Freedom of Information

[DaffyVina]

6:44
Red Cross to attempt rescue convoy again today
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will renew its attempts today to evacuate residents from the shattered city of Mariupol.

Yesterday, the humanitarian group had to call off its rescue efforts after “arrangements and conditions made it impossible” for their convoy to proceed.

The group had planned to send 54 buses and many cars to help evacuate thousands flee the city - which has been encircled by Russian troops and has seen the most intense bombing.

A Red Cross spokesman on Friday said they hadn’t received guarantees the route they’d take would be safe, so had retreated to Zaporizhzhia.

“They will try again on Saturday to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from Mariupol."

But “it is critical that the parties respect the agreements and provide the necessary conditions and security guarantees”.

There have been several evacuation attempts in the past month which also failed or were called off. Ukraine has accused Russia of attacking fleeing civilians on multiple occasions - something Moscow denies.

An estimated 160,000 people remain trapped in Mariupol – where they’re short of food, water, medicine and electricity. At least 5,000 residents have been killed so far in the attacks, local officials say.

[DaffyVina]

7:08
Russian forces withdraw from Hostomel Airport - UK intelligence
Russian forces have reportedly withdrawn from Hostomel Airport, near Ukraine's capital, which has been subject to fighting since the start of the conflict, according to UK military intelligence.

"Ukrainian forces continue to advance against withdrawing Russian forces in the vicinity of Kyiv," the UK's Ministry of Defence said in its early morning briefing on Saturday.

"Along the eastern axis, Ukraine has re-taken several villages. In the east of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have secured a key route in eastern Kharkiv after heavy fighting," the ministry added.

Hostomel has seen heavy fighting since 24 February, when Russian airborne troops came in by helicopter to seize a cargo airport as a bridgehead.

Hostomel is a small and strategically important town. Prior to the war, it was home to Ukraine's most important international cargo airport and a key military airbase.

7:36
Unesco says 53 historical sites in Ukraine damaged

The United Nations' cultural agency, Unesco, says at least 53 culturally important sites have been damaged since the start of the war.

That includes 29 churches, 16 historical buildings, four museums and four monuments.

Several damaged sites are in Ukraine's two largest cities - Kyiv and Kharkiv - but also in Chernihiv, one of its oldest.

"This is the latest list, but it is not exhaustive, as our experts are continuing to verify a number of reports," a spokesperson was quoted as telling the AFP news agency.

Unesco says it is using satellite images and witness reports to verify the damage.


8:25
Residential buildings hit in the east
Russian shelling overnight has hit several residential buildings in the city of Lysychansk and the nearby town of Toshkivka, according to Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

The number of victims is being determined, he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned early on Saturday that the east of the country of "hard battles ahead".

As we've been reporting, Russian troops have been regrouping - pulling out of areas in the north near the capital, Kyiv, with the idea of focusing on the east and south.

8:50
What's happening in the east?
Moscow has begun shifting its attention from the capital and the north in general - trying, instead, to encircle Ukraine's forces in the east of the country.

Its army is moving south, taking control of the city of Izyum and bombarding a succession of towns to the east. Eventually, it hopes to move further south still.

But what is it that Russia wants with this region, known as the Donbas? On paper at least, the aim is to "liberate" its Russian-speaking majority.

The question remains: can Moscow's forces defeat the Ukrainian army here and - crucially - do the people of this former coal and steel-producing region want to be liberated?

As the BBC's Paul Kirby has been finding out, a shared language may not be enough to win the region's loyalty.

[DaffyVina]

9:04
Ukraine hopeful for Mariupol evacuation deal
Image shows Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul
Copyright: Reuters

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have agreed on a plan to evacuate civilians out of the besieged city of Mariupol at peace talks in Istanbul, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"Our delegation has reached an agreement in Istanbul to provide evacuations," Oleksiy Arestovych told Ukrainian television.

He added: "I think that today or maybe tomorrow we will hear good news, regarding the evacuation of the inhabitants of Mariupol."

This morning Ukraine's deputy prime minister announced seven humanitarian corridors were planned for today, but said the one out of Mariupol would be limited to private transport.

9:21
Red Cross travelling to Mariupol once more
Image shows Red Cross bus
Copyright: Getty Images
An update just in on today's renewed attempt by the Red Cross to evacuate civilians out of Mariupol, where 160,000 people are estimated to be trapped.

"Our team is on the move this morning from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol. I'm not able to give further information at this stage," a Red Cross spokesperson has said.

Yesterday the agency said it had to abandon its plans to send 54 buses and many cars to the city after it failed to get security guarantees for the convoy, retreating to the city of Zaporizhzhia.

9:47
Seven humanitarian corridors planned for today
Image shows civilians evacuating Berdyansk
Copyright: AFP
Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk has announced plans to evacuate civilians from besieged parts of Ukraine through seven humanitarian corridors today.

One of those corridors is planned for the devestated southern city of Mariupol, but Vereshchuk said it would be limited to private transport out of the city rather than buses.

Vereshchuk said there were plans to use buses to evacuate Mariupol residents out of the city of Berdyansk.

As we've been reporting, the Red Cross has been struggling in its attempts to evacuate people from Mariupol, where an estimated 160,000 are believed to be trapped.

Earlier the agency said it would be making another attempt today to help people leave after yesterday it failed to get security guarantees for 54 buses it wanted to send into the city.


10:12
Why Mariupol evacuations are so difficult
Wyre Davies - BBC News, Zaporizhzhia

Russia is unlikely to allow a proper humanitarian corridor into the besieged city of Mariupol while they're still fighting for control of the city.

Yesterday, only the smallest Red Cross convoy of three vehicles was allowed in. The Red Cross were refused permission to take in two large trucks full of vital equipment despite the humanitarian crisis there worsening by the day. There's no food or water, bodies are lying in the streets.

Until Russia defeats what remains of the Ukrainian army inside Mariupol - many of whom are members of the far-right Azov battalion - I cannot see them allowing a proper humanitarian corridor into Mariupol for the Red Cross or for any other agencies.

This is the area that Russia really wants to hold on to.

It forms part of the Donbas region - and there's very little sign of Russian troops withdrawing from any of the towns and cities in the area. If Russian troops do retreat from the north, it may be to concentrate on trying to hang on to parts of the Donbas.

The war here may drag on for some time.

[DaffyVina]

11:24
In pictures: Struggling to survive in Mariupol

Raisa Isulina and dog, in ruins, 1 April 22
Copyright: Reuters
Image caption: Raisa Isulina, 73, shelters in the ruins of a children's home with her dog Sonya


After weeks of Russian bombardment the civilians of the southern port city of Mariupol are reduced to a primitive struggle for survival, as these Reuters pictures show.
An estimated 160,000 people are still trapped in the besieged port city, short of food, water and medicines. They are sheltering in cold cellars and bombed-out ruins.

Group in gutted children's home, Mariupol, 1 April 22
Copyright: Reuters
Image caption: The gutted children's home - women share a basic meal


Tatyana Velichko in ruins, 1 April 22
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Image caption: Tatyana Velichko, 60, is in the group of women surviving together


Group sitting around fire, 1 April 22
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Image caption: Another group tries to keep warm with a makeshift fire next to a church

[DaffyVina]

11:48
Why are Red Cross evacuations from Mariupol so difficult?

It's a complicated situation – here are three key issues:

Safety

Alyona Synenko, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross currently working in Kyiv, told the BBC the ICRC "can only work as intermediary".

"We cannot stop the bullets," Ms Synenko said, explaining that it was up to the warring sides "to reach agreement and respect them for us to be our work".

"The stumbling block is the lack of very precise and very concrete agreements and respect for these agreements.

"We can facilitate safe passage for civilians once both parties come to an agreement and, unfortunately, until now this has not materialised."

Allegations against the ICRC

The organisation has been accused in recent days of facilitating the deportation of civilians from Mariupol to Russia - an allegation it vehemently denies.

But it is not clear if these allegations have contributed to the inability of the parties to reach agreement on evacuation routes.

Azov Regiment

Mariupol serves as headquarters of the far-right group which is defending the city. Russia says they are Nazis and one of Vladimir Putin's justifications for launching the invasion has been his claim to "de-Nazify" Ukraine. So Russia continues to bomb the major city into rubble to kill its defenders and bring it under control.

Controlling Mariupol would enable Putin to establish a land corridor from Crimea - the peninsula he annexed from Ukraine in 2014 - to Donbas, the region parts of which have also been under the control of Russian-backed rebels since then and where Russia is now focusing the might of its military power.

[DaffyVina]

12:09
European Parliament head visits Kyiv

Roberta Metsola and President Zelensky in Kyiv, 1 Apr 22
Copyright: Roberta Metsola
Image caption: Roberta Metsola, from Malta, met President Zelensky in Kyiv

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Kyiv unexpectedly on Friday and pledged more EU assistance in defence of Ukraine.

She tweeted a photo of her meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the slogan "courage, strength, resolve".

She also addressed MPs in the Ukrainian parliament. "The Ukrainian people are heroes; you are fighting for what we all believe in: freedom, democracy, the rule of law. Without these values, there is nothing else,” she said. "We need more and harder sanctions [on Russia]," she added.

Last month the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia - Mateusz Morawiecki, Petr Fiala and Janez Jansa, respectively - visited Kyiv together to show solidarity with Ukraine.


12:32
Ukraine local deputy mayor 'kidnapped'

Russian troops have kidnapped a local deputy mayor in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine, the region's head Dmytro Zhyvytskyi told BBC Ukrainian.

The official was named as Oleksiy Shibayev, deputy mayor of Nova Sloboda district. He was accompanying an aid delivery stopped by Russian troops at a checkpoint on Friday in the Putyvl area, about 80km (50 miles) northwest of Sumy.

The area is near the Russian border. Sumy is still in Ukrainian hands, but has been battered by surrounding Russian artillery.

A number of other local Ukrainian officials have been taken captive by Russian occupation forces, and in some cases replaced by collaborators.

12:56
Photojournalist found dead near Kyiv
Image shows Maks Levin
Copyright: LB.ua

The Ukrainian war photographer Maksym Levin has been found dead near a village north of Kyiv by police, his employer LB.ua has said.

According to reports from his colleagues, 40-year-old Levin had not been heard from since March 13 when he was documenting the conflict in the Vishgorod district north of Kyiv where intense fighting later broke out.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak confirmed in a Telegram post that Levin's "body was found near the village of Guta Mezhygirska on April 1".

Levin had worked for Ukrainian news site LB.ua for more than ten years, and his photographs and videos documenting the war have been seen around the world. As well as his work for LB.ua, he contributed pictures to international news agencies and broadcasters, including the BBC.

At least eight journalists are now known to have been killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion of the country more than one month ago.

[DaffyVina]

13:11
Protest rally 'shelled by Russians' in nuclear town
Screenshot of shelling in Enerhodar
Copyright: Energoatom/Telegram
Image caption: Still from video showing attack on Enerhodar

Ukraine's state nuclear agency accuses Russian troops of shelling a pro-Ukraine rally by residents of Enerhodar, a southern town that houses Europe's biggest nuclear plant.

The agency, Energoatom, posted video on the Telegram messaging service, showing explosions in a square where a crowd had gathered.

Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Enerhodar on 4 March.

Energoatom says, "This morning, town residents gathered for a peaceful rally in support of Ukraine. They sang the hymn and talked to each other... as the Enerhodar people began to disperse, police vans pulled up and the invaders began packing locals in.

"Within minutes, the city was shaken by the sounds of explosions and massive shelling. Terrified residents began to flee."

Four people were reported injured.

14:22
Enerhodar - more on the town where protesters were attacked
More now on Enerhodar, the southern town where explosions disrupted a pro-Ukraine protest rally today against Russian occupation.

Russian forces took control of the city’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on 4 March, and during the battle in the area an administrative building at the plant caught fire. It caused international alarm – and Ukraine blamed Russian shelling. Russia denied responsibility.

No radiation was released, but the incident reminded the world of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, which sent radiation across Europe.

It is Europe’s biggest nuclear plant, providing half of Ukraine’s nuclear power. The southern city has a population of some 53,000, and has had peaceful protests before against the Russian occupation.

There have been large pro-Ukraine protests too in the Russian-occupied southern cities of Kherson and Melitopol.

14:49
WATCH: Explosions at protest rally in southern Ukraine
Video content
Video caption: Video shows explosions at protest rally in Enerhodar, Ukraine

As we've been reporting, Russian troops have violently dispersed a pro-Ukraine rally taking place in the occupied southern town of Enerhodar.

This video, which has been verified by the BBC, shows explosions going off in the centre of the town. They appear to be caused by multiple stun grenades landing in a square next to the town's main cultural centre.

The Ukrainian authorities also said that there had been shelling in the town, but the BBC can't independently verify this.

[DaffyVina]

16:14
Former top UN prosecutor calls for Putin's arrest

A former chief prosecutor for UN war crimes tribunals has called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be arrested over the invasion of Ukraine.

Switzerland's Carla Del Ponte said international arrest warrants should be issued against Putin and other senior Russian officials.

"Putin is a war criminal," she told Swiss newspaper Le Temps (in French).

Del Ponte served as chief prosecutor on the UN international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda.

An investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine was launched last month after Russia was accused of bombing civilians. The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, the UK's Karim Khan, said evidence was being collected on alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

But there are practical limitations to the ICC's power: Russia is not a member of the court and theoretically does not extradite its own citizens to stand trial abroad.

When US President Joe Biden referred to Putin as a "war criminal" last month, the Kremlin said his words were "unforgivable".

16:29
Wreckage of the world's biggest plane sits at Hostomel airport
Video content
Video caption: War in Ukraine: Amongst wreckage in Hostomel Airport near Kyiv

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen reports from Hostomel airport, some 10 miles from Kyiv, which holds the wreckage of the world's biggest cargo plane.

There had been fighting around the strategic airport since the start of the invasion, but Russian troops have now abandoned the area.

The huge plane - called the "Mriya" (Dream) - was destroyed in the first days of the war.

16:58
Four injured after Enerhodar protest dispersed, Ukraine official says
More now on the protest rally in occupied Enerhodar that was violently dispersed by Russian troops.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Lyudmila Denisova, has said four people were injured, some with severe burns, in the incident.

Writing in an update, Denisova said Russian forces used light explosives and opened fire on residents.

She said some residents had also been detained. The BBC has not been able to verify Denisova's claims.

It comes after video from Enerhodar, home to Europe's largest nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, showed people running away from explosions in a square.

[DaffyVina]

17:52
Bodies seen strewn across road in town near Kyiv
Journalists from the AFP news agency with the first Ukrainian troops to enter the town of Bucha after Russian troops retreated have seen at least 20 bodies strewn along a single road.

Bucha, just outside Kyiv, has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting in recent weeks.

In footage posted online, bodies were seen along a road in the town as if they had been dumped from the back of a truck. All appeared to be wearing civilian clothes.

Some have their hands tied, with bullet wounds to the head.

Footage shows residential buildings with gaping holes from shellfire, and crushed cars littering the streets.

Bucha - along with nearby Irpin - has seen weeks of fierce fighting, as the Russians tried to encircle the capital.

18:41
First quiet night in Chernihiv since February - mayor
Chernihiv - ruined apartment block, 4 Mar 22
Copyright: AFP
Image caption: Russian shelling has wrecked apartment blocks in Chernihiv

The northern city of Chernihiv had its first quiet night on Friday since the Russian invasion on 24 February, the city's deputy mayor tells the BBC.

Oleksandr Lomako said that "thanks to the enormous efforts of our army, Russian troops fled from most of the villages around Chernihiv". He was interviewed by Newshour on the BBC World Service.

There is heavy damage to Chernihiv's infrastructure, after weeks of Russian shelling and air raids.

The local governor, Vyacheslav Chaus, confirmed on Telegram that "the night in Chernihiv and Chernihiv region was calm". He too said the Russians were retreating.

Western and Ukrainian analysts believe the Russian pull-back in parts of the north is a regrouping exercise, ahead of a new Russian offensive in the east. Russia has spoken of re-focusing its war on the Donbas region.


18:46
BREAKING
Ukraine retakes whole Kyiv region - deputy defence minister
Ukraine's deputy defence minister says the country's forces have retaken the whole Kyiv region.

Hanna Malyar said in an update on Saturday: "The whole Kyiv region is liberated from the invader."

The BBC has not been able to verify her claim but Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory around the capital city in recent days as Russian forces pull out.

[DaffyVina]

19:04
What's the latest?

If you're just joining us - or want a recap on the latest developments - here's a quick roundup:

Ukrainian progress

Ukraine claims Russian forces have made a "rapid retreat" from around Kyiv, with the deputy defence minister saying the whole region around the capital has been retaken
Russian forces have been pulling back from key towns including Irpin and Bucha
They have also abandoned Hostomel airport near the capital, leaving behind the wreckage of the world's largest aircraft

New evidence of atrocities

As Russian forces retreat, journalists in Ukraine say they've seen at least 20 bodies - dressed in civilian clothes - on a street in a town near Kyiv
The reporters travelled to Bucha with Ukrainian troops, after Russian forces retreated
One commander said all men aged between 18 and 60 had been rounded up and executed by Moscow's soldiers
Meanwhile, the mayor of Bucha told AFP news agency a mass grave in the town contained 280 bodies
Ukrainian authorities said the body of a well-known photographer, Maks Levin, had been found near a village in the region around Kyiv
Humanitarian corridors

Hundreds of residents of Mariupol have managed to escape the besieged city in private cars and have arrived at reception centres hundreds of kilometres to the north
But a third attempt in a row by the Red Cross to bring a fleet of dozens of buses to the southern Ukrainian port has once again been frustrated
This time they are spending the night en-route and will resume their journey in the morning


19:34
Ukrainian refugees enter Estonia, via Russia
Estonian officials say Ukrainian refugees arriving from Russia include some moved out of besieged Mariupol into Russian territory.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of "deporting" thousands of civilians from Mariupol, a port city devastated by Russian shelling. Russia denies forcing people to leave, but says it is looking after thousands of people from there.

Indrek Puvi, the police chief of Narva, on Estonia's border with Russia, said some 200 Ukrainian war refugees had entered EU member Estonia daily in the past week. Besides people from Mariupol, there were refugees from Kherson, Kharkiv and other cities.

He told public broadcaster ERR that some had entered Russia voluntarily because they had been unable to flee to western Ukraine. "However, there have also been people who were forcibly directed to Russia and allowed to leave on their own after arriving there," he said.

The BBC has been unable to verify the numbers evacuated to Russia.

Russia is battling to take Mariupol in order to link up Crimea with Donbas. Its forces seized both territories in 2014.