Russia says its forces have shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane carrying weapons and munitions near the Black Sea port of Odesa.

The Russian defence ministry said in an update on Saturday that the plane was delivering weapons and munitions.

It also said a missile strike in the same region had hit an outpost for "foreign mercenaries". Earlier Ukrainian officials reported that an agricultural enterprise had been hit by a missile in the Odesa area.

Russia's defence ministry also said Russian missiles had struck an artillery training centre in Ukraine's Sumy region where foreign instructors were training Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's armed forces have posted a morning update on the situation. It says:

• Russian forces' main efforts are focused on the Severodonetsk and Bakhmut areas in the east
• They are storming Severodonetsk, with artillery support. Fighting continues in the city.
• Russian troops retreated after failed attempts to advance in the town of Bakhmut, to the south-west of Severodonetsk
• In the Donetsk region, Russia is firing at Ukrainian forces along the entire line of contact with mortars, barrel and jet artillery, but the pace of Russian advance in the area is slow, because the military is physically exhausted and morale is low

• In the area of Lyman, the Russians are trying to take control of the left bank of the Seversky Donets River.

The BBC is not able to independently verify this information.

Image source, .

Chris Partridge
BBC News

Image source, Russian Ministry of Defence

The UK's Ministry of Defence says Russia is increasing its use of air strikes in the eastern Donbas region, external - attacking with both guided and unguided munitions.

Cruise missiles are being used to disrupt the movement of Ukrainian troop reinforcements and supplies. But the MoD says these missile strikes have failed to have any significant impact and stocks of guided missiles are likely to have been depleted.

Guided weapons are more accurate as they use either satellite positioning, infra-red homing or laser designation to get to target. Unguided munitions - such as free-fall bombs - use a simple ballistic trajectory once released from a plane.

It is the latter that has partly led to the widespread destruction of built-up areas in the Donbas.

Some air-to-ground assaults are carried out by Su-25 'Frogfoot' aircraft. They fly low in pairs on attack runs to evade the most dangerous surface-to-air systems, although this low height also puts them at risk of man-portable air defence systems, such as the 'Stinger'.

Russia's Air Force is being used to support its troop advances in the region, with airstrikes and artillery attacks.

The US has said before that Russia's air tactics are largely "risk averse" - meaning they are unwilling to spend too much time in Ukrainian airspace because of the surface-to air-missile threat.

Russia can also fire some weapons - such as cruise missiles - from deep within Russian territory.

Image source, .

Paul Kirby
Digital Europe editor

Severodonetsk and its neighbour Lysychansk, set either side of the Siverskyi Donets river, are a central part of the old coal producing region of Donbas.

Severodonetsk is home to the giant Azot chemical plant, which produces nitrogen-based fertilisers and in normal times is a major regional employer. Lysychansk features Ukraine’s second biggest oil refinery.

Severodonetsk has been bombarded by Russian forces for weeks and large swathes of it are now under Russian control.

It fell briefly to Russian proxy fighters in 2014, but was recaptured and has since served as Luhansk's main administrative hub.

Regional chief Serhiy Haidai, who is from the city, has long appealed for civilians to leave, although in late May he said up to 15,000 of the city's 120,000 population remained.

Lysychansk, on the southern bank of the river, has a population of around 100,000 in normal times. The refinery lies along the road out of the city to the south-west. The refinery and the road itself have been systematically shelled by Russian forces.

Image source, Serhiy Haidai

Russian forces carried out a missile attack on an agricultural business in the southern region of Odesa on Saturday morning, a local official says.

According to initial information, two people were injured, Sergey Bratchuk, the military spokesperson for the region said, according to a Telegram post cited by Interfax news agency, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Fighting is continuing on the streets of the eastern city of Severodonetsk, the governor of the Luhansk region says.

In posts on Telegram this morning, Serhiy Haidai says Ukrainian forces have repelled nine enemy attacks in the past 24 hours, with a tank, an artillery system and eight armoured vehicles destroyed.

He says air defence units also shot down a cruise missile and three unmanned aerial vehicles.

Russian forces are "throwing all their reserves at Severodonetsk", he says, and the humanitarian situation is difficult as it is "impossible to deliver food and medicine to the city".

Joe Inwood
Reporting from Kyiv

Ukraine's regional governor has claimed his troops have recaptured a portion of the city of Severodonetsk - just days after announcing a strategic withdrawal from the city.

Offensive and counter-offensive… claim and counter-claim.

It’s difficult to know exactly what is going on in Severodonetsk - with most lines of communication cut - but the region’s governor said his troops had pushed the invading forces back.

Sergiy Haidai said Russians had previously occupied about 70 percent of the old industrial city.

But he then said Ukrainian troops had reclaimed a significant chunk of Severodonetsk.

The city - which is a key target for Russia - has been under constant shelling for weeks. Haidai also said the arrival of new US artillery would be decisive - causing Russian infantry to "run away".

President Zelensky used his nightly address to mock Russia’s military - once considered "the second army of the world".

What is left he asked? "Only a bitter smile…. war crimes, disgrace and hatred".

But - that army is still on the offensive - and it will take more than words to stop it.

We're resuming our live reporting on Russia's war with Ukraine. Here are the latest developments:

• Ukraine claims to have taken back territory in the key eastern city of Severodonetsk
• Previously, the governor of Luhansk Serhiy Haidai had said 70% of the city had fallen to Russian forces
• Ukraine also says Russian forces are 'destroying everything' in the key city where both sides remain locked in a battle for control
• Across the whole country, Moscow's forces control about 20% of Ukrainian territory
• Ukraine's President Zelensky remains defiant, saying the country did "what seemed impossible" by resisting "the second army of the world"
• In an overnight address, he described Russia's invasion as nothing more than "war crimes, shame and hatred"

Image source, .

And that's all from our live coverage of the 100th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you for joining us and we'll be back again tomorrow.

Today's coverage has been edited by Tiffany Wertheimer, Nathan Williams, Chris Giles and Owen Amos and written by Jo Couzens, Alexandra Fouche, Sam Hancock, George Wright and Doug Faulkner.

As the 100th day since Russia invaded Ukraine draws to a close, here's a reminder of the main headlines:

• President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has achieved "what seemed impossible" by resisting Russia's invasion. Yesterday he said Russia controlled around 20% of Ukrainian territory
• A regional governor claimed Ukrainian forces have recaptured 20% of the city of Severodonetsk from Russian troops - which would mean roughly half of the city is under Ukrainian control
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Moscow is blocking exports of Ukrainian grain - and has said the best solution is to transport it through Belarus
• French President Emmanuel Macron said he told Putin in a recent phone call he had made a "historic and fundamental error" by invading Ukraine and was now "isolated"

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Russia's "unjustified and illegal" invasion threatens world peace and economic stability.

In a statement marking the 100th day of the war, Truss also said President Putin had badly miscalculated.

"He expected the invasion to be over in days, but significantly underestimated the resolve of brave Ukrainians, who have valiantly defended their country," she said.

"Putin's invasion has brought death and destruction on a scale not seen in Europe since World War Two.

"This war has huge ramifications for global peace, prosperity and food security. It matters to us all.

"Today is a moment to pay our respects to the thousands of innocent civilians murdered since the invasion, and reaffirm our steadfast support for Ukraine's heroic defence, to ensure they succeed and Putin fails."

Imogen Foulkes
BBC Geneva correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Switzerland has relaxed its approach to weapons exports following criticism that its strict neutrality was undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself.

Earlier the government announced it would allow tanks re-sold to Germany to be freely disposed of.

Under current Swiss law, weapons made in or bought from Switzerland must not be sent or re-sold into conflict zones.

But ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Swiss have been asking themselves if their traditional neutrality is appropriate in the face of such unprovoked aggression.

The Swiss government first hesitated over economic sanctions, then adopted them all, calling Russia’s attack a violation of international law.

Recently several European countries have asked the Swiss for permission to send weapons bought from Switzerland to Ukraine. At first the answer was no – now the government says Germany can transfer tanks once owned by the Swiss army.

And Switzerland has agreed to let the UK take its place in the queue to buy Swedish anti-tank weapons - with British stocks thought to be depleted after London sent some to Ukraine.

But Poland’s request to buy decommissioned Swiss tanks was rejected - this, the government said, would have to be approved by parliament.

Earlier we brought you comments from the Ukrainian governor of the Luhansk region, saying Ukrainian forces had driven Russian troops back in Severodonetsk, recapturing 20% of lost territory.

Now we have some more from Serhiy Haidai - who says the Russian military has lost a lot of military hardware and personnel in the city.

"I have personally heard many times that the Russian army has captured Severodonetsk completely," he says, via Interfax-Ukraine. "I want to tell you no, not completely."

He says Russia is "trying to redeploy certain forces" to capture the eastern city - but says [self-proclaimed] Donetsk People's Republic fighters are refusing to fight for the [self-proclaimed] Luhansk People's Republic.

Haidai adds the Ukrainian army does not have long-range weapons for a full-fledged counter-offensive, but says as soon as they receive enough of weapons from Western partners, the "enemy artillery will be moved away from Ukrainian positions".

The BBC has not been able to independently verify his claims. You can read our earlier story about some Russian troops refusing to return to the front line here.

Image source, Lydia Nevzorov

Ukraine has granted citizenship to a prominent Russian journalist who fled Russia with his wife after denouncing the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Moscow had been seeking the arrest of Alexander Nevzorov after he posted details on social media about Russia's deadly attack on a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

He fled Russia with his wife in March.

Russia accuses him of spreading false information about what Moscow portrays as its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said Kyiv had granted citizenship to Nevzorov and his wife Lydia.

Nevzorov confirmed he had received Ukrainian citizenship in a statement on Telegram, in which he said Russia's war was a crime and Ukraine its victim.

"I take the side of the victim. And I am damn grateful to those tormented, desperate, bloodied people of Ukraine who allowed me to take my place among them," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

Washington's new ambassador to Ukraine has told the BBC's Newshour that the "entire focus" of the US "is to help Ukraine defend itself and deter Russian aggression".

Bridget Brink said that the US pledge of long-range weapons to Ukraine "is an acknowledgment that the situation has changed" and is what Ukrainian forces need.

Brink said the US had "received assurances" from President Zelensky that the systems "won't be used against Russians targets on Russian territory".

She was also asked about recent comments made by Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, who suggested that Ukraine ceding territory in order to make peace with Russia was inevitable.

"It's hard to say," she responded when asked about his comments.

"I think many people would have said on 24 February that the Ukrainian government is going to fall and Russia will soon be occupying Ukraine and will be on the border of many Europeans countries. But that didn't happen," she said.

"At some point there will be a negotiation. President Zelensky has said that himself. And at some point that negotiation will have to be between Ukraine and Russia," she added.

More now on Severodonetsk, the city in the eastern Donbas region where battles are raging.

The head of Luhansk region has just claimed Ukrainian forces have regained around 20% of the city, meaning it is almost split in half between Ukrainian and Russian troops.

The Reuters news agency has spoken to foreign fighters in the city.

"We're gonna push the Russians back. It will take a day, a month, or a year it does not matter. We are on the right side of history," said Zurab Kakalidze, a Georgian who described himself as "just a 22-year-old kid" and a member of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion.

Kakalidze was one of a dozen foreign volunteers who were unloading weapons, including automatic weapons and shoulder-propelled rockets, from a truck on Thursday.

"It's a war for Georgians as well," said Kakalidze, who wore a patch on his combat fatigues combining the Ukrainian and Georgian flags.

Another soldier fighting for Ukraine in the city, and who did not give his name, spoke in Portuguese.

"Since I got here I dedicated my entire life to this. I came here to protect the people and I will only leave with a victory. Glory to Ukraine," he said.

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian forces have recaptured around 20% of the territory they lost in the city of Severodonetsk, the head of the eastern region of Luhansk says.

"Whereas before the situation was difficult, the percentage [held by Russia] was somewhere around 70%, now we have already pushed them back by approximately 20%," Serhiy Haidai told national television.

The BBC is not able to verify this claim.

Russian forces are still focused efforts on the city, the Ukrainian armed forces said in a Facebook post.

"They stormed residential areas in the eastern part of the city, covering their actions with artillery fire, and had some success. Active hostilities continue," it said.

Severodonetsk is strategically vital as a Russian capture would mean it controls almost the whole of Luhansk.

The Donbas region is made up of Luhansk and Donetsk. Some believe President Putin could declare victory in the war if Russian forces take control of Donbas.

Laurence Peter
BBC News Europe analyst

Image source, Getty Images

Ukraine has accused the Russian army of having looted and wrecked offices, labs and workshops at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The plant was decommissioned after the 1986 reactor disaster, and its nuclear fuel is under close watch. Ukraine says the radiation level there is normal and reactor equipment was not damaged.

Russian troops stayed there for five weeks, then pulled out on 31 March, as Ukrainian forces counter-attacked.

The site's information director Vitaliy Medved told the BBC that the Russians had stolen or broken more than 1,000 computers, and looted vehicles and radiation dosimeters.

Chernobyl's acting head Valeriy Seyda estimates the losses at £44m ($54m), and says much repair work needs to be done to keep the plant safe and operational.

That work, such as storing nuclear waste, requires help from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other partners.

You can read our Chernobyl story in full here.

Image source, Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron says he told Vladimir Putin he had committed a "historic and fundamental error" by invading Ukraine and was now "isolated".

"I think, and I told him, that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history," he said in an interview with French regional media.

Macron also did not rule out a visit to Kyiv soon.

The French leader has had far more contact with Putin since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, compared to most of his Western counterparts.

The last reported call was a three-way conversation on Saturday between Macron, Putin, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Vladimir Putin has denied Moscow is preventing Ukrainian Black Sea ports from exporting grain - and said the best solution would be to ship it through Belarus, as long as sanctions on that country were lifted.

Russia has been accused of blocking grain exports, but Putin said Western nations were blaming Moscow for problems with the global food market.

"If someone wants to solve the problem of exporting Ukrainian grain - please, the easiest way is through Belarus. No one is stopping it," Putin said in a Russian TV interview.

"But for this you have to lift sanctions from Belarus."

Ukrainian farmers have about 20 million tonnes of grain they cannot get to international markets, and a new harvest is about to begin.

Ukraine's inability to export its grain has led to soaring global food prices. It has also raised the prospect of famines in the countries which depend on its exports.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: "Ukraine is ready to create necessary conditions to resume exports from the port of Odesa.

"The question is how to make sure that Russia doesn’t abuse the trade route to attack the city of Odesa.

"No guarantees from Russia so far. We seek solutions together with the UN and partners."