today at 6: russia signals a shift in military strategy to the east of ukraine, as ukrainian troops counterattack around the capital, kyiv. with fierce fighting on the front lines, we report on the toll it's taking. and ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, to achieve this against a much largerarmy, more to achieve this against a much larger army, more powerful army, and in place now they are notjust resisting. they are mounting a counterattack. fears of starvation in the beseiged city of mariupol as hundreds queue for food and water. president biden visits poland to show support for ukraine's neighbour, and announces a deal on gas to reduce european reliance on russian energy.

and the other main stories on the programme... new covid cases reach record levels in scotland, with over a million infections across the uk in a week. the duke and duchess of cambridge on the last leg of a caribbean tour that has attracted crowds and some controversy. and we meet the deaf actor troy kotsur, tipped for oscar success this weekend, as he returns to the deaf school inspired by his hollywood debut. and coming up on the bbc news channel... bale puts wales on the brink of world cup qualification but has strong words for the spanish media after that destructive performance against austria.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six, live from the western ukrainian city of lviv. as the war enters its second month, there are signs tonight of a possible shift in russia's military aims, with officials in moscow suggesting they may now focus their military campaign on the east of the country. it comes as ukrainian forces have been bouyed up by their success in driving back russian troops on a number of fronts. according to the latest british military intelligence, ukrainian troops have managed to reoccupy towns and defensive positions 20 miles east of the capital, kyiv. while russian supply lines in that area are said to be overstretched. our international correspondent orla guerin reports now from front line on the northern outskirts of kyiv. on the northern outskirts of kyiv, the burnt—out evidence of russia's defeat — at least for now,

on this front line. ukrainian troops say russian forces tried to get through here four times this month and were stopped in their tracks. "it's a grad rocket," says salim, the commander, showing us what landed overnight. he takes pride in what his men from the 72nd mechanised brigade have done against the odds, and are continuing to do. there's plenty of outgoing fire against russian positions. among the wreckage, a sleeping bag and a uniform from a russian soldier who perished. and what if the enemy tries again to advance here? "they may try," he says, "but i don't think we would let them through. we have let them know

who the ukrainian armed forces are and who the boys from our brigade are. we have taken out four tanks and eight fighting vehicles, and killed about 60 of their people." well, this was a road of destruction for russian forces. there is one burnt—out vehicle here, another one just up ahead. there are two more a short distance away. and ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, a more powerful army. in places now they are notjust resisting — they are mounting a counterattack. for troops here, the priority is to guard this approach to the capital, to make sure the enemy cannot advance. retaining the city is critical for ukraine. taking it is critical for russia.

he wants things the way they used to be. "putin came", he says, "as you see. " "our children and grandchildren are dying. i am 62, i can't leave this place. i will stay here. " "if needs be, i will die here. " "if needs be, i will die here but i will not give them ukraine". "thanks to the english people for helping us". then in anger and in anguish he kicks at the charred

remains of a russian soldier. in a village nearby more evidence of the damage wrought by russia and of its many miscalculations. this tiny hamlet of no strategic value was hit by two ballistic missiles. russia's invasion is not going to plan, and ukrainian forces are emboldened. orla guerin, bbc news, on the northern outskirts of kyiv. well, no city in this country has suffered more than mariupol in the south which has been virtually destroyed by a remorseless russian bombardment, and yet the people of the city have held out, despite a lack of food, water and electricity. the authorities there say now they believe are around 300 people may have died when russia bombed the city's theatre last week at a time when civilians including many children were taking shelter in the building. the estimate is based on eyewitness accounts and cannot be

independently verified. 0ur correspondent wyre davies reports from behind the front lines in southern ukraine. sergey scans the endless flatlands of southern ukraine — the rich, fertile farmland that russia wants for itself. the 62—year—old former fire engine driver never envisaged taking up arms against the might of moscow, but he knows full well what the russian army is capable of doing. translation: we can't see mariupol but we know what's happening - there and we must not let that happen here. these people know that we are here for them. these are the last ukrainian defensive lines in the south before the front line a couple of kilometres away, and all the while russia continues to shell and bomb the city of mariupol, just down the road. the big question here is what does russia do next? here, they say they are armed and ready. towns and villages across the region are targets for russian artillery.

the bombs are getting close. nowhere in the south is really safe. but there are few words to describe the horrors inflicted on mariupol and the 100,000 people trapped inside the city, a catastrophic landscape shredded by russian artillery. starving residents emerging from shelters queue for food. new footage, too, from last week's theatre attack, in which 300 people died, according to ukrainian officials. there is no shortage of volunteers and reservists wanting to avenge what's happening in mariupol. translation: many of our fighters come from places that are currentlyi under russian occupation. all of them have parents, wives and families there, so each one of us is determined to win back our lands as soon as possible. but there's a reason these men are training underground in an undisclosed location. one thing they've learned in the last month is that the sky is full of russian drones trying to spot their every move. and new footage from last week's theatre attack in which 300 people died according to ukrainian officials. there is no shortage of volunteers and reservists wanting to avenge what is happening in mariupol. translation: many of our fighters

come from places that are currentlyi under russian occupation. all of them have parents, wives and families there, so each one of us is determined to win back our lands as soon as possible. but there's a reason these men are training underground in an undisclosed location. one thing they've learned in the last month is that the sky is full of russian drones trying to spot their every move. several military training facilities are reported to have been hit by russian fire. the road to mariupol is fraught with dangers, and it's a road and a destination pivotal to how this war pans out. wyre davies, bbc news, southern ukraine. in a moment, we'll be live in kyiv with our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, but first to moscow and our correspondent carrie davies. —— caroline davies. what are the russian military saying now about

their war aims in ukraine, russian military saying now about theirwaraims in ukraine, and russian military saying now about their war aims in ukraine, and does itamount toa change their war aims in ukraine, and does it amount to a change of strategy? according to the ministry of defence here in_ according to the ministry of defence here in russia everything is going to plan— here in russia everything is going to plan and the first phase of the plan is _ to plan and the first phase of the plan is now— to plan and the first phase of the plan is now nearly complete which means _ plan is now nearly complete which means russia can focus on what it always _ means russia can focus on what it always intended to focus on, the liberation — always intended to focus on, the liberation of donbas, in their words. — liberation of donbas, in their words. in _ liberation of donbas, in their words, in eastern ukraine. many might— words, in eastern ukraine. many might ask— words, in eastern ukraine. many might ask if this was always the intention— might ask if this was always the intention by either russian troops intention by either russian troops in multiple places around ukraine that are _ in multiple places around ukraine that are not donbas? and why did president — that are not donbas? and why did president putinjustify this that are not donbas? and why did president putin justify this about being _ president putin justify this about being about demilitarisation and the de—nazification of all of ukraine? i think— de—nazification of all of ukraine? i think it _ de—nazification of all of ukraine? i think it is — de—nazification of all of ukraine? i think it is too early to say for certain _ think it is too early to say for certain. during the course of the statement — certain. during the course of the statement of defence secretaries were talking about the fact that it is also _ were talking about the fact that it is also important to make sure president _ is also important to make sure president putin's aims are fulfilled, and of course here in russia — fulfilled, and of course here in russia there has been a consistent justification for russia being involved in ukraine because they say they are _ involved in ukraine because they say they are supporting people in the separatist held areas in eastern

ukraine — separatist held areas in eastern ukraine. what many people in the west— ukraine. what many people in the west would be hoping for from these comments _ west would be hoping for from these comments is that this is the first si-n comments is that this is the first sign of— comments is that this is the first sign of where president putin might be willing _ sign of where president putin might be willing to accept a line to be drawn. — be willing to accept a line to be drawn, but at the moment it is still very uncertain. all drawn, but at the moment it is still very uncertain-— very uncertain. all right, caroline, thank ou very uncertain. all right, caroline, thank you very _ very uncertain. all right, caroline, thank you very much _ very uncertain. all right, caroline, thank you very much indeed. - our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in kyiv. how does what has been said thereby military commanders in moscow... what has been the reaction here in ukraine? i what has been the reaction here in ukraine? ~ , ., what has been the reaction here in ukraine? ~' , ., , ukraine? i think they are still assessing _ ukraine? i think they are still assessing it. _ ukraine? i think they are still assessing it. it _ ukraine? i think they are still assessing it. it has _ ukraine? i think they are still assessing it. it hasjust - ukraine? i think they are still assessing it. it hasjust comej ukraine? i think they are still - assessing it. it hasjust come out. assessing it. it has just come out. but i think we have to be very careful. there will be great scepticism, great suspicion here. as caroline said, when this invasion began there seems to be wide reaching goals by president putin who made it clear he did not accept the existence of ukraine and what he called a puppet government. the statement from moscow talked about the first phase of the military operation, having gone according to plan, a success. we don't know how many faces of this military campaign

there are going to be, but we have always known that it is that area of eastern ukraine, the donbas, which of course includes mariupol, and that land corridor around the south linking to the crimean peninsula, at the very minimum, they were the main goals of moscow, and that has again been confirmed in this statement. is what is happening around kyiv, there was just an explosion before we went on air, is this a diversionary tactic? is it meant to create pressure? we have known in the last few days that while russian forces are being pushed back, they are losing ground, they are also at the same time consolidating their position. at some of the best ukrainian fighters have been on that eastern front line, the line of contact between the areas seized by russia and eastern ukraine in 2014. there has been some suggestion russia will want to isolate them from the rest of ukraine. i think what is clear from this invasion is

that president putin murray keeps shifting his war aims until he decides that he can declare victory, and he is not there yet. all right, lyse, thank you very much indeed. lyse doucet fair in kyiv, and thank you as well to caroline davies in moscow. —— who is in kyiv. president biden is in poland, where he's been meeting american troops and refugees close to the border with ukraine. earlier, he announced a deal to provide more shipments of liquid natural gas to the eu, to help reduce europe's dependence on russian supplies. our north america editor, sarah smith, reports from poland. every time air force one touches down, it is designed to send a message. president biden's trip to poland is notjust to reassure a nervous ally but is to make clear the us were back military action if russia attacked poland or any other nato member. the men in the military barbers are his, the us having sent

thousands of extra troops to poland. he has almost said they are not headed to ukraine as america fears sending forces over the border could start a world war, yet biden seems to tell them they would witness the bravery of ukrainians "when you are there. " the bravery of ukrainians "when you are there. " ., ., . ., ., “ there. " the average citizen, look how they are _ there. " the average citizen, look how they are stepping _ there. " the average citizen, look how they are stepping up, - there. " the average citizen, look how they are stepping up, and i there. " the average citizen, look. how they are stepping up, and you will see when you are there, you will see when you are there, you will see when you are there, you will see women, young people, standing in the front of tanks, just saying, i am standing in the front of tanks, just saying, iam not leaving. standing in the front of tanks, just saying, i am not leaving. the standing in the front of tanks, 'ust saying, i am not leaving. the white house quickly _ saying, i am not leaving. the white house quickly clarified _ saying, i am not leaving. the white house quickly clarified that - saying, i am not leaving. the whitej house quickly clarified that america has not changed its stance on sending troops into ukraine. what these forces might be asked to do if russia uses chemical weapons is a more complex question. mr biden said russia would pay a severe price and that nato would respond in kind. the us will not go into detail about what the response to a chemical attack might be, but on the way here to poland the national security

adviser said, the us has no intention of using chemical weapons under any circumstances. while russia is accusing america of talking about an ephemeral threat to divert attention. while the kremlin today was complaining that the west is trying to "eliminate russian culture", comparing cancelled performances with russian artists and composers to nazi germany in the 19305. translation: teddi; and composers to nazi germany in the 1930s. translation:— 1930s. translation: today they are t in: to 1930s. translation: today they are trying to cancel— 1930s. translation: today they are trying to cancel the _ 1930s. translation: today they are trying to cancel the whole _ 1930s. translation: today they are trying to cancel the whole thousand l trying to cancel the whole thousand year old _ trying to cancel the whole thousand year old country and our people. i am talking — year old country and our people. i am talking about progressive discrimination of everything connected with russia. president biden and eu _ connected with russia. president biden and eu leaders _ connected with russia. president biden and eu leaders will - connected with russia. president biden and eu leaders will know. biden and eu leaders will know russia will feel far more pain if europe buys less of its oil and gas, a tough ask for countries dependent on russian energy. i a tough ask for countries dependent on russian energy.— on russian energy. i know that limitin: on russian energy. i know that limiting russian _ on russian energy. i know that limiting russian gas _ on russian energy. i know that limiting russian gas will- on russian energy. i know that limiting russian gas will have i on russian energy. i know that - limiting russian gas will have costs for europe, but it is not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint. it will put us on a much stronger strategic footing.-

stronger strategic footing. america it's promising _ stronger strategic footing. america it's promising to — stronger strategic footing. america it's promising to help _ stronger strategic footing. america it's promising to help european - it's promising to help european nations wean themselves off russian energy supplies by providing large quantities of liquefied natural gas, but only enough to replace about 10% of the gas that you currently buys from russia. president biden is now on his way to warsaw, where the polish president is a close ally but one that wants to offer ukraine much greater military assistance, including war planes. biden so far has blocked that plan. there may be ten stocks ahead. sarah smith, bbc news, warsaw. —— there may be times talks ahead. as we've heard, american presidentjoe biden has said nato would respond if russia resorts to using chemical weapons in the war here in ukraine, but what exactly did he mean? our security correspondent, frank gardner, has been looking at what the response could be. there is currently a fear in some western capitals that russia could be preparing to launch some kind of chemical weapons attack in ukraine. now, chemical weapons are abhorrent. they comprise poison gases, liquids, droplets, and they are banned by an international treaty,

the chemical weapons convention of 1997, to which 193 countries have signed up, including the us and russia. and yet, despite this, four years ago in salisbury the nerve agent novichok was used to try to poison a former kgb officer. this chemical attack was blamed on russia. and in syrian cities like aleppo and ghouta, poisoned gas has been dropped on residential areas, by the syrian air force supported by russian warplanes. so what exactly would be nato's response if russia used chemical weapons? well, the us national security advisor has absolutely ruled out any us use of chemical weapons. there are other things that nato could do. they could step up their military aid to ukraine. could that possibly include tanks and planes? we don't know yet. they could also increase the sanctions, although the sanctions already imposed on russia and its leaders are some

of the strongest in history. frank gardner reporting there. that's all from us here in lviv. now back to reeta in the studio. thank you very much. our top story this evening... russia signals it will refocus its military efforts in the east of ukraine, as it continues to suffer losses around the capital, kyiv. coming up... jurors are shown the police interviews with the man accused of murdering the mp sir david amess. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel... scotland and england go head—to—head in the women's six nations opener this weekend in edinburgh, with current champions england looking to extend their extraordinary winning run. can they make it 19 victories in a row? the number of covid infections has climbed by a million in a week in the uk, according to data from the office

for national statistics. there's been a small drop in northern ireland, but rates in england and wales are up, and scotland has reached a record high. our scotland editor, james cook, reports. step inside this hospital — if you can find space. this is monklands in airdrie, but it could be almost anywhere in the country. these patients have come to accident and emergency hoping for urgent care. instead, they are stuck in a queue as the nhs struggles to cope. this is the most serious situation i've found myself situation i've found myself with in my career. i think we would ask the public to remain patient with us, both in terms of waiting for their appointments to happen but also when they do have to come into hospital, and know that we will see them as quickly as we can. the danger there is that these patients might actually come to harm? that is what was always

on our mind when we are trying to look after patients, that we want to minimise the time they are here so that we can look after them safely. but with waiting times breaking records, the royal college of emergency medicine estimates delays have led to the unnecessary deaths of up to 240 patients in scotland so far this year. we have record numbers in hospital with covid. if i look at our nhs staff absences due to testing positive with covid, they've increased by 100% over the last four weeks, so the most immediate thing we can do, the thing that i think will alleviate most of the pressure from the nhs, is control the transmission of covid. the latest survey by the office for national statistics suggests that almost 4.3 million people in the uk had coronavirus last week, at a million on the previous seven days. in scotland it was one in 11 people with the virus, the highest level ever. in england and in wales it was one and 16. only in northern ireland did cases actually fall, although at one in 17 they are still pretty high. and yet from monday

in wales masks will no longer be the law in shops and on public transport. self isolation rules will end, to. but with cases of the ba2 variant of omicron driving this current surge, some safeguards will remain. one of the reasons why the ba2 variant may have been able to gain a foothold in wales and in the rest of the uk is because of waning immunity, especially amongst the older and the more vulnerable population. and that is why these folk are being urged to grab a jab. this is the spring booster campaign in the suffolk town of newmarket. the nhs in england is under immense pressure too. while back at monklands, get another patient is joining the long, long queue. james cook, bbc news, airdrie. the man accused of murdering the mp sir david amess told police only hours afterwards that it was a terrorist attack, a court has heard. sir david, the mp for southend west, died after he was stabbed more than 20 times during a constituency

surgery in leigh—on—sea in essex last october. the trial at the old bailey heard how 26—year—old ali harbi ali told police officers in questioning that he had "killed an mp". daniel sandford reports. you are under arrest. ali harbi ali was arrested _ you are under arrest. ali harbi ali was arrested minutes _ you are under arrest. ali harbi ali was arrested minutes after- you are under arrest. ali harbi ali was arrested minutes after sir - you are under arrest. ali harbi ali i was arrested minutes after sir david amess was killed and taken to nearby southend police station and today the jury watched what he said officers in video recorded interviews in the hours after the attack. is interviews in the hours after the attack. , , ., ., , interviews in the hours after the attack. , ., , ., attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean, attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean. it _ attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean. it is. — attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean, it is, yeah. _ attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean, it is, yeah. i— attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean, it is, yeah. i killed - attack. is this a terrorist attack? i mean, it is, yeah. i killed an i attack. is this a terrorist attack? l i mean, it is, yeah. i killed an mp. he said he had been carrying the knife for weeks and visited the house of parliament several times. i'll be honest, there's been a lot of times are gone out in my head with a plan to do something.

in court, ali harbi ali has denied murder and preparing a terrorist act. daniel sandford, bbc news at the old bailey. let's take a look at some of today's other news. borisjohnson hasjoined calls for the head of p&o ferries to resign, following the sacking of 800 staff without notice. peter hebblethwaite admitted to mp5 yesterday that not consulting unions before making people redundant broke employment law, but he said he would make the same decision again. ireland's foreign minister, simon coveney, has been ushered away from a building in north belfast amid a security alert. he was giving a peace—building talk at the houben centre on the crumlin road, when a van was reportedly hijacked and driven to the venue. mr coveney was escorted off stage by his security officer. the duke and duchess of cambridge have spent the day

in the bahamas on the final leg of their caribbean tour. the couple left jamaica yesterday after a visit which attracted the usual crowds but also some criticism. the week—long trip, marking the queen's platinum jubilee, also saw the couple visit belize. our royal correspondent, jonny dymond, is travelling with the couple. perhaps not the bahamas they were expecting. is there caribbean tour was drawing to a close, whether they might recognise from home. inside, a traditional tour event, a school close, like so many, through the pandemic. kate paid tribute to parents, guardians and teachers. they, i am sure, have found the pandemic equally hard but they are doing one of the most importantjobs out there, nurturing your young minds and helping shape your futures. we all owe them a huge debt

of gratitude. ourfuture futures. we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude. our future society depends on it. the of gratitude. our future society depends on it.— of gratitude. our future society de ends on it. _, , .,, depends on it. the couple will hope criticism of — depends on it. the couple will hope criticism of their _ depends on it. the couple will hope criticism of their tour _ depends on it. the couple will hope criticism of their tour in _ depends on it. the couple will hope criticism of their tour in jamaica - criticism of their tour injamaica will fade here in the bahamas. they were met with real enthusiasm on the ground at every stop they made, but the wider perception of some engagements was not so positive. the couple were rapturously received at one event in downtown kingston. but the photo that circulated later had, to some, unfortunate overtones of privilege and separation. this afternoon, in the bahamas, the couple thanked pandemic workers. then it was time to party, even as the heavens opened. thejoy then it was time to party, even as the heavens opened. the joy was inescapable. the tour is back on track, but there will be hard questions about how future trips are planned and carried out. jonny dymond, bbc news, the bahamas.

one of the most hotly—tipped films for best picture at the oscars this weekend is coda, a movie that celebrates deaf culture. its star, troy kotsur, is the first deaf male actor ever to be nominated for an oscar. our culture editor, katie razzall, spoke to troy and writer and director sian heder, who's nominated for best adapted screenplay, at a deaf school in los angeles. and, as you'll see, katie's report is subtitled.

time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. the week has ended on a warm and sunny note, and across yorkshire we had temperatures up to 19. i want to use york as an example of how the weather is going to change next week across the uk, and there are two things you can clearly pick out, more cloud next week and the chance of some rain, but also temperatures are going to be dropping significantly, especially compared to all this warm weather of late.

blue skies overnight means tomorrow again will start on a chilly note, with temperatures in rural areas close to freezing, and we could start with some pockets of mist and fog in northern ireland. they won't last long. more cloud in the far north of scotland but otherwise a day like today with lots of sunshine, light winds, some fair weather cloud here and there, not spoiling things, and typical temperatures will be 17 or 18, so warm for the time of year. a reminder, saturday night, sunday morning, the clocks spring forward an hour and we move into british summertime, and we start with high pressure keeping it quiet and dry. there is more cloud in the north sea, and that's getting dragged into the high pressure for the second half of the weekend. four eastern parts of england it might start rather dull and misty on sunday, and that cloud could extent through the midlands into east wales, and a lot of uncertainty about the extent of the club to top it could hang around in areas of the eastern coast of

england, picking the