We are now wrapping up our day of live coverage of events in Ukraine.

This is what's been happening today:

• In what correspondents described as remarkable language, the UK Army's new chief has said in a letter that British soldiers must prepare to fight in Europe once again
• Hollywood actor Ben Stiller has visited Poland as well as Ukraine as part of a trip to the region as UNHCR goodwill ambassador
• Germany has said it was planning emergency measures, including a possible increase in the use of coal, to guarantee the supply of energy in case Russia further cuts or stops gas deliveries
• Earlier, UK PM Boris Johnson said "we need to steel ourselves for a long war" in Ukraine
• And indeed Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned the conflict could last for years

Image source, Reuters

Germany says it will take emergency measures to guarantee the supply of energy in case Russia further cuts or stops its gas deliveries.

This would include increased use of coal, the government says.

"To reduce gas consumption, less gas must be used to generate electricity. Coal-fired power plants will have to be used more instead," the economy ministry said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.

"It's bitter, but indispensable for reducing gas consumption," Habeck said in the statement.

Berlin is proposing to make €15bn ($15.8bn) available to fill storage facilities, a key requirement for next winter, according to German press reports.

Other measures include cutting the use of gas in industry and power generation.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck is quoted as saying, external that the situation is serious, and that gas consumption must continue to fall, so more gas must be stored, otherwise things will get "really tight" in winter.

The move follows a warning by Russian energy giant Gazprom last week that it would sharply cut deliveries to Europe and half its supply to Germany.

Gazprom blamed repair work for cutting the supply of gas through the Nordstream 1 pipeline to Germany to 40% of its usual capacity, but German officials believe it was a political move to punish Germany for its support of Ukraine.

Chris Partridge
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

Ukraine has made no secret of wanting to move towards an armed forces made of up Western developed weapons.

That includes getting away from Soviet-era aircraft such as the Mig-29, Su-27 and Su-25.

While Ukraine’s pilots have secured notable successes against their Russian counterparts, Western planes would offer them greater capability., external

Ukraine’s Mig-29 (Fulcrum) is getting old, parts are scarce and development hasn’t kept pace with that of the F-16 (Viper) for example.

The Fulcrum lacks ‘fire-and-forget’ active-radar homing missiles - something Russian Su35s have in abundance for ‘Beyond Visual Range’ fights.

In comparison, F-16s are armed with AIM-120 missiles for BVR and have more capable radar. They are equally capable in air-to-ground attack too.

So what’s the problem? In short, time.

To train a US pilot, for example, from a Western F-15 to the latest F-35, takes around four to six months. Different cockpit, different avionics, different systems.

While the war continues, any training for Ukrainian pilots would have to be done outside of the country. That takes highly-skilled assets out of the fight.

Then the question of supply. A Nato country could send the jets in, but then those aircraft would need to be backfilled, as they also form a primary defence role.

There is little doubt Ukraine could move to a western supplied military - both on the ground and the air. But that will take time, planning and resources.

Alexandra Fouché
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, Andrew McConnell/UNHCR

Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, who is a goodwill ambassador for UN refugee agency the UNHCR, has visited Poland and as part of the trip also visited Ukraine, the UNHCR has told the BBC.

He arrived in Rzeszow in southern Poland on Saturday, and is visiting the region to highlight the needs of those who have fled the war in Ukraine, the UNHCR says.

While in Poland, he met refugee families forced to flee the war in Ukraine.

In an Instagram statement, external, he said: “Millions have been forced to flee their homes, with over 90% being women and children. I’m here to learn, to share stories that illustrate the human impact of war and to amplify calls for solidarity... Everyone has the right to seek safety. Whoever. Wherever. Whenever.”

Previous celebrities who have visited Ukraine include Angelina Jolie, who is also a UN goodwill ambassador and visited Lviv in April.

Image source, Oleg Shan/Reuters

Remarkable language of UK Army chief's letterpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 19 June 2022

14:21 BST 19 June 2022

Joe Inwood
Reporting from Irpin

The language in the UK military chief's letter was really remarkable; it was talking about the need to engage on the battlefield, it mentioned Russia by name.

This letter was not intended for public consumption, but it was sent very widely, so they must have known this might have come out.

In terms of how this will be received in Ukraine, they have been calling for Nato involvement in this war, but I don't think they're going to view this as a clear indication that the British Army will be getting involved.

On how the Russians might view it, they will probably take it much the same way, but if this is seen as something of a threat - and it could be - then maybe Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov would echo the sentiment he expressed in an interview last week when he was talking about Britain's desire to bring Russia to its knees, and he said: "Go on then, do it”.

The mood music we're getting from Western capitals is that this is a conflict that is going on for the long term and that they need - Boris Johnson said it himself today - to offer military support in an ongoing basis to the Ukrainians if they're going to be able to hold on and win this war in the east.

So what's been happening so far today?

• UK PM Boris Johnson has told the Sunday Times that "we need to steel ourselves for a long war" in Ukraine
• The new head of the British Army says British troops need to be ready to confront the renewed threat from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine
• Russia is trying to make Kharkiv a front-line city, according to a Ukrainian official
• Russia's defence ministry says it has destroyed Western weaponry in the southern city of Mykolaiv
• Ukrainian President Zelensky, who visited Mykolaiv on Saturday, has issued a message celebrating fatherhood to mark Father's Day on Sunday

Russia's defence ministry says over the past 10 days its forces have destroyed 10 howitzers and up to 20 military vehicles supplied by Western countries in Mykolaiv, according to the Russian state-owned RIA news agency.

The southern city was visited by Ukraine's President Zelensky yesterday when he made a rare trip away from the capital Kyiv.

The BBC is unable to independently confirm these reports.

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The new head of the British Army has set out a rallying cry to his troops: to be ready to confront the renewed threat from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

In a letter addressed to “all ranks and our civil servants”, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders highlights the threat posed by Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

He notes that he is the first Chief of the General Staff “since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a major continental power”.

Gen Sanders says “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underlines our core purpose - to protect the UK and to be ready to fight and win wars on land - and reinforces the requirement to deter Russian aggression with the threat of force”.

He adds: “The world has changed since 24 February and there is now a burning imperative to forge an Army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle”.

Gen Sanders sets out his goal to “accelerate the mobilisation and modernisation of the Army to reinforce Nato and deny Russia the chance to occupy any more of Europe... We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again”.

A defence source said that it was not surprising the new head of the army had addressed his troops in such a way, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Europe. Armies, he said, “train to fight”.

The letter, which has been seen by the BBC, was sent on 16 June via the Ministry of Defence's internal internet.

In its latest intelligence update, external, the UK's Ministry of Defence says Russia and Ukraine have continued to conduct heavy artillery bombardments on axes to the north, east and south of the Severodonetsk pocket, but with little change in the front line.

They believe combat units on both fighting sides in the Donbas are likely to be experiencing variable morale, and that Ukrainian forces are likely to have seen desertions in recent weeks. They also note cases of Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops continuing to happen.

They also say the Russian authorities are likely to struggle to put legal pressure on military dissenters because of the fact that the Russian presence in Ukraine is described as a "special military operation" rather than a war.

Russian morale is likely to be low because of perceived poor leadership, limited opportunity for rotation of units out of combat, very heavy casualties, combat stress, continued poor logistics and problems with pay - plus the fact that Russian soldiers are likely to remain confused about the war's objectives, it adds.

Joe Inwood
Reporting from Kyiv

Ukrainian authorities say the air defence systems in the Kyiv region shot down a Russian “air object” this morning.

Explosions were heard in Vyshhorod District, north of the city centre. They did not give details as to the nature of the target, although in recent weeks the west and centre of the country have generally been targeted by cruise missiles.

The Kyiv Regional Military Administration wrote on social media that no smoke was detected, there was no fire and no casualties were currently reported.

The situation north of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, is quite difficult as Russian forces have been trying to get closer to shell the city again, Reuters news agency quotes a Ukrainian official as saying.

"Russia is trying to make Kharkiv a front-line city," Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to the interior minister, has told Ukraine's national television.

Image source, .

Image source, EPA/Ukrainian presidential press service handout

On what is Father's Day in many countries around the world, President Zelensky has put out a message celebrating fatherhood.

"Being a father is a great responsibility and a great happiness. It is strength, wisdom, motivation to go forward and not to give up.

"And no matter how difficult it is - to protect and defend the most precious. The future of your family, your children, and therefore the whole of Ukraine," he said.

Joe Inwood
Reporting from Kyiv

Western leaders are emphasising a consistent message - this war will not be over quickly.

Both the British prime minister and the head of Nato are warning of the danger of fatigue.

After his visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Friday, Boris Johnson set out what he called a four-point plan for Ukraine in the Sunday Times, involving training, weapons and ensuring the country’s economy doesn’t collapse.

Meanwhile, Nato's Jens Stoltenberg has told a German newspaper that Ukraine must be supported “even if the costs are high”, not only for military support, he adds, but also rising food and energy prices.

Look to the east of Ukraine and we can see why both men are talking about a long war.

The battle for the city of Severodonetsk is slowly grinding on, with heavy losses reported on both sides.

Image source, .

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Here are some of the latest updates:

• Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the conflict could last for years
• In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Stoltenberg adds that the supply of state-of-the-art weaponry to Ukrainian troops would increase the chance of liberating the eastern Donbas region from Russian control

• Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the Sunday Times that "we need to steel ourselves for a long war"

• The UK's Ministry of Defence says there has been little change in the front line around Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine despite heavy artillery bombardments from Russian and Ukrainian forces
• Three Russian missiles reportedly hit an oil depot near the town of Novomoskovsk, the regional governor says
• Five Ukrainian civilians have been returned in a prisoner swap with Russia, defence officials say

Image source, EPA

We're now pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine - thank you for joining us.

Here's a summary of some of Saturday's key developments:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a rare trip away from Kyiv
• He visited the front-line city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine where he toured the city and met local officials
• Zelensky also revealed that well-known paramedic Yuliya Payevska, aka Tayra, had been freed from Russian captivity after being seized in mid-March
• The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC his country will only enter peace talks after the “last Russian soldier has left Ukraine”

• Elsewhere, Russia is likely to be renewing its efforts to advance into the Donetsk region, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said
• Meanwhile UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned against "Ukraine fatigue" setting in, after returning from his trip to Kyiv on Friday
• Johnson also said that Ukrainians "deserve" to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest after winning this year's, though the organisers have said the UK could host instead

Today's live page was brought to you by Jeremy Gahagan and Alexandra Fouché

Image source, Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration

Three Russian missiles have reportedly hit an oil depot in the central region of Dnipropetrovsk, says the regional governor.

Writing on Telegram, external, Valentyn Renichenko says the missiles destroyed an oil depot near the town of Novomoskovsk, leading to a large fire that injured three people.

A picture posted along with the Telegram message shows thick black smoke rising from the site.

Mr Renichecnko says fire fighters have since put out the fire.

The BBC hasn't verified the incident.

Lithuanian authorities have announced that from today they will ban goods which are subject to EU sanctions from passing through their territory to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

News of the ban had initially came on Friday, through a video posted by the Russian region's governor Anton Alikhanov.

He had urged Lithuania to reconsider the move, adding he was seeking clarification from the European Union about the apparent blockade.

But the freight arm of Lithuania's state railways service confirmed the immediate start to the blockade on Saturday, according to Reuters news agency.

The EU sanctions list includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology - and Alikhanov said the ban would cover around 50% of the items that Kaliningrad imports.

"We consider this to be a most serious violation... of the right to free transit into and out of Kaliningrad region," he said.

The western-most exclave is home to Russia's Baltic Fleet and was where Russia has previously deployed nuclear-capable missiles, but it has no land border with Russia.

In February, Lithuania, along with the rest of the EU, closed its airspace to flights from Russia to Kaliningrad.

• Kaliningrad profile

As we reported earlier, President Zelensky visited the city of Mykolaiv near the front lines of the fighting with Russia forces.

From there, the head of state proceeded to the Odesa region, his office announced.

It posted pictures of Zelensky visiting the trauma department and talking to wounded soldiers undergoing treatment at a medical facility.

Since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February, Zelensky has not left Ukraine, but has defied the Russians with visits to areas close to intense fighting.

He has also constantly received Western leaders in the capital, Kyiv - the latest UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday.

Image source, Ukraine President's Office

Russia are throwing all of their reserves around the embattled city of Severodonetsk in the eastern Donbas region, according to regional governor Serhiy Haidai.

Haidai said Russian soldiers are being sent from other battle zones with the intention of gaining full control of the city, according to remarks made on Ukrainian television cited by Reuters.

"Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, they will throw in all the reserves they have... because there are so many of them there already, they're at a critical mass," he said.

He added that Russian forces already control most of the city.

As we reported earlier, UK PM Boris Johnson says Ukraine should be given the chance to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

Speaking to journalists after returning from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, he said they had won the contest and deserved to hold it.

As winners of the contest in May, Ukraine should normally host the show, but organisers said on Friday they thought it would be too unsafe.

Read more on this story here.