it's a difficultjob, and this is just the beginning. what might that was ukraine's president, petro poroshenko, and ukraine's military intelligence as russia is preparing to evacuate a town in crimea as the disc direction of the car cover dam has put chemical plant in jeopardy. cover dam has put chemical plant in jeopardy. hello, i m maryam moshiri, welcome to bbc news now. the former italian prime minister silvio berlusconi has died at the age of 86. british prime minister rishi sunak accuses borisjohnson of asking him to overrule a committee given the task of looking into appointments to the house of lords.

iam i am yalda hakim, live to the ukrainian capital. we i am yalda hakim, live to the ukrainian capital.— i am yalda hakim, live to the ukrainian capital. we can bring you up-to-date — ukrainian capital. we can bring you up-to-date on _ ukrainian capital. we can bring you up-to-date on the _ ukrainian capital. we can bring you up-to-date on the current - ukrainian capital. we can bring you| up-to-date on the current situation up—to—date on the current situation with the counteroffensive. this was highly anticipated, although we are still waiting for a lot of information to come in from the front lines. there have been claims and counter claims from both sides. we are being quite cautious about the information that we have. in the last few minutes we have got some news from the crimean peninsula. i would quote the ukraine military intelligence. it says russia is preparing to evacuate the town of the answer in crimea. the destruction of the dam has put a chemical plant in jeopardy. says the facility was being mined for demolition. the plant depends for its water on the fourth crimean canal, which until a few days ago was being fed by the joint

reservoir. now it has shrunken after the dam which was created, was blown up. we will have more on this in the coming hours. elsewhere in the country, kyiv is still saying it has recaptured some villagers from russian forces. we will be hearing from bbc verified, you have been looking on the ground. let's recap what has been happening so far. this footage, released earlier today by the separate infantry brigade, a sewing forces recapturing village. this village is in the donetsk region, in the country's south—east. it has been in russian occupation for much of the war. it is not far from the settlements that we have been reporting from over the last 2a hours, as one of the first place as

ukrainian forces said they had recaptured. these are small villages and neskcuhne. these are little villages you can see on your map. these were the first ukraine said it had liberated on sunday. we are getting information about a fifth village and as soon as we have more footage and that we will bring that to you. this footage on social media, not yet verified by the bbc, shows troops hoisting ukrainian flag. here's deputy defence minister orjust a sense of flag. here's deputy defence minister or just a sense of what flag. here's deputy defence minister orjust a sense of what is currently happening on the ground in the south—east of the country as we learn more about this counteroffensive. this is very early stages of the counteroffensive. this will go on for many months and, as we have heard from military analysts, it will be a very brutal and bloody campaign. earlier i spoke

to the former president of you crane, petro poroshenko, and he gave me a sense that the challenges that lie ahead. i me a sense that the challenges that lie ahead. . ., ., lie ahead. i confirm that the counteroffensive _ lie ahead. i confirm that the counteroffensive has - lie ahead. i confirm that the counteroffensive has begun | lie ahead. i confirm that the - counteroffensive has begun and it is a difficultjob. this isjust the beginning. this is reconnaissance by fire. wejust beginning. this is reconnaissance by fire. we just find beginning. this is reconnaissance by fire. wejust find out beginning. this is reconnaissance by fire. we just find out the source of air defence, the main position, because russia builds a very deep defence area, up to a0 or 50 kilometres. this is a difficultjob, because russia is still very strong. putin invests trillions of dollars for the last 20 years. as the fifth president of ukraine, we start to

build armed forces only since 201a. this is a successful reconnaissance by fire. very few brigades are involved... what might you haven't deployed everything at this stage? it is just pro deployed everything at this stage? it isjust pro pink? more than deployed everything at this stage? it is just pro pink? more than 50% of our grade is still in reserve. we do not have a massive operation. i know the 35th brigade of our marines, they do a successful operation on the border between donetsk and is region. this is only one piece of the possible offensive operation. definitely would be at least five or six, also including the nets region. with that situation they may advance her ukrainian offensive operation. we want to cut

the supply, cut the logistics, the same as we do with my participation. when you look on the tv you see the picture of peaceful kyiv. this is not true. almost every single night, russian missiles hitting kyiv duck. lets cross live now to the senior director of the atlantic council's centre. thank you forjoining us. we are hearing a little more detail about this counteroffensive, that has been very much anticipated, but this is still very early days. correct. they have been probing along a 1200 active front line for weaknesses, and not committing their forces in a major way. we

weaknesses, and not committing their forces in a major way.— forces in a ma'or way. we are heafina forces in a major way. we are hearing about _ forces in a major way. we are hearing about the _ forces in a major way. we are hearing about the military - forces in a major way. we are - hearing about the military terms, such as fighting reconnaissance and probing. it is going to be a very difficult and bloody battle ahead for ukrainian forces, because russian forces are deeply entrenched.— russian forces are deeply entrenched. , ., , ., entrenched. there is no question that moscow _ entrenched. there is no question that moscow has _ entrenched. there is no question that moscow has been _ entrenched. there is no question that moscow has been working i entrenched. there is no question | that moscow has been working on fortifications ever since they retreated from kherson in early november. it is also true that the front is very large, i think the active front is 1200 kilometres. the whole front is over 2000 kilometres. not every place has been a5 well, so there are weak spots. ukrainians have some ideas but the former president petro poroshenko said that this reconnaissance is to find out where these weak spots are. it is noticeable that russian military bloggers refer to the fortifications

as the faberge lines. i bloggers refer to the fortifications as the faberge lines.— bloggers refer to the fortifications as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts — as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts who _ as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts who say _ as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts who say that _ as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts who say that we - as the faberge lines. i have spoken to analysts who say that we are - to analysts who say that we are absolutely not going to underestimate how willing they are to fight, and how deeply entrenched they are. to fight, and how deeply entrenched the are. ., , to fight, and how deeply entrenched the are. . , ., , , they are. that is absolutely right. the russians _ they are. that is absolutely right. the russians have _ they are. that is absolutely right. the russians have not _ they are. that is absolutely right. the russians have not done - they are. that is absolutely right. j the russians have not done badly they are. that is absolutely right. i the russians have not done badly in the five or six days we have seen since this offensive has begun. they have also had some losses as well. it is difficult, really, to get a sense of what is going on on the front line. i imagine, and as we have been getting in the last few dame two days, there are claims and counter claims and it is difficult to know what is happening at this stage on the front line and on the battlefield. i stage on the front line and on the battlefield. ~' , ., . battlefield. i think you are right. i think only _ battlefield. i think you are right. i think only overtime _ battlefield. i think you are right. i think only overtime will- battlefield. i think you are right. i think only overtime will we - battlefield. i think you are right. i think only overtime will we see trends, and one interesting thing is, before this counteroffensive began, you had lots of sharp criticism from russian military

bloggers of the performance of their troops. now they seem to be rallying around the flag, so to speak, in ways that do not talk as much about the problems, although i think if the problems, although i think if the ukrainians make a major breakthrough we will see that frank talk again. breakthrough we will see that frank talk aaain. ., breakthrough we will see that frank talk aaain. . .,, breakthrough we will see that frank talk aain. . ,, .,~ talk again. earlier i was speaking to petro poroshenko _ talk again. earlier i was speaking to petro poroshenko who - talk again. earlier i was speaking to petro poroshenko who said i talk again. earlier i was speaking to petro poroshenko who said all eyes are also on this nato summit in july. ukraine is desperate for some kind of nato membership. this line that we continue to hear, the rush they have to be right. this that we continue to hear, the rush they have to be right.— that we continue to hear, the rush they have to be right. this has been they have to be right. this has been the traditional _ they have to be right. this has been the traditional position _ they have to be right. this has been the traditional position of _ they have to be right. this has been the traditional position of nato, - the traditional position of nato, which is why the so—called promise made is seen in ukraine and elsewhere as somewhat hollow. it is also tree that the success of

ukrainians defending their country with military aid is changing some lines. i am frankly not very optimistic that we will see serious progress on ukraine's nato membership. i think there is increasing criticism within nato for that timidity, and we may see better results at the nato summit in washington next year. that results at the nato summit in washington next year. that was the senior director _ washington next year. that was the senior director of _ washington next year. that was the senior director of the _ washington next year. that was the senior director of the atlantic - senior director of the atlantic council's eurasian centre. thank you for your time. we are getting a range of views on the current counteroffensive in the current situation here on the ground. also the political situation for kyiv, as it tries to push for nato membership, and of course that is something that western leaders have also pushed back on and said that currently, the conditions are not right when there is a war here in ukraine. as we have been saying, we

have started to get some material that we are trying to verify on the situation on the battleground. my colleague, courtney bembridge, has been working on the bbc verified team, looking at this material. have a look at what she has found. ukraine is keen to inject some energy into his counteroffensive by wrapping up small gains quickly. these are some of the first images we have had out of the area. this is from an village called blahodatne. in a nearby village we can also see ukrainian soldiers hoisting the flag and this is also from that area, russian armoured vehicle with soldiers nearby. if we have a look at where these four villages are in the broader context, you can see that they all run along this river alongside a main road that heads south towards the sea. they are still a fair way away from russia's

line of fortification, which is marked at the bottom of this image in white. it is still about 20 kilometres before they reach that line. if we have a look at that line and a bit more detail this is what it tends to look like. usually you will have an anti—tank ditch, followed by some network of trenches. if we look at even greater detail at each of those, this is what the anti—tank ditch looks like. you can see it is being done here. it is a vast distance that makes it difficult for armoured vehicles and tanks to cross, and this makes it difficult these so dragon's teeth. it is another line of defence, and beyond that, trenches. this is still 20 kilometres away from the villages where they are currently saying they have reached. if we have a look in the broader context of the country here, these in red mark the recent ukrainian gains that we have been talking about, and we can see that it is still around 100 kilometres

away from the coast, so still a fair way to go. 0ne away from the coast, so still a fair way to go. one of the big aims of this counteroffensive may be to try to split this so—called land corridor, which connects russia with the illegally annexed crimea. this is a much bigger task and it may take months.— is a much bigger task and it may take months. courtney bembridge workin: take months. courtney bembridge working with _ take months. courtney bembridge working with the _ take months. courtney bembridge working with the bbc _ take months. courtney bembridge working with the bbc verified - take months. courtney bembridge l working with the bbc verified team, and looking closely at that material thatis and looking closely at that material that is coming into the bbc newsroom. we'll be looking at all the material that comes in and that is on social media, to try to verify it for you. as we said, the ukrainian forces have been reporting that they have taken a fifth village. just to clarify, these villages are small, however, when i have spoken to ukrainian military officials, they have said big or small, this is territory that belongs to ukraine and we will fight for every inch of our country. a lot of details coming in and we are working to get as much information

from the battlefield as possible. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at what is making news around the uk. a 26—year—old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 21—year—old chloe mitchell in northern ireland. brandonjohn rainey, from ballymena, county antrim, is accused of murdering ms mitchell between the second and fifth ofjune. the court heard that mr rainey, who appeared via videolink, has serious mental health problems and is a paranoid schizophrenic. school inspections in england will change, after campaigning by the family of head teacher ruth perry — who took her own life after an 0fsted inspection. changes include schools that are given a rating of inadequate over child welfare being reinspected sooner, to give them a chance to improve. there was a warning mortgage rates could go up even further, which the average fixed deal around 6%. many lenders have been removing deals and

increasing rates, after predictions that the bank of england could raise interest rates higher than previously thought by analysts. you are live with bbc news, with me maryam moshiri. now to italy, where silvio berlusconi — the flamboyant media mogul and former prime minister — has died at the age of 86. mr berlusconi served as prime minister three times between 199a and 2011. he was the longest—serving italian prime minister since the second world war. mr berlusconi was known at home and abroad as much for his colourful private life as for his political dealings and business acumen. mr berlusconi is to have state funeral in milan on wednesday. his forza italia party is part of the current prime minister giorgia meloni's right—wing coalition. she has paid this tribute to his single—minded vision and strength:

silvio berlusconi was a fighter. he was never afraid to defend this victim and this made him one of the most influential men in the history of italy. it allowed him to make real breakthroughs in the world of politics, communication and business. of politics, communication and business. silvio berlusconi faced a string of legal battles and scandals throughout his career. paul adams looks back at his life. silvio berlusconi was a populist showman who used his business empire and immense wealth to reshape italian politics. born into a wealthy middle—class milanese family, he began his career as a nightclub crooner while studying for a law degree. he made a fortune in construction and built a powerful media empire. although few knew where he got the money to finance it, he bought ac milan, then bankrupt,

turning it into a top european club. then staged a takeover of italian politics, forming a new movement, forza italia. berlusconi promised lower taxes, fewer controls on business, and used his tv stations to ram home his message. in 199a, he won the general election, forming the most right—wing administration in over 30 years. but after an unpopular austerity budget, his coalition collapsed after only seven months. berlusconi spent years defending himself against charges of corruption. he was sometimes found guilty in lower courts, but used italy's tortuous legal system to ensure he never went to jail. io sono innocente. sentenced to prison for tax fraud in 2013, he did community service with dementia patients instead.

he was in and out of power, bouncing back to become italy's longest serving prime minister since the second world war. his eccentric behaviour and bizarre jokes appalled many, but they appealed to his core supporters. i have to bring you some greetings from amman. who was it? it was someone with a tan. it was someone with a tan. in 2009, a man smashed a model of milan cathedral into the prime minister's face, but none of it stopped his love of partying and the allegations about his sex life. berlusconi and a 17—year—old model both deny that he paid her for sex. the scandal generated three separate trials. the last resulting in an acquittal earlier this year. but the perception of sleaze was damaging. ifi if i sometimes see a beautiful girl,

if i sometimes see a beautiful girl, i sometimes say, better than that to be gay. last year, his final political comeback, his partyjoining giorgia meloni's right—wing coalition, despite describing her as bossy and arrogant and expressing his admiration for vladimir putin. silvio berlusconi was undoubtedly charismatic, three times italians chose him as their prime minister, but he was always a divisive figure, and forfar too long his career was dogged by allegations of corruption. silvio berlusconi who has died at the age of 86. some breaking news coming to us from westminster and a report by mps investigating whether borisjohnson report by mps investigating whether boris johnson misled report by mps investigating whether borisjohnson misled parliament over lockdown parties is expected to be published on wednesday. it is the privileges committee has been

meeting today, and it is understood the committee will meet once again tomorrow, because they work is not yet complete. that report that we are all waiting for, will be published on wednesday. in the meantime the prime minister, rishi sunak, has hit back at borisjohnson in the ongoing row over the former prime minister's resignation honours list. he says mrjohnson asked him to overrule the panel letting his nominees for the house of lords. let's listen to what some of mr sunak had to say. when it comes to honours and borisjohnson, boris johnson asked me to do something that i wasn't prepared to do, because i didn't think it was right. that was either to overrule the committee or make promises to people. i wasn't prepared to do that, i didn't think it was right. if people don't like that then tough. when i got thisjob...

thing—mack. i want to do this job differently. lets bring in our political correspondent, rob watson. let's talk about what we saw there from rishi sunak. it is very clear that the prime minister is trying as much as he can to move away from the way in which politics is perceived to have been done by borisjohnson. absolutely, and if borisjohnson and rishi sunak were ever mates, which i don't think they were particularly, they certainly aren't now. it is certainly quite striking, because up until now, rishi sunak, yes of course he wanted to distinguish himself from the government of boris johnson, but he was anxious not to rile him up, not to say things, sort of treated him like a firework that hadn't gone off properly, but you wouldn't want to go and prod it to see what had happened. he has kinda changed his tack. that was tough

speaking from rishi sunak, someone who normally speaks quite softly. any friendship, any meeting us, has gone. any friendship, any meeting us, has one. �* , ., ~' any friendship, any meeting us, has cone. �*, ., ., ., gone. let's talk about the privileges _ gone. let's talk about the privileges committee - gone. let's talk about the - privileges committee because we gone. let's talk about the _ privileges committee because we are hearing in the last few minutes that we will hear this report. we will see it published on wednesday. how bad are we expecting this committee report to be in terms of what it tells us about the former prime minister and his behaviour? i think it will be scathing, _ minister and his behaviour? i think it will be scathing, there _ minister and his behaviour? i think it will be scathing, there is - minister and his behaviour? i think it will be scathing, there is no - it will be scathing, there is no doubt about that. sources have been briefing journalists along those lines and you know from the fact that boris johnson lines and you know from the fact that borisjohnson had decided to quit before he was... just before he was pushed, you knew it was going to be bad, and that is why, not for the first time, borisjohnson has used that tactic is the best form of defence is attack. he had that trump —like attack, saying it was a kangaroo court. 0ur political editor, chris mason has confirmed in

saying when this report is going to be published, that this committee of seven mps are also looking at other conservatives, the pro—johnson wing of the party, people who joined conservatives, the pro—johnson wing of the party, people whojoined in using the same sort of language as kangaroo court, that sort of trumpian approach. it looks like they are going to get something of a telling off. i5 they are going to get something of a tellin: off. , ., ., they are going to get something of a tellin: off. , . ., ., telling off. is there a fear that what's in _ telling off. is there a fear that what's in this _ telling off. is there a fear that what's in this report _ telling off. is there a fear that what's in this report can - telling off. is there a fear that what's in this report can go i telling off. is there a fear that - what's in this report can go beyond damaging borisjohnson's reputation, damaging boris johnson's reputation, and damaging borisjohnson's reputation, and smear the current rishi sunak government too, in a way that is undesirable?— undesirable? may be that, but i think it is more, _ undesirable? may be that, but i think it is more, if— undesirable? may be that, but i think it is more, if you - undesirable? may be that, but i think it is more, if you think - undesirable? may be that, but i i think it is more, if you think about this from rishi sunak�*s angle, what he wanted to do was get away from the drama and chaos of thejohnson and trust years, and say, we are back, in quiet water, sailing quietly and getting on with government. incidents like this are kind of a reminder that the

conservative party has a certain amount of, how shall i put it, turbulence these last few years. if you put all that together with the fact that the conservatives have beenin fact that the conservatives have been in powerfor 13 years fact that the conservatives have been in power for 13 years and that the economy is stagnating, flatlining, public services are really stretched. how could one put this, it isjust really stretched. how could one put this, it is just not helpful if you are the person in power. rab this, it isjust not helpful if you are the person in power. rob watson, as alwa s, are the person in power. rob watson, as always. thank _ are the person in power. rob watson, as always, thank you _ are the person in power. rob watson, as always, thank you very _ are the person in power. rob watson, as always, thank you very much - as always, thank you very much indeed. but in guest turns people have been killed and injured at a wedding in the hunter valley in new south wales. the driver has been arrested although the cause of the crash is not yet known. new south wales police confirmed the driver's arrest. psi wales police confirmed the driver's arrest. �* , , ., ., arrest. at this stage there are ten eo - le arrest. at this stage there are ten people confirmed _ arrest. at this stage there are ten people confirmed deceased, - arrest. at this stage there are ten people confirmed deceased, and. arrest. at this stage there are ten | people confirmed deceased, and a further 25 people have been transported to hospital. at this stage they have varying injuries. a

58—year—old man, the driver of the coach, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. he is now at the police station and currently under arrest. a crime scene has been established and that scene is currently being forensically examined by crash investigation unit and specialist forensic police. aha, and specialist forensic police. a british man has been arrested in the south korean capital after trying to scale the fifth tallest building without ropes. he made it part of the way up before police forced him into a maintenance cradle. you're watching bbc news. hello there. for many parts of the uk it's going to be a dry day with a good deal of sunshine around. the sunniest weather likely to be here in the north—east of england. over the past couple of days we have seen

temperatures reaching 32 degrees, 90 fahrenheit. may not be as hot as that today, a little cooler in the south—east and the highest temperature of 30 likely to be in cumbria. but with that heat and humidity we have the potential for thundery downpours. hail and lightning, some flooding expected as well, there could be about inch of rain falling in the space of an hour. a few showers towards the east but the main focus of the downpours pushing through the midlands, wales, may be parts of western northern ireland and western scotland. those heavy showers that do develop will tend to decay overnight so it does tend to become dry in most areas, a few showers towards the south—west for a while but skies will clear. these are the minimum temperatures at the end of the night and it's a warm night, an uncomfortable night for sleeping once again with the heat and humidity. tomorrow on the whole it's a dry and sunny start. the risk of a thundery shower across england

and wales much reduced. the main focus of the downpours the western side of ireland. that could bring some travel disruption. that could bring some travel disruption. temperature wise, very similar to what we see today, looking at highs of 27 or 28 degrees. through the rest of the week it looks like things will be much quieter. we are losing those thunderstorms, a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine and it should be more comfortable at night for sleeping. cooler at night, not as humid. the high pressure we have had is pushing all the heavy showers away but instead of that humid south easterly breeze, a slightly cooler, fresher easterly breeze coming our way. lots of sunshine around, early mist and fog along the east coast of scotland, may be foggy through parts of the english channel but otherwise a dry and sunny day on wednesday. again high temperatures looking at 27 or 28 degrees,

tend to be more towards the western side of the country.