Summary

  • A planned mass evacuation of civilians from Mariupol is aborted as Russia continues shelling the key southern city

  • People hoping to escape are forced back to their shelters after a planned ceasefire fails to materialise

  • Civilians have also been unable to leave the nearby city of Volnovakha

  • Heavy bombardments have been reported in Irpin - a town on the north-western outskirts of Kyiv

  • Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has warned the West he would regard any no-fly zone over Ukraine as an act of war

  • Ukraine's president has repeated his call for a no-fly zone. Western leaders say they don't want to make the situation worse

  1. The moment a Russian helicopter is shot downpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    The video, shared by Ukrainian armed forces, shows a helicopter being hit by a missile.

    The BBC has confirmed the timing and location of the video - it is not an area where fighting has previously taken place.

  2. What's the latest?published at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    A woman cries as she boards a train to PolandImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ukrainians continue to escape to Poland in the west

    It's now early afternoon in Ukraine and heavy bombardment continues in several cities on the 10th day of the war, with reports of hand-to-hand combat in some places.

    Events have moved quickly this morning, with a planned ceasefire in two cities quickly collapsing. Let's recap:

    The ceasefire

    • Russia and Ukraine agreed a temporary ceasefire in the heavily-shelled cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha to allow civilians to escape
    • The ceasefire was due to begin at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), with the first evacuations starting two hours later
    • But soon after the ceasefire was announced, Mariupol's deputy mayor said Russian troops were still shelling the city, and fighting continued on the agreed escape route
    • Ukraine postponed the evacuation, with civilians in Mariupol being told of the news via loudspeaker
    • Russia's defence ministry said civilians had not used the escape routes - and accused Ukrainian authorities of preventing people from leaving, Russian state media said
    • Negotiations between both sides are continuing, the deputy mayor said

    Read our full story here

    Elsewhere

    • Russia is "highly likely" to have encircled four key cities - Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Mariupol, the UK Ministry of Defence said
    • The Kremlin defended a new law which could jail people for up to 15 years for publishing "fake news" about Russia, saying the country faced an "information war"
    • Ukraine said 66,000 men have returned home from abroad to fight
    • Zara is closing all 500 of its stores in Russia, while Samsung and PayPal are suspending activities in the country
    • British nationals whose presence in Russia is not essential have been strongly advised to consider leaving, the UK Foreign Office said
  3. Russia: Ukrainian 'nationalists' prevented civilian evacuationpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022
    Breaking

    This morning, Mariupol's deputy mayor and a resident in the city told the BBC that Russia continued to shell the area despite a supposed ceasefire beginning at 07:00 GMT.

    But Russia's defence ministry has a very different version of events.

    It says Ukrainian "nationalists" prevented civilians from leaving the cities, according to Russia's Ria news agency (Russia often labels Ukrainian forces as nationalists).

    The ministry said that Russian forces came under fire after it had set up humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave the city.

  4. Watch: Pro-Russian rally in Serbiapublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    As we've been reporting in recent days, protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine have taken place in cities across the world.

    But last night a pro-Russia march took place in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Watch what the protesters say below.

    Media caption,

    War in Ukraine: Thousands of pro-Russia Serbs march in Belgrade

  5. No-fly zone might hinder Ukraine, not help, says UK defence secretarypublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Jonathan Beale
    BBC defence correspondent

    The UK defence secretary says a no-fly zone over Ukraine would not just increase the danger to Nato allies - who might come into direct confrontation with Russian planes - but could also hamper Ukraine's ability to defend itself.

    On a visit to Estonia and Denmark this week, Ben Wallace told the BBC that Russia had so far not been successful in destroying Ukraine's air defences and air force.

    He said Ukrainian aircraft and drones were "one of the few tools" the Ukrainians had to hit Russian forces from distance - and Wallace said: "If you have a no-fly zone, it works for both sides."

    He said it could "possibly hand an advantage to the Russians", who could still target cities with their long-range artillery and missiles from land.

    "I think people should ask themselves the question before they suggest these things, what would it mean on the ground and what does it mean for Nato, when there are other ways to help Ukrainians defend themselves from the air," he says.

    Western nations have been supplying Ukraine with hundreds of "Stinger" anti-aircraft missiles in recent weeks.

    Ukraine's President Zelensky has publicly called for a no-fly zone. But Wallace said he'd been in daily contact with Ukraine's defence minister who, he said, had not asked for one.

  6. Manchester City's Zinchenko: 'I am crying'published at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Manchester City's Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko says he cannot count the number of times he has cried in the past week, after Russia invaded his homeland Ukraine.

    "I'll be honest, if it wasn't for my daughter and my family, I would be there," he tells Gary Linker. Watch the interview above.

  7. Russia defends 'fake news' lawpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Dmitry PeskovImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a "harsh" law was necessary

    And here's more from Dmitry Peskov, the Russian government spokesman. He has defended a new law that could see people jailed for up to 15 years for publishing "fake news" about the Russian military.

    The law in effect stops independent reporting in Russia, where news outlets are not allowed to refer to what's going on in Ukraine as a "war".

    The BBC, CBS News and ABC News have all temporarily suspended their work in the country in response.

    But Peskov said: "The law was necessary and needed urgently because of the unprecedented - not even campaign - but information war that has been unleashed against our country."

  8. Russia accuses West of 'economic banditry'published at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    As we've just reported, a number of Western firms are pulling out of Russia, or at least halting their work there - with Zara just announcing it's closing more than 500 stories (see previous post).

    Earlier on Saturday, the Russian government accused the West of engaging in "economic banditry" - and warned that Moscow would respond to its actions.

    The comments were made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov - who didn't specify what the response might be, but said it would be in line with Russian interests.

    It comes after the UK, EU and US governments imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russian institutions and billionaires thought to be close to President Putin.

    But Peskov said Russia was far too big to be isolated - as the world is "much larger than just the US and Europe".

  9. Zara closes 500 Russian stores and PayPal suspends servicespublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Two people walk in front of a Zara sign in MocsowImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Zara has become the latest in a long line of companies to suspend operations in Russia

    Zara will close all of its 502 clothing stores in Russia from tomorrow, its owner Inditex says.

    The global fashion business will close all stores of its eight brands: Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home, and Uterqüe.

    Inditex tells the BBC it's drawing up a plan to support its 9,000 Russia-based employees while services are "temporarily" suspended.

    Meanwhile, Samsung - the leading supplier of smartphones in Russia, ahead of Xiaomi and Apple - will suspend shipments to the country "due to current geopolitical developments".

    It is unclear if Samsung’s shops will close.

    And online payments company Paypal has also shut down services in Russia, condemning the country's "violent military aggression". It says it will support withdrawals "for a period of time".

    Ukrainian government officials had been calling on PayPal to quit Russia and help them with fundraising.

  10. British nationals should consider leaving Russia - UK Foreign Officepublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    British nationals whose presence in Russia is not essential are strongly advised to consider leaving by the remaining commercial routes, the UK Foreign Office has said.

    It also advises against all travel to Russia, external.

    Any British nationals in need of consular assistance should call the British Embassy in Moscow and then select the option for consular assistance +7 (8) 495 956 7200.

  11. Loudspeakers in Mariupol announce postponement of evacuationpublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    There's a bit more information from the Mariupol city council on the postponement of the evacuation from the city.

    In a post on Telegram, external, the council said police are using loudspeakers to inform residents of the latest information on the evacuation and its postponement.

    The post said negotiations are currently taking place with Russia over establishing the ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor out of the city.

    Earlier, both Ukraine and Russia said a temporary ceasefire had been agreed around the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha.

    But the deputy mayor of Mariupol and a resident in the city both told the BBC that Russian forces have continued their bombardment.

    Map of southern Ukraine with Russian occupied areasImage source, .
  12. Watch: Mariupol deputy mayor says people 'very scared' as attacks continuepublished at 11:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Media caption,

    Ukraine: Russians still bombing Mariupol despite ceasefire, deputy mayor tells BBC

  13. Impossible to evacuate amid continued shelling - Mariupol deputy mayorpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    More now from Mariupol’s deputy mayor - who says they have decided to move citizens back, and stop the evacuation, as it’s not safe on the streets.

    Serhiy Orlov tells the BBC there’s continuous shelling in Mariupol, and along the agreed evacuation route, near the city of Orikhiv.

    "It's not safe to go by this road because of these fights," he says.

    The Ukrainian government is already speaking to Russian officials about the breach of the ceasefire, he says, and negotiations are ongoing.

  14. Evacuation of Mariupol has been postponedpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022
    Breaking

    The evacuation of civilians from Mariupol has been postponed, according to the Mariupol city council. It says the Russian side has not been observing the temporary ceasefire in place.

    It says residents should disperse and find places of shelter, and that more information will be given soon.

    A few minutes ago the city's deputy mayor told the BBC that Mariupol was still being shelled, and there are also reports that fighting is ongoing near the end of the evacuation route.

  15. Mariupol resident: I hear shelling every three minutespublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022
    Breaking

    Joel Gunter
    BBC News, Ukraine

    A resident of Mariupol inside the city tells the BBC the sound of shelling continues - despite a ceasefire agreement which was supposed to start at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT).

    "Right now I'm in Mariupol, I'm on the street. I can hear shelling every three to five minutes," says Alexander, a 44-year-old engineer.

    "The green corridor is [nonsense]. I can see cars of people who tried to flee and they are coming back."

  16. Nearly every building in Volnovakha damaged or destroyedpublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Russian fighter jet shot down near VolnovakhaImage source, Ukrainian military handout / Reuters
    Image caption,

    Ukraine says it shot down a Russian fighter jet near Volnovakha on Friday

    We've heard a lot in the last week about the brutal shelling and blockade of Mariupol, a port city of around 450,000 people.

    But the small city of Volnovakha - where a temporary ceasefire has also been agreed - has not been in the news much, despite also experiencing heavy fighting.

    It's a city of just 25,000 people located halfway between Mariupol and Donetsk.

    Residents there told the Guardian, external that nearly every building had been destroyed or damaged by Russian forces.

    The local MP, Dmytro Lubinets, said the fighting was so intense that dead bodies lay uncollected.

    On Saturday, Lubinets confirmed the ceasefire and gave details of the agreed evacuation route which ends at the city of Pokrovsk.

    Volnovakha strapImage source, .
  17. Mariupol deputy mayor: Attacks continue despite ceasefirepublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022
    Breaking

    Joel Gunter
    BBC News, Ukraine

    We just posted reports that the ceasefire was not holding at the end of the evacuation route out of Mariupol.

    We are now hearing the city itself is still under shelling.

    "The Russians are continuing to bomb us and use artillery. It is crazy," Mariupol deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC.

    "There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire all along the route. Our civilians are ready to escape but they cannot escape under shelling."

  18. Ukraine says ceasefire not holding along evacuation routepublished at 10:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022
    Breaking

    A ceasefire agreed between Russia and Ukraine to allow civilians to leave the city of Mariupol is not being fully observed, according to the city council.

    In a message posted on Telegram, the council said that fighting was taking place in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is where the humanitarian corridor ends.

    Ukrainian officials are negotiating with the Russian side to confirm the temporary ceasefire along the entire evacuation route, the message said.

  19. Russian F1 driver Mazepin sackedpublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Nikita MazepinImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Mazepin's departure had been expected since Russia invaded

    Russian Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin has been sacked by the Haas team as a result of Russia's decision to invade Ukraine.

    Haas, a US-based outfit, has also terminated the contract of their title sponsor, the Russian chemicals company Uralkali.

    Uralkali is part-owned by Mazepin's billionaire father Dmitry, a close associate of Russian's Vladimir Putin.

    His father was one of a number of leading Russian businessmen invited to meet Putin at the Kremlin hours after the invasion began.

    Read our full story here.

  20. 'Donate money rather than supplies' - UK emergencies bosspublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2022

    Ukrainian refugees huggingImage source, MICHAEL KAPPELER/DPA

    Money - rather than supplies - is what is most needed from the British public to help support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, says the chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

    Saleh Saeed told BBC Breakfast TV: "What we would advise is the things that people collect today here in the UK are not necessarily what people need tomorrow. That's why we would urge, please donate cash through a reputable charity.

    "Trying to transport goods from here, the UK, thousands of miles to Ukraine will take a long time and may not be necessarily what people need when it arrives."

    Read here for more details on UK humanitarian efforts to help Ukrainians.