tonight at ten — russia signals a shift in its military strategy in the war here, narrowing its focus to the east of the country. it comes amid new evidence that ukrainian troops have pushed back russian forces from around the capital kyiv. we have a report from the front line. orla guerin: and ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this - against a much larger army, a more powerful army. in places now they're notjust resisting, they are mounting a counter—attack. but in the south of the country, there are fears of starvation in the besieged city of mariupol, as hundreds queue for food and water amid the devastation. and president biden visits poland to show support for ukraine's neighbour.

and the other main stories tonight... 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 in the sport on the bbc news channel, find out how england's cricketers get on on day two of the deciding test against west indies in grenade. —— grenada.

good evening. we're live in the western ukrainian city of lviv. the russian military have signalled they are shifting the focus of their campaign here in ukraine and will concentrate their efforts on the east of the country. it's being seen as a scaling back of the kremlin's war aims. and it comes as ukrainian forces have succeeded in counter—attacking russian troops on a number of fronts, especially around the capital kyiv. according to the latest british military intelligence, the ukrainians have reoccupied towns and defensive positions 20 miles east of the capital, while russian supply lines in that area are said to be overstretched. our international correspondent orla guerin reports from the front—line on the city's northern outskirts. 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 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. no city in this country has suffered more than mariupol in the south, which has been virtually destroyed by remorseless russian bombardment. yet the people of the city have held out — despite a lack of food, water and electricity. this evening, president macron has said france, greece and turkey are hoping to convince russia to help people to leave the city. the authorities in mariupol now say they believe 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 can't be independently verified. 0ur correspondent wyre davies reports from 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're here for them. these are the last ukrainian defensive lines in the south before the front line a couple of kilometres away, and of course 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's 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. several military training facilities are reported to have been hit by russian fire. the road to mariupol is fraught with dangers, but 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 speak to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet in kyiv. but first to our moscow

correspondent caroline davies. is this a scaling back of moscow plus my ambitions in this war, do you think?— you think? well, not if you listen to the ministry _ you think? well, not if you listen to the ministry of— you think? well, not if you listen to the ministry of defence - you think? well, not if you listen to the ministry of defence today. they were talking about how this is all going to plan, in fact this is stage one of the plan that is now completed and they can now focus on donbas and eastern ukraine. given that the west is saying the complete opposite about how russian plans are going this could be an attempt by russia to try to rebut that, we don't know for definite at this stage whether this will be a dramatic change in strategy. the mod statement suddenly left room for manoeuvre if russia decides to do anything it decides to do next. we also heard from president putin today, talking notjust about the war in ukraine but also about culture wars?— war in ukraine but also about culture wars? yes, so president putin was _ culture wars? yes, so president putin was talking _ culture wars? yes, so president putin was talking about - culture wars? yes, so president putin was talking about what. culture wars? yes, so president putin was talking about what he i culture wars? yes, so president -

putin was talking about what he was saying was the west excluding russia and russians from cultural and sporting spheres. he compared this to nazi germany burning books and said it was about russia's culture and heritage trying to be stamped out by the west. what it is probably more likely to do is it's about president putin trying to ramp up support in the russian public telling them the west hates them and is against them. this discussion about culture wars and cancel culture is something we've heard from the kremlin before, it's something they've ridiculed about the west, so it's relatively easy hit to talk about it again. it's about president putin trying to control the narrative about what's happening in ukraine and what the russian people here and given the few numbers of independent media that are still operating in russia this message meet many millions of people's gears and it will lodge in many millions of minds here. caroline, thank you. lyse doucet in

kyiv, if this is a narrowing of the kremlin's war aims, what have ukrainian authorities made of it? we are waiting to hear their considered response _ are waiting to hear their considered response but there was no trust before _ response but there was no trust before this invasion started and there's— before this invasion started and there's simply no trust now. it's been _ there's simply no trust now. it's been completely shattered and while there are _ been completely shattered and while there are still more than 100,000, close _ there are still more than 100,000, close to _ there are still more than 100,000, close to 200,000 russian forces and henvy— close to 200,000 russian forces and heavy armour and russian warplanes are still_ heavy armour and russian warplanes are still in_ heavy armour and russian warplanes are still in the sky, they are going to continue — are still in the sky, they are going to continue to try to defend their country— to continue to try to defend their country and as we've seen in the past _ country and as we've seen in the past week, — country and as we've seen in the past week, go on the counterattack. it's always— past week, go on the counterattack. it's always been known that the primary— it's always been known that the primary objective, as we heard from moscow— primary objective, as we heard from moscow today, is the donbas eastern ukraine, _ moscow today, is the donbas eastern ukraine, and that land corridor connecting the donbas to the crimean peninsula, _ connecting the donbas to the crimean peninsula, both areas that russian forces _ peninsula, both areas that russian forces went into in 2014. some of the trest— forces went into in 2014. some of the best ukrainian fighting units are there — the best ukrainian fighting units are there and the concern has been that russia — are there and the concern has been that russia would try to cut them off, either— that russia would try to cut them off, eitherfrom that russia would try to cut them off, either from resupplying them or

allowing _ off, either from resupplying them or allowing them to move to other fronts _ allowing them to move to other fronts and certainly kyiv, from moscow — fronts and certainly kyiv, from moscow today, they said this wasn't their primary objective, but they didht— their primary objective, but they didn't rule it out, and so while we see russian— didn't rule it out, and so while we see russian forces consolidating their— see russian forces consolidating their positions on the outskirts of kyiv. _ their positions on the outskirts of kyiv, digging in theirartillery, it's the — kyiv, digging in theirartillery, it's the ukrainians who are going on the offensive pushing them back in the offensive pushing them back in the east. _ the offensive pushing them back in the east, attacking in the north—west. this is not a country that— north—west. this is not a country that will— north—west. this is not a country that will be — north—west. this is not a country that will be at rest while this invasion— that will be at rest while this invasion goes on. or that will be at rest while this invasion goes on.— that will be at rest while this invasion goes on. or right, lyse doucet, thank _ invasion goes on. or right, lyse doucet, thank you _ invasion goes on. or right, lyse doucet, thank you very - invasion goes on. or right, lyse doucet, thank you very much, l invasion goes on. or right, lyse i doucet, thank you very much, and also thanks to caroline davies in moscow. 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 energy supplies. our north america editor, sarah smith, reports from poland. every time air force one touches down, it's designed

to send a message. president biden's trip to poland is notjust to reassure a nervous ally, it's to make clear the us will back military action if russia attacks poland or any other nato member. the men in the military barbers are his. the us has sent thousands of extra troops to poland. he's always said they're not headed to ukraine, as america fears sending forces over the border could start a world war, yet biden seemed to tell them they would witness the bravery of ukrainians "when you are there". the average citizen, look at how they're stepping up, look at how they're stepping up. and you're going to see when you're there, and some of you have been there, you're going to see women, young people standing in the middle in front of a damn tank, just saying, "i'm not leaving." the white 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 says 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 president's national security adviser did say 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. president biden and eu leaders know that russia will feel far more pain if europe buys less of its oil and gas, a tough ask for countries that are dependent on russian energy. i know that eliminating russian gas will have costs for europe, but it's not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, it's going to put us on a much stronger strategic footing. america is 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 the eu currently buys from russia. in warsaw this evening, people watched the president sweep into town as many are calling for nato to enforce a no—fly zone over ukraine. poland is offering to transfer fighter planes to ukraine via a us air force base. america's blocking that plan. these close allies don't agree on everything. sarah smith, bbc news, warsaw. more than three and half million people have fled ukraine since the russian invasion four weeks ago, according to the united nations. most of those refugees have travelled to poland. almost 2.25 million people have arrived there since the start of the war. many of them travelled by train to escape from ukraine. our special correspondent fergal keane and camera journalist nik millard have been following some of those journeys, and their report begins here, in the city of lviv.

train horn blares. from the war�*s beginning, it's been a sanctuary... air raid siren sounds. ..where, for the last month, we've watched tens of thousands drawn by this. train whistle blows. the rescue express — the sight... train wheels screech. ..and sound of hope. even if the first days were chaotic... people talk excitedly. ..the desperation was transformed into order. and the trains have saved millions. train horn blares. rolling through the night... ..and the day... ..from lviv to the war zones and back again. keeping these trains running,

running on time, as they do, takes the work of so many people, at all different levels on the railways. without them, it simply wouldn't have been possible to evacuate millions of people from the danger zone. many are railway veterans who started work in soviet times and are now rescuing people from their own hometowns. translation: it is really - terrifying, i am from kharkiv, and my native city is being bombed. i can feel it and i can see it but i cannot believe it. the train also takes volunteers to war, like petro koturan, aged 25, an investment banker. i'm rather scared, because i knew that kyiv has been through a lot so far, including the streets where i'm going, where some of my friends are living,

and i'mjust not sure if i'm ready to see these buildings destroyed. this is the reality of ukraine's war zones. munitions explode. and what people going the other way are fleeing. the war has displaced over 10 million. bugle and drums play. morning, and arrival in kyiv. this family are waiting to go west. translation: my heart is bleeding. i don't want to leave my home, but it's my duty to keep my children safe. when we will win the war, i'll take them back home.

grandad oleg hugs his wife olena, but he must stay behind to care for an elderly relative. train horn blares. the women and children, becoming refugees. children talk. woman sobs. nearly midnight, eight hours later, and the weary travellers reach lviv. a short rest, and then another rescue express, towards peace and exile.

fergal keane, bbc news, lviv. and i've seen for myself over the last few days the extraordinary efforts that people here in lviv have been making to welcome families who've fled from the fighting in the east of the country, families who have no idea when, if ever, they'll be able to return to their homes. that's all from us here in lviv. now back to the studio in london. the number of covid infections have climbed by a million 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 a 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're stuck in a queue as the nhs struggles to cope. this is the most serious situation i've found myself in, in my career. i think we would ask the public to remain patient with us, both from 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's what was always on our mind when we're trying to look after patients, that we want to minimise the time that they're here so that we can look after them safely. but with waiting times breaking records, the royal college of emergency medicine estimates that 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 for 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, and that's why we ask people to follow the rules. the latest survey by the office for national statistics suggests that almost 4.3 million people in the uk had coronavirus last week, up1 million on the previous seven days. in scotland, it was one in 11 people with the virus, the highest level ever. in england and wales, it was one in 16. only in northern ireland did cases actually fall, although at one in 17, they're 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, too. but with cases of the ba.2 variant of omicron driving this current surge, some safeguards will remain. one of the reasons why the ba.2 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's 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. but it's scotland which is currently in the deepest crisis. for five days in a row now, the number of patients in hospital with coronavirus here has reached record levels. and they keep coming. james cook, bbc news, airdrie. a man who murdered his ex—girlfriend's two—year—old son has been jailed for life after the couple's abuse was captured on secret recordings. after the couple's abuse kyrell matthews was left with more than 40 rib fractures after weeks

and phylesia shirley at his home in south london. a p&o ferries ship has been detained in northern ireland this evening over safety concerns. the vessel was detained in the port of larne and is being held while checks are carried out on the ship's documentation and staff training. it's thought the ship was detained before re—entering service after crews were sacked last week. 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. get him down! ali harbi ali was arrested minutes after sir david amess was killed. he was 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. anything you do say may be given as evidence! i do you understand me? - mr ali, is this a terrorist attack? i mean, it guess, yeah. i killed an mp. and i done it, yeah. 0k. mr ali, was there anybody else involved in the planning of this attack? no _ it wasjust me. the jury watched three hours of police interviews in which ali harbi ali calmly explained that he first considered terrorism when he dropped out of university 5.5 years ago. he said that on the day of the attack, he had hoped to become a martyr, but it didn't work out. he said he'd been carrying the knife for weeks and visited westminster several times. you know, i got into the houses of parliament, you know, i was trying to spot where they come

out of, what they're doing, but, you know, obviously cos of the attacks, the police there are armed to the teeth. i'll be honest with you, there's been a lot of times where i've gone out in my head with a plan to do something, and then i would come back home. so, you know... cos, you know, what's the word i'm looking for? i bottled it, you know? that's the word, football word — bottled it. ali harbi ali told the officers that he wanted to kill an mp who had voted for air strikes in syria, that he'd chosen to go to leigh—on—sea and target sir david amess because the details of his constituency surgeries were easily available on twitter. in court, ali harbi ali has pleaded not guilty to murder and not guilty to preparing a terrorist act. daniel sandford, bbc news, at the old bailey. rebel forces fighting in northern ethiopia have agreed to a government offer of a truce to allow aid to be delivered to millions of people.

both sides have accused each other of blocking supplies which have not reached the tigray region since december. thousands of people have died in the 16—month war, and more than two million people have been forced to flee their homes. 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. saw the couple visit belize. our royal correspondentjonny dymond is travelling with the couple. perhaps not the bahamas they were expecting. as their caribbean tour is drawing to a close, weather they might recognise from home. inside, a traditional tour event, a school, closed, like so many, through the pandemic. kate paid tribute to parents, guardians and teachers. they, i'm sure, have found the pandemic equally hard but they're doing one of the most

importantjobs out there, nurturing your young minds and helping to shape your futures. we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude. our future society depends on it. the couple will hope that the 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. 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, nassau, 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 to writer and director sian heder, who 5 nominated for best adapted screenplay, at a deaf school in los angeles. and as you'll see, katie 5 report is subtitled.