Image source, EPA/NEIL HALL

The sight of tied bodies shot at close range in the Ukrainian streets of Bucha don't "look far short of genocide", UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says.

The deaths in Bucha, outside Ukraine's capital Kyiv, have triggered a global outcry and pledges of further sanctions against Russia from the West.

"I'm afraid when you look at what's happening in Bucha, the revelations that we are seeing from what Putin has done in Ukraine, which doesn't look far short of genocide to me, it is no wonder that people are responding in the way that they are," he told journalists, Reuters reports.

Russia has denied that its forces carried out atrocities in Bucha.

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Twenty-five women and girls have said they were raped by Russian forces in Bucha, a senior Ukrainian official has told the BBC.

Lyudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliament's Human Rights Commissioner, said a telephone helpline offering support had received at least 25 reports of rape of women and girls aged between 14 and 24 by Russian soldiers.

She said Ukraine had evidence of "genocide of Ukrainian people" and of military crimes, adding that rape was "the new weapon" of Russian forces.

Denisova added: "Together there were 25 women aged 14-24 that were raped by Russian soldiers.

"That was happening for a month. We will keep documenting these terrible crimes, unfortunately, and every criminal will be punished."

Russia has denied carrying out atrocities in Bucha.

Russian energy figure aimed at concentrating EU mindspublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 6 April 2022

12:28 BST 6 April 2022

Paul Adams
BBC Diplomatic correspondent

It shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise that the EU has spent more on Russian energy since 28 February than on supporting Ukraine's war effort.

The EU's 1bn euros (£830m) of military assistance is hardly an insignificant amount, particularly when combined with other Western commitments (the US total is now around $1.7bn).

But when the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell mentioned the figure earlier today, he clearly meant it to sound shocking, to concentrate vexed European minds on how the EU can wean itself off Russian fossil fuels.

It's an anguished debate on a continent where Russian energy is so crucial and where many voices, notably German, are warning of the economic damage that could be wrought by rapid sanctions on oil and gas.

Today, the EU is poised to end imports of Russian coal, but as Borrell says, this is only "a small share of the bill".

Coal imports are dwarfed by purchases of Russian oil and gas.

Image source, Getty Images

If you're just joining us, here is a round-up of the latest developments on day 42 of the war in Ukraine.

In Donbas, eastern Ukraine:

• Thousands of people are trying to escape Donbas ahead of Russia's expected offensive in eastern Ukraine
• Five humanitarian corridors are set to open to move people in parts of the Luhansk region away from the front line
• Ukrainian officials are appealing to people in the area to "take this opportunity" to flee "while it is safe"
• Russian forces are trying to surround Ukrainian forces to take control of the entire Donbas - which is made up of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk

Elsewhere in Ukraine:

• More than 400 people are missing from the town of Hostomel, a local official says. The town bore the brunt of Russian advances on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, along with Bucha and Irpin
• We've heard from a survivor from Bucha, where evidence suggests Russian troops executed innocent civilians. She says she wishes she had been killed alongside her husband

Global developments:

• European Union leaders are discussing what further measures they could impose on Russia to damage its war effort. Proposals include a ban on importing Russian coal - but some senior leaders say oil and gas also need to be banned
• Other Western allies, including the US and UK, are expected to impose extra sanctions on Russia today
• The Russian president says sanctions are the price his country must pay for freedom
• Pope Francis has condemned the "massacre" of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, which Russia continues to deny despite evidence of mass graves

Russian forces continue to shell cities in eastern and southern Ukraine, and strike targets elsewhere with missiles. Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, saw intense shelling overnight.

There were also further artillery attacks in parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions where fighting is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead, as Russia regroups its forces.

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia targeted Ukrainian army positions and civilian infrastructure in Borivske, Novoluhanske, Solodke, Marinka and Zolota Nyva — in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

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Russian forces have also been continuing their offensive against Mariupol, which it has blockaded and relentlessly bombarded for over a month. The latest intelligence update from the UK's Ministry of Defence said the humanitarian situation in the city was "worsening".

It said: "Most of the city's 160,000 residents have no light, communication, medicine, heat or water. Russian forces have prevented humanitarian access, likely to pressure defenders to surrender."

Elsewhere, Russia has destroyed an oil depot near the city of Dnipro, and hit targets in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine, and Radekhiv in the west.

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Anna Holligan
BBC News Hague correspondent

Twelve Russian-linked yachts have been banned from leaving the Netherlands. The vessels, which are currently being built, have been seized in line with sanctions imposed on Russia as part of the EU-wide response to the invasion of Ukraine.

It should perhaps come as no surprise that this proud sea-faring nation has been producing the luxury ships now subject to sanctions.

In a letter submitted to parliament, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra explained that while there were no Russian super-yachts currently anchored in the Netherlands, 12 Russian-linked vessels were under construction at five Dutch shipyards. One of these yachts is under investigation due to a suspected link to someone listed on the European sanctions list.

Another two Russian-linked yachts, which were being fixed in the Netherlands, have also been seized - including one under investigation due to a suspected link to someone listed on the European sanctions list.

Thousands of people are trying to escape Ukraine's Donbas region as Russia shifts the focus of its war to eastern Ukraine.

Families have been queueing at Kramatorsk central station for days and some have been saying goodbye to loved ones staying behind.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

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Image source, EPA

European Union leaders are facing growing pressure to sanction Russian energy exports following accusations its troops have carried out war crimes in Ukraine.

The EU Commission is proposing a ban on coal exports that'll be considered today as part of a wide-ranging fifth package of sanctions.

But the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, has told the European Parliament he thinks "measures on oil and even gas will also be needed sooner or later".

Other Western allies, including the United States and Britain, are expected to impose additional sanctions on Russia today.

Image source, EPA

Pope Francis condemned the "massacre of Bucha" and kissed a Ukrainian flag he said was sent to him from the town during his weekly audience at the Vatican's auditorium.

"Recent news from the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing relief and hope, brought new atrocities, such as the massacre of Bucha," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"Cruelty that is increasingly horrendous, even against civilians, defenceless women and children."

On Tuesday at the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian military of carrying out the worst crimes since World War Two. The Kremlin has claimed there is no evidence Russian troops have carried out the atrocities they have been accused of.

Image source, Reuters

Pope Francis unfolded a Ukrainian flag he said had been brought to him from Bucha and held it up for the audience, which broke into applause.

He then asked a group of children refugees who arrived on Tuesday from Ukraine to come up to him.

"These children had to flee in order to arrive in a safe land. This is the fruit of war. Let's not forget them and let's not forget the Ukrainian people," he said, before giving each child a gift of a chocolate Easter egg.

Image source, Oireachtas TV/PA Media

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is using hunger as a weapon in its attempt to win territory.

Speaking via a translator, he told the Irish Parliament that Russian missiles were "destroying things that are sustaining livelihoods".

He said Russian forces had blocked all of Ukraine's sea ports and ships with food for export.

Ukraine is one of the world's biggest producers in agriculture and food – and Zelensky said Russia's actions would lead to a shortage of food and heightening costs for millions of hungry people across the globe.

"For them hunger is a weapon against us, ordinary people as an instrument of domination," he said.

Zelensky also urged Ireland's political leaders to use their influence to convince other EU nations to introduce even tougher sanctions to halt President Putin's invasion. The EU is meeting today to discuss further sanctions.

Ukraine's deputy prime minister has said in online comments that she's aiming for 11 humanitarian corridors to open today to help evacuate civilians, Reuters reports.

Five of these corridors are to get people to safety from the region of Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine, ahead of an expected Russian offensive.

The corridors will take civilians west from Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna, Rubizhne and Hirske to the town of Bakhmut, Ukrainian news site Ukrinform says.

Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk said on her Telegram channel that 3,846 people were evacuated yesterday including 1,080 people from the Luhansk region.

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Image source, EPA

The European Union has spent €35bn (£29bn) on Russian fuel since the start of the war, compared to an outlay of just €1bn to Ukraine in arms and weapons, the EU's foreign policy chief has said.

"We have to help [the Ukrainians] defend themselves... We have given Ukraine €1bn. It might seem a lot but €1bn is what we pay Putin every day for the energy he provides us," he told the European Parliament.

His remarks come as EU ambassadors meet to consider a fifth round of sanctions against Moscow – including a ban on imports of Russian coal.

"Today we put an end to coal but this is only a small share of the bill," Borrell told MEPs.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU is "working on" additional measures including restrictions on oil imports.

Jenny Hill
BBC News, Moscow

Image source, Reuters

You can be fairly certain the Kremlin will trot out the same narrative it has in response to previous sanctions - that the West is looking for any excuse to sanction Russia.

Vladimir Putin said last week the West has been waging an economic war against Russia for years in order to undermine its development.

He is trying to tell the Russian people they are, in effect, the victims here and there is no causal relationship to what's happening in Ukraine.

In his words, Western sanctions are the price Russia must pay for freedom and independence.

The Kremlin's narrative is that this is not a war - it's a special military operation designed to defend the interests of Russian-speaking people living in the east of Ukraine.

But increasingly the Kremlin is portraying Ukraine as the real aggressor.

It is trying, Russians are told, to acquire nuclear weapons, it's trying to develop biological ones, there's evidence, people here are told, that Ukraine wants to try and use those kinds of weapons against Russia.

Regarding the footage out of Bucha, some Russians are seeing that, but they're being told that it's fake news.

It's very difficult to get access to any other sources of information, even social media channels - many of them have been blocked here.

And so many Russians believe what they're being told.

Jonathan Beale
BBC News, Donbas

Thousands of people who live in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine are fleeing west, as Russia is stepping up its offensive.

There are still some signs of life in the villages, towns and cities we travel through in this region of eastern Ukraine - but they're quickly emptying out.

We visited the town of Lysychansk, about a mile from the front line. It's one of many residential areas to have been hit by Russian artillery over the past few days.

Shattered glass and blocks of concrete lay strewn across the streets, along with the twisted steel remnants of the shelling. We could still hear the occasional rumble of artillery in the distance.

A Ukrainian soldier led us through the mostly-deserted streets to an underground shelter.

Inside in a gloomy room we talked to two old women, who were trying to keep warm in front of an electric fire.

We asked them who they thought was responsible for shelling their town - astonishingly, neither blamed Russia or President Vladimir Putin. They thought their grim situation was as much the fault of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The women, who'd grown up in the Soviet era, seemed to share Putin's nostalgia for the past.

Our translator explained they'd probably watched and believed what they'd seen and heard from Russian state media.

This wasn't the view of everyone we spoke to, but it highlights the closer ties eastern Ukraine has to Russia - as well as a generational divide.

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Joel Gunter
BBC News, in Bucha, Ukraine

In the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where evidence suggests Russian troops executed innocent civilians, fresh atrocities are still being uncovered.

Iryna Abramov told the BBC how Russian troops stormed the home she shared with her husband Oleg, set it on fire, and took Oleg out onto the pavement outside.

Iryna's father Volodymyr, who lived next door, raced to put out the fire, crying out for his son-in-law to help. But the reply came from the Russian soldiers, Volodymyr said.

"Oleg will not help you anymore."

Oleg Abramov, a 40-year-old welder who lived a quiet life in Bucha, was apparently shot at point blank range outside his home, just moments after the Russian troops arrived.

"My husband wasn't a soldier. He had never held a gun. He was a peaceful man," Iryna said.

"They took him from our house in his slippers, asked him to take his shirt off, asked him to kneel on the ground, and killed him."

When she ran out and found his disfigured body, the four Russian soldiers who dragged him out were standing casually drinking water, she said.

She screamed at them to shoot her, and one raised his gun, then lowered it, then raised it again, and lowered it, until Volodymyr dragged her back inside.

Read the full story here

Ukrainian officials say more than 400 people are missing from the town of Hostomel which, along with Bucha and Irpin, bore the brunt of Russia's offensive on Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

Local official Taras Dumenko says most of the bodies of Hostomel's residents were found in neighbouring villages and the town of Bucha.

He says the Russians must have abducted people and taken them away, many of them to be shot, reports the Interfax Ukraine news agency.

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Ukrainian authorities in the Luhansk region hope to evacuate civilians through five humanitarian corridors on Wednesday, ahead of a feared Russian offensive in the east, Reuters reports.

"We will take everyone out if the Russians allow us to get to the meeting places [for evacuation]. Because, as you can see, they don't always observe ceasefires," the Luhansk region governor Serhiy Gaidai writes on Telegram.

"I appeal to every resident of the Luhansk region – evacuate while it is safe... While there are buses and trains – take this opportunity."

In a separate video address, Gaidai says Russian forces haven't managed to break through Ukrainian defences in his region but are destroying "everything in their path".

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Image source, EPA

European Union ambassadors are meeting today to decide whether to impose fresh sanctions on Russia.

Calls in the West for new measures to damage the Russian economy have intensified following allegations of war crimes in Ukraine. Moscow denies that its forces have committed atrocities.

Yesterday, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen set out a list of proposals, including:

• A ban on EU nations importing Russian coal worth €4bn (£3.3bn) a year, and a full ban on four top Russian banks
• A ban on Russian ships entering EU ports (with some exemptions) and on Russian road transport operators
• Bans on EU exports of some tech and machinery including advanced semiconductors, and on imports on Russian alcohol, seafood, and wood
• A restriction on Russian companies competing for contracts across the EU

The EU was also working on other sanctions including on imports of Russian oil, von der Leyen said.

Fuel bans have so far proven a sticking point, with countries including Germany heavily reliant on buying from Russia.

You can read more about the EU’s plans here.

Image source, Getty Images

At least 167 children have been killed in Ukraine and 279 wounded in the Russian invasion, Ukrainian officials say.

Some 927 schools and other educational buildings have been damaged in shelling and bombardment, the Ukrainian prosecutor-general's office added in a message on Telegram this morning.

The biggest number of child casualties (81) was registered in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, followed by the wider region of Kyiv (78) and the Kharkiv region (64).

The BBC cannot independently verify these figures.

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent, Donbas

Image source, Getty Images

Thousands of people who live in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine are fleeing west.

We passed a 50-mile tailback of traffic as we headed in the opposite direction - towards the fighting.

This is where Russia is stepping up its offensive, having withdrawn forces from the north.

Ukrainian troops are at check points on all roads in and out of the region.

They’re also preparing defensive positions, with some of Ukraine’s most experienced troops in the area.

It’s where they’ve been fighting Russian-backed separatists for the past eight years.

Russian forces now occupy most of Luhansk and more than half of Donetsk. They’re slowly trying to surround Ukrainian forces.