i'm happy that i will live here and i'm now in ukraine. this van filled with 25 people also made it through today. all occupants of the same bunker in mariupol escaping together. from ages 2—75. 0vercome with emotion, babushka, or grandmother, anna, says it's all too much for me at my age. some of those arriving today gave us videos, a snapshot of the nightmare in which they have been living and the perils of theirjourney out. around 300,000 people are still thought to be

trapped inside the besieged city, much of which has been destroyed by the russian bombardment. it was a bombardment that almost took the life of two—month—old volodymyr when a shell landed near their apartment his father instinctively threw himself over the baby. dad alexei was hit by shrapnel and glass. his son, born only a month before the war, bears no injuries. "after that we lived in the shelter cooking with wood and just trying to survive," says alexei. ukrainians have their differences, but the war has brought people together in adversity. volunteers provide anything those escaping mariupol need for their onward journeys, knowing full well their town could be next. wyre davies, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent, is in kyiv.

the un secretary general says ukrainians are living through hell. there is no real sign of any end to that a living hell any time soon. just listen to what the un secretary—general said today, how he described this war, morally unacceptable, politically indefensible. we have never heard a un secretary general use those kind of words. he's the kind of both sides kind of diplomat. he has to be. he is the un secretary general. but today he called on russia to end this war and said there was enough to negotiate at the negotiating table. but what did we hear from moscow today, the kremlin spokesman? he said the negotiations were going more slowly and less substantively than we would have hoped. what does

that mean? what we do know from other mediators and negotiators is some of the, let us say, more unrealistic demands have been taken off the table, that russia is no longer demanding an end to president zelensky�*s government. the ukrainians are no longer demanding tojoin immediately the nato military alliance. but for the tougher issues there has to be a meeting between president putin and president zelensky. and we heard today from the israeli prime minister naftali bennett expressing a readiness to come here to kyiv, but he said only when the negotiations reach a new level of seriousness. negotiations reach a new level of seriousness-_ negotiations reach a new level of seriousness. lyse doucet, thanks very much — seriousness. lyse doucet, thanks very much indeed, _ seriousness. lyse doucet, thanks very much indeed, our— seriousness. lyse doucet, thanks very much indeed, our chief- very much indeed, our chief international correspondent. that is all for me and the team in western ukraine and i will hand you back to the studio in london. thank you. the jailed russian opposition leader, alexei navalny — one of president putin's fiercest critics — has been handed

another prison term — he was convicted of fraud and sentenced to nine years in a maximum security prison. human rights groups have denounced the verdict as politically motivated. afterwards, mr navalny — who has criticised the kremlin�*s war in ukraine — accused russia's leaders of being "war criminals." 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg, reports. the images are grainy but the meaning was clear. kremlin critic alexei navalny already a prisoner, was about to receive anotherjail term. his prison colony had been turned into a courtroom, his supporters call it a show trial. he was sentenced to nine years, maximum security, for fraud. this was mr navalny just over a year ago. russia's most prominent opposition figure detained when he flew into moscow. his arrest and imprisonment sparked nationwide protests. but what followed was

a kremlin crackdown. the result, more repression, less freedom. so much has happened here in the last year. the russian opposition has been crushed, kremlin critics have been silenced. this feels like a very different russia. and that feeling is all the stronger after president putin's decision to send his troops into ukraine. the kremlin calls what it's doing in ukraine a special military operation. it demands that everyone do the same. the freedom of speech is nonexistent. this is the horrible war that we are not even allowed to call the war because here it is called a special operation. and people that come onto the streets with a banner saying no war

are detained. this streets with a banner saying no war are detained-— streets with a banner saying no war are detained. this russian mp thinks that in times — are detained. this russian mp thinks that in times of _ are detained. this russian mp thinks that in times of trouble _ are detained. this russian mp thinks that in times of trouble russians - that in times of trouble russians should support the motherland. figs should support the motherland. is for alexi should support the motherland. sis for alexi nell danny? he cheated on the government and certain businesses.— the government and certain businesses. �* , , , businesses. and this is seen as widely politically _ businesses. and this is seen as widely politically motivated. it| businesses. and this is seen as l widely politically motivated. it is not. so there are no political prisoners in russia?- not. so there are no political prisoners in russia? there are no olitical prisoners in russia? there are no political prisoners _ prisoners in russia? there are no political prisoners in _ prisoners in russia? there are no political prisoners in russia. - prisoners in russia? there are no political prisoners in russia. notl prisoners in russia? there are no| political prisoners in russia. not a sinale political prisoners in russia. not a single one? _ political prisoners in russia. not a single one? not _ political prisoners in russia. not a single one? not a _ political prisoners in russia. not a single one? not a single - political prisoners in russia. not a single one? not a single one, - single one? not a single one, absolutely- — single one? not a single one, absolutely. that _ single one? not a single one, absolutely. that is _ single one? not a single one, absolutely. that is precisely l single one? not a single one, l absolutely. that is precisely the -icture absolutely. that is precisely the icture at absolutely. that is precisely the picture at the — absolutely. that is precisely the picture at the kremlin _ absolutely. that is precisely the picture at the kremlin paints - absolutely. that is precisely the picture at the kremlin paints for the russian people, hoping they will believe that there is no repression here, no war, no problem. more than 150,000 people in the uk have said they want to provide a temporary home for ukrainian refugees since the scheme was launched last week. but the scheme has been criticised for being too complicated. people wanting to open up their homes need to find the ukrainians they want to sponsor.

but there's no formal process to do that. our special correspondent, lucy manning, has been speaking to people who have signed up for the scheme in buckinghamshire. tranquil marlow on the river, signs of renewal, a long way from the thunder of shells where lives end. but ukraine isn't forgotten here — farfrom it. houses are ready, but those sponsoring refugees complain the system isn't. how many houses have you got in the community for ukrainian refugees? we've got 35. and how many refugees have come so far? zero. and how long do you think it's going to take for the first ones to start coming? i would say, if my people get here in a week, i'll be happy. it could be two weeks. they have got no heating. they're running out of money. is it your birthday soon? rebecca lewis is sponsoring maria and her two children, currently living in a room with ten people after fleeing ukraine. we put their visa application

through, but it's taken us hours and hours, so my husband wrote a document to explain the process. the document is nine pages. the homes for ukraine scheme is absolutely brilliant, but there are some issues with the process that is blocking people being able to help these refugees fast enough. and how does it leave you feeling that you haven't managed to bring any of your ukrainians over yet? it makes me sad and it makes me frustrated because it's not the image of the united kingdom that i have. in poland, steve mclean found the clothes he bought to donate weren't needed — homes were. he's trying to help some of the refugees come to britain, where he has 25 other homes lined up in his community. just really frustrating. we have applied for one family to go to the uk, but the visa application process has been taking them a long time. it needs to be a lot faster and the uk need to do a lot more.

the family he's sponsoring are now thinking of heading to germany instead. as the exodus continues, there are no figures for how many visas have been issued on this scheme. scotland and soon wales are doing things a little differently so ukrainians don't have to find named individuals. but the uk government says it is moving as quickly as possible to help people find safety, and it says the home office has streamlined the visa process to welcome people faster. but most of the 150,000 rooms offered are still empty. lucy manning, bbc news. jurors have heard that the man accused of murdering sir david amess told one of the mp's aides that he didn't think he'd "take too long", as he arranged an appointment for october last year. the old bailey also heard that ali harbi ali, who's 26 and from north london, pretended to be a health care worker. mr ali denies stabbing sir david at his constituency surgery in essex and preparing terrorist acts.

heading from london to leigh—on—sea by train for what the prosecution says was a terrorist assassination. ali harbi ali is accused of researching several mps, including michael gove before settling on a sir david amess as his target. screen grabs left on his phone show he had booked an appointment and it said, "i don't think i'll take too long, thanks." the appointment was at belfairs methodist church were in a room beside the altar the prosecution says he said sorry and then stabbed sir david amess to death. yvonne yves who was also waiting to see the mp dialled 999. emergency. police, please, quick now. a man is wielding a knife and he threatened me. they say he's killed david amess at belfairs methodist church. he wants to get shot, apparently. he wants to be a hero. he wants the police to come and shoot him. who, the person with the knife? yes. —

he is wielding the knife now. he says if we go near him, he will stab us. the prosecution says thatjust before the attack ali harbi ali messaged family and friends on whatsapp saying he'd done it for the sake of allah. he denies murder and preparing a terrorist act. daniel sandford, bbc news, at the old bailey. the time is 6.21pm. our top story this evening. the united nations appeals for an end to the war in ukraine saying people are enduring a living hell. also coming up... go on, charlie. hit it, hit it. that's it. it's in!— go on, charlie. hit it, hit it. that's it. it's in! the 12-year-old coalie that's it. it's in! the 12-year-old goalie and _ that's it. it's in! the 12-year-old goalie and his — that's it. it's in! the 12-year-old goalie and his last-minute - that's it. it's in! the 12-year-oldl goalie and his last-minute winner goalie and his last—minute winner that has gone viral. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel — as the deadline looms for bids to buy chelsea, their supporters trust urges the government to disregard any bid that wouldn't give fans additional representation and power

in decision making. the number of disabled people who are struggling to pay their energy bills could more than double this year, to over two million, according to charities. those with disabilities or long—term health conditions often need extensive electrical equipment to survive, which can be expensive to run. campaigners say more should be done to help with the rising cost of energy. 0ur social affairs correspondent michael buchanan reports. ruby walsh has done well to reach 15 years of age, but she needs help. this is where ruby spends most of her time. ., ., , , her time. the teenager who is blind and deaf has _ her time. the teenager who is blind and deaf has cerebral _ her time. the teenager who is blind and deaf has cerebral palsy - her time. the teenager who is blind and deaf has cerebral palsy and - her time. the teenager who is blind and deaf has cerebral palsy and hasj and deaf has cerebral palsy and has and deaf has cerebral palsy and has a palliative care team. she and deaf has cerebral palsy and has a palliative care team.— a palliative care team. she has a nebuliser machine _ a palliative care team. she has a nebuliser machine and _ a palliative care team. she has a nebuliser machine and a - a palliative care team. she has a| nebuliser machine and a freezing pump and her oxygen concentrator. all of the life—saving equipment costs over £6 a day to run and the family's energy bills have risen to £225 a month. charlotte worries what her daughter's final few months will be like. we her daughter's final few months will be like. ~ ., .,

her daughter's final few months will be like. . . ., , , be like. we want a simple life where we can enjoy ruby — be like. we want a simple life where we can enjoy ruby and _ be like. we want a simple life where we can enjoy ruby and she - be like. we want a simple life where we can enjoy ruby and she can - be like. we want a simple life where j we can enjoy ruby and she can enjoy the outside world, staying indoors if she needs to be, comfortably, rather than having to think about what we are going to forfeit for her to have pieces of equipment on. being disabled cost money. almost £600 a month more according to one survey, and that is before the impact of rising energy bills. people are turning off power and carers _ people are turning off power and carers are — people are turning off power and carers are turning off essential equipment in order to save money. this is a _ equipment in order to save money. this is a humanitarian crisis and will only— this is a humanitarian crisis and will only get worse.— this is a humanitarian crisis and will only get worse. come here, this site. and will only get worse. come here, this site- and is — will only get worse. come here, this site. and is mentally _ will only get worse. come here, this site. and is mentally alert _ site. and is mentally alert but physically _ site. and is mentally alert but physically unable, _ site. and is mentally alert but physically unable, relying - site. and is mentally alert but physically unable, relying on i physically unable, relying on personal assistance and kc for her everyday needs. personal assistance and kc for her everyday needs-— personal assistance and kc for her everyday needs. that's it. nice and rentl . everyday needs. that's it. nice and gently- good _ everyday needs. that's it. nice and gently. good girl. _ everyday needs. that's it. nice and gently. good girl. the _ everyday needs. that's it. nice and gently. good girl. the 82-year-old| gently. good girl. the 82-year-old who also has _ gently. good girl. the 82-year-old who also has cerebral _ gently. good girl. the 82-year-old who also has cerebral palsy - gently. good girl. the 82-year-old who also has cerebral palsy has - gently. good girl. the 82-year-old l who also has cerebral palsy has seen her energy bills rise by nearly 50% since july, her energy bills rise by nearly 50% sincejuly, forcing her to cut back on heating. iii since july, forcing her to cut back on heating-—

on heating. if i feel cold, i go really tight — on heating. if i feel cold, i go really tight and _ on heating. if i feel cold, i go really tight and i _ on heating. if i feel cold, i go really tight and i can't - on heating. if i feel cold, i go really tight and i can't really i on heating. if i feel cold, i go i really tight and i can't really do anything, so it it's really worrying. my legs and my hands are always frozen. and that makes me have added pain.— always frozen. and that makes me have added pain. ministers say they want disabled _ have added pain. ministers say they want disabled people _ have added pain. ministers say they want disabled people to _ have added pain. ministers say they want disabled people to ensure - have added pain. ministers say they| want disabled people to ensure they are claiming all the benefits they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to and they are spending an extra £9 billion helping all households with rising energy bills. increasing cost have forced this person to consider stark choices. it has chronic kidney disease and undergoes dialysis at home. to save money, he might need to get treated in hospital but will likely get less dialysis.— likely get less dialysis. there are otential

likely get less dialysis. there are potential detrimental effects - likely get less dialysis. there are l potential detrimental effects to my blood chemistry and therefore my physical and mental health as a result. it literally feels like you don't matter and you are being priced out of existence. campaigners say capped energy — priced out of existence. campaigners say capped energy prices for- say capped energy prices for disabled people and substantial benefit increases would make a significant difference. michael buchanan, bbc news. the chancellor will unveil his spring statement and pressure is mounting on chancellor rishi sunak to take action, to tackle these soaring costs. 0ur economics editor faisal islam has been to derbyshire to speak to people there. the fuel price shock is already here for those that use heating oil, such as this derbyshire farm. there is no cushioning or cap from surging international energy prices here. these heating fuels are in the process of trebelling in cost. it could be a sign of what is to come more widely. there is no protection there. no protection. it's hitting you straightaway? that's right, it's another £400 just on that one load so over a year you're talking £3000 or £4000 extra you've got to find. how will people afford that? i've no idea! you'lljust have to juggle and do without. what, and turn down thermostats? turn thermostat down, put extra clothes on. here there is a long history of fuelling the world,

but the global price shock from imported energy is hitting hard at alfreton market. everything's going up and the rate of pay and things like that is not going up to match it. notjust going up a little bit, like a couple of percent, really quite significant? yeah, fuel and, you know, gas and electric prices. courgettes, normally £5 a box, £12 a box. i 12? yes. stuff'sjust ridiculous. bananas used to be about eight, ten. £18, £19 a box now. and you just have to pass that on? you've got to pass it, you've got to. i just as the economic picture was beginning to brighten up after two years of the pandemic, the spring statement will reveal the impact of those clouds of rising prices made darker by russia's invasion of ukraine. the surge in energy prices

and coming food crisis are global phenomenon affecting the world, but the rise in taxes which is really quite significant not only dashes only really happening here in the uk under pressure is on the chancellor to show what help we can give. at the david napier clothing factory they have expanded british manufacturing using green energy, but there's frustration about taxing jobs. the national insurance increase which is proposed is going to cost us and our staff £150,000. that's a lot of money for us to find extra. faisal, what we have got to do here is we have got to be able to pay more to our staff. the pain is being felt in households and businesses across the nation. the chancellor's message tomorrow that he can offer some help but only so much. a toddler who died after being attacked by a dog at her home on merseyside has been named as bella—rae birch. tests are being done to find out whether the dog that killed the one—year old was an illegal breed.

0ur north of england correspondent, judith moritz, reports. bella—rae birch was only 17 months old, just at the toddling stage. last week her parents bought a new pet to live at the family home in st helens. yesterday, it turned on the little girl. hearing screams, neighbours rushed to help and tried cpr. the emergency services were called out to an unimaginable scene. at this stage, we understand that the family dog they had bought just a week earlier has attacked bella—rae inside the family home. bella—rae was taken to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts of police officers at scene, paramedics and doctors, sadly, bella—rae died of her injuries yesterday afternoon. the dog was handed over to police and was humanely destroyed. the animal is being forensically examined to see whether or not it was a breed which is banned by the dangerous dogs act.

police are trying to identify its history and trace its previous owners. there have been tributes to the toddler from the local community. her parents are being given support. they say bella—rae was much loved, is sadly missed and will never be forgotten. judith moritz, bbc news, st helens. meet the 12—year—old goalkeeper from notting in a moment he will never forget. —— from nottingham. it was 2—2 for charlie clarke's junior�*s side the gedling southbank pa nthers. .. that's it. that's it. hit it, it sooner. but in the last moments of the match — the young goalkeeper took his chances... and it certainly paid off. i heard it was the last minute of the game — i heard it was the last minute of the game and ijust went for power and tried _ the game and ijust went for power and tried to — the game and ijust went for power and tried to score. i didn't think it was— and tried to score. i didn't think it was going to go viral.-

it was going to go viral. charlie clark there _ it was going to go viral. charlie clark there and _ it was going to go viral. charlie clark there and his _ it was going to go viral. charlie clark there and his dad - it was going to go viral. charlie clark there and his dad took i it was going to go viral. charlie i clark there and his dad took that piece of video and has been watched ljy piece of video and has been watched by more than 1 million time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. not a bad result weather—wise if you like spring warmth and sunshine and this was the scene in the north—west of wales, a beautiful day and temperatures in north—west wales today got close to 21 celsius and the warmest day of the year so far will stop 21 as well in northolt in the north—west of london and plenty of other places not too far behind. for most of us it's been a story of beautiful sunshine, patchy cloud in the west where it has been breezy and one or two rogue showers this afternoon but one or two across northern england and southern scotland and they will fade and overnight we look at clear, starry skies. at this time of year despite warmer days, the knights can still get quite cold and so it will be tonight with temperatures getting close to freezing and below in places, so a touch of frost or some and some fog patches across parts of south—east scotland and northern

england and especially through the vale of york but