defamation case against his former wife. this is bbc news, the headlines: ukrainian forces say they're holding the line in the east of the country, despite intense bombardment in the luhansk region. russia says it has struck over 1,200 military targets in eastern ukraine and has again called for the country's forces to lay down their arms. the united states and other allies have promised to increase weapon deliveries to ukraine, as it attempts to resist the renewed russian offensive. western leaders say they'll send artillery, anti—tank and air defence equipment. the government in kyiv has repeatedly asked for more military support. the british prime minister has given what he called a wholehearted apology to parliament after he was fined for breaking covid lockdown laws. borisjohnson repeated that it did not occur to him

the birthday gathering he attended at downing street injune 2020 had breached the rules. the multi—million pound cruising industry was one of the first to shut down as the pandemic hit with ships grounded from february 2020 and passengers bought home in a rescue effort. now, the first cruise company to launch in the uk in ten years is preparing for its maiden voyage from its home dock in tilbury as thomas magill reports. getting the party started, these are the first guests on board ambience, a special moment, notjust for the bosses of the first british cruise line to lodge in ten years but also for its passengers. we

were in also for its passengers. - were in basildon, so this is just a half hour ride! maybe the first of _ just a half hour ride! maybe the first of many! _ just a half hour ride! maybe | the first of many! absolutely fabulous! — the first of many! absolutely fabulous! we _ the first of many! absolutely fabulous! we booked - the first of many! absolutely| fabulous! we booked another the first of many! absolutely - fabulous! we booked another one for christmas on here, for 15 nights. for christmas on here, for 15 niuhts. , ., ., ., nights. many here, a long wait after cruising _ nights. many here, a long wait after cruising all _ nights. many here, a long wait after cruising all background . after cruising all background to a halt during the pandemic so how strong a sign is this that customers are happy to get on board? we that customers are happy to get on board? ~ ., , on board? we have seen confidence _ on board? we have seen confidence coming - on board? we have seen confidence coming back| confidence coming back extremely strong, the moment we went on sale, we sold 50% of the programme in the first three months. we also have headquarters in essex where we have created 50 jobs already and this will grow further. we've also providing all the jobs to the local economy, if it is the board, the security on board, the baggage handler, the local gardeners shops and supplies. it

the local gardeners shops and su lies. , the local gardeners shops and su--lies. , ., the local gardeners shops and su - lies. , ., . supplies. it is part port and park community _ supplies. it is part port and park community and - supplies. it is part port and park community and when l supplies. it is part port and - park community and when covid heat, _ park community and when covid heat. so — park community and when covid heat, so many locals were out of work — heat, so many locals were out of work because of no cruise ships— of work because of no cruise ships in_ of work because of no cruise ships in the terminal lay dormant for two years and i suspect— dormant for two years and i suspect back in action and working _ suspect back in action and working again.— suspect back in action and working again. what it is like to be a godmother— working again. what it is like to be a godmother of- working again. what it is like to be a godmother of a - working again. what it is like | to be a godmother of a cruise ship it is crazy! amazing! on board today is the ship's godmother, and olympian sally donnell, he says it is a very special moment. it donnell, he says it is a very special moment.— special moment. it is about wishinu special moment. it is about wishing to _ special moment. it is about wishing to ship _ special moment. it is about wishing to ship good - special moment. it is about wishing to ship good luck. special moment. it is about| wishing to ship good luck as special moment. it is about i wishing to ship good luck as it sails off and you do, you are celebrating today, and it's a bit of responsibility as well and on you guys.— bit of responsibility as well and on you guys. and as guests rather in and on you guys. and as guests gather in the — and on you guys. and as guests gather in the lounge, _ and on you guys. and as guests gather in the lounge, many - and on you guys. and as guests gather in the lounge, many are| gather in the lounge, many are thankful to have this now other doorstep and looking forward to the joys of hitting the high seas. now on bbc news, goodbye home: ukraine's border heartbreak; stephanie hegarty finds relief and heartbreak in equal measure at ukraine's border, as families

start to come to terms with their new lives as refugees. air raid siren wails. explosion. it's been a relentless assault on ordinary lives. this is the neighbour, and that's where the bomb, or whatever it was. since the start of the war in ukraine, thousands of people have been killed... ..and millions have been forced to leave their homes, saying goodbye to everything they know. they're from kyiv? yeah, it's all the stuff they brought with them. i'm travelling to northern romania, to the small border town of siret, where relief and heartbreak come in waves... hey! ..to meet the ukrainian families separated by this war...

itjust dawned on me that the possibility of me losing her, it's not zero, it's possible. ..and to find out how they're coming to terms with their new lives as refugees. they're here, they're waiting. kettle whistles this is the video of the street parallel to my parents'. just a few weeks ago, galya was an estate agent, but she's just escaped

ukraine with her daughters. lesia, hersister, came from london to meet them, and they're all staying in the small flat that they're renting, close to the border in romania. but their mum and dad stayed behind in their hometown, bucha. what was it like, looking at all this news coming in of your hometown? it's horrible. like, my school is gone. like, if, like, most of the places that i've known, they've bombed. my side of where i grew up, it's mostly gone. wow. yeah. it's early—march, and bucha has been under siege for days. this quiet, leafy suburb is one of the last lines of defence, as ukraine pushes russian forces away from kyiv. russia is moving in to take the town, and it's impossible to even imagine the extent of the horror that will unfold here. this is the neighbour.

that's his house, and that's where the bomb, or whatever it was. his house is here, my parents were here, and the bomb landed in the middle. and the entrance to the cellar was on this side. they were both in there. we didn't know what was happening with them. so i watched this video and i was like, i couldn't even finish it. i was like trying to call them, but there was no reply. last they heard, their parents were still hiding in the cellar of galya's house. the same place that galya hid with her daughters before they ran.

on facebook, a lot of people are saying, "can you please pick up my immobile mum or grandmother?", or, "there's children in the basement." you don't know who's alive and who isn't. and there's people on the street, just dead people on the street. finally, they got a phone call. it was their mum and dad. they're alive, and forced to accept that it's time to leave bucha.

theyjoin hundreds of people trying to leave the suburbs of kyiv. a pause in intense fighting has been agreed... explosion ..but it's still not safe. travelling through this border region, we find every hotel and every guest house full of people who've left ukraine, and some who are heading in the other direction. in the town of gura humorului, i meet denys. he's from mykolaiv and, this morning, he woke up to hear that this had happened... explosions just yesterday night, my city was under attack. my family, my wife, and i have two daughters, 15 years old and ten years old... 0k. ..so they're waiting for me.

it's mid—march, and russian forces are pushing along the south coast of ukraine. they want to capture the port city of odesa, on the black sea, and mykolaiv stands in the way. denys was working as an engineer in the netherlands when the war started. he wants to drive this van over the border to deliver supplies and to rescue his family. what are you bringing? oil, food, medicine, er, the most expensive of medicine. how do you feel about seeing your daughters? i miss them. it's... and i worry, and... you'll see them soon. yeah, i will see them soon. from the moment i go across the border, i have

not any plans. i cannot make any plans, actually, because i don't know how it will go. it's absolutely unpredictable. sierns wail if you go to ukraine, you can pick up your family, but you can't come out. yes, yes. i will bring them to the border. later on, my friend, peter, he will cross the border, pick them up and bring to the european union. and i have to stay, so it's a one—way ticket for me. but anyway, i'm ready. but for now, he's stuck here in romania, waiting for a piece of paperwork, so that the van can cross the border. i think it's very difficult. i'm reading the news and, from this, ifeel worse and worse. but anyway, we cannot give up. it must be terrifying, though, for you. i cannot... i cannot even explain what i feel now.

putin's war has created an exodus from ukraine. since the beginning of the invasion, more than four million people have left. and by mid—march, thousands are crossing into romania every day, at this border, in the tiny town of siret. they're met with a wall of kindness from the romanian emergency services. . . ..and from hundreds of volunteers, like katya. katya is from dnipro, in south—east ukraine. her mum still lives there. they're from kyiv. yeah, it's all the stuff they brought with them. katya lives in the uk, but the day the war broke out, she came here, with her partner, petro. hands on deck now. i'm looking forward

to some physical work! yeah. to warm up, yeah. they're organising the shipment of aid, especially medicine, into dnipro. on the other side, katya's mum is also helping out. look, there's a sign there, "welcome to ukraine". she speaks in ukrainian. uh, uh, uh! hey! natasha, my mum. natasha, hi. i am natasha. this morning has been especially difficult. katya woke up to hear that dnipro was attacked — for the first time. explosion

katya's afraid she'll lose contact with her mum. she's been trying to convince her to leave. when do you think you'll be ready to leave dnipro?

nice to meet you. stay safe, please. so, have you accepted the fact your mum's going to... not going to leave, or are you going to keep trying? itjust dawned on me that the possibility of me losing her, it's not zero, it's possible. before, it was, you know, an irrationalfear. now, it's a rationalfear. i had a little outburst last night and somehow, though, this flow of warm feelings from the childhood, remembering how she's taken care of me on when i'm little, and ijust lost it

for a few minutes. lesia and galya have just heard from their mum and dad. so, they're already on this side of the border, just waiting for us. hmm... still 20 minutes. but one person is not with them. she's saying that she doesn't miss her grandparents any more, she misses her dad now, because now she knows that her grandparents are coming. yep. it's hard to explain to kids as well that god knows when they're going to see their dad. can you do a facetime call?

yeah, but it's not the same, is it? no, not really. because of ukraine's martial law and his work helping with evacuations, galya's husband can't leave. they're somewhere in the building, in some sort of building, yeah, they said they're somewhere in the building, but i haven't seen a building there. how was the journey, long? she translates good.

they got lucky. and here, only 15 minutes, and they were through. two borders in 15 minutes. what was it like leaving home? don't ask. yeah. for now, you can't even explain it, but you have to... a0 years building and building and, in one minute,

it's all gone. because my dad actually built the house that we lived in and the house that my sister lived in. so, yeah. yeah. after almost two weeks sleeping underground, petro and lyudmila can finally get a warm shower and a good night's sleep. my mum's like, i've been in this hat for ten days, without taking it off! nastya's like, "when we are home, i will make you warm." but there are thousands of families still trapped by fighting in ukraine.

we're just waiting for denys. he was supposed to be crossing into ukraine in the van, but they still haven't got the paperwork, and things are getting so bad in mykolaiv, where his family are, he's going to cross on foot and just try and get there however he can. denys has no idea what to expect on the other side. but there's some good news. his wife and daughters have escaped from mykolaiv. not the best case, not the best situation when i want to see my country. 0k.

what's your plan? go home. go home? not the best case, not the best situation when i want to see my country. 0k. what's your plan? go home. go home? what's the latest with your wife and children?

i'm waiting, they have to cross the border to moldova, now. i'll go. can't imagine what must be going through his head right now. minutes after he crosses into ukraine, a message comes through from denys. "i'm home," he says. we're just heading back in to meet lesia's parents. they've been in romania about a day now and they've had a chance to have a warm shower and a good sleep, so we're just going to catch up with them and find out a bit

more about their journey. tell us a little bit about the past two weeks, how have they been? so, when did you finally decide to leave? before he retired, petro was a builder, but he has no idea if he'll return to the home — and the town —

before he retired, petro was a builder, but he has no idea if he'll return to the home — and the town — that he helped build.

petro and lyudmila have gone to portugal, for now. at the end of march, russian forces were pushed out of bucha. a neighbour told petro that their house is still standing, but it's been ransacked. evidence is emerging of potential war crimes in bucha. civilians have been found dead on the street. galya and her daughters have come to london to stay with lesia. her husband is still in ukraine. katya and petro are back in london and still raising money to buy medicine to send to ukraine. natasha is still in dnipro. and denys hasjoined the territorial defence forces, in mykolaiv. his wife and daughters made it

safely out of ukraine. hello. the king gardeners out there. — hello. the king gardeners out there. if— hello. the king gardeners out there, if your garden plants are looking a bit parched at the moment and you're missing out on — the moment and you're missing out on some of the showers we on tuesday, you will be gathering the watering can the rest of — gathering the watering can the rest of the week i'm a very little — rest of the week i'm a very little rain _ rest of the week i'm a very little rain around. a few showers around western areas but notice how the high—pressure charter dominating the uk, pushing low pressure system is done towards iberia time and time again. do the week the breeze will be strengthening. reese tonight across england and wales in the morning which means it might be quite as chilly. scotland, a touch of austin patching mr around which would clear by the

morning rush hour. cloud drifting westwards across england and wales but overall a lot more sunshine around wednesday compared to tuesday but a few showers will pop up through the afternoon across some of these western districts. most of it dry, a bit more of an easterly breeze, making it feel cooler almost north sea coasts especially, nine or 10 celsius, but a bit warmer than tuesday, simple western areas around 16 or 17 degrees, 17 also possible around the moray firth. wednesday night into thursday, continue with a predominately dry story, cloud drifting in on the breeze with the breeze continuing to pick up and notice how the temperatures don't drop as much as we should, with frost going to thursday morning. dry and sunny weather into thursday, greater chance of some mist and low cloud, coast of north—east england and scotland, cloud drifting to england and wales but sunny spells for many and still pleasantly warm where you have that sunshine but it is going to start feeling cooler down these eastern coasts and you got to bear in mind these easterly winds coming off sea

temperatures of seven or eight degrees is always going to feel cooler here especially so on friday is that wind picks up even further. greater chance of some slightly cloud across england and wales at this stage with light showers and a bit of drizzle in places but most will be dry, sheltered from these western areas where it could be quite dusty, that wind, is still where we will see the highest temperatures, 15 or 16 in the west of scotland,. into the weekend, a bit of a complication as to what happens on the low pressure further north out of iberia, and throughout the weekend, still the reason does and that will make it full on eastern coasts but in the sunshine, feeling quite doesn't.

this is bbc news. our top stories. ukrainian forces say they're holding out against russia's latest attacks, despite intense bombardment in the eastern, donbas region. this community is trying to prepare itself for a full—on russia offensive. they are doing their best but this is going to be a difficult, protracted war. the united states and its allies promise to send more weapons to help ukraine in its defence. the british prime minister, borisjohnson, apologises profusely to parliament for breaking covid lockdown rules, and insists once again it was not done deliberately. this as soon as i received the notice, i acknowledged the hurt and the anger, and i said that

people had a right to expect better of their prime minister.