If you're just joining us, here's a quick round-up of some of the main developments so far today in Ukraine:

• Russia's gas supplier Gazprom says it has completely cut off deliveries to both Poland and Bulgaria after both countries refused to start paying for supplies in roubles
• Earlier this morning, gas supplies to Poland through Belarus temporarily dropped off before resuming - we're yet to see data on gas volumes following Gazprom's most recent statement
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian special services of carrying out a series of attacks in a pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova
• Russia's ground invasion of Ukraine is slowly making progress, the US-based Institute for the Study of War think tank says
• But the UK's Ministry of Defence says Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace
• Russian air defence systems were triggered overnight in the Kursk region, a local official said, adding that no damage was reported
• Multiple explosions were also heard in the Russian city of Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border

• Drone giant DJI Technology Co Ltd has become the first major Chinese company to stop doing business in Russia since the start of the war

This is Vikas Pandey and Meryl Sebastian in Delhi signing off and handing over to our colleagues Alex Therrien and Leo Sands in London who will continue providing regular updates as they come.

The Russian energy giant Gazprom says it has cut off all gas deliveries to both Bulgaria and Poland after both countries refused to start paying for the supplies in roubles.

Earlier, both Polish and Bulgarian energy providers said they had received official notices from the Russian gas supplier that deliveries were due to be cut.

Gazprom's announcement comes after some confusion earlier this morning, when data showed gas supplies into Poland through Belarus temporarily reduced to zero before resuming.

Bulgaria's gas network had also said the country was still receiving Russian gas as of this morning.

We are yet to see any data of gas volumes into Poland or Bulgaria since Gazprom's announcement just now.

Russian gas supplies to Poland have now resumed after they were halted earlier this morning, EU data shows.

At one point early on Wednesday physical gas flows along the Yamal-Europe pipeline from Belarus into Poland had temporarily dropped to zero.

Poland has warned that Russia has threatened to cut off its gas supplies from Wednesday after Warsaw refused to start paying for the supplies in Russian roubles.

Kyiv still controls the majority of Ukrainian airspace after Russia has failed to fully destroy its air defences, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said in its latest update.

Russian air activity is primarily focused on Ukraine's south and east. Moscow has limited access to the skies above northern and western Ukraine meaning it can only deploy its strikes from a safe distance, the post adds.

In Mariupol, the UK says that Russian forces are using unguided free-falling bombs which are less accurate and more likely to result in civilian casualties.

Joe Inwood
BBC News, Kyiv

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian “special services” are behind a series of blasts in a pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova.

Transnistria – which borders Ukraine – has seen a number of attacks in the last few days. Two radio masts were destroyed. A military unit was attacked. The state security ministry was reportedly hit with a grenade launcher.

The region’s Russian backed government has gone on terrorism “red alert”.

But Ukraine has claimed these are so-called “false flag” operations – an attempt by Russia to destabilise the region and spread the conflict.

Previously, a top advisor to President Putin said that Russian speakers in Moldova were being oppressed - the same excuse used to justify the invasion of Ukraine.

There are 1,500 Russian troops stationed in the breakaway region of Moldova – which has so far not entered the Ukraine war.

The fear is that they could open a new front on Ukraine’s West or give Moscow an excuse to push all the way to Moldova.

Russia is slowly making progress taking ground in its invasion of Ukraine, according to the latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank.

The Washington DC based organisation said that Russian troops are moving more methodically and less rapidly than at earlier stages in the war, and have begun making "sounder" military choices.

Russian soldiers in the east are confronting dug-in Ukrainian troops, who have been fortifying their position against possible Russian attacks since 2014.

But closer to Kharkiv in the northeast, the Russians are finding less resistance due to the Ukrainian positions being more newly established after the invasion had already begun.

Fighting is continuing in the southern city of Mariupol. In addition to the Azovstal Plant stronghold, the Ukrainians "likely still hold important positions beyond the plant itself", ISW said.

Meanwhile, Russian false flag attacks continue in neighbouring Moldova. The think tank says the explosions there may be an effort to draw pro-Russian troops in the Transnistria region into the conflict.

Russian air defence systems were triggered overnight in the Kursk region, the local governor said on Wednesday, adding that no damage was reported.

"Tonight, at 2.45, many residents of Kursk heard pops. The details of the incident are being specified. According to preliminary data, the air defence system went off. There were no casualties or destruction," Roman Starovoyt wrote on Telegram.

Earlier, multiple explosions had been heard nearby in the city of Belgorod, which is about 40km (24 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov had said on Telegram.

Gladkov said he was woken up at around 03:35 on Wednesday by the sound of an explosion and preliminary reports indicated an ammunition depot was on fire in a rural settlement.

"The open fire near the village of Staraya Nelidovka has been put out," Gladkov wrote. He also added, quoting a local official, that there had been no civilian casualties.

Here's a look at photos from Ukraine in the past 24 hours:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Russia has halted gas supply to Poland, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting data from the European Union network of gas transmission operators.

Polish state natural gas company PGNiG had on Tuesday said Russia would stop sending gas to the country.

PGNiG relies on Russian gas giant Gazprom for the majority of its imports.

Russian energy firm Gazprom had justified the suspension of supply under new payment rules announced on 31 March, which says that “unfriendly countries” must pay for Russian gas in roubles.

But PGNiG has refused to pay in the Russian currency.

The Polish company said there were no immediate supply concerns. Demand is also lower as summer arrives in the country. PGNiG said that its underground gas storage was almost 80% full.

Bulgaria had also said earlier that Russia would halt supplies but there was no clarity early on Wednesday if the country's had stopped receiving gas.

Drone giant DJI Technology Co Ltd has become the first major Chinese company to stop doing business in Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war.

The company, which is the world's largest maker of consumer and industrial drones, said in a statement that it would temporarily suspend its operations in Russia and Ukraine.

"DJI is internally reassessing compliance requirements in various jurisdictions. Pending the current review, DJI will temporarily suspend all business activities in Russia and Ukraine," " its statement said.

On Wednesday a DJI spokesperson told Reuters that the move was “not to make a statement about any country, but to make a statement about our principles”.

"DJI abhors any use of our drones to cause harm, and we are temporarily suspending sales in these countries in order to help ensure no-one uses our drones in combat,” the spokesperson said.

Ukrainian military and citizens have accused DJI of leaking their data to Russia - the firm denies the allegation.

A DJI spokesperson said last month that the company had noticed footage online that suggested the Russian military was using its products but had not been able to confirm this and had no control over the use of its products.

Image source, Getty Images

If you are just joining us, here's a quick round-up of some of the main developments in the war in Ukraine:

• More than 40 nations gathered on Tuesday to show support for Ukraine at US-led talks at its Ramstein airbase, as Germany changed its policy and announced it would send 50 anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine.
• Poland and Bulgaria have said the Russian state gas company Gazprom told them it would halt supplies from Wednesday unless they start paying in roubles.
• The US called Russian nuclear threats "the height of irresponsibility" after the country's foreign minister repeated warnings that the conflict could devolve into a nuclear World War Three.
• The UK on Wednesday will call for the world to supply Ukraine with warplanes, something western powers have so far been reluctant to do for fear of escalating the crisis into direct conflict with Russia.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the UK for abolishing all import tariffs on Ukrainian goods, and called for other allies to adopt similar trade measures.
• Explosions have been reported in the Russian city of Belgorod, about 40km from the Ukraine border.
• According to a local Russian official, the explosions rocked an ammunition depot and no civilian casualties have been reported
• Ukraine has pledged support to Moldova, following a series of explosions in territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists. It accused Russia of trying to create unrest in the area and trying to drag Moldova into the conflict
• Russia says it has taken control of the entire Kherson region in the south of Ukraine - the BBC has not been able to confirm this independently

This is Jude Sheerin in Washington DC and Max Matza in Seattle signing off and handing over to our colleagues Vikas Pandey and Meryl Sebastian in Delhi who will continue providing regular updates from around the world.

Image source, Getty Images

According to Russia's Interfax news agency, the Russian military has seized complete control of the whole Kherson region, as well as parts of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv.

In his address to the nation on Tuesday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the Russians were trying to consolidate their gains in conquered territory.

"They continued to attack our troops near Kharkiv, in Donbas," he said. "They are trying to portray an alleged 'new government' in Kherson and part of the Zaporizhzhia region."

Kherson's regional administrative centre, the city of Kherson, was captured in the early days of the war. But the Pentagon later said Russian troops had partially lost control of it. Kherson is the largest population centre held by Russia so far.

President Putin claimed on Tuesday that fighting in Mariupol had ended.

The strategic southern port city has suffered a Russian onslaught that left about 1,000 Ukrainian fighters surrounded and running low on supplies.

Multiple explosions have been heard in the Russian city of Belgorod, about 40km (24 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, according to a local official.

On social media app Telegram, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said he was woken at around 03:35 on Wednesday by the sound of an explosion.

He said that while drafting his social media post he heard another three loud booms.

Gladkov later said preliminary reports indicated an ammunition depot was on fire in a rural settlement, and "no casualties among the civilian population" had been reported.

Image source, Getty Images

The commander of Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region - where fighting has focused - has provided an update on counter-attacks against Russia.

Earlier, the governor of one of the two provinces that make up the region told the BBC that six Russian attacks had been repelled on 26 April in Luhansk Oblast.

We're now hearing from the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation in the region that nine attacks by the Russian military were fought off on Tuesday.

According to the group's commanders, Ukraine on Tuesday destroyed:

• 9 tanks
• 11 artillery systems
• 4 units of special equipment
• 14 units of armoured vehicles
• 3 combat armoured vehicles
• 3 units of special engineering equipment
• 16 cars
• 4 fuel tanks
• one anti-aircraft gun

The BBC cannot independently verify the reported figures.

A statue that once represented friendship between Ukraine and Russia has been brought down in Kyiv.

The huge monument in the centre of the Ukrainian capital was ordered to be removed by the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, who said "Russia destroyed the normal life of millions of Ukrainians and destroyed the peace in Europe".

Crowds of people gathered to watch as the statue was dismantled, with some of them cheering the moment the job was completed.

Image source, handout

Britain's decision to abolish all tariffs on imports of Ukrainian goods will save thousands of jobs in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening video address.

"I am grateful to the United Kingdom and personally to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his prompt and positive response to our request for trade liberalisation," Zelensky said.

Britain announced on Monday that all tariffs on imports from Ukraine would be axed to help the Ukrainian economy.

Zelensky said the move would save Ukrainian jobs, and add stability to the global food market, "which is one step away from a large-scale price crisis due to Russia's war against Ukraine".

Several countries around the world rely on Ukrainian grain exports, and have seen food prices skyrocket amid the war.

Zelensky also thanked Japan for its sanctions on Russia, and predicted that the EU would pass new sanctions in the coming days.

In his speech, he also noted Tuesday had marked the 36th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster as he accused Russia of firing missiles over three nuclear plants around the country.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will announce on Wednesday that Britain and other Western powers should give warplanes to Ukraine as part of their long-term military support.

In a speech in London, she’ll say the West should be ready to give the country its backing “for the long haul”.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked for combat aircraft, particularly Soviet-era fighters with which their pilots are familiar. Western allies have been reluctant to go that far for fear of provoking Russia.

But as Nato members step up their support for Ukraine with longer range weapons, Truss will say they should go even further.

The fate of Ukraine, she’ll say, “remains in the balance”. Western powers should be ready to support Ukraine “for the long haul”, digging deep in their inventories to give the country heavy weapons, tanks and, yes, airplanes.

She’ll also urge the West to cut off Russian oil and gas imports “once and for all”. In the speech, Truss will call for a "reboot" of the international security system that she says failed Ukraine.

Western powers, she’ll say, should tackle aggressors instead with greater defence spending, less economic dependency and beefed-up alliances including the G7.

US state department spokesman Ned Price has been speaking to reporters about Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments that the world should not underestimate the threat of nuclear war.

Price said it was an attempt to distract from what he described as Russia's failure in Ukraine.

"Loose talk of nuclear weapons, of nuclear escalation is especially irresponsible, it’s the height of irresponsiblity," he said.

But Price said the US was nevertheless paying close attention "to Russia's activities, to what it's doing and what it's not doing".

He said the US saw no reason to change its own nuclear posture, though.

Price denied that Monday's remarks by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin - that the US goal was to weaken Russia - had provoked the Kremlin rhetoric.

Image source, Getty Images

If you are just joining us, here's a quick round-up of some of the main developments so far today in the war in Ukraine:

• More than 40 nations gathered to show support for Ukraine at US-led talks at its Ramstein airbase, as Germany changed its policy and announced it would send 50 anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine
• Poland and Bulgaria have said the Russian state gas company Gazprom told them it would halt supplies from tomorrow, after Russia said "unfriendly" countries must start paying for gas in roubles or it would cut supplies. Both countries have refused to pay in this way
• The UN said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed "in principle" to the Red Cross evacuating civilians from the Azovstal steelworks in the besieged city of Mariupol, where people are said to be trapped in basements for days
• Putin told Guterres he had hopes for a diplomatic solution to the war, but said Russia could not give Ukraine security guarantees without resolving territorial issues over Crimea and Sevastopol, which it annexed in 2014, and Donbas, where Russian-backed separatists have fought Ukraine for eight years
• Ukraine has pledged support to Moldova, following a series of explosions in territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists. It accused Russia of trying to create unrest in the area and trying to drag Moldova into the conflict
• Russia says it has taken control of the entire Kherson region in the south of Ukraine - the BBC has not been able to confirm this independently.

Image source, Reuters

A floral tribute to the Ukrainians who have died in the Russian invasion has gone up in the western city of Lviv.

The creator of the installation, Leo Soto, travelled from the US state of Florida to erect the memorial over the weekend.

"It's a wall of hope," the 27-year-old hospitality school student told France24.

Image source, Reuters

Using artificial flowers that were donated from Poland, the memorial includes images of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who have died since the war began three months ago.

The wall includes a photo of 11-year-old gymnast Kateryna Diachenko, who was killed after her home in Mariupol was struck by a Russian missile.

Image source, Getty Images