the modest ukrainian advance is hard—fought and still not the major counteroffensive expected by the russians — we report from the scene. they�* re making small gains. the big challenge for them is when they find a major breakthrough, and they haven't found that yet. and that could come anywhere along this 1000 kilometre front line. yes, we'll have more from quentin sommerville on the front line in ukraine, and we'll be asking about the likely timing of a major counterattack. also tonight... a mini—submarine taking people to see the wreck of the titanic has gone missing in the atlantic — the rescue operation is being coordinated in boston. i'll have the latest details, including reports that a british

billionaire was among those on board. ayes to the right, 354. the noes to the left, _ ayes to the right, 354. the noes to the left, seven. in the last few minutes mps have approved the report that found boris johnson had deliberately misled the commons over gatherings during the pandemic. taking place in beijing, the first high—level meeting between china and the usa in five years, with a pledge to stabilise relations. and at edgbaston england take some late wickets to set up a tantalising final day in the first ashes test. and on newsnight at 10:30pm, we will go deeper behind the headlines and speak live to the key players on today's big stories. plus a first look at tomorrow's front pages.

good evening. we start tonight with powerful evidence from the front line in ukraine, a fortnight after ukrainian troops intensified their campaign against the russian invaders. in the south and east of the country there's a limited operation under way, but it's meant to gather pace and then liberate wide areas from russian control. but the front line stretches over 600 miles, and russian forces have had months to prepare for the next phase of the conflict. 0ur correspondent quentin sommerville has spent time with ukraine's 68th jaeger brigade as it pushes eastwards, having recently regained the village of blahodatne. hejoins us now. quentin, do you think this constitutes a major ukrainian offensive or is it smaller scale? and what is your sense of the state of this counterattack and the pace at which it is going?—

at which it is going? we are still at which it is going? we are still at a very slow — at which it is going? we are still at a very slow face, a _ at which it is going? we are still at a very slow face, a very - at which it is going? we are still at a very slow face, a very early| at a very slow face, a very early stage, huw. there are games but they are hard—won, bloody and vicious. ukraine still searching out for that gap, that weakness in russian defences, to then move through and split the russian occupying forces. if it finds that gap, and it could take many weeks from now, it will be a very, very considerable effort by the ukrainians to push on through. but the men currently on the ground, we have been spending time with them this week on the front lines... the struggle to take back what's theirs has begun in earnest. this was russian—held ground two weeks ago. for 3 storm brigade, thejourney to the front takes longer now. here in the east and in the south there's still a long way to go. ukraine is on the offensive.

russia fought hard to keep this ground but 3 storm fought harder. step—by—step. it was mines, maybe. russian mines. so let's go. this is all russian equipment and uniforms here? yeah yeah. eat, equipment. rations, everything? explosion the guns are louder now. after months of conserving artillery, it's ukrainian weapons that ring out. gunfire this small arms fire is ukrainian — outgoing. you can hear a lot of artillery here as well. also outgoing — much more than before. a russian shell lands nearby. explosion across these positions, russian corpses lie uncollected. so they retook these trenches fairly recently. looks like a number of russian dead — at least two — still in there. they're taking ground to the south of bakhmut and to the north of bakhmut.

the city itself still firmly under russian control. but it's very early days in this counteroffensive. they�* re making small gains. cheerthe big challenge for them is when they find a major the big challenge for them is when they find a major breakthrough, and they haven't found that yet. and that could come anywhere along this 1000 kilometre frontline. it could come here, it could come in the south. and they're attacking in multiple places, just trying to stretch those russian resources, manpower and weaponry to breaking point. and then they can smash on through. we travelled 130 kilometres south—west from 3 storm's position to a second area of attack with the 68th brigade have captured a pocket of territory, and on to the village of blahodatne. here it's very difficult, very difficult, because this is the main area of activity

for russian soldiers. we can see here it looks like it has been fighting house—to—house, room by room, very close? yeah. — this is very difficult. every kilometre is very difficult. and everywhere we... i know how many people we lose, but i cannot tell you. ok. more russian corpses over here. russian soldiers. one, two, three. there is still a lot of fighting here. still in range of the russian guns on the hills.— here. still in range of the russian guns on the hills. russian guns on hills, but our— guns on the hills. russian guns on hills, but our next _ guns on the hills. russian guns on hills, but our next problem, - guns on the hills. russian guns on hills, but our next problem, this l guns on the hills. russian guns on | hills, but our next problem, this is approximately 1.5 kilometres from here _ approximately 1.5 kilometres from here. ,, . approximately 1.5 kilometres from

here. ., approximately 1.5 kilometres from here. ,, ., ., ., approximately 1.5 kilometres from here. ., ., ., here. the russian position? i am at the russian — here. the russian position? i am at the russian positions. _ here. the russian position? i am at the russian positions. andrii - here. the russian position? i am at the russian positions. andrii is - the russian positions. andrii is already giving orders for the next attack. it is imminent. translation: diesel, it's very important. - you need to listen to people. listen closely and do everything they tell you. and smile. why are you so serious? we are winning this war. with just hours to go they pack up everything and ready for the trenches. this specialised drone unit will play a vital part in the assault. while artillery sounds all around them, they have to move fast to get closer still to russian positions. the cost of this fight is everywhere to see. destroyed western—built armour litters the battlefield. but russia, too, has lost dozens of tanks and vehicles since this offensive began.

on a hot day, east of blahodatne, the ukrainian attack begins. the air thickens with artillery and expectation. ukrainian guns pound the russian positions, and their enemy soon responds. but it's a miss. yuri of the drone unit can't delay until the shelling stops. the drones he's sending to enemy trenches carry grenades and smoke bombs. they lose as many as five of these a day.

and there's more than just artillery to content with. there are some helicopters and russianjets, that fire every day, so every time... explosion go to shelter. 0k~ _ good luck. he just illustrated that point very well, that one of the big advantages that the russians have over the ukrainians is airpower. the ukrainians are attacking on the ground but the russians still have helicopters, still have war planes. it makes it much more difficult for them to advance. the battle won, the danger is far from over. as we make our way back from the trenches, more russian artillery fire targets andrii's convoy. we need to move fast. and the 49—year—old commander carries an extra burden — the memory of his son. this is the helmet of my son. a little bit smaller for me,

but this is like... ican remember... he cries this is like i remember. this is 21—year—old 0stap, filmed the day before his death. he fought on the same frontlines as his father. two days before the counteroffensive began, he was killed by a russian drone. it has cost a lot. it has been especially hard for you. you lost your son. can you tell us a bit about your son, please? translation: he wanted to be a hero for me. - he wanted to be a hero for me, and he succeeded. i wanted to protect him, but he wanted to be a hero.

and he won. ukraine may yet win back its land, but there is much here that will never be recovered. quentin sommerville, bbc news, donetsk. the reality of life on the front line in ukraine. that special report by our correspondent, quentin sommerville. let's turn to the day's other news. a submersible vessel which takes people to see the wreck of the titanic has gone missing in the atlantic ocean. there's a major search and rescue operation under way, with a race to find the vessel before oxygen runs out. the titanic sank in 1912 and lies some 12,500 feet beneath the surface. five people were on board the mini—sub, and the rescue is being organised in boston, from where our correspondent jessica parker reports.

designed to plunge the depths of the ocean, this is the titan submersible, now missing in the north atlantic after contact with the vessel was lost. it sparked a frantic but complicated search. 0n the bottom, particularly very deep, _ 0n the bottom, particularly very deep, it's— 0n the bottom, particularly very deep, it's going to be difficult to rescue _ deep, it's going to be difficult to rescue it — deep, it's going to be difficult to rescue it. none of the conventional submarine — rescue it. none of the conventional submarine rescue methods, which are designed _ submarine rescue methods, which are designed mainly for naval submarines, would be able to operate down at _ submarines, would be able to operate down at the _ submarines, would be able to operate down at the depth of the titanic. even _ down at the depth of the titanic. even if— down at the depth of the titanic. even if it— down at the depth of the titanic. even if it could get down there, the hatches _ even if it could get down there, the hatches would not make onto submersible. a ship carrying the sub left newfoundland and arrived at the wreck site on sunday, where it then began itsjourney towards the sea bed, but after an hour and 45 minutes contact was lost. the sub itself is seven metres long and can carry up to five people, typically a mix of crew

and paying passengers. there's said to be enough oxygen four days. it is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area, but we are deploying all available assets to make sure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board. in a statement, 0ceangate said it is exploring all options to bring everyone back safely. the british businessman and explorer hamish harding is believed to be among those on board. this is what people pay the company nearly £200,000 for, the company, 0ceangate, to see the titanic which has sat beneath the ocean for almost 100 years.

—— this is what people pay the company, 0ceangate expeditions, nearly £200,000 for — a rare and extraordinary view of the titanic, which has sat nearly 4,000 metres beneath the ocean's surface for more than 100 years. now an expedition to find this hidden history has itself gone missing. jessica parker, bbc news in boston. the searches to find the vessel, whether on the surface of the water or underneath and they are using sonar technology. or underneath and they are using sonartechnology. if or underneath and they are using sonar technology. if the vessel is under water that is where things get particularly difficult and because of limited oxygen supply they would also be a limited time in which to find them. studio: jessica, many thanks once again for the update. jessica parker, our correspondent in boston. within the last 30 minutes or so the house of commons approved a parliamentary report that found that borisjohnson had deliberately misled the comments about parties during lockdown in downing street. —— misled the commons.

during the day, the bbc learned that conservative party activists, who were filmed dancing at a christmas party, during the covid restrictions in 2020, had been sent invitations to �*jingle and mingle'. police are reviewing video of the event, which was first published by the mirror. 0ur political editor chris mason has the story. jingle and mingle, reads the party invite. mingle, the very thing that the covid lockdown in 2020 banned. and here is what the conservative party headquarters looked like. 30 people were invited. and save the date invite appears to have been sent on behalf of ben mallett. a spokesperson for mr mallett said he didn't send invitation himself. the party was for people working on shaun bailey's campaign to be mayor of london. mrjohnson awarded mr bailey a peerage, lifelong seat in the house of lords.

jingling and mingling, how is that acceptable? it jingling and mingling, how is that accetable? , �* jingling and mingling, how is that acceptable?- are - jingling and mingling, how is that acceptable?- are you - acceptable? it isn't. are you embarrassed _ acceptable? it isn't. are you embarrassed you _ acceptable? it isn't. are you embarrassed you have - acceptable? it isn't. are you embarrassed you have been| acceptable? it isn't. are you - embarrassed you have been given a peerage even though your staff are flagrantly parted? this is how close as we got to sing borisjohnson today as tonight mps overwhelmingly backed the report that concluded he had lied to them. the backed the report that concluded he had lied to them.— backed the report that concluded he had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the riaht had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the right 354. _ had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the right 354. the — had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the right 354, the nos _ had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the right 354, the nos to _ had lied to them. the eyes-macro to the right 354, the nos to dealer - the right 354, the nos to dealer seven. ., the right 354, the nos to dealer seven. . ., ., seven. earlier we heard from the senior mp _ seven. earlier we heard from the senior mp who _ seven. earlier we heard from the senior mp who chaired _ seven. earlier we heard from the senior mp who chaired the - seven. earlier we heard from the - senior mp who chaired the committee that investigated borisjohnson. because he was prime minister, mr johnson's dishonesty if left unchecked would have contaminated the whole of government, allowing misleading to become commonplace. penny mordaunt speaking for the government acknowledged there was a lot in the report and recent debates

that would anger people. the lockdown breaches themselves, which -reat lockdown breaches themselves, which great hard _ lockdown breaches themselves, which great hard with those who sacrificed so much, _ great hard with those who sacrificed so much, or— great hard with those who sacrificed so much, or for others on wider issues — so much, or for others on wider issues such— so much, or for others on wider issues such as the debasement of our on the _ issues such as the debasement of our on the system. he issues such as the debasement of our on the system-— on the system. he liked to this house, on the system. he liked to this house. the _ on the system. he liked to this house, the people _ on the system. he liked to this house, the people of _ on the system. he liked to this house, the people of this - on the system. he liked to this i house, the people of this country and when exposed, lashed out at the system designed to hold him and all of us here to account.— system designed to hold him and all of us here to account. very few have defended boris _ of us here to account. very few have defended boris johnson _ of us here to account. very few have defended boris johnson but this - of us here to account. very few have j defended boris johnson but this tory defended borisjohnson but this tory backbencher did, saying he passed on in the commons what he had been told. , ., , in the commons what he had been told. , . , ., ., ., told. they advised him again and aaain that told. they advised him again and again that no _ told. they advised him again and again that no rules _ told. they advised him again and again that no rules were - told. they advised him again and i again that no rules were broken and that guidance was followed at all times. ,., ~._ . that guidance was followed at all times. ~._ �* ., ~ that guidance was followed at all times. ~._ �* ., ,, ., that guidance was followed at all times. �* .,~ ., times. theresa may! but take a look at this, boris — times. theresa may! but take a look at this, boris johnson's _ at this, borisjohnson's predecessor was unflinchingly critical. | at this, borisjohnson's predecessor was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of _ was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of my _ was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of my own _ was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of my own party - was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of my own party that l was unflinchingly critical. i say to members of my own party that it j was unflinchingly critical. i say to l members of my own party that it is doubly important for us to show we are prepared to act on one of our own, howeversenior, is found

wanting. own, however senior, is found wantini. ~ , ., ., wanting. why add you engaging in the boris johnson — wanting. why add you engaging in the boris johnson debate? _ wanting. why add you engaging in the boris johnson debate? as _ wanting. why add you engaging in the boris johnson debate? as for - wanting. why add you engaging in the boris johnson debate? as for the - borisjohnson debate? as for the prime minister, no sign of him in the commons today. he was instead welcoming his swedish opposite number to downing street. the overwhelming mood in the commons this evening over five overwhelming mood in the commons this evening overfive hours overwhelming mood in the commons this evening over five hours of debate was one of cathartic anger finding an outlet as mps on all sides were incredibly passionate in their outrage yet often amounted to, in terms of what they felt about boris johnson's in terms of what they felt about borisjohnson's behaviour. let me walk you through the late night arithmetic going on here. 118 conservative mps voted to back this report, that means around about 200 decided not to vote at all. amongst them the prime minister, as you had there. he has been nowhere near the house of commons today and has been ducking questions on this whole theme for the last few days. but in

theme for the last few days. but in the end, it is only votes that are casted that matter. the overwhelming verdict very clear borisjohnson tonight. chris mason, our political editor there at westminster with the result of that vote which took place a short while ago. sir keir starmer has been outlining what a future labnour government would do with energy policy, including a ban on new oil and gas exploration, and much more reliance on green energy, including new onshore wind farms. it would also set up a publicly—owned company, gb energy, to focus on renewable energy sources, and to be based in scotland. 0ur scotland editorjames cook reports from leith. everything about oil and gas is big. for half a century the north sea has made money by the barrel and pumped out vast quantities of greenhouse gases. but the peak in production has long passed and labour says the era of exploration must now end.

our next prime minister, keir starmer. alongside the scottish labour leader, sir kier promised to ensure green infrastructure was built in britain, benefiting british workers. the moment for decisive action is now. if we wait until north sea oil and gas runs out, the opportunities this change could bring for scotland and your community will pass us by. and that would be an historic mistake. oil industry bosses and trade unions appear to be united in opposition to your plans, warning that they would chill investment and cost jobs. doesn't that worry you? when i look back at what happened with the coal mining communities, with the coalfields, and look at the mistakes that were made then, not planning for the future, not having the courage to see the change that was necessary, not leading your nation through the change, i am resolved that we will never repeat that under a labour government. we will plan for that change.

the conservatives agree that the uk must bring down emissions, but say labour is abandoning the north sea. there is now broad agreement that society needs to move away from this stuff, oil and gas, to renewable energy. but there is disagreement about the pace and scale of that transition. some people worry that the uk is going to be left with a big gap between the amount of energy it produces and the amount it uses. if we ban new oil and gas licences that would create the very cliff edge we all want to avoid. if we ban new oil and gas licences that means that we will undermine the 200,000 people who work in the sector. if we ban a new oil and gas licences that will undermine our energy security while war is raging in ukraine. so will this policy costjobs? in the short term it is clear that if we choose to undermine the oil and gas sector, yes, it will costjobs. but environmentalists want labour to go further and revoke any new exploration licences granted

between now and the election. it is disappointing that he hasn't been firmer on new projects such as rosebank and cambo. climate science is crystal clear that there is no space for any new fossil fuel infrastructure and that means that any new projects in the north sea cannot be allowed to go ahead. labour does want to make it easierfor wind farms, like this one near glasgow, to go ahead in england too, but that is also controversial. change on this scale is not easy. james cook, bbc news. china and the united states have agreed to keep working on improving relations. the agreement was announced during a visit to beijing by the us secretary of state, antony blinken. he's been meeting president xi, in what's been billed as highly symbolic meeting, as our correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from beijing. good afternoon. first a handshake, then a meeting

which carried great hopes. that collapsing superpower relations could be restored or at least stabilised. at the great hall of the people, china's leader told the us secretary of state they owed it to the world to try and get along. translation: state to state interactions should always be on mutual respect and sincerity. i hope that through this visit, mr secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilising china—us relations. because china—us relations have been so toxic, even modest progress is being celebrated. i would expect additional visits by senior us officials to china over the coming weeks. and we welcome further visits by chinese officials to the united states. their previous cooperation on trade, climate change and cross—border crime has all disappeared because of geopolitical rivalry. most crucially, many military to military communication channels have stopped operating.

there have been some near misses as the aircraft of china and the us challenge one another in contested waters of the south china sea. analysts say the possibility of war is no longer remote. translation: china is actually becoming more powerful. - under such circumstances, it's an increasingly dangerous situtation in which china and the us could have conflicts and it is possible that war could happen. if it did, nothing good would come of it for both countries and for the region. leaders often say they've had frank discussions but officials associated with these talks said that antony blinken and his chinese counterparts really spoke their minds in meetings which went hours longer than expected. there is much at stake for the whole world if relations between beijing and washington continue to collapse, and these governments know it. yet, while the us and china are talking up the best, they're also preparing

for the worst. stephen mcdonald, bbc news, beijing. president putin's most prominent critic inside russia, alexei navalny, has gone on trial again today, facing a series of charges, including extremism. 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg, travelled to the prison, about 150 miles east of moscow, and sent this report. 0n trial again. the jailed kremlin critic alexei navalny in the dock in prison. we were allowed into the penal colony to watch but only on a video screen. he is facing multiple charges, including extremism, that could keep him locked up for decades. on paper at least it is a moscow court which is hearing this case and yet, this trial is taking place here, 150 miles from the russian capital,

in a makeshift courtroom, in a penal colony. that suggests the russian authorities want to limit the publicity that would inevitably come from transporting russia's most high—profile prisoner back to moscow. but the prison picture show didn't last long. the judge decided the trial should be behind closed doors. the press had to leave. and mr navalny�*s parents. his father, anatoly�*s reaction, "they have no shame." a protest leader and anti—corruption campaigner, alexei navalny has long clashed with the kremlin. i remember this five years ago. alexei navalny is russia's most prominent position figure and president putin's most vocal critic. he's been barred from running in the presidential election. he's now being arrested by police.

in 2020, in siberia, he was poisoned by a nerve agent and airlifted to germany for life—saving treatment. he claims it was the kremlin that tried to kill him. the russian authorities deny it. in 2021, he returned to russia. he was arrested on arrival. he's been behind bars ever since. russians are told by the state media hear that mr navalny is a dangerous extremist. in the town where the prison colony is, that messaging seems to be working. "if they've put him in prison," anna says, "he must have done something wrong." locked away here, alexei navalny�*s message that russia needs change, is harder to get out. steve rosenberg, bbc news.

the first ashes test is delicately poised heading into the fifth and final day of the first test. australia finished the day on 107 for three, chasing 281. 0ur correspondent patrick gearey was watching the play at edgbaston. monday morning, either an opportunity or a chore. sunday's rain cleared to leave a test poised perfectly or precariously. england always look on the bright side, pressure won't change that. just watch joe root. this team are flipping the conventions of test cricket one shot at a time. but there are no guarantees it'll work every time. root fooled, stumped off nathan lion for 46. big wicket, big moment. time for leadership. captain ben stokes guided his side further ahead, england's picture improving with every run, but the australian bowlers continued to scramble things. when stokes was out, they were back in it.

0lly robinson has been proving an irritant to the aussies with chat and now bat. together with the tale, he lifted england up to a total of 280 before they were bowled out at tea. so, how were your nerves? the last innings, australia's innings and they began it well. they were 61 without loss when robinson had his say again. david warner gone, edgbaston up, so stuart broad had something to feed off. as a cricketer, this is who he is, what he does. that was marnus labuschagne, best in the world. steve smith is number two. gone to broad. two in an evening of adrenaline. well, what an end to the day for england but australia did score 107 runs, so a lot might depend on the weather and will it allow us the finish that this test match deserves? patrick gearey, bbc news at edgbaston. in tonight's european championship qualifiers, bukayo saka scored a hat—trick as england thrashed north macedonia 7—0, but wales and northern ireland were both beaten, as andy swiss reports.