tonight at ten, we're live in ukraine, as details emerge of more than 100 civilians held captive in a cellar for weeks by russian forces. it happened in chernihiv, a city once under siege, but now back in ukrainian hands. there were people here, including dozens of children, who were living amongst corpses four hours, sometimes days. in eastern ukraine, russian troops are digging in, as thousands of civilians continue to flee amid fears of new attacks. and the other main stories on tonight's programme... a new government energy strategy

aims to boost nuclear, but critics ask where's the help with soaring bills now? the chancellor rishi sunak is under pressure over his wife's tax status — after it emerged she benefits from a tax—saving scheme. and bafta awards for some of the biggest names — and the smaller ones — which have succeeded in the gaming industry in the past year. and coming up on the sport on the bbc news channel, west ham are in their first european quarter—final for over a0 years, as they hope to boost their chances of reaching the semifinals. good evening, from the ukrainian capital, kyiv. and we start tonight with yet more harrowing accounts of life under russian occupation.

the city of chernihiv has just about survived, subjected to a siege lasting several weeks. tens of thousands of residents endured punishing conditions with little food, water or power. whole neighbourhoods have been flattened by russian missile and details are emerging of 130 people, who were held captive in the basement of a school for a month. conditions were so cramped, some had to sleep standing up. 12 people died, but their corpses were never removed. —— their corpses were left four days. our correspondent yogita limaye has been given rare access to the area now that russian forces have pulled out. some viewers may find her report distressing. another area the russians have withdrawn from, more unimaginable trauma. yahidne, a village in the north—east, close to the border with belarus.

this man took us to the basement of the local school, filled with the stench of disease and decay. he was held here for four weeks, along with 130 others. the elderly, children, babies, whole families, rounded up at gunpoint, crammed together. translation: i had only half a metre of space. . i was sleeping standing up. i tied myself with my scarf to the railing here so i didn't fall over. i spent 25 nights in this position. the main thing i thought was, i have to survive, for my daughter and granddaughters. a crude calendar marked every day of pain. four children lay in each of these cots.

the constant sound of bombardment allowed barely any sleep. translation: for toilets there were buckets. - they would overflow. sometimes russian soldiers took people outside and used them as human shields. the room has no ventilation. he says 12 people died here. those who died in this room, they were mostly elderly people, believed to have suffocated to death, and when they died it wasn't immediately possible to take the bodies out. russian soldiers wouldn't allow it. also there was fighting going on outside, so it was often too dangerous, so they would then pick up the bodies and put them here in the corner, so essentially there were people here, including dozens of children, who were living amongst corpses for hours, sometimes days, until they were allowed to take the bodies out and keep them upstairs on the ground just outside the school building.

15—year—old anastasia was also held captive. "i knew the people who died. "they were kind. "i felt really sad," she said. "for no reason, theyjust died, sitting there." russian soldiers took villages like this in a bid to encircle and capture the city of chernihiv. they weren't able to enter it, but large parts have been destroyed. a crater created by aerial bombing. a whole neighbourhood in northern chernihiv flattened. nina's home was shelled. her daughter lost a leg. "all of us were knocked out by the explosion.

"when we came to our senses, we began to search for each other. "then i saw her screaming. "�*mummy, i don't have a leg.�* "it was horrific." how does she respond to russia denying it's targeted civilians? "tell them to stop lying. "they lie a lot," she said. "there's a woman in a hospital without a leg. "that is the truth." yogita limaye, bbc news, chernihiv. the continuing distress of civilians in this war. russian forces may have withdrawn from around the city here, but the ukrainian government believes the kremlin will renew an attempt to take the capital at some point in the future. for now, moscow seems to be focusing its attention on eastern ukraine, specifically the donbas region. the bbc has witnessed hundreds of thousands

of civilians fleeing that area, where separatists have been fighting for eight years. 0ur defence correspondent, jonathan beale, reports now from lysycha nsk. 21st—century combat on ukraine's eastern front can look and sound more like something from the first world war. but they've been fighting russian—backed separatists this way for the past eight years. western officials say this is where ukraine has some of its best—trained and most battle—hardened troops. they're certainly not all young. from his dugout, 52—year—old anatoly says he can already see russian troops just 500 metres away. translation: if they try to take this position, i'll kill them. - if i don't kill them, they'll kill me. those are the rules of war. they know their enemy can be brutal. they've had little rest

from the fighting. they can already hear the russian artillery getting closer. but they say morale is high. translation: without trenchesl to defend from, we would all die. but these trenches will protect us. very different from the fighting that you've seen in kyiv, in urban areas. both sides well dug in. easier to defend, but of course the russians have significant firepower, and we know they're bringing more, too. the mass exodus of civilians from eastern ukraine is already under way. this, a 50—mile tailback of traffic heading west. the donbas is emptying fast. we enter the town of lysychansk, already being targeted by russian artillery. now a ghost town. this was a children's centre.

books and clothes now strewn amongst the rubble. but down in the basement, we found a few seeking shelter — the poor, the frail and the old. even before this war started, russian—backed separatists were occupying part of the donbas, and it soon became apparent that pro—russian sentiment hasn't died here, despite their bombs. translation: i'm sorry, | but it is my understanding that this land was sold. they're destroying our. donbas to give the land away to the americans. the americans bought it— to place their nuclear weapons here. back above ground, we did find one woman, valentina, who did blame president putin for the destruction of the town. translation: putin is to blame for the war. l he gathered this army here. why did he do this? but our guys did nothing. they said they were exercising. "exercises" my arse.

the russian offensive around the capital kyiv may have failed, but here in the donbas, they're slowly taking ground. waging war by artillery, their tactics still seem the same. and once again, it's ukraine's civilian population that's likely to suffer most. jonathan beale, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. the call by ukraine for more arms in its battle against russia, has been echoed in brussels today, as nato foreign ministers agreed to send more sophisticated weaponry. it comes as russia has been suspended from the united nations human rights council, following allegations of war crimes by its troops. our world affairs editorjohn simpson is in lviv for us tonight. is mr putin likely to care that he has been kicked off the council? at} has been kicked off the council? (1) yeah, it's a humiliation for him. 93

countries voting against russia and only 2a voting in favour, the rest abstaining, but it simply increases the necessity for him to have some kind of victory in this war and what the people here that i've been talking to think will happen is that he will concentrate his efforts. what they are afraid of really as he will concentrate his efforts on mariupol, that city down in the south—east of the country, which has been under siege since very early on in the war, and he will really want to take that and have that is a victory that he can celebrate on russia's annual victory day parade, on the 9th of may. that's only a month away. that's why the ukrainians are so desperate to get the europeans and the americans to give them more and more weapons.

they need those weapons urgently. if he gets them, if ukrainians get them, then they do a chance of resisting. but they are worried, very worried, that the europeans and the americans don't really want vladimir putin to be humiliated in that kind of way and that they are dragging their feet on giving ukraine weapons. mil dragging their feet on giving ukraine weapons.— dragging their feet on giving ukraine weapons. all right, we'll leave it there, _ ukraine weapons. all right, we'll leave it there, john, _ ukraine weapons. all right, we'll leave it there, john, john - ukraine weapons. all right, we'll. leave it there, john, john simpson, our world of affairs editor there. a video has emerged purporting to show soldiers. it’s video has emerged purporting to show soldiers. �* , , , soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying mostly dead _ soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying mostly dead on _ soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying mostly dead on the _ soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying mostly dead on the ground, - soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying mostly dead on the ground, big | soldiers. it's grim, soldiers lying - mostly dead on the ground, big pools of blood around them and ukrainian soldiers, it seems clear that's who they are, going up to them and putting more bullets into the body

of a man who was moving slightly, then he doesn't move again. you know, the issue here is not what happened, it seems pretty clear, but what the ukrainian government does about it because the way that a government response to something like that is a measure of its attitude towards war crimes. because thatis attitude towards war crimes. because that is what happened, if that video is genuine and that's what it seems to be. more widely, kyiv it's itself, quiet now, but during the day it's been waking up in the last few days, the spring has happened, a few days, the spring has happened, a few shops are opening, but it's very different. clearly for people in the east, we've seen it ourselves today on this programme, but also, you know, i've been talking to soldiers who are equipping themselves, by getting more gear. they have to buy their own uniforms. going to get out there to get ready for the next round of battles and there, there are those ukrainian troops who the

russian plan, people think, is going to be to try to encircle them, cut them off and destroy them. that might be a very difficult thing but what we are thinking about now is nothing short, this is going to be a long and grinding fight, as far as i can see anyway as far as things stand now. can see anyway as far as things stand "ow-— can see anyway as far as things stand now. , , �* ., ., ~ can see anyway as far as things stand now. , , �* ., . ~' , ., stand now. jeremy bowen, thank you. at this war grinds _ stand now. jeremy bowen, thank you. at this war grinds on _ stand now. jeremy bowen, thank you. at this war grinds on and _ stand now. jeremy bowen, thank you. at this war grinds on and its _ stand now. jeremy bowen, thank you. at this war grinds on and its sixth - at this war grinds on and its sixth week the ukrainian government has made it clear there are three things it needs from its allies in the west, weapons, weapons, and more weapons. russia has simplified its war aims for now and so can focus attention on capturing the ethnic russian heartland of the donbas. that will mean unbearable pressure being placed on ukrainian troops trying to hold the line there, hence the desperate pleas for more sophisticated weaponry from nato, and in the middle of all this of course are civilians, russia being kicked off the un human rights council today, testament to how the kremlin has so far fought this war, seemingly with scant regard for the

innocent. that's it from me and the team here in kyiv, now back to you, reeta, in the studio. clive, many thanks. nuclear power — and the production of wind, hydrogen and solar energy — are at the centre of the government's long—awaited energy strategy announced today. it's aimed at making the uk much less reliant on foreign imports as prices soar. the plan is to get 95% of the uk's electricity from low carbon sources by 2030. there are also plans for more oil and gas extraction from the north sea — still needed in the short—term. but experts say that demand could be cut more through energy efficiency, and there's criticism of too little help for those struggling now with rising bills. here's our business editor simonjack. this is what the centrepiece of the government's future energy policy looks like. the two reactors at hinkley point c in somerset will be the first new nuclear power built in nearly 30 years. do you want to have a go?

well, i think...yes! he certainly does. the government's new strategy aims to approve another eight reactors in the next eight years to reduce uk reliance on volatile fossil fuels. this is about tackling some of the mistakes of the past and making sure that we are set well for the future, that we're no longer subject to... well, never again subject to the vagaries of the global oil or gas price. we can't be subject to blackmail, as it were, from people such as vladimir putin, that we have energy security here in the uk. this is how the uk generates electricity now. wind, solar and other renewables make up nearly half. nuclear is 16%, and gas — the volatile one — is nearly 36%. that means low—carbon, which includes nuclear and renewables, makes up nearly 60% of electricity generation right now. by 2030, the government's ambition is for low—carbon to generate 95% of uk power, with 25% of the total coming from nuclear by 2050.

this is construction on a truly breathtaking scale, and that's the problem for some. to its detractors, it's big, it's slow, it can be risky, and at £20 billion plus a pop it's incredibly expensive. but for the government, big nuclear is an always—on, low—carbon, truly domestic, non—imported form of energy, and that's security for the future. offshore wind power has already transformed the uk energy mix and the government aims to quadruple output by the end of the decade. it also wants to revive onshore wind, despite objections from many of its own mps, by offering discounts to those who live near turbines. a good deal all round according to energy providers. the best way of weaning ourselves off gas is wind power and onshore wind is the very fastest and cheapest. we welcome the consultations and pilot programmes which will help us prove that local communities want wind power if it can drive

down their energy costs. and of course we won't build it where people don't want it. however, remember, gas still heats 25 million homes and many feel this strategy�*s focus on future power supply ignores the current crisis and the need to reduce demand. only last week, we saw energy bills going up in the middle of a very real cost of living crisis, which is causing people real hardship. all we've got today is a cobbled together list of things that could and should have been done over the last 10—12 years. and it doesn't even tackle really important things like insulating homes, which could save £400 on everybody's bill. the importance of using less rather than supplying more energy was echoed by other parties. if we have a big focus particularly on insulating people's homes, that's the measure that can help bring down people's fuel bills, keep people warm, createjobs and create real energy security.

the liberal democrats - want to invest in renewables. we want to insulate people's homes and we want to slash taxes. - that would be real action. to give real help to people who need help right now. oil and gas prices have soared as russian exports risked either being withheld or boycotted. today's plan fast tracks new investment and production in uk waters to secure supply even if it's unlikely to affect prices. even those fossil fuels that come from scottish waters, they are open to the vagaries of the international market. oil and gas is an internationally traded commodity, so if the prices go up internationally we can't insulate ourselves from that. the uk's record on delivering energy projects is not good. in the 12 years since the government last announced a new nuclear age, this is the only plant under way. the government will hope the current crisis will provide a sense

of urgency, even if this plan isn't the solution. simon jack, bbc news. well, last year the uk hosted cop26, the un's climate change conference in glasgow, which ended with a pledge to reduce the use of coal and to cut greenhouse gases faster. 0ur climate editorjustin rowlatt looks at what impact the government's energy strategy will have on environmental targets. the uk has a good record on cutting carbon emissions. in 1990 we emitted around 800 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. but look at this. emissions were down 40% by 2019 — that's the largest reduction among the g20 countries, and that is despite — look at this — the economy growing by nearly 80% over the same period. this is a big part of how we do it... closing down polluting

coal—fired power stations. here is how much electricity the country has generated since 1990. that yellow line at the bottom, that is nuclear power and electricity from abroad. the grey area is coal and, look at that, 80% of our power back in 1990, now a teeny 2%. gas, the blue area there, played the biggest part in filling the gap left by coal but look at renewables. mostly wind and solar, that's the green area, from almost nothing to more than a quarter of our electricity now. it is quite an achievement. the last time emissions were as low as this was the late victorian era. but deeper cuts are going to be more difficult. why? well, this is what we've got to do — reduce emissions all the way down to zero, and here is what the government's advisers on climate change, the climate change committee, says will get us there. there has to be a massive switch to electricity for transport. you will be driving an electric car. we need to improve energy efficiency in our homes and businesses.

now that wasn't a big part of today's announcement, but cutting energy demand will be crucial, says the government's climate watchdog. and, yes, it will mean lots of us ditching our gas boilers. we also need to massively reduce leaks of methane from fossil fuel plants, find ways to capture carbon dioxide emissions so they don't go into the atmosphere, and finally, there will need to be some biofuels. now getting those kinds of changes on a national scale is not going to be easy. the big criticism from environmentalists today — too much focus on the supply side, not enough effort to get us all to cut our energy demand. justin rowlatt reporting. two people have been killed and at least eight people have been wounded after a gunman opened fire in central tel aviv, according to israeli medical services. 0ur middle east correspondent yolande knell is injerusalem. this is the latest in a series of deadly attacks in the last fortnight —

tell us what happened. this shooting took place on one of the business it delete my busy streets in tel aviv. security footage shows the scenes when people in a packed bar start to flee, scattering bar chairs as they go. police have brought in hundreds of officers and they say they are still searching for the shooter. they have told local residents to stay in their homes. as you said, this is their homes. as you said, this is the latest in a series of deadly attacks in israel, actually the most deadly there have been in several years. now a total of 13 killed in just over two weeks. palestinian militant group has once again praised his attack —— hamas. tomorrow is the first holy players of the ramadan month, when tens of thousands of palestinians from the west bank are hoping to cross into jerusalem to pray at al aqsa mosque and israel could now they will

introduce security restrictions because of its fears.— introduce security restrictions because of its fears. yolande knell, thank yon — the chancellor, rishi sunak, is facing serious questions over his family's financial affairs after it emerged his wife benefits from a tax—saving arrangement. akshata murthy — who's thought to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds — has non—dom status, meaning she does not have to pay uk tax on income earned abroad. her spokeswoman said she pays all tax due in the uk, but labour called for "complete tra nsparency". 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas reports. he's been called "dishy rishi". the chancellor and his wife akshata murthy are both millionaires. when he became a minister, he declared the fact she's a non—dom to officials, but now it's public — so is the shine coming off? the chancellor's been very honest, very clear and she is, after all, a private citizen — she's not a politician and i think her affairs were completely transparent. and, as you say, there's no hint of any wrongdoing at all. under uk tax rules, when you're resident here

all your worldwide earnings are taxable in the uk, but so—called non—doms do not have to pay uk tax on foreign income. to claim the benefits of the status, a uk resident has to declare their permanent home is elsewhere. they must not have a settled long—term commitment to stay here and do still have to pay tax on all their uk earnings. she will have taken the position she was domiciled in india, which may be a reasonable position, but then she made an active choice to claim the remittance basis, which means she's taxed only on money she brings into the uk, not on profits, income gains outside the uk, and that was a choice. it's a choice that could prove damaging for him. he's in charge of all our taxes, just put them up this week, and has been criticised for not doing enough for the poorest. his wife, who was born in india, has shares in this giant indian it firm which earn her millions. it was founded by her father, who's now a billionaire — one of india's richest men.

we need complete transparency on this, so that we can all understand what scheme she may have been using to reduce her own tax. but to use a scheme, when the chancellor is out there day after day saying we need tax rises on millions of people in this country, who are really, really struggling, is breathtaking hypocrisy. we're told akshata murthy has always paid all the uk tax due on her income here and pay tax abroad. but for the couple, there may still be questions. for her, how strong are her ties to india? her spokesperson has said today she intends to return there one day. so, for him, does that mean he has no long—term commitment to remain in the uk? damian grammaticas, bbc news, downing street. pakistan has been plunged into a constitutional crisis after the country's top court ruled that a move to stop a vote of no confidence in the prime minister imran khan "had no legal effect". let's go live to islamabad and to our correspondent secunder kermani.

why has this happened? secunder, why has this happened? well, this is a political drama that has been full of twists and turns, but as of the moment it looks as if imran khan is on his way out. last week he was meant to be facing a vote of no confidence in parliament, which he was widely expected to lose after a number of his coalition allies deserted him. instead, at the last minute the deputy speaker of the house blocked the vote from going ahead. instead, imran khan's party called for early elections, dissolving parliament. now the supreme court has ruled they did not have the right to do that, and so pending any further twists that vote of no confidence will go ahead on saturday morning, and it seems the opposition will be able to remove imran khanfrom opposition will be able to remove imran khan from power and nominate their own prime minister without elections taking place. what has imran khan been saying? he alleges

he is the victim of an international conspiracy orchestrated by the united states because of his more anti western foreign policy. most analysts don't believe him but if his analysis that might an analysis thatis his analysis that might an analysis that is resonating with his voters. in reality it seems imran khan and his party had fallen out with pakistan's powerful military with whom they previously had a close relationship and that is why his opponents have sensed the weakness in him and launch this attack against him.— in him and launch this attack auainst him. ., ~ i. , . against him. thank you very much, secunder kermani _ against him. thank you very much, secunder kermani reporting. - the united states senate has confirmed ketanji brown jackson is to become a supreme courtjudge. presidentjoe biden's nominee is the first ever black woman justice named to the court. two more parties have launched their manifestos ahead of next month's local elections. labour's leader in scotland, anas sarwar, set out plans to deal with the cost of living crisis. they include a windfall tax on oil and gas producers to cut household bills, and proposals to halve rail fares for three months,

and cap on bus fares. the welsh conservatives launched their campaign with promises of building "stronger, safer communities" — and pledges to give local residents a leading voice on where new houses and other infrastructure are built. bafta has tonight been recognising the achievements of the video games industry, which has reached record levels of popularity in the uk — worth £7 billion to the economy injust one year. the bbc�*s gaming reporter steffan powell was at the award ceremony. applause it's been two years of virtual ceremonies, so nominees really made the most of the glitz and glamour of a bafta awards do. and the title enjoying that bafta glow most tonight, with four awards in total including the best game, is returnal, a dark, action—packed psychological horror that made the most of the latest gaming technology.

it's, iguess, people want to experience different things. i guess that's all about, and, you know, when i go out there and explore the world. it's kind of the first time being here, so it's awesome. it feels wonderful, of course, and we're so proud for the team that they made it. and although it's a global industry, these awards also have a uk focus. forza horizon 5 driving away with the award for best british game. recognising games since 2004, this event gives the gaming industry a mainstream legitimacy that many of tonight's winners passionately believe it deserves. and the bafta goes to... ..returnal! applause but after spending much of the last few difficult years looking for ways to escape, perhaps it's no surprise that a title that's lets you vent your frustration on invading aliens is tonight's big winner.

steffan powell, bbc news.