Freedom of Information

[DaffyVina]

5:15
Welcome back to our live coverage

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Ukraine crisis. It's just past 07:00 in Kyiv, and if you're just joining us now, here is the round-up of the latest:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned Russia represents the "most direct threat" to the international order due to its "barbaric" war on Ukraine
Finland's president is later this morning due to announce his position on whether or not the country should join Nato
This would be the first step towards a formal decision on membership, as the idea of joining Nato becomes increasingly popular in Finland in light of the Russian invasion
In a sign of an increasingly desperate situation in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials have issued dire warnings about the fate of civilians and the last fighters after weeks of Russian attacks that had turned into a "a medieval ghetto", said the city's mayor
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had every intention of continuing to fight, saying "the war will end when Russia returns our right to live," in a video session with French students

This is Yvette Tan and Zubaidah Abdul Jalil in Singapore, stay with us as we continue to bring you the latest on the war.

5:15
Russia 'most direct threat to world order' - EU von der Leyen
From left to right: European Council President Charles Michel, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Tokyo. Photo: 12 May 2022
Copyright: Reuters

Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order because of its "barbaric" war in Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned.

Speaking after Thursday's talks in Tokyo with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, she also mentioned Moscow's "worrying pact with China".

European Council President Charles Michel also took part in the summit in the Japanese capital.

Meanwhile, Mr Kishida said: "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not just a matter for Europe, but it shakes the core of the international order including Asia. This must not be tolerated.

5:45
Plea to Elon Musk to help with Mariupol evacuation

A Ukrainian marine commander, holed up with other fighters at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, has personally appealed to Elon Musk to help them safely leave the southern city that has for weeks been besieged by Russian invaders.

In a Twitter post, Serhiy Volyna wrote: "People say you come from another planet to teach people to believe in the impossible.
"Our planets are next to each other, as I live where it is nearly impossible to survive. Help us get out of Azovstal to a mediating country. If not you, then who? Give me a hint."
In a separate Facebook post, Volyna described Musk as a "superhuman", asking him to help with the evacuation to "a third country".

Hundreds of marines - as well as Azov regiment fighters, National Guard members and border guards - are the last Ukrainian defenders sheltering from heavy Russian bombardment in underground bunkers at Azovstal, a vast industrial area.

Musk has so far not commented on the marine commander's plea.

All attempts to evacuate the Ukrainian fighters, many of whom are seriously injured, have so far been unsuccessful. However, hundreds of civilians have been allowed to leave the site in recent days.

6:41
Siemens to exit Russian market
German industrial conglomerate Siemens has announced on Thursday it would pull out of the Russian market as a result of the war on Ukraine.

"We will exit Russia with an orderly ramp down of activities," a statement posted on the firm's Twitter account said on Thursday.

The company had earlier announced in March it would halt all new business and international deliveries to Russia, but would continue local service and maintenance-related activities while ensuring "strict adherence to sanctions."

But the firm said in a press statement on Thursday that "comprehensive international sanctions ... impact the company’s business activities in Russia, particularly rail service and maintenance."

Siemens has had dealings with Russia since the 1850s, and until recently was a supporter of greater economic rapprochement between Germany and Russia.

7:22
Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv push Russia back
Joe Inwood
BBC News, Lviv

Meanwhile in Ukraine - Kharkiv has been pounded by Russian artillery for 70 days. But that may almost be coming to an end.

Ukrainian troops around the country's second city have pushed Russian forces so far back that their artillery is no longer in range of its centre.

The latest place to be liberated was the village of Pytomnyk - announced by the Ukrainian military yesterday.

But, Russian forces are not in full-blown retreat - as was seen around Kyiv.

They are believed to be reinforcing with a number of battalion tactical groups - an attempt to secure their supply lines.

Any forces taken from the eastern Donbas region will only slow their advances there - in a fight that already appears to be turning into a bloody stalemate.

7:48
Russia's bid to restrict Nato enlargement looks set to backfire

One of Russia's primary concerns before the conflict was the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato.

Ukraine has since cooled on its plans to join the security bloc. However it does now seem increasingly likely that Nato will be expanding anyway, with Finland poised to say it intends to join and Sweden likely to follow soon after.

In Finland's case, that would mean Russia sharing a long land border with another Nato member.

On Wednesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Russia's President Vladimir Putin was to blame. "You caused this," he said. "Look in the mirror."

8:09
Breaking
Finland in favour of application to join Nato

Finland should submit an application to join the Nato military alliance, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement on Thursday.

"Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay," Niinisto and Marin said.

This is a major policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Finland, which shares a 1,300 km (810 mile) border and a difficult past with Russia, has previously remained outside the alliance.

8:18
The Finnish statement in full
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinisto
Copyright: AFP
Image caption: The prime minister and president pictured at a recent press conference
This is the full statement from Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

During this spring, an important discussion on Finland's possible Nato membership has taken place. Time has been needed to let parliament and the whole society establish their stands on the matter. Time has been needed for close international contacts with Nato and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We have wanted to give the discussion the space it required. Now that the moment of decision-making is near, we state our equal views, also for information to the parliamentary groups and parties. Nato membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.

8:24
A warning from Estonia
Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent

Estonia has welcomed the likely accession of Sweden and Finland to Nato but has warned of long-term Russian preparations for an attack on the Baltic states.

Senior officials at Estonia’s Defence Ministry have called for further Nato reinforcements including an urgent need for air defence units.

8:30
Public support for Nato on the rise in Finland

Finnish public support for joining Nato was for years at around 20-25%. But since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has shot up to a record high of 76%, according to the latest opinion poll.

While military non-alignment and neutrality has long been the stance among many Finns, as a way of staying out of conflicts, the war led to an increasing number of Finns viewing friendly relations with Russia as an empty phrase.

8:38
Ukraine invasion changed Finland's security situation - FM

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has also been speaking and says Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed Finland's security situation, but adds there is no immediate threat.

In the wake of Finland's announcement about joining Nato, he has also said the country's accession to Nato would strengthen both the alliance and security in the Baltic Sea region, Reuters news agency reports.

8:46
Denmark welcomes Finland's decision to join Nato - PM
Mette Frederiksen
Copyright: Getty Images

We're hearing from a number of countries expressing support for Finland's move. Now Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Denmark will welcome Finland in Nato and will work to process the bid quickly.

She says the decision "will strengthen Nato and our common security," and "Denmark will do everything for a quick admission process after the formal application".

9:10
Russians and Finns have largely stopped crossing the border
James Reynolds
Reporting from Lappeenranta

The quiet streets tell the story of the change of life in this border region.
In normal times, Russian tourists would be here to enjoy the arrival of spring – to sail on Lake Saimaa. But Russians and Finns have largely stopped crossing the border.

Finland is about to join Nato. It is a strategic change.

But Finland has always been realistic about life next to its powerful, sometimes threatening, neighbour.
This comes from family stories passed down about the winter war in 1939-1940, in which the Soviet Union invaded and eventually took and kept about 10% of Finnish territory.
You see the realism in continued conscription into the military and in bomb shelters at the ready.

Finland will soon be a Nato territory - doubling the length of the Nato-Russia border.
It means that Nato will only be a two to three-hour drive to St Petersburg – the home city of Vladimir Putin.

The very thing that Putin has sought for years to prevent – Nato expansion – is the very thing he has now brought about.

9:18
Historic move for Finland - opposition MP

Elina Valtonen, who is a Finnish MP and vice-president of the National Coalition Party - the opposition party in Finland - says this is a historic move for her country.

"We've been partnering with Nato for a very long time, but clearly taking a step [towards] becoming members, sending the membership application, that's a [historic] move for us," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

So what is next for Finland?

"In parliament, as we speak, the foreign affairs committee is preparing a report on the change to the security environment around Finland and Sweden, and probably during the weekend we will conclude that Finland should join Nato. And after that - probably next week - the government will be able to proceed with the application," says Valtonen, who is also a member of the foreign affairs committee.

Finland would strengthen the alliance with its "strong defence forces" and a conscripted army, she says. Together with its reserves it has one of the strongest armies in Europe, she adds.

10:15
We feel threat from Russia - Finnish MP

We have more from Elina Valtonen, Finnish MP and member of the opposition, on how Finland views the security situation with regards to Russia.

"We do feel a threat from Russia, I don't think that threat ever went away entirely. Finland never took the step of diminishing its defence forces, we have always taken security very seriously. We are very much focused on defending ourselves. But of course, we would like to do that together with our close partners and allies hopefully in the future," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We share the same values, we are a western country, Finland has been a stable democracy for over 100 years and it's just the natural step to take."

About the pledge made by Boris Johnson of military help in case of incursion into Finland, she says:

But vice versa, Finland is also there to help Britain if there's anything that threatens our security and our values.

10:28
How will Putin react to Finland joining Nato?
Frank Gardner
BBC Security Correspondent in Estonia

Putin’s warnings to Finland not to join Nato appear to have failed. His invasion of Ukraine has triggered the exact thing he fears most: further enlargement of Nato right up to Russia’s borders.

So how could he respond?

• Military moves. For now, President Putin has his hands full in Ukraine so he is unlikely to make any sudden moves in Finland’s direction. Russian troops close to the 800 mile (1300km) joint border have been redeployed south. In time though, he is likely to move both troops and missiles nearer to Finland’s border and mount aggressive air and naval patrols.

• Hybrid warfare. Cyber attacks and cyber espionage have been going on for some time, aimed at most European states. These can now be expected to be directed specifically at Finland and Sweden if they join Nato, accompanied by the usual official denials of culpability.

• Subversion. Putin likes to play a long game and he may well decide that these two Nordic countries’ historic neutrality means any decision to join Nato can be reversed. In time, he may opt to try to shape Finnish public opinion against Nato with the help of online bots and fake accounts.

10:43
Finland joining Nato shows West is united - EU Ukraine rapporteur

Finland's announcement comes as European lawmakers debate the issue.

The EU's standing rapporteur on Ukraine, Michael Gahler, said Finland's accession to Nato was testament to western unity.

He said: "This signal that comes from Finland, and probably soon from Sweden as well, is also a signal to the rest of the world that the West is not backtracking, that we are united and that we have the best intention to come out of this war stronger than before.

"Because that is definitely the attitude of the rest of the world - to watch whether after Afghanistan and other setbacks for the West, the West yet again would come out weakened and retreated - and that is definitely something that we need to avoid.

We need to sustain and strengthen the zone of freedom and democracy because that is what this is it about.

11:34
Finland joining Nato 'definitely' a threat to Russia - Kremlin
The Kremlin says Finland's plan to join Nato is "definitely" a threat to Russia and that the expansion of the military bloc will not make Europe or the world more stable.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the steps taken by Finland to join Nato were a cause for regret and a reason to impose a symmetrical response, Reuters news agency reports.

He added Finland had taken "unfriendly steps" against Russia.

Asked what form Russia's response would take, he said: "Everything will depend on how this... process of Nato expansion plays out, the extent to which military infrastructure moves closer to our borders."

[DaffyVina]

11:44
Many abuses in Ukraine may amount to war crimes - UN

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has said 1,000 bodies have been recovered in areas around Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in recent weeks.

The UN has been verifying allegations of violations carried out since the Russian invasion began, and many may amount to war crimes, she added.

"The scale of unlawful killings, including indicia [signs] of summary executions in areas to the north of Kyiv, is shocking," she told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

"While we have information about 300 such killings, the figures will continue to increase as new evidence becomes available.

"These killings of civilians often appeared to be intentional, carried out by snipers and soldiers. Civilians were killed when crossing the road or leaving their shelters to seek food and water. Others were killed as they fled in their vehicles. Unarmed local men were killed because Russian soldiers suspected them of supporting Ukrainian forces or otherwise being a potential threat, and some were tortured before being killed."

The Human Rights Council is to decide on Thursday whether to ask officials to carry out a full investigation into the events that occurred in Kyiv and other regions in February and March, Reuters news agency reports.

[DaffyVina]

12:24
Putin will be furious about Finland's move - but it may feed his narrative
Jenny Hill
BBC News, Moscow

One thing that is absolutely certain is that Vladimir Putin will be furious. He never liked Nato or its expansion eastwards. One of the reasons he attacked Ukraine in the first place was because he was concerned that it wanted to join Nato, and yet as a result of his war he's potentially now looking at a vastly enlarged alliance right on his doorstep.

It's inevitable Putin will use this as an excuse to tell the Russian people they are increasingly under attack from the West. We've heard it from politicians, pundits, TV presenters and Putin himself in recent weeks - that Nato is waging a proxy war in Ukraine, and today's decision by Finland will be framed within that.This morning we heard from the former president, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the deputy chair of Putin's security council. He doesn't speak for Putin and tends to be outspoken in a personal capacity, but this morning he said Nato exercises on Russia's borders were effectively escalating this conflict and increasing the threat that it could turn into a nuclear war.

Moscow knows what it's doing. It knows that Russian people will respond to its accusations that Nato really is the enemy, and that Putin had no choice but to invade Ukraine in order to defend Russia against the West.

It's a very powerful narrative and I think it's something the West is very conscious of - the more Russian people are told this, perhaps the more nervous they become, and perhaps the more united they become behind Putin.

12:37
Russia’s invasion was turning point - Finland minister
Katya Adler
BBC Europe Editor reporting from Helsinki

Finland’s foreign minister has just told me that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the turning point for his country, upending decades of public support for non-military alignment.

Pekka Haavisto used to be an outspoken advocate of closer engagement and cooperation with Russia. Now, he supports Finland joining Nato as soon as possible. He says the country will officially announce its application at the beginning of next week if (as expected) parliament gives the green light.

It’s a matter of protection, he told me. Finland shares an 800-mile (1300 km) long border with Russia. Haavisto re-iterated his country’s preference to become a Nato member at the same time as neighbouring Sweden, where public support for joining the alliance is a little less enthusiastic.

But Haavisto was quick to point out, when you ask Swedes if they’d join Nato if Finland does, support in opinion polls jumps 10% because of the traditionally close defence co-operation between the two countries.

13:38
What do Russian media make of Finland joining Nato?
Laura Gozzi, BBC Monitoring

The Finnish backing for Nato membership is being discussed on Russian state TV, where hosts and guests are being typically scathing about the prospect of Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.

On Rossiya 1's talk show "60 minutes", retired military intelligence officer Rustem Klupov called it an "escalation of the conflict".

Host Olga Skabeyeva - who is on the sanctions list of both the EU and the UK - said that ordinary Finns and Swedes did not stand to gain from joining the alliance: "The main beneficiary here is America and Biden, and the main objective is a new iron curtain from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea," she said.

Over on Telegram, pro-Kremlin channel "Release the Kraken" said that Nato membership would "trigger the militarisation of the Baltic area and the entire north-west of Russia, and increase tension in Northern Europe for many years to come".

13:47
WATCH: Finland's Winter War - 'We fled on the last bus'
Video content
Video caption: Anna-Liisa Anttila left Finland with her mother during the Winter WarAnna-Liisa Anttila left Finland with her mother during the Winter War

Finland's thinking about defence is still shaped by an attempt by the then Soviet Union to invade and occupy the country in 1939.

In what became known as the Winter War, Finland fought off an invasion from the Soviet Union, but ended up ceding most of its eastern province of Karelia.

Anna-Liisa Anttila was a teenager in the city of Vyborg at the time. The Soviets captured it and made it part of Russia, and Finland never got it back.

Anna-Liisa remembers what the bombing was like back then and tells the BBC's Allan Little about having to flee with her mother on the last bus out of town.

14:04
'Finland won't become hostile to Russia automatically'
James Reynolds
Reporting from Lappeenranta

In normal times, Russian visitors cross the border into this Finnish region to spend money.
Mohamad Darwich, who’s originally from Syria, runs a giant shopping market near the crossing. He usually sells large amounts of instant coffee and washing up liquid to incoming Russians. But the pandemic, and now the invasion of Ukraine, mean that business has all but stopped.

“The war on Ukraine was a big mistake,” he says, “I don’t think they [the Russians] will repeat it. And even if Finland goes to Nato it will not become hostile to Russia automatically. Finland must be more interested in getting more Russians here to see the other point of view.”

For years, Finland has maintained its own armed forces, as a precaution against its larger neighbour. Conscription is mandatory for men – who are then enlisted into the reserve.
“I think Finland is pretty well prepared if something like Ukraine is going to happen,” one local reservist says. “I truly hope not, war is awful, but the Finnish population is ready to defend their country and if we are in Nato then Russia will think twice."

In the harbour, I meet two Russian women who prefer not to give their names.
“When you travel right now you are scared to say that you are from Russia because you don’t know the reaction,” one tells me. “I am impressed that when you say in Finland that you are Russian they say we know what you are going through so it is kind of nice. I feel more home here than in Russia but I would not cut loose from there either."

14:10 12 May
Finland's move seriously damaging to ties with Russia - FM

We have more reaction from Russia over Finland's announcement it intends to join Nato - this time from the foreign ministry.
In a statement, the ministry says Finland's accession to Nato will cause serious damage to Russian-Finnish relations and "to maintaining stability and security in the Northern European region".

"Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop the threats to its national security arising in this regard," it adds.

14:22 12 May
Finns are asking, 'what if this happened to us?'
Video content
Video caption: We're ready to consider Nato membership - Finland's foreign minister

More now on the Finnish foreign minister's interview with the BBC's Katya Adler in Helsinki.

Pekka Haavisto explained why Finland, which shares a long land border with Russia, is likely to apply to join Nato imminently:

For 18 years, we have been mentioning that if the security situation changes in the vicinity of Finland or in the Baltic Sea region, we are ready to consider Nato membership. So mentally, we have been prepared for that, but there has not been any need for improved security... But the Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the mindset of many Finnish people."

He said that though his country has had "good co-operation" with Russia on their shared border for many years, they now have a "cold relationship". He also said the Finnish people felt a solidarity with Ukraine because Russia invaded Finland in World War Two.

But Haavisto insisted that Russia shouldn't feel threatened by Finland and Sweden joining Nato.

We are peace-loving countries, we have maintained a peaceful border towards Russia, and we are looking to the future when the normal co-operation can go on with Russia."

[DaffyVina]

15:08 12 May
Ten weeks of sheer horror - Ukraine addresses UN rights council

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova addresses UN Human Rights Council in Geneva
Copyright: EPA
Image caption: Dzhaparova accused Russia of torture, enforced disappearances and sexual violence

WARNING: This post contains details some readers may find distressing

More now from a UN Human Rights Council emergency session in Geneva, which is examining evidence of violations in Ukraine.
Speaking by videolink from Kyiv, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said the people of her country had faced "10 weeks of sheer horror", AFP reports.

"Torture and enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence - the list of Russia's crimes is endless," she said.

Dzhaparova held up a picture featuring black lines which she said had been drawn by an 11-year-old boy who had been raped in front of his mother and now communicates only through drawing. The BBC is not able to verify this account.

The UN body's monitoring mission visited Ukraine last week. As we reported earlier, human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said 1,000 civilian bodies had been found in the Kyiv region, some of which appeared to have been summarily executed.

She also spoke of civilians who died because of stress to their health and lack of medical aid. This includes a case the BBC reported on, in Yahidne village in Chernihiv, where she says 360 residents, including 74 children and 5 persons with disabilities, were forced by Russian forces to stay for 28 days in a school basement. It was so overcrowded people could not lie down. Ten older people died, she says.

The UN General Assembly voted in April to suspend Russia from the Council and it immediately withdrew. It could have attended this session as an observer, but its chair was empty.

Later today, the council will vote on whether to set up an official UN inquiry to look specifically at violations in the Kyiv region.

Russian Federation's empty chair at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, 12 May 2022
Copyright: Reuters

Protesters outside UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, 12 May 2022
Copyright: Reuters
Protesters outside the session highlighted the plight of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol

[DaffyVina]

15:53 12 May
UN is demonising Russia, ambassador says
Now, back to the UN Human Rights Council's emergency session, where a vote is expected later on a proposed UN inquiry to look at alleged abuses by Russian forces in the Kyiv region.

Russia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva has criticised the resolution.
In a statement emailed to Reuters, Gennady Gatilov said:

Instead of discussing the true causes that led to the crisis in this country and looking for ways to resolve them, the 'collective West' is organising another political rout to demonize Russia."

The Chinese ambassador, Chen Xu, was also critical. He complained of the "politicisation" of the Council and said the resolution could "add fuel to the fire" of tensions in Ukraine.

Russia denies that its forces have carried out abuses. It was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council last month, and left its seat as an observer empty during today's session.

16:00 12 May
UN to set up inquiry into abuses in Ukraine

The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution setting up an inquiry into allegations of abuses by Russian forces in Ukraine.

As we reported earlier, the Council was in emergency session in Geneva and heard accusations of war crimes including civilian executions, rape, torture and enforced disappearances.

The vote was passed with 33 members in favour, 12 abstentions and two votes against (from China and Eritrea). Russia was suspended from the Council last month and chose not to join the session as an observer.


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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61425025

Ukraine conflict: Russian soldiers seen shooting dead unarmed civilians
By Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe correspondent, Kyiv
Published 10 hours ago

Media caption: Watch: Russian soldiers caught on camera killing unarmed civilians

When Leonid Pliats and his boss were shot in the back by Russian soldiers, the killing was captured on CCTV cameras in clear and terrible detail. The footage, which was obtained by the BBC, is now being investigated by Ukrainian prosecutors as a suspected war crime.

It was the height of the fighting around Kyiv and the main roads into the capital were a battlefield, including around the bicycle shop where Leonid worked as a security guard.

But this was no firefight: the video clearly shows heavily armed Russian soldiers shooting the two unarmed Ukrainians and then looting the business.

We have pieced together the full sequence of events, matching what was recorded on multiple CCTV cameras around the site with the testimony of people Leonid phoned that day, as well as the Ukrainian volunteer fighters who tried to rescue him.
***

The Russians arrive in a stolen van daubed with the V sign used by Russian forces and the words Tank Spetsnaz in black paint. They wear Russian military uniform and approach with their guns up, fingers on the triggers.

Leonid walks towards the soldiers with his hands up to show he's unarmed and no threat.

PHOTO: Russian soldiers shortly before they destroy a camera
Image caption, The Russian soldiers had not realised they were being filmed

The Russians initially talk to him and his boss through the fence. There is no audio on the footage but the men seem calm, they even smoke. Then the Ukrainians turn away and the soldiers start to leave.

Suddenly they turn back, crouch then shoot the two men multiple times in their backs.

One is killed outright but somehow Leonid manages to stagger to his feet. He even ties his belt around his thigh to slow the blood, then stumbles to his cabin where he begins to call for help.

Vasyl Podlevskyi spoke to his friend twice that day, as he sat bleeding heavily.

Leonid told him the soldiers claimed they don't kill civilians, then they shot him.

"I said can you at least bandage yourself up? And he told me, Vasya, I barely crawled here. Everything hurts so much. I feel really bad," Vasyl remembers the call.

"So I told him to hang in there and started phoning the territorial defence."

The men he called used to sell air conditioning before the war.

PHOTO: Abandoned Ukrainian tanks
Image caption, There has been fierce fighting on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital

Now volunteer fighters, Sasha and Kostya show me video on their mobile phones of Russian tanks rolling past their positions. Their job was to send real-time information on Russian movements to Ukraine's military positions up the road.

When Leonid Pliats was injured they were tasked with crossing the dangerous E40 highway to try to save him. Even today, the road is littered with the burned-out carcasses of Russian tanks, a reminder of the intensity of the fighting.

As the security guard lay bleeding, Russian troops were still on site.

On the CCTV you see them shooting their way into rooms, stealing bicycles and even a scooter and lolling around in the director's office, drinking his whisky, and rifling through his cupboards.

Outnumbered and only lightly armed, Sasha and Kostya were forced to wait although they realised that Leonid was dying.

"We talked to him on the phone, we tried to calm him. We told him, it's ok. Everything will be ok. You'll survive," Sasha tells me they did their best to comfort him.

"We said we were on our way. Maybe that helped him. Maybe. But unfortunately, by the time we made it, he was dead."

Even as they collected the two men's bodies, the volunteer fighters had to take cover as a Russian tank rolled past.

There is ample evidence against the men responsible for these killings. We have studied the video in minute detail and the Russian soldier who we believe was one of the killers is clearly visible, his face uncovered.

PHOTO: Leonid and his cat
Image caption: Leonid was 65 when he died

It is a long time before his friends realise they are being filmed and smash one of the security cameras.

We showed the footage to the chief of police for Kyiv region and he told us the bodies of 37 civilians, all of them shot dead, were found along the road to Ukraine's capital after Russian forces were pushed back.

The Prosecutor's office confirms that it is now investigating the killing of Leonid and his colleague as a possible war crime: one of more than 10,000 cases they have registered.

"My Dad was not a military man at all. He was a pensioner. They killed a 65-year-old. What for?" Leonid's daughter, Yulia Androshchuk, wants to know.

She is abroad and hasn't even been able to bury her father yet because of the war.

"I'm not so much furious as full of grief - and fear. These damn Russians are so out of control, I'm afraid of what they might do next," she told me.

Yulia hopes those responsible will stand trial someday, somehow. For now, she wants people to know exactly what happened to her father and for the brutality to stop.

[DaffyVina]

17:18 12 May
More than six million people have fled Ukraine - UN

The number of people who’ve fled Ukraine to escape Russia's invasion has passed six million, according to the UN refugee agency.

More than eight million more have been displaced within the country according to the latest International Organization for Migration report.

It says the majority of those fleeing the war have entered Poland, with others travelling to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

Ukraine has also accused Russia of deporting people against their will.

17:35 12 May
Talks to swap seriously wounded Azovstal fighters - Deputy PM

Ukrainian officials say talks are taking place to evacuate 38 seriously wounded fighters from the Azovstal steelworks in the southern port city of Mariupol - the steelworks is the only part of the city not under Russian control.

Fighters inside the plant say conditions are deteriorating amid continued Russian attempts to take control of the complex and they have run out of medical supplies and cannot treat the wounded.

Deputy PM Iryna Vereschuk said some media reports suggesting a swap involving 500 or 600 people were wrong.

"I'm really asking. It's about people's lives. Refrain from making public comments about what you don't know. If everything works out and we get people out, then do what you want,” she wrote on Telegram.

17:55 12 May
Mountaineer climbs Everest for her country
Antonina Samoilova
Copyright: AFP

Antonina Samoilova has become the only Ukrainian climber to make it to the top of Mount Everest this season.
The 33-year-old reached the summit with her country’s flag, according to expedition company 14 Peaks Expedition.

Before she left, she told reporters: "I climb Everest to support all the people of Ukraine, to support every warrior, every volunteer and all the people who were affected by this cruel war and to give strength to fight until we win."

Nepal has issued 317 permits to foreign mountaineers for this year's Everest spring climbing season, which runs until the end of May.

18:30 12 May
The day in pictures

Relatives of fighters stuck in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol rally to demand a rescue mission near the presidential palace in Kyiv

Copyright: Reuters

Ukrianian soldier's funeral

Copyright: Reuters
The wife of a Ukrainian serviceman who died in Zolote mourns at his funeral in the village of Staryi Yarychiv, near Lviv

Motorists push their vehicle in a queue at a petrol station in Kyiv Ukraine

Copyright: EPA
Two people resorted to pushing their car towards a petrol station in Kyiv, as the country reported fuel shortages

Man and woman hug at Kyiv railway station

Copyright: Getty Images
A woman embraces her husband as she returns to Kyiv from Poland

Woman stands in her damaged house in Komyshuvakha

Copyright: Reuters
Katerina Bondarevich, 83, stands inside her what remains of her house in Komyshuvakha, near Zaporizhzhia, after it was damaged in Russian shelling on Wednesday

[DaffyVina]

18:53 12 May
Moldova leader downplays risk of war spreading

To the south-west of Ukraine, President Maia Sandu has sought to reassure Moldovans that they need not fear Russian aggression towards their country in the near future.

"I believe we are safe; for now, Russia has no clear plans for that," she told the TVR Moldova channel.

She did however admit "apparently, any scenarios are possible" and added she would let people know if the situation changed.

On Tuesday the US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia aimed to make a land bridge from Crimea to the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria. But, she said, Russia would not be able to do this without further military mobilisation.

Explosions in Transnistria last month - a breakaway Russian-controlled territory in Moldova bordering on Ukraine - have raised fears about the Ukraine conflict's potential for spreading.

Separatist authorities said Ukrainian "infiltrators" were responsible but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russian special services.

19:10 12 May
Social media firms asked to keep evidence of war crimes - report

Four US Democrats are reported to have sent formal requests to the CEOs of YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook’s parent company, Meta, asking them to “preserve and archive content” that could be used as evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine - according to NBC News.

It says it’s seen a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg encouraging his company to help out “as the US government and international human rights and accountability monitors investigate Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities in Ukraine”.

NBC says the letters were signed by Rep Carolyn Maloney, Rep Gregory Meeks, Rep Stephen Lynch and Rep William Keating.

NBC says they specifically asked the social media companies “to flag or mark content as containing potential evidence of war crimes and other atrocities”.

It adds that YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook did not immediately respond to their requests for comment.

19:27 12 May
Putin achieves the opposite of what he wants, says Ukraine

Video content
Video caption: War in Ukraine: Putin achieves the opposite of what he wants says Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the opposite of President Putin's goal of increasing his influence on his western border, a spokesman for President Zelensky says.

Sergiy Nykyforov told BBC World News that the war had forced Finland and Sweden to rethink their security positions and consider joining Nato.

He also said that before the invasion a significant number of Ukrainians wanted stronger ties with Russia, but now the vast majority would prefer integration with Europe.

19:46 12 May
French and German leaders welcome Finland's Nato bid
We've been getting reaction from Europe and the US to the Finnish President and PM's call for the country to join Nato.

French President Emmanuel Macron "fully supports Finland's sovereign choice to rapidly join Nato," the Elysee Palace said after phone talks between Macron and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a tweet that he had "assured Finland of the full support" of his government in a call with Niinisto
In the US, Senator Bob Menendez, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a hearing that the panel was "already working to ensure swift consideration" for both Finland and Sweden if either applies
The committee's top Republican, Jim Risch, called the announcement "a tremendous step forward in the future of transatlantic security" and said he would support Finland through the application process
Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the move and said the accession process would be "smooth and swift"
Russia's foreign ministry, however, said Finland's accession to Nato would "cause serious damage" to stability in northern Euope and said Russia would take "retaliatory steps", including steps of a "military-technical" nature.

20:04 12 May
Russian forces unable to cross Siverskyi Donets river, says Ukraine

Smoke rises from a makeshift bridge across the Siverskyi Donets river
Copyright: Ukrainian Airborne Forces Command/Reuters
Image caption: Smoke rises from what appears to be a makeshift bridge across the Siverskyi Donets river in eastern Ukraine

Russian troops have failed to establish a foothold on the bank of the Siverskyi Donets river, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff has said on Facebook.
They have tried to secure an area near Oleksandrivka in Donetsk and have made attacks near Novoselivka in Luhansk "but had no success," the general staff says.

What's happening in other areas?

In Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, Russians are continuing attacks near Voyevodivka, close to Severodonetsk in Luhansk, and also around Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Kurakhove in Donetsk, but without success, the report says
Russian troops are continuing their bombardment of Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant - the last part of the city not under Russian control
Around the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, Russian troops are shelling Ukrainian positions near Pytomnyk and Ruski Tyshky to halt their attempts to counter-attack
Near the southern city of Kherson, Russian troops are bringing in reserves and preparing to build bridges with the aim of taking control of the region, Ukrainian news agency Unian reports the operational command south as saying

The BBC has not been able to verify this information independently.

20:20 12 May
The Ukrainian tennis star now fighting on the front line
Sophie Williams
Reporting from Lviv

Sergiy Stakhovsky
Copyright: Getty Images

Sergiy Stakhovsky, a former tennis star, was in Dubai on holiday when he got the phone call from his parents that he had been dreading.

They could hear explosions outside their house in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Russia had invaded.

He told me about his decision to return to his home country and enlist in the military, and his experiences on the front line.

"We all basically slept with the Kalashnikov next to us. When there's a strike, we need to be ready," he said.

During his military service, he spent time in Bucha. The town outside Kyiv, was occupied by the Russians for a month at the beginning of the war. There is evidence of civilians being tortured, raped and murdered.

"The things they did and the way they did it are honestly inhuman," he says. "You cannot describe the hatred you feel towards the Russian army," he told me.

20:37 12 May
Ukraine military says it has damaged a Russian ship

Ukrainian forces have damaged a Russian navy logistics ship in the Black Sea, setting it on fire, Reuters has reported a spokesman for Odesa's military as saying.

Spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk says the Vsevolod Bobrov has been struck near Snake Island, according to Reuters.

The tiny island is located near Ukraine's sea border with Romania.

There are also reports of a Russian Mi-24 helicopter gunship being shot down in Luhansk Region.

"Ukraine detected a group of four enemy helicopters and shot down the leader of the second pair," a Ukrainian air assault forces commander said on Facebook.

The BBC has not verified the claims.

20:54 12 May
US lawmakers' appeal to social media for war crimes evidence

More now from that letter sent by four US Democrat lawmakers to social media companies asking them to "preserve and archive" content that may be used as evidence of Russian war crimes.

“Social media platforms routinely remove graphic content that glorifies violence or human suffering or could lead to further perpetrations of violence, and have rightfully implemented graphic content policies to protect their users,” the members of Congress write to the CEOs of Meta, Tiktok, Twitter and YouTube.

But deleting this particular content may "result in the unintentional removal and permanent deletion of content that could be used as evidence of potential human rights violations such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide”.

Flagging or otherwise marking the content instead would help the US government and international human rights investigators, they say.

"If verified as authentic, this content could... help substantiate allegations of war crimes and other atrocities committed by Russian forces against the people of Ukraine."

21:38 12 May
A 'surprisingly normal' Nato-Russia border
Video content
Video caption: On the Nato border between Estonia and Russia

The border between Nato countries and Russia looks set to increase in length after Finland announced its intention to join the Nato defence alliance, much to Russia's annoyance.

But at one of the current crossings where Nato meets Russia, in Estonia, people move freely, even if there is a frosty relationship between the two sets of border guards.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner reports from Narva in eastern Estonia.

23:02 12 May
Hospital shares story of mother and daughter who lost legs

Natalia and her two children, wounded after Kramatorsk railway attack
Copyright: First Medical Association of Lviv

A hospital in Lviv has shared the story of an 11-year-old girl and her mother, who it says both lost legs in a missile strike at Kramatorsk railway station in April.

While waiting for their train, the two went on to the platform to get some tea, while Yana's twin brother Yaroslav watched their luggage, according to a Facebook post by the St Nicholas Children's Hospital of the First Medical Association of Lviv.

Natalia still can't forgive herself for the trip to get tea, the post says.

In a video interview with the organisation United for Ukraine, Natalia says she does not remember the sound of the explosion, but recalls opening her eyes to see everything covered in blood and people lying everywhere.

She told the organisation she tried to get up but couldn't, and then looked at Yana and realised her trainers weren't there.

Natalia had lost one of her legs; Yana had lost both.

The hospital says it has been caring for them for a few weeks, and they will eventually go to the US for further treatment.

It says Yaroslav has been helping look after them, calling nurses when they're needed and going to the nearby shop.

The attack killed 50 people. Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the strike.
A BBC investigation found clear evidence that a cluster bomb was used.

23:19 12 May
Ukraine warns over trade of stolen grain

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has warned that people trading stolen Ukrainian grain will be held to account, Interfax-Ukraine news agency has reported.

Russia has staged a blockade along the Black Sea coast since its invasion of Ukraine, preventing the export of millions of tonnes of grain. Ukraine has accused Russian forces of stealing several hundred thousand tonnes of grain.

Commenting on reports that a Russian vessel with stolen Ukrainian grain has moored in Syria, Kuleba called Russia a "triple criminal".
"It has bombed Syria, occupied a part of Ukraine, and is now selling stolen Ukrainian grain to Syria," he was quoted as saying.

"We will do everything to make your life as difficult as possible," his warning continued.

Earlier Russia's President Putin said his country would increase exports thanks to a good harvest.

The disruption to supply chains caused by the war has contributed to increasing prices around the world.

23:53 12 May
Ancient amphorae discovered by Ukrainian soldiers

Amphorae found by 126 Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence of of Odesa
Copyright: 126 Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence of of Odesa
Image caption: Soldiers of Odesa Territorial Defence's 126th separate brigade have found ancient amphorae

In Odesa, soldiers have made an unexpected discovery during fortification work - a number of amphorae, ancient vessels used to transport liquid.

The team reported it on their Facebook page and, according to early investigations, the amphorae were made between the fourth and fifth century BC.

The soldiers handed the amphorae to staff at the Odessa Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who have promised to add them to the museum's collection.


Amphorae found by 126 Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence of of Odesa
Copyright: 126 Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence of of Odesa

[DaffyVina]

4:55
Welcome back to our coverage

We're resuming our live coverage of the conflict in Ukraine - as always, you can follow updates and analysis here throughout the day. Here's the latest:

The UK's foreign secretary says Russia's president is "humiliating himself on the world stage". Liz Truss also called for more weapons to be sent to Ukraine to bolster its defences
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered his usual nightly address. He says Russia "lacks the courage" to admit it has suffered a strategic defeat in the conflict so far
There have been tense exchanges between Russia and Western nations on several issues. After Finland signalled its intention to join the Nato defensive alliance, Moscow said it would "definitely" view that move as threatening
And the UN Human Rights Council has voted to investigate alleged Russian war crimes - prompting the country's ambassador to the UN to accuse the West of "demonising" his country

6:00
Global security under threat - EU chief

European Council President Charles Michel is in Japan where he's visiting the city of Hiroshima this morning.

In 1945 that city suffered the first atomic bombing, and Michel used a visit to a memorial there to discuss the current state of global security.

"As we speak, global security is under threat," he said, according to Reuters.

"Russia, a nuclear armed state... is attacking the sovereign nation of Ukraine, while making shameful and unacceptable references to the use of nuclear weapons."

He said the memorial was "a stark reminder of the urgency" to strengthen international rules.

6:46
Russia's strategic defeat obvious - Zelensky
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has suffered a strategic defeat in Ukraine, which is "already obvious to everyone in the world".

"Russia simply lacks the courage to admit it," he said in his nightly address.

Zelensky also called Russian forces "cowards", who are "trying to hide the truth behind missile, air and artillery strikes".

Speaking on International Nurses Day, he thanked nurses and paramedics for saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, but alleged Russian forces had destroyed 570 healthcare facilities since the start of the war.

7:03
Russia investing 'significant effort' into eastern breakthrough - UK MoD

Russian forces are investing "significant effort" around the cities of Izyum and Severodonetsk in an attempt to break through towards the eastern Slovianks and Kramatorsk regions of Ukraine, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said.

In its daily intelligence update, the MoD said Russia was aiming to envelop Ukrainian troops in the Joint Forces Operation area - the eastern line of contact between the separatist-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.

It said Ukrainian forces had prevented an attempted Russian river crossing in the Donbas.

Such river crossings in a contested environment were a "highly risky manoeuvre" that "speaks to the pressure the Russian commanders are under" to make progress in eastern Ukraine, the MoD said.

It added that Russia has failed to make any significant advances despite moving troops to the area after withdrawing and redeploying units from the Kyiv and Chernihiv Oblasts.

7:30
First Russian soldier to stand trial for war crime today

A Russian soldier is due to stand trial today for allegedly killing an unarmed Ukrainian civilian - the first war crime case to go to court since Russia's invasion began.

Sgt Vadim Shyshimarin is accused of shooting a 62-year-old man in the head through an open car window in the north-eastern village of Chupakhivka.

He faces up to life in prison under the penalties stated in the section of the Ukrainian criminal code that addresses the laws and customs of war.

His attorney, Victor Ovsyanikov, said the case against him is strong, but the final decision over what evidence to allow will be made by the court in Kyiv, AP news reports.

He said that he and his client had not yet decided how he will plead.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova's office has said it is looking into more than 10,700 potential war crimes involving more than 600 suspects, including Russian soldiers and government officials.

[DaffyVina]

7:55
Scenes of devastation as Russian river crossing goes wrong
Joe Inwood
Reporting from Lviv


Burnt military vehicles lay across a makeshift bridge at the Siversky Donets River in eastern Ukraine
Copyright: Ukrainian Airborne Forces Command/Reuters

More on reports that Russian forces failed in an attempt to make a river crossing in eastern Ukraine - losing almost an entire battalion tactical group in the process.

It is a scene of absolute devastation - an attempt to flank Ukrainian defences gone disastrously wrong.

The burned-out shells of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles line the east bank of the Siversky Donets river, west of Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region.

Half-built pontoon bridges jut into the water.

It’s thought almost an entire battalion of vehicles was lost - it’s not known how many men were killed.

In its morning briefing, the UK's Ministry of Defence says what happened shows the increasing pressure on Russian commanders.

But, they are making progress elsewhere, it seems – with reports they have taken the nearby town of Rubizhne. That would mean the strategically important city of Severodonetsk is surrounded on three sides.

If Russian forces can take that they would control a number of crossings over the river, which has recently cost them so dear.

8:19
Images show another boat sunken off Snake Island

A satellite image shows a closer view of a barge, a Serna-class landing craft and a sunken Serna craft in Snake Island
Copyright: Maxar Technologies/Reuters


Satellite footage has emerged showing a Russian military ship that has sunk near Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, which was seized by Russia at the start of the war and has become a battleground of strategic value for Russia to gain control of the Black Sea.

Images released by Maxar Technologies show the aftermath of what it said were probable missile attacks on a Russian Serna-class landing craft near the island.

It also showed recent damage to buildings on the island, which became famous for the foul-mouthed defiance of its Ukrainian defenders early in the invasion.

Russia's flagship Moskva sailed to Snake Island within hours of the start of the war, telling Ukrainian soldiers on the island to give themselves up. But although the island was seized, weeks later, the Moskva was sunk.

On Thursday, a Russian Navy logistics vessel, Vsevolod Bobrov, caught fire after it was damaged by Ukrainian military in the Black Sea near Snake Island, spokesman of the Odesa regional military administration Serhiy Bratchuk said.

[DaffyVina]

Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion
By The Visual Journalism Team
BBC News
Published 1 day ago

Russian forces are continuing to focus their attacks on the east of the country but resistance from Ukrainian troops is slowing their progress.

Here are the latest developments:

Strong Ukrainian defences in Donbas region holding for now
Fighting continuing on the outskirts of second-city Kharkiv
Ongoing bombardment of Mariupol factory by Russian forces
Russians attempting to improve positions around Kherson



Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, but Ukrainian forces retook large areas around the capital Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards Kyiv.

Following the withdrawal from the north of Ukraine, Russia has refocused its efforts on taking control of the east and south of the country.

Russians regrouping in the east
Russian officials have said its forces are fighting for the "complete liberation" of the Donbas, which broadly refers to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held significant territory before the invasion.



While Russian advances have stalled around the city of Izyum, they have had some success to the east where they appear to have captured the city of Rubizhne, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

But Ukrainian forces launched a successful attack on Russian troops in the area earlier this week, destroying nearly all of a Russian battalion's armoured vehicles while they were attempting to cross the Siversky Donets river.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) described the attempted river crossing as a "highly risky manoeuvre" and said it showed the pressure Russian commanders were under to make progress in their operations in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are continuing attempts to push Russian troops back from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. The ISW says this has likely forced the Russians to divert some of their artillery to the area to try to stop the Ukrainian counterattack.

Russia targets full control of south

Russian forces initially made rapid gains in the south, with their main objective being the creation of a land corridor between Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and areas held by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.

But strong resistance from Ukrainian forces near Mykolaiv in the west and in Mariupol in the east significantly slowed Russian advances.



The port city of Mariupol, which has been encircled since the start of March, is now mostly under the control of Russian forces.

Several hundred Ukrainian troops remain holed up in the Azovstal metal works factory in the south of the city, with Russian forces continuing attempts to take control of the sprawling industrial complex.



To the west, Russia had aimed to take control of Odesa and cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea, but its forces were blocked by a staunch defence in Mykolaiv and forced back towards Kherson by a Ukrainian counteroffensive in March.

Russian forces are now regrouping in the area in an effort to resume attacks towards Mykolaiv, according to the ISW.

In the Black Sea, Russia is continuing efforts to reinforce its troops on Snake Island. The roughly 16-hectare (40-acre) rocky outpost is owned by Ukraine but was taken over by Russian forces in February.

These efforts suffered a setback this week as Ukrainian forces struck Russian air defences on the island and resupply vessels, according to the MoD, which had become more exposed following the sinking of the Russian flagship Moskva in April.


By David Brown, Bella Hurrell, Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Lucy Rodgers, Paul Sargeant, Alison Trowsdale, Tural Ahmedzade, Mark Bryson, Zoe Bartholomew, Sean Willmott, Sana Dionysiou, Joy Roxas, Gerry Fletcher, Jana Tauschinsk, Debie Loizou and Prina Shah.

About these maps

To indicate which parts of Ukraine are under control by Russian troops we are using daily assessments published by the Institute for the Study of War with the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.

To show key areas where advances are taking place we are also using daily updates from the UK Ministry of Defence and BBC research.

The situation in Ukraine is fast moving and it is likely there will be times when there have been changes not reflected in the maps.