hello, i m ben thompson, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of live news, interviews and reaction. we start with breaking news this error. the ukrainian military says kyiv has come under missile attack, as a delegation of african leaders visits the country to discuss ways to end the war with russia. the air force says it shot down a dozen rockets, including hypersonic missiles, during the attack. ukraine's foreign minister said the message to africa was clear — russia wants more war, not peace. the african delegation said it would press on with plans to meet president zelensky, before visiting vladimir putin on saturday.

we ta ke we take you life to kyiv, where mike corresponded schalke are keen is. we've now come to the outskirts of kyiv,. instruction to a number of houses here. a woman in her 80s lived in that house there that has been completely destroyed. across the road... being interviewed by

local media here just now this entire community has been impacted in some way, some houses have been completely destroyed. others have been partially destroyed. but everyone here is quite ellipses like a this country has come under attack as a result of missile attacks and, as a result of missile attacks and, as you say, african leaders have today in the capital and this is basically what is happening in the capital. my colleague mayeni jones has the latest. today's missile strike was described by ukrainian authorities as a massive missile and drone launch towards the capital kyiv

and the surrounding region. russia has replied, saying that it didn't launch any missiles or drones towards the country and that the ukrainian forces detonated the defensive missile, the missile defence systems in order to make russia look like the aggressor. all of this comes as this delegation of seven african countries is in the capital to meet president zelensky. they'll be going to saint petersburg to meet the russian president, vladimir putin, tomorrow. and the key reason for this visit, they say, is because they want to make some suggestions to both countries that could maybe lead them towards coming to some sort of negotiated peace deal. they say that they have a vested interest in brokering peace between the two countries because the conflict has had a disproportionate effect on their economies. a number of african countries import grain from ukraine and fertiliser from russia, and the conflict has led to diminish. supplies of both of these commodities is driven food prices up across africa and worsened the hunger crisis in a number

of countries there. the probability that both countries will come to the negotiating table, to the negotiating table is low. ukraine and russia believe ukraine and russia believe that they can win this war that they can win this war militarily, but for many militarily, but for many african countries, they see african countries, they see this as an opportunity to put this as an opportunity to put forward some of their requests forward some of their requests to the countries. to the countries. the reuters news agency says it's the reuters news agency says it's seen a draught of some seen a draught of some of the proposals that of the proposals that they want to make. they want to make. among them, they're suggesting that among them, they're suggesting that russian troops push back. you remember that ukraine is currently carrying out a russian counter—offensive against russian forces in the east and the south of the country. are preliminary talks. russian troops push back. other suggestions african countries want to make is that sanctions be lifted against russia and perhaps more controversially, that the arrest warrants by the criminal, the international criminal court, be lifted against president putin. whether these demands will convince either side to come to the table is unlikely. but the leader said these

they are also due to head to moscow to meet with vladimir putin, to continue to discuss this mission of peace that they have brought here. we heard from the ukrainian foreign minister who said if this is a message of peace, this is how vladimir putin has responded, by attacking the capital. there is a lot of pressure on african leaders. they also said they are on the front lines of this conflict because of the rising food prices. we have had a look at what is at stake for them and why they think it is so important this conflict now comes to an end. my colleague has been having an end. my colleague has been having a closer look, let's have a listen. there are a few reason why these six men believe they may have a path to peace between russia and ukraine. but let's start with that joker card. the non—alignment policy. since the beginning of the war,

africa as a continent tried to remain as far away from the war as possible. in fact, four of the six leaders that are heading to the two countries have officially abstained from condemning the war at the un. but aren't they drawn in already? because if we look at this man, cyril ramaphosa, the south african president and leader of this delegation, well, he is in a bit of a strange position because despite claiming his neutrality over the war, his country has done military exercises with russia and china back in february, and south africa is planning a law change over potential vladimir putin icc arrest warrants, should the russian president come to the country at the end of the summer for a summit. so that is really angering washington, that is threatening to pull its funding from the country. but this view is really popular at home in south africa and cyril ramaphosa really need a win as well as all these leaders, because economically, africa is already a collateral victim of the war. these are the words of the african union last year. indeed, the record is

striking because in 2022, as a result of the war, there has been a 14.5% average inflation all across the continent. many reasons for that — of course, we have seen an oil shortage and queues at petrol stations, but more importantly, the prices of key commodities like wheat and cooking oil have been drastically affected because of the continent's dependence on ukrainian wheat exports. so, no matter who they root for, these six men have a lot to play for during this trip to the two countries. and this is not a simple diplomatic parade. that was a closer look at the impact of this conflict on african countries. let's go straight to nairobi. barbara plett usher is in nairobi and can explain more about the relationship between russia and african nations. she can give us analysis from the continent. i am

she can give us analysis from the continent. iam in she can give us analysis from the continent. i am in kyiv, just on the outskirts, which, as you know, has come under attack today. those african leaders are here as well. what are people saying on the continent about this delegation? do they think they can achieve their goals? they think they can achieve their coals? ~ , they think they can achieve their .oals? . , , ., goals? well, there is some scepticism _ goals? well, there is some scepticism that _ goals? well, there is some scepticism that they - goals? well, there is some scepticism that they can i goals? well, there is some i scepticism that they can bring goals? well, there is some - scepticism that they can bring peace between russia and ukraine. neither side has signalled out all that they are ready to come to the peace table. the question then becomes watch to the african leaders think they can contribute? they don't have much clout, at least not obviously. perhaps the one thing they really have going for them is that they don't have a direct stake in the conflict. they have tried to stay neutral. that could be an advantage if there are peace talks. but ukrainians have just started their counter offensive. that seems unlikely. the point is for the delegation to try to start talks on issues that both sides are willing to talk about. and maybe help to

create an environment towards peace negotiations at some time. this is a war on the continent that has been viewed very much as one between russia and the west. they say it doesn't really have anything to do with us except that we are the ones experiencing the worst for from it. you have been hearing about the economic impact many countries here on the continent import a lot of grain from on the continent import a lot of grainfrom ukraine on the continent import a lot of grain from ukraine and a lot of fertilisers from russia. that has been disrupted because of the war. that is going to be a major focus of the african delegation�*s visit. trying to get some sort of arrangement for both russia and ukraine that will facilitate the unconditional movement of grain and fertilisers. you do have the situation that there are different views on the continent towards the russian invasion of ukraine. some are more... some countries have closer ties to russia than others but all of them have tried to stress

their neutrality. they don't want to be aligned with one side or the other. what they want is peace. that is their point of view. that is the message that they are going to send. from the ukrainian point of view, they have been trying to woo support from africa, trying to catch up with the russians, who have been trying to spend a lot of time cultivating relations over the past couple of years, especially as they grow more and more isolated. the ukrainians will try to build on the inroads they may have made, try to convince they may have made, try to convince the africans to drop their position of neutrality. but at the same time, they will be wary of what the africans might be bringing in terms of any peace proposal because the ukrainian position is that they don't want to really recognise anything that would cement or freeze russian territorial gains in place. again, the africans say what we want is peace because this is affecting us. they have sometimes made the point that when they are told to try to end their conflicts, they must de—escalate and come to the peace table. there is a bit of a view of

that, but that should be the priority. that, but that should be the riori . ., ., ~ that, but that should be the riori . . . ~' that, but that should be the riori . ., ., . priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing — priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing us _ priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing us the _ priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing us the very _ priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing us the very latest - priority. barbara, thank you so much for bringing us the very latest from | for bringing us the very latest from nairobi. the african delegation is here with the message of peace although the ukrainian authorities are now saying, well, if this is the message they will take to the russians, they are also experiencing what ukrainians go through every single day with these air raid sirens, with the idea that this country is constantly under attack, as a result of those russian missiles. i'mjust as a result of those russian missiles. i'm just going to show you what is going on behind me. the police have arrived in the last half an hour or so. they have cordoned off the area, although before the police arrived, we were able to go in and have a quick look at some of the damaged homes. we spoke to the local community. people are absolutely devastated about what has happened to their homes. completely destroyed boston as far as they are concerned, they want these air

defence systems to quickly act and be able to destroy the russian missiles or drones that rein in on this country. but every now and then, these things happen. and homes are destroyed. this community does feel lucky, though, that there are no casualties. there are four injuries now that we know of. as i said, an 80—year—old woman in that home over there, 12 boy injured just over there. home over there, 12 boy injured just overthere. —— home over there, 12 boy injured just over there. —— 12—year—old boy injured. behind my cameraman xavier, a completely destroyed home. people were incredibly frightened by what was going on. really only half an hour away from the city centre, where that african delegation is now sitting down and meeting with the president, president zelensky, to talk about what could bring both sides to a negotiating table. the african side says, "we are on the front line of this as well, we are being impacted by food prices, our population is being impacted, we are under pressure". and this is an

example of what the ukrainians have to go through day in, day out. just one community impacted so close to the centre of power here in ukraine. a reminder that this is a country, a nation, a city, capitalfacing war and conflict every day. back to you, ben. it is becoming horribly familiar, some of this. really good to hearfrom you familiar, some of this. really good to hear from you and see some of what is happening right now. the outskirts of kyiv have come under further missile attacks throughout the morning. we will take you back their lives if there are any further development. you are watching bbc news around the world and the uk. the former head of the uk's police watchdog has been charged with rape and other sexual offences, against girl under the age of 16.

michael lockwood is the former director general of the independent office for police conduct. he stepped down from the role in december after it emerged he was the subject of a police probe. the boss of tesco says there are �*early signs' that price rises are starting to slow. ken murphy was talking as the firm announced sales were up 9% in the three months to the end of may, compared with a year earlier. food inflation hit i9% over the last year, but mr murphy said it was �*unfair' to criticise supermarkets. a hosepipe and sprinkler ban is being imposed in kent and sussex from the 26thjune. south east water says it has no choice, after demand for water had reached �*record levels'. anyone caught flouting the ban will face a £1,000 fine. more on those studies on the bbc website, bb.co.uk/news. you're live with bbc news.

let's return to the war in ukraine and the missile attacks hitting outside the capital today. it comes as an african delegation is making its way to the city to try and broker peace talks. all of this happening is new evidence has shed light on the true scale of casualties that were suffered by russia in the work. a bbc investigation suggests at least 25,000 russian soldiers have been killed in ukraine, four times higher than the figure acknowledged by moscow. the research also suggests many of the casualties are now older fighters, with little or no training; with significant numbers recruited from prisons. our correspondent olga ivshina has this special report. these are the war graves russia doesn't want to talk about. since december, the bbc has located seven new cemeteries dotted across russia and occupied ukraine.

they're filled with the graves of poorly trained fighters. many were prisoners recruited by the notorious wagner mercenary group. and the cemeteries are growing rapidly. this one is about 20 times bigger than it was six months ago. since the start of the war, we have been verifying photos of graves and social media posts with the independent russian website mediazona and volunteers inside the country. so far we have identified 25,000 names. this is four times more than russia has acknowledged. it's illegal to report anything but the official death toll inside russia. so we have come to kyrgyzstan to speak to the families of fighters who have died. hundreds of people from countries like this that were once part of the soviet union have signed up tojoin putin's forces. filming tiktoks on the way to war, this 21—year—old paratrooper is typical of those who died at the start of the conflict — a young, highly—trained professional soldier in the russian army. translation: he always wanted to be the first. i i think that's why he decided

tojoin the military, and there he was also given the choice, apparently. he chose to be there. go to war, you mean? yes, yes. as a professional soldier, he was buried with full military honours after he was killed in action in may 2022. but six months later, in a nearby village, there was no military funeral for another fighter, even though he also died on the front line. that's because he wasn't a professional soldier, but a prisoner serving a seven—year sentence for assault. he had signed up to fight for the mercenary group wagner, hoping to win his freedom in return for a six—month contract. translation: a man called| and told me that my son died fighting in ukraine. i was shocked. i asked, "how come my son is even at the war?" did my son die for nothing? am i going to cry until the end of my life? the deaths of these men show how

russia's war has changed. in the first three months of the conflict, it lost large numbers of professional soldiers. but in the past three months, it's non—professional fighters who have recentlyjoined the russian forces that are dying in greater numbers. the shift in demographics in russian losses reflects not only the fact that the russians lost a large number of their professional troops early in the war, but also the fact that they've shifted their tactics. they now see their professional soldiers as a resource that is to be held in reserve and only used when the conditions are right. now they are letting the brunt of that reconnaissance offensive activity be led by mobilised troops that they treat in quite a disposable way. only publicly reported deaths are captured by our count. estimates from britain's ministry of defence suggest the true figure is likely to be at least twice as high. the bbc contacted the russian government for comment, but it has not responded. and every day the messages and photos of graves keep coming. olga ivshina, bbc news,

jalal—abad, kyrgyzstan. a special report there from our colleague looking at the true extent of the casualties on the ward of ukraine. very interesting how it is calculated on some of the detail on it. much more on that report on the bbc news website, bbc.com/news. we are expecting russia's president putin to address an economic conference this afternoon. this is the scene there, lots of things for him to address, not least that he is expecting that african delegation to make its way to saint petersburg tomorrow.

after being in kyiv with ukraine's president zelensky today. they are aiming to try and broker a peace deal. they say they want both sides to talk. there were suggestions from the kremlin earlier today that president putin is willing to consider discussions over what happens next. but as we know, both sides unwilling to compromise on what a peaceful outcome would look like. you can come of course, saying that russian presence in any part of ukraine is not acceptable, but russia saying it still continues to dominate areas in the south and east of the country. what will we expect to hear? sergey radchenko is a professor at thejohns hopkins school of advanced international studies. hejoins me now from ngelsberg in sweden. thank you for being with us that

error. —— for being with us error. -- for being with us this hour. ., ~ , ., error. -- for being with us this hour. . ~ , ., ., , . hour. frankly, i do not expect an hinu hour. frankly, i do not expect anything new— hour. frankly, i do not expect anything new from _ hour. frankly, i do not expect anything new from this - hour. frankly, i do not expect- anything new from this statement that he will be delivering at the saint petersburg international economic forum most people talk about how great the russian economy has been doing, he has talked about this in the past, the challenges the economy is facing, he will probably appeal to those present they are to focus on... i don't expect a departure from this. big issues that many will be hoping he will address, you just touched on them, but other suggesting that total lack of unity, leadership of the military operation, the leader of the bagnaia military group has been at odds with

the russian versus —— the wagner military group. give us a sense of what you think is happening on the ground in ukraine right now. that is an interesting _ ground in ukraine right now. that is an interesting question. _ ground in ukraine right now. that is an interesting question. they - ground in ukraine right now. that is| an interesting question. they saying there is no smoke without fire. we have had wagner, who has basically called for... his have had wagner, who has basically called for---— called for... his minister of defence. — called for... his minister of defence, shoigu, _ called for... his minister of defence, shoigu, he - called for... his minister of defence, shoigu, he wants| called for... his minister of - defence, shoigu, he wants him out. he wants to replace the minister, on the general staff, and people have been wondering, what is going on? where is putin and all of this? it suggests a lack of discipline. i don't expect to put any any that an economic forum, but it seems the struggle for power in military effort continues —— putin in address any of that. it is very destabilising. we do not see any

immediate evidence that his position is in peril, but i would not say that what has happened till it does make interesting your speaking at this business of international key is speaking at this business event, this conference. b, is speaking at this business event, this conference.— this conference. a familiar fixture of his candour, _ this conference. a familiar fixture of his candour, but _ this conference. a familiar fixture of his candour, but none - this conference. a familiar fixture of his candour, but none the - this conference. a familiar fixture of his candour, but none the less| this conference. a familiar fixture i of his candour, but none the less he needs to keep these may be we can describe them as oligarchs, domestic oligarchs on side. he describe them as oligarchs, domestic oligarchs on side.— oligarchs on side. he has been callin: oligarchs on side. he has been calling on _ oligarchs on side. he has been calling on them _ oligarchs on side. he has been calling on them to _ oligarchs on side. he has been calling on them to become - oligarchs on side. he has been l calling on them to become more patriotic. the oligarchs did not want this world expect this war, putin is saying, you're being sanctioned by the west, come back to me, stay here, because you're not neededin me, stay here, because you're not needed in the west, etc. so this has been a part of his effort. expect the same thing to happen in this economic forum, that i doubt that

the russian businessman should really invest themselves in a strong russia, that absolutely has to wage war in ukraine. i think that will be part of putin's effort.— part of putin's effort. really good to have you with _ part of putin's effort. really good to have you with us. thank you. l part of putin's effort. really good l to have you with us. thank you. we will be following events there in saint petersburg, but it is not clear what we may or may not here. some braking is to bring at this point, relating to the leadership of plaid cymru. the expectation they will name a new leader. theirformer leader left in may amidst a culture of billing and misogyny. we are now hearing that nominations for the position close on friday. we only

have one candidate, the others have already ruled themselves out. this looks like a formality. you're watching bbc news. hello. let's start with a reminder ofjust how dry it's been over the last month or so. we've seen precious little rainfall in some parts of the country, particularly in kent, where manston have had dry weather continuing now for 33 or 3a days. but things will change a little bit this weekend. great chance of rain, i'll say chance. you can see how the blue colours develop in the next couple of days in the west and then more widely into sunday. but there's still large areas where we see precious little, if any, rain whatsoever. now, the main changes will come from these sweeps of cloud there out towards the south and the west today. it's already bringing much cloudier weather to parts of the south west, increasingly so across wales and then across ireland. some heavy, thundery showers develop in the republic pushing their way into northern ireland. a few isolated showers,

western scotland, western england and wales, pretty intense where you see them. but actually most dry, sunny, very warm again with high if not very high pollen levels. and as humidity levels continue to creep up, even though temperatures won't be as high as they were earlier in the week, it is going to feel pretty hot out there, 26, 27 in parts of scotland, 27, 28 for parts of england. now into this evening and overnight, actually the showers and thunderstorms keep going in the west and will become a bit more numerous. the thundery risk mainly across northern ireland, fewer showers breaking out elsewhere across southern england and wales too, maybe into south—west scotland, where it will be a humid and muggy night, a little bit fresher towards eastern coasts of england and scotland. tomorrow a dry and sunny day, but the sunshine turning hazy, a bit more cloudy elsewhere, bringing in isolated showers for england, wales and western scotland. showers most likely and again with a risk of thunder in northern ireland. temperatures down a little bit again. but once the sun breaks through the cloud and those humidity levels creeping up, it will feel very humid indeed. mist and low cloud will start to develop around the north sea,

which could drift into eastern coasts saturday evening. still some showers in the west. most will be dry. but as we go into sunday, we're watching what comes out of france and the bay of biscay. we could see more in the way of rain developing in northern ireland again. it's the showers blossoming, some heavy and thundery. parts of scotland will stay completely dry and some in england and wales will miss the showers. they should develop quite widely through the day on sunday. some of those heavy and thundery, especially in the east, but certainly a greater chance of some rain around on sunday and temperatures still in the 20s and feeling pretty humid. take care.

this is bbc news, the headlines... missile strikes over kyiv, as a delegation of african leaders hold a visit to ukraine to promote dialogue to end the war. it comes as a bbc investigation reveals 25,000 russian soldiers have been killed in the war so far — four times the official number suggested by the kremlin. we have a special report. greek authorities face mounting pressure to explain how a migrant boat sank in the country's southern coast. parts of india and pakistan's coast take stock of the damage from cyclone biparjoy amid fresh warnings as the storm moves inland.

let's