Image source, Getty Images

Let's hear a little reaction to PM Boris Johnson’s suggestion that the UK may send some of its Challenger 2 tanks to Poland as it in turn supplies Ukraine with older Soviet-era tanks.

"I don’t think it’s a crazy idea," says Gen Sir Chris Deverell, former commander of the UK’s Joint Forces Command.

He tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK has surplus tanks and could theoretically give up 79 of them without affecting operational capability.

But he warns it could take Poland several months to be confident using Challenger 2s, and they may not want to pass on their T72 tanks until then.

As our security correspondent Frank Gardner wrote yesterday, sending tanks would be a very significant move - until very recently Nato countries have been reluctant to supply heavy weaponry to the Ukrainians for fear of antagonising President Putin.

Adam Easton
Warsaw Correspondent

Image source, Reuters

More than 2.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine to Poland since the war began on 24 February, the Polish Border Guard says.

The number of people crossing the border into the country has fallen significantly in recent weeks, and numbers going into Ukraine have risen.

On Friday, more people entered Ukraine from Poland (23,800) than vice versa (17,700) the agency wrote on Twitter.

In total, 825,800 people have entered Ukraine from Poland since the war began. At the height of the refugee crisis on 6 March, 142,300 people fled Ukraine to Poland.

Before the war, the average daily number of people crossing the border from Ukraine into Poland was 16,800.

Some of the refugees have already left Poland. Warsaw University migration research Prof Maciej Duszczyk estimates about 1.3-1.4 million remain.

More than 900,000 Ukrainians have applied for a Polish national identity number.

"Despite increased activity, Russian forces have made no major gains in the last 24 hours as Ukrainian counter-attacks continue to hinder their efforts," Defence Intelligence (DI) of the UK's ministry of defence says in its latest briefing.

It says Russia's air and naval forces "have not established control in either domain owing to the effectiveness of Ukraine's air and sea defence reducing their ability to make notable progress".

And "despite their stated conquest of Mariupol [in south-eastern Ukraine], heavy fighting continues to take place frustrating Russian attempts to capture the city".

This is "slowing their [Russia's] desired progress" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, DI adds.

Earlier this week, Russia announced a second stage of its "special military operation" in Ukraine, saying it would now focus on taking control over Donbas.

This came after Russian troops had pulled out from north-eastern Ukraine, after failing to take major cities - including the capital Kyiv - there.

Image source, Reuters

Millions of people have fled Ukraine, with neighbouring countries taking in the highest number of refugees.

But for those wishing to travel to the UK, there are growing frustrations around the time it is taking to process applications.

British hosts have described being at their "wits' end" because of delays processing visas for young children.

One couple who are sponsoring a family under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have said family members' visas are coming through at different times, despite applications being sent on the same day.

Tim Boniface and his partner Jayne Coppinger are helping a mother and her two children. Their applications were sent on March 22, but while Kataryna, 37, had her visa approved this week, her four-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son are still waiting.

Mr Boniface said he and his partner are "at their wits' end".

Read more about the scheme here.

Maria Korenyuk and Jack Goodman
World Service Disinformation Team

Image source, Rodnoi Krasnodon

Russian forces are occupying towns, threatening journalists and demanding they spread pro-Kremlin views. Those who refuse are forced to close down their operations.

The strategy to replace Ukrainian media with pro-Kremlin press coverage includes capturing transmitter towers and switching off access to national Ukrainian news programmes in areas controlled by Russian forces. Instead, signals for pro-Russian broadcasts are switched on.

The State Special Communications Service of Ukraine told the BBC that eight stations are being used to air "propaganda and disinformation" to the local population in southern Ukraine.

In Berdyansk, Serhiy Starushko - a broadcast journalist - was forced to lie on camera and announce he was declaring a war against so-called "Ukrainian nationalists". The Russians said they would post this coerced declaration online if he refused to co-operate.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Graphic videos have emerged showing the bodies of more than 20 civilians lying along a main road in Mariupol.

Tens of thousands of people remain trapped in the besieged southern port city, which has seen weeks of intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The footage, posted to social media, comes as the United Nations confirmed it is investigating hundreds of allegations of killing civilians since the invasion began nearly two months ago.

The BBC has examined the footage, counting 23 bodies in total.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flagged comments by a Russian commander who said Moscow wants to take control of southern Ukraine as it would give access to the separatist region of Transnistria in neighbouring Moldova.

Zelensky said the remark showed that Russia wanted to invade other countries and that the attack on Ukraine would only be the beginning.

Responding to the comments, Moldova's foreign ministry expressed "deep concern" over the Russian commander's statement and summoned the Russian ambassador.

It added that Moldova is a neutral state and that this principle "must be respected by all international actors, including the Russian Federation".

Image source, Getty Images

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is set to meet both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders next week.

On Tuesday, Guterres is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and have a working meeting and lunch with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

His shuttle diplomacy will then take him to Kyiv on Thursday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The UN chief has been pressured recently to take a more active role in mediating the conflict.

In letters to both leaders via their UN missions, he called for discussions of "urgent steps to bring about peace in Ukraine and the future of multilateralism".

Both Russia and Ukraine are founding members of the UN.

As dawn breaks in Kyiv on Saturday morning, here's a round-up of the latest developments:

• In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelensky says the attack on Ukraine is only the beginning, and claims Russia intends to invade other countries
• He cited a senior Russian general's remark that Moscow is aiming to seize all of southern Ukraine before opening a route to a separatist region in Moldova
• Moldova summoned Russia's ambassador and expressed "deep concern" about the comments

• Ukrainian Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk said "there is a possibility" a humanitarian corridor out of the besieged port city of Mariupol could open on Saturday
• UN Secretary General António Guterres has announced he will visit the Russian and Ukrainian leaders separately next week
• Russia has said one sailor died and 27 more are missing after its warship Moskva sank last week

Image source, Getty Images

Pope Francis has said he will not visit Ukraine, as he had reportedly been considering earlier in the month.

"What good would it do for the Pope to go to Kyiv if the war continued the next day?" he told Argentine daily La Nacion.

The pontiff stressed he was "willing to do everything to stop the war" but a papal visit might interfere with "higher objectives", such as efforts to end the war.

Francis added: "All war is anachronistic in this world and at this level of civilisation."

In the interview published on Friday, the Holy Father also described his unexpected visit to the Russian embassy in Vatican City in late February as "a decision I made in a waking night thinking about Ukraine".

"I went alone. I didn't want anyone to accompany me. It was a personal responsibility of mine."

Asked why he never names Russia or its president in his statements against the war, he replied: "A Pope never names a head of state, much less a country, which is superior to its head of state."

Image source, PA Media

Russian state media claims that "sabotage specialists" from the UK are helping the Ukrainian military in the western Lviv region.

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, at least two groups - or about 20 people in total - from the SAS have been deployed.

"These are no ordinary special forces," a Russian intelligence source is quoted as telling Novosti.

The source added that the SAS personnel are likely "co-ordinating the activities of sabotage groups" in Russian-controlled territory.

Founded during World War Two, the Special Air Service is known for covert missions, including hostage recovery, reconnaissance and counter-terrorism.

A Ukrainian MP has posted a picture showing traffic jams at the Polish-Ukrainian border.

According to Lesia Vasylenko, the gridlock shows Ukrainians returning home.

More than 5.1m people are believed to have fled the country since the war broke out.

But the UN said last week around 30,000 people are now returning to Ukraine per day.

Image source, Reuters

Ukraine's Prime Minister has said he is "absolutely sure" Ukraine will win the war against Russia soon.

Denys Shmyhal told CNN: "We are absolutely sure that Ukraine will win in this war and victory will be in [a] very short period."

His comments came after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is a "realistic possibility" that Russia's bombardment of Ukraine could continue until the end of next year.

Image source, Getty Images

Russian Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov has been suspended for nine months by swimming's world governing body, Fina, after attending a rally in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The 25-year-old swimmer was among a number of athletes present at the rally, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in March.

They wore the pro-war symbol of the letter 'Z' on their clothing.

Rylov won 100m and 200m backstroke gold in Tokyo last summer.

After the rally, Speedo announced it had terminated its sponsorship deal with Rylov.

Read more about Evgeny Rylov's suspension here.

Image source, Getty Images

Some supermarkets in the UK are limiting how much cooking oil customers are able to buy as supplies are hit by war in Ukraine.

Tesco is allowing three items per customer. Waitrose and Morrisons have limited shoppers to two items each.

The majority of the UK's sunflower oil comes from Ukraine and disruption to exports has led to some shortages and an increased demand for alternatives.

Read more here.

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has flagged comments by a Russian commander, who said Moscow wants to take control of southern Ukraine as it would give access to the separatist region of Transnistria in Moldova.

Zelensky said the remark shows that Russia wants to invade other countries and that the attack on Ukraine would be only the beginning.

"Well, this only confirms what I have said many times: the Russian invasion of Ukraine was intended only as a beginning, then they want to capture other countries," Zelensky said in his nightly address.

"Of course, we will defend ourselves as long as necessary to break this ambition of the Russian Federation. But all nations that, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us. They have to help us, because we are the first on this path. And who is next?

"If anyone who can become next wants to stay neutral today so as not to lose anything, this is the riskiest bet. Because you will lose everything."

Moldova has summoned the Russian ambassador in response to Maj Gen Rustam Minnekayev's comments.

Nick Thorpe
Reporting from Zahony

Despite millions of people fleeing Ukraine or being displaced in their country - some are keen to return home.

Refugees have fled in all directions since the war began but Zahony in eastern Hungary, is the only crossing point for those leaving Ukraine by train - or returning.

Trains belonging to MAV, the Hungarian state railway, regularly make the 20 minute journey to and from Chop, the junction on the Ukrainian side.

"My mum, my little sister, my grandmother, my grandfather, my uncle, my aunty… and my husband!" Valentyna lists her reasons for returning to Kyiv, after only a week in Hungary.

She got married in February, just a day before the start of the war. Now she stands in a group of Ukrainians on Platform 5, queuing to get their passports stamped by Hungarian border police, to return.

"Better to be in danger with those I love, than in safety far away from them," she says.

Image source, Getty Images

A humanitarian corridor may be agreed to let civilians in Mariupol leave the destroyed city on Saturday, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

On Telegram, she said that there is a "possibility" that civilians will be able to gather for departure at 10:00 local time (08:00 BST) outside a shopping centre in the northwest of the city.

"So, watch the official announcements tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I will give confirmation," she said.

She added that she was sharing the information on Friday evening so residents would have time to get to the evacuation point and "be a little set up and prepared" to flee.

"I understand how difficult it is for you. Corridors have been broken so many times," Vereshchuk continued.

"But you and I should try as many times as necessary until it works."

Image source, .

Rob Cameron
BBC Prague Correspondent

Image source, EPA

Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger is advocating escalating sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking alongside Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki after a joint session of the Slovak and Polish cabinets at Stara Lubovna castle in northeastern Slovakia, Heger said Poland shared this opinion.

However, he expressed his disappointment at the attitude of Hungary, which refuses to supply Ukraine with weapons or allow military transports carrying weapons to cross its territory.

Morawiecki said he and his Slovak counterpart were outraged that countries such as Hungary and Germany had protested against sanctions targeting Russia.

The comments suggested a broadening rift in the so-called Visegrad 4 group of countries over Russia and the war against Ukraine, with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland supplying heavy weapons such as tanks, and Hungary remaining strictly neutral.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was once Russia’s wealthiest man and is now Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic in exile, has told the BBC a Western oil and gas embargo would deal the president “a very serious blow”.

Speaking to Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur, the dissident businessman said such a measure would cause Putin “to lose over half his revenue” and questioned whether Moscow could continue to wage war in Ukraine after such an impact on the federal budget.

Khodorkovsky was once CEO of Russian oil giant Yukos before being jailed for almost a decade on charges of fraud and tax evasion which, he says, were politically motivated.

Watch the full interview on Friday 22 April 2022 on BBC World News or watch again on BBC iPlayer (UK only).