Twenty-two people have been killed in a Russian strike on a railway station in eastern Ukraine, the country's president says
About 50 people were injured in the strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region and the death toll could rise, says Volodymyr Zelensky
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called the six-month anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine a "sad and tragic milestone"
He was speaking as world leaders backed Ukraine on its Independence Day and UK PM Boris Johnson visited Kyiv
Public events for Independence Day have been banned in Kyiv over concerns they could become a target for renewed Russian attacks
Global leaders are reaffirming their support for Ukraine, with Johnson insisting "Ukraine can and will win this war"
The US announced a fresh $3bn (£2.5bn) military aid package for weapons and equipment as Joe Biden said Ukrainians had "inspired the world”
We're now bringing our live coverage of the Ukraine war to a close for today. Thanks for joining us.
The page was written by Catherine Evans, Marita Moloney, Matt Murphy, James FitzGerald and Sam Hancock.
The page was edited by Andrew Humphrey, Chris Giles and Alex Therrien.
Image source, EPABoris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day
Our live coverage of the war in Ukraine is due to end soon, but first here's a roundup of the key events from today.
Railway station attack: At least 22 people were killed and 50 others injured, after a Russian strike on a railway station in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine has said. President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN Security Council train carriages were hit at Chaplyne station, around 70 miles (110km) west of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Independence Day: Monday saw Ukraine mark its 31st Independence Day from the Soviet Union. Public events for the holiday were banned in Kyiv over concerns they could become a target for renewed Russian attacks.
Johnson in Kyiv: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv, his third since the war began, to mark Independence Day. While there, he said Ukraine "can and will" win against Russia.
Six months of war a 'tragic milestone': Wednesday also marked six months since Russia invaded Ukraine. UN chief Antonio Guterres described it as a "sad and tragic milestone", adding that the consequences of the "sad and senseless war" were being felt far beyond Ukraine".
US aid: President Joe Biden earlier announced $3bn (£2.5bn) of fresh US military support for Ukraine - the biggest American package yet - which will help Ukraine to acquire weaponry and equipment.
Change in pace: Kyrylo Budanov, one of Ukraine's top military intelligence officials, suggested Russia's offensive is slowing because of "moral and physical fatigue". But Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed Moscow had deliberately slowed down its campaign in a bid to to reduce civilian casualties.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe lights of Berlin's famous Brandenberg Gate were turned off last month
Germany has approved a range of energy-saving measures for the winter as it tries to reduce its dependence on Russian gas.
Among other plans, heating in public buildings will be switched off or capped from September onwards, and there will be new restrictions on the lighting of public buildings and shops for aesthetic reasons.
The heating of private swimming pools could also be banned.
The government hopes the rules could help reduce gas usage by 2%, while the country lowers its longstanding reliance on Russian imports.
It says the rules could save households, companies and the public sector around €10.8bn (£9.1bn) over two years.
Image source, ReutersPresident Biden says he's committed to defending Ukrainian sovereignty
In other news, there are more details now of the US's new support package for Ukraine worth nearly $3bn (£2.5bn).
It'll allow the US to procure weapons on Ukraine's behalf - rather than taking arms from existing American stocks.
The Pentagon says Kyiv will receive:
The US says it's pledged more than $13.5bn (£11.5bn) in security assistance to Ukraine under President Joe Biden, and that this fresh tranche is the largest to date.
We just reported that the death toll from an air strike on a Ukrainian railway station has risen from 15 to 22.
In a message posted on the messaging app Telegram, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack on Chaplyne railway station in a Ukrainian-held area as today's "pain".
"As of this moment, there are 22 dead, five of them burned in a car," he said before adding one of those killed was an 11-year-old whose house had been destroyed by a Russian rocket.
He said: "Search and rescue operations at the railway station continue. We will definitely make the occupiers answer for everything they have done. And we will certainly throw out the invaders from our land."
In a nod to Ukraine's 31st Independence Day, Zelensky also said this year's may be "coming to an end" but vowed to ensure there'd be a 32nd, a 33rd and so on.
"Ukraine is forever," he said. "And it will only get stronger every day."
Moscow has not commented on the attack.
The death toll from a Russian rocket attack on a railway station in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday has risen to 22, up from the initial estimate of 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a video address.
Image source, PA MediaIn an address to Ukraine's President Zelensky, the Queen says she hopes the world can look ahead to "better times in the future" for Ukrainian people after six months of war.
Her words, which the British Embassy in Kyiv published earlier on Twitter, marked Ukraine's 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union.
In a series of tweets, the UK in Ukraine Twitter account said: "In her address to the President of Ukraine she said: "In this most challenging year, I hope that today will be a time for the Ukrainian people, both in Ukraine and around the world, to celebrate their culture, history and identity. May we look to better times in the future. Elizabeth R.'"
The monarch has previously shown her support for Ukrainian citizens by donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee..
The charitable appeal thanked her in March for making a "generous donation" towards its appeal. At the time, the palace declined to disclose the amount given.
Image source, .It's been exactly six months since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the BBC's Ukrainecast team are taking stock in a special episode.
Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko have been following the stories of Max, Anna, Hussain, Maksym and Viktoria - none of whom will ever be the same again.
Against the backdrop of six months of war, Ukraine marked 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union today.
Many countries around the world showed support by joining in on the celebrations too. Let's take a look:
London, England
Image source, ReutersProtesters demonstrate against Russia's invasion during a Ukrainian Independence Day rally outside Downing Street in London
Berlin, Germany
Image source, ReutersPeople march during a Freedom Parade in Berlin, Germany
Donetsk, Ukraine
Image source, ReutersA Ukrainian flag is raised with balloons on Independence Day in Avdiivka in the Donetsk region of Ukraine
Athens, Greece
Image source, ReutersUkrainians living in Greece hold their national flag as they gather to mark the day in Athens
Edinburgh, Scotland
Image source, PA MediaPeople gathered for a Ukraine independence rally at Edinburgh's Calton Hill
Dublin, Ireland
Image source, ReutersProtesters also demonstrated in Dublin, Ireland
Oslo, Norway
Image source, ReutersPeople take part in a demonstration against the Russian war in Ukraine at Eidsvolls plass in Oslo, Norway
The alleged Russian attack that President Zelensky says killed 15 people happened at Chaplyne railway station in a Ukrainian-held area roughly between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk on the map below.
As you can see, Russian troops have gradually been moving towards the area, having seized swathes of territory across Ukraine's east since launching their invasion.
Moscow has not yet commented on the strike.
Image source, .Images of devastation have been shared by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba after Kyiv said Russia had attacked Ukraine's Chaplyne station.
The photos - which have not yet been verified by the BBC - show a number of smouldering rail carriages which appear to have suffered fire damage, as well as burned-out road vehicles and fallen masonry.
Kuleba said civilians had been killed in the attack, which he blamed on Russia.
Moscow is yet to comment on the strike, which President Zelensky says killed at least 15 people.
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More now on an alleged Russian attack on a railway station in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, mentioned by President Zelensky at the UN Security Council a short while ago.
He said train carriages were hit at Chaplyne station, about 70 miles (110km) west of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Four carriages were on fire when he received the news, he said.
He added that emergency services were on the scene, but that the number of fatalities could increase from 15.
Russia has not commented on the alleged attack, which came on Ukrainian Independence Day and the six-month anniversary of Moscow's invasion.
Fifteen people have been killed in a Russian strike on a railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Around 50 others were injured, he told the UN Security Council.
We'll bring you more details when we get them.
Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from New York
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Ukrainian leader was allowed to address the Security Council remotely
Let's get a little more from the UN Security Council earlier, where member states displayed solidarity for Ukrainians on the country's Independence Day.
The US and other Western nations were some of the most vocal to offer support, while others like Brazil and India were more cautious and advised dialogue.
The meeting started with Ukraine requesting that the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky be allowed to participate via video link. Russia was quick to object, citing rules that members need be physically present to speak.
It asked why Zelensky hadn’t travelled to New York even though he was seen travelling around Ukraine meeting foreign delegations and posing for "glossy magazines".
In a vote by a show of hands, Russia was quickly overruled by other members, and Zelensky was allowed to talk. Despite technical difficulties (which Russia later took a dig at), the president spoke for about 10 minutes.
Referring to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, he accused Russia of putting the world on the brink of a "radiation catastrophe" and indulging in "nuclear blackmail".
Russia then accused Ukraine of destroying civilian infrastructure - including schools and medical facilities - and Western nations of being "accomplices" to crimes against civilians, having supplied Ukraine with more weapons.
The UN secretary general expressed deep concern over Zaporizhzhia – and admitted there seemed to be no signs of the war ending soon.
Image source, .
Image source, Getty ImagesA protester being arrested in St Petersburg in March
A leading human rights group says more than 16,000 Russians have been detained by the Kremlin for protesting against the invasion of Ukraine.
The report from the OVD-Info group, an independent Russian human rights monitor, said some 16,437 people have been arrested for a range of offences since February.
Suspects were seized for demonstrating in the street and making comments on social media. The figure also includes people arrested simply for referring to the conflict as a "war", which has been made illegal in Russia.
The majority of the arrests came in the first two months of the conflict, suggesting that much of the internal opposition in Russia has been suppressed by the heavy government crackdown.
The report comes as authorities arrested the prominent Kremlin critic, Yevgeny Roizman, on charges of "discrediting the military".
One of Ukraine's top military intelligence officials has suggested that Russia's offensive is slowing because of "moral and physical fatigue" in their ranks - and Moscow's "exhausted" resource base.
Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Defence Intelligence agency, made the remarks on Ukrainian television, Reuters reports, providing one of the strongest signals yet that Kyiv believes Russia's power could be waning.
"Russia has rather seriously slowed down the tempo of its assault. The reason for this is the exhaustion of their resource base, as well as a moral and physical fatigue from the fighting," he said.
It comes after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed earlier that Moscow had deliberately slowed down its campaign in Ukraine, something he said had been driven by the need to reduce civilian casualties.
Image source, Getty ImagesScaled-down celebrations have been taking place across Ukraine to mark the country's Independence Day and the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Here's what's been happening so far:
Gary O'Donoghue
Washington Correspondent
As we reported earlier, the US has announced a fresh $3bn (£2.5bn) military aid package for Ukraine.
This is the largest package to be announced in one go, something the president can do safe in the knowledge that most Americans back the support that’s going to Ukraine.
While there are differences between Democrats and Republicans, one recent poll indicated 53% backing for the aid until Russia withdrew – with just 18% opposed.
Even among Republicans, who are more cautious about the policy, there was still majority support.
While some of the aid (up to £4bn recently approved by Congress) is for humanitarian purposes, the vast majority is going to weapons systems and ammunition that Ukraine requires in the medium term – such as technologies for spotting and shooting down unmanned drones.
One key point worth noting in this latest round of military aid is that it’s being drawn down from something called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This is a pot of money authorised by Congress that allows weapons and equipment to be purchased through industry rather than taken from existing military stocks.
That sounds like a technical point, but such purchasing could take longer than the simple transfer of gear already in storage. And that’s a key indication that Washington believes this war won’t be over anytime soon.
Russia carried out a much higher number of air and missile attacks on Ukrainian territory on 24 August - Ukraine's Independence Day - than usual, the Ukrainian General Staff said in its daily evening update.
It did not specify what facilities were hit.
In the Donetsk Region, Russian troops tried to advance in the direction of Nova Dmytrivka, Pisky, Novoselske, Pobeda, Novomykhaylivka, Pavlivka and Velyka Novosilka but suffered losses and retreated, the report said.
The Russians tried to improve their tactical positions by attacking in the direction of Soledar, Bakhmutske and Kodema but were rebuffed and withdrew.
In Kherson, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian attack in the direction of Mykolayivka, the General Staff added.
Image source, .
Image source, Getty ImagesThe six-month anniversary of the start of Russia's war in Ukraine is a "sad and tragic milestone", the UN secretary general says.
Speaking during a special meeting of the UN's security council in New York, Antonio Guterres says the consequences of "this senseless war are being felt far beyond Ukraine", referring to spiralling global food and energy costs.
He warns "there simply will not be enough food in 2023" if the fertiliser market is not stabilised this year.
Guterres also remains "gravely concerned" about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine and the Russian militarisation of the facility.
Quote Message"The warning lights are flashing. Any further escalation of the situation could lead to self-destruction. The security of the plant must be ensured, and the plant must be re-established as purely civilian infrastructure."
Antonio Guterres, UN secretary general