Russia-Ukraine latest news: Invasion an 'abomination', Boris Johnson tells Ukraine in video message

• Boris Johnson: The West must stop a nuclear disaster in Ukraine

• Dispatch: The new normal for Kyiv's defenders

• The week Vladimir Putin lost control of the war

• Russian commanders killed after frustration at stalled advance

• ‘It is all a lie’: Russian propagandists pose as locals

Boris Johnson has told Ukranians that Russia’s invasion of the country is an “abomination”, as he said he was "heartsick at the destruction and loss of life".

In a video clip posted to Twitter on Friday evening, the Prime Minister said: "I cannot even imagine what you're living through right now, or the outrage and heartbreak you must feel as everything you know and love is so inexplicably and brutally shattered."

As the war enters its second weekend, Mr Johnson said "the world is turning its back on [Vladamir] Putin and his regime" and he "marvelled at [President Volodymyr Zelensky's] bravery, his calm, his sense of purpose, just as I marvel at the heroism and resolve of the Ukrainian people".

He added that the Russian president "has made a grave miscalculation".

"The free world is united in its resolve to stand up to his barbarism, and the fortitude and defiance of the Ukrainian people in the face of this unjust and unwarranted aggression is moving hearts around the world," he said.

Earlier the Prime Minister said the UK was “bolstering" its package of “further and faster” sanctions following Russia’s attack on Europe’s largest nuclear plant based in Ukraine, as the US envoy to the UN said catastrophe was narrowly avoided.

​​Follow the latest updates below.

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02:24 AM

Russian advance slowed by inability to suppress Ukrainian air defence forces, says UK Defence Ministry

Russia's failure to fully suppress Ukrainian air and air defence forces is slowing down their advance, says the UK Defence ministry.

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02:10 AM

CNN stops Russian broadcasting

CNN will stop broadcasting in Russia after the introduction of a new law there that could jail anyone intentionally spreading "fake" news.

Russian officials have said that false information has been spread by Russia's enemies such as the United States and its Western European allies in an attempt to sow discord among the Russian people.

Lawmakers passed amendments to the criminal code making the spread of "fake" information an offence punishable with fines or jail terms. They also imposed fines for anyone calling for sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

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01:59 AM

Samsung suspends shipments to Russia

Samsung has suspended shipments to Russia "due to current geopolitical developments."

"We continue to actively monitor this complex situation to determine our next steps," the company said in a statement.

Samsung Electronics is No. 1 in handsets in Russia with 30 percent market share as of the fourth quarter of 2021, ahead of Xiaomi's 23 percent and Apple's 13 percent respectively, according to data provider Counterpoint.

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01:52 AM

Russian forces closing in on second power plant

Russian forces are just 20 miles away from closing in on Ukraine's second largest nuclear power facility, said the US ambassador to the UN.

The warning comes after Russian forces seized the country's largest nuclear power plant yesterday after heavy shelling and fire at the plant.

"Russian forces are now 20 miles and closing from Ukraine's second largest nuclear facility. So this imminent danger continues," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

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01:30 AM

Zelensky to address US senate on Saturday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the US Senate on Saturday.

Mr Zelensky will speak to senators via Zoom in the morning Washington time at the request of Ukraine, a US legislative aide said.

As the war in Ukraine intensifies, some US lawmakers are urging President Joe Biden to take a tougher stance against Russia, such as by suspending imports of its oil.

The White House has ruled this out so far, fearing it might cause rising oil prices to go up even more and hurt US consumers stung by record inflation.

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01:09 AM

Aeroflot CEO quits, reports Tass

The CEO of Aeroflot Mikhail Poluboyarinov has left his job, according to the Tass news agency.

It comes as the airline, which is the largest government-majority owned carrier in Russia, was kicked off the sabre ticket booking system, but vowed to continue taking passengers.

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12:54 AM

Biden and Finnish president commit to strengthening security cooperation

US President Joe Biden and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto committed during talks on Friday to starting a process that will strengthen the two nations' security cooperation, the White House said.

Biden and Niinisto also discussed the importance of NATO's Open Door policy.

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12:37 AM

UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Monday

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the humanitarian crisis triggered in Ukraine by the Russian invasion.

After this public session, the 15 members of the council will confer behind closed doors to discuss a possible draft resolution, a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.

This latter meeting has been proposed by Mexico and France, who are pushing a draft that calls for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and protection of civilians.

But it has run into obstacles, namely a warning from the United States that it will not support such a draft unless it states explicitly that Russia has caused the humanitarian crisis, another diplomat told AFP.

France originally wanted a vote last Tuesday but it did not happen.

Now, diplomats say France has shifted and in light of US criticism is no longer pushing for a vote as quickly as before.

Any draft resolution that criticizes Russia by name is doomed because Russia has veto power on the Security Council.

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12:27 AM

In pictures: Pro-Russia protestors march through the Serbian capital, Belgrade

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11:52 PM

Sky News journalist shot

A veteran Sky News correspondent has been shot and wounded alongside members of his production team in Ukraine after their car came under fire from “Russian infiltrators”.

Stuart Ramsay, Sky’s chief foreign correspondent, on Friday described the “harrowing” assault the journalists came under while reporting on Russia’s military invasion from outside the capital of Kyiv.

The five-person team had been doing a segment on civilian casualties on Monday when they were ambushed by what Ramsay called Russian “saboteurs” behind Ukrainian lines.

They managed to film the encounter on the phones and can be heard using expletives as they duck for cover.

Read more: Sky News reporter Stuart Ramsay shot by Russian 'infiltrators' in Ukraine

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11:12 PM

Italy seizes oligarch's yacht

Italy said on Friday that it seized the yacht of a Russian oligarch who is seen as close to President Vladimir Putin and is subject to EU sanctions.

"Italy's police has just seized 'Lady M Yacht', a 65 million euro (£54 million) vessel belonging to Alexey Alexandrovits Mordaschov located in Imperia (Liguria) - in compliance with the recent EU sanctions," Ferdinando Giugliano, a media adviser to Italy's prime minister, said in a tweet.

Mr Mordashov, a steel magnate, owns the Severstal group and is among the ultra-wealthy, influential Russians blacklisted by Brussels for their perceived closeness to the Kremlin.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the EU has moved to freeze the assets of connected oligarchs and bar them from entering the bloc.

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10:43 PM

Mayor hands out iodine tablets near Zaporizhzhia

In the town hall of Marhanets, on the banks of the Dnieper River, the mayor produced a white sheet of anti-radiation iodine pills, Roland Oliphant, Robert Mendick and Victoria Ward report.

“We also know very well what happened at Chernobyl,” he told the audience gathered across the water from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Moments earlier, he had taken a hand grenade in each hand and slammed them down on his desk, clearly enjoying the effect on those present.

“We are ready to defend our town and our country. And we will,” he declared.

Read more: Spectre of Chernobyl hangs over Ukraine warzone as mayor hands out iodine tablets

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10:01 PM

Why so many African nations are quietly standing by Putin?

President Putin's authoritarian allies in Africa have given their quiet support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations.

Led by heavy diplomacy from the Western bloc, 141 nations passed a resolution on Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly deploring Russia's “aggression against Ukraine”.

The resolution called for Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders”.

Only four countries came out in support of Russia: North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Eritrea. It is hardly surprising that the world's dictatorial pariah states voted with Mr Putin – a sign of how far he has fallen internationally. What is more interesting is the list of countries that chose not to take a stance.

• Will Brown has more in Nairobi

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09:57 PM

What we know about the war's death toll

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09:56 PM

How does the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant compare in size?

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09:55 PM

Risk of 'new iron curtain' cloaking Europe, Defence Secretary warns

There is a risk of a "new Cold War" and that "a new Iron Curtain will descend upon Europe", the Defence Secretary has warned.

Ben Wallace said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" by attacking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site in Ukraine - a move Western officials deemed unprecedented.

Officials said the site was now likely to be under Russian control but with Ukrainian staff still on the ground to maintain safety.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen, Mr Wallace said the move was "incredibly dangerous".

"It's not just dangerous for Ukraine and Russia, it's dangerous for Europe, and it is playing with fire that really is beyond anything that has to do with logic or necessity," he said.

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09:40 PM

Kyiv’s defenders settle into their new normal

At their makeshift defences at Nyvky on the west side of Kyiv, Ukraine's militias plan to let Russian troops do things the easy way or the hard way.

The easy way, they say, will be for them to read the leaflets the militias have scattered around, encouraging the Russians to surrender.

"Russian soldier, give up your weapon," it says. "Your commanders are already concealing many thousands of losses, but this paper is your passport to a normal life. Show it to a Ukrainian soldier, and he will help you return home: we treat prisoners well, with food and medical help."

For those not interested in the offer, there is also the hard way, which lurks just behind the piles of tyres blocking Nyvky's main road. Laid out in neat rows are dozens of green, dinner-plate sized discs - anti-tank mines designed to cripple any Russian armoured column.

• Colin Freeman has the latest from the front line

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09:29 PM

Dispatch: Kyiv's defenders are primed and motivated

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09:28 PM

Russia has never been so isolated, Blinken says

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has defended Nato's decision not to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

He said: "We have a responsibility to ensure the war does not spill over beyond Ukraine. A no-fly zone could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe. President Biden has been clear we're not going to get into a war with Russia."

He added that "we're seeing them [Russia] use increasingly brutal methods including going at civilians and civilian populations," and "the terrible expectation is that the suffering we've already seen is likely to get worse before it gets better".

Mr Blinken said the US was "evaluating the sanctions every day" and "nothing is off the table".

He also warned that "tens of millions of Russians will suffer because of the dangerous decisions made by a tiny circle of corrupt leaders and cronies", adding: "Russia has never been so isolated, we have never been more united."

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09:25 PM

Pro-Russia Serbs march in Belgrade as country treads fine line

Around 2,000 nationalist Serbs waving Russian flags and carrying pictures of President Vladimir Putin marched through Belgrade to the city's Russian embassy on Friday, in a rare show of public support for Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

Serbia faces a delicate balancing act between its European aspirations, partnership with Nato and its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia.

For many there, the memory of Nato's bombing of strategic targets in Serbia to bring an end to the Balkan wars of the 1990s is still all too fresh, an action that was strongly opposed by Russia at the UN Security Council.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is facing an election next month in which he needs to retain the support of Russian-leaning citizens.

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09:12 PM

British businessman's accounts frozen over suspected oligarch links

Bank accounts held by a British businessman have been frozen over allegations they contain money linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it had obtained two account freezing orders in respect of five accounts held by Graham Bonham-Carter.

The NCA said in a statement: "The orders were obtained on the basis that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the money in the accounts was derived from the laundering of funds of an individual subject to sanctions in the United States, namely Oleg Deripaska.

"The accounts contain funds of a value totalling approximately £110,000. This is an on-going investigation and we are not commenting further at this time."

Mr Deripaska, whose wealth is currently estimated to be three billion dollars (£2.3 billion) according to Forbes magazine, founded the Rusal aluminium company and is considered an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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09:09 PM

I marvel at your bravery, PM tells Ukranians

Boris Johnson has addressed Ukranians in Britain and around the world in a video message, telling them the war is an "abomination" and he is "heartsick at the destruction and loss of life".

In a video clip posted to Twitter on Friday evening , he said: "I cannot even imagine what you're living through right now, or the outrage and heartbreak you must feel as everything you know and love is so inexplicably and brutally shattered."

He added that "the world is turning its back on Putin and his regime" and he "marvelled at [President Volodymyr Zelensky's] bravery, his calm, his sense of purpose, just as I marvel at the heroism and resolve of the Ukrainian people".

He went on: "Putin has made a grave miscalculation. The free world is united in its resolve to stand up to his barbarism, and the fortitude and defiance of the Ukrainian people in the face of this unjust and unwarranted aggression is moving hearts around the world."

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08:45 PM

Putin trapped in a cul-de-sac and bent on destruction, Boris Johnson says

Boris Johnson believes Vladimir Putin intends to "double down" on his invasion of Ukraine, as the Russian president envisages "no way out" but to "continue with the destruction".

In an interview with La Repubblica, Die Welt and El Pais, the Prime Minister said European security is "equally jeopardised" by Moscow's attack on Europe's largest nuclear power station.

"I was woken because poor Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was extremely concerned about what was happening at the nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia," he said.

"He rang me to say something that I agreed with profoundly, which is: an attack on a nuclear power plant or an explosion at a nuclear power plant are clearly a matter of our common European health and safety.

Mr Johnson said it appears Mr Putin is set on continuing with the "destruction" in Ukraine. "It feels to me as though Vladimir Putin has decided to - and it's clear from what's happening - that he's decided to double down," he said.

"He sees no way out of the cul-de-sac that he's in, except to continue with the destruction, the pulverising of innocent populations, in innocent European cities."

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08:42 PM

More details about Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

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08:36 PM

UK's aid appeal for Ukraine hits £55m on first day

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has praised the UK's "astonishing show of support" for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine after raising £55 million in the first day of its appeal.

The charity, made up of 15 leading aid agencies, urged the public to keep momentum for the cause going as it revealed that "hundreds of thousands" of people had contributed within hours of the appeal's launch.

Among them was the Queen, who made a "generous donation" on Thursday, along with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, the DEC said.

The total figure includes £20m donated by the Government as part of its UK Aid Match initiative - the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through the scheme.

The appeal was backed by Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington, the Trigger Point actor Adrian Lester, and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville. Commercial radio appeals were voiced by David Tennant.

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08:34 PM

Russian economy 'will be decimated by western sanctions'

Russia faces a crushing economic recession on the scale of its 1998 financial crisis, top analysts have predicted, with savings wiped out and the currency devastated.

Sanctions imposed by western nations and their allies in response to the invasion of Ukraine will slash the size of the country’s economy by 11pc in the coming months, according to forecasts by JP Morgan.

Bruce Kasman, an economist at the investment bank, predicted a crash “in line with the drop in the 1998 debt crisis.”

“The sanctions will hit their mark on the Russian economy, which now looks headed for a deep recession.”

• Here's more on this story

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08:27 PM

Senior Russian commanders killed trying to boost morale on front line

Senior Russian commanders are being killed in Ukraine as they push forward to “impose their personality” on the stalled Russian advance, a Western official said on Friday, Nick Squires reports.

At least three commanders have been killed on the frontline as the Russians continue their advance into Ukraine from three directions.

The most senior officer to die was Maj Gen Andrei Sukhovetsky, the commanding officer of the Russian Seventh Airborne Division and deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army. He was reportedly shot by a Ukrainian sniper.

"We're seeing some commanders being killed,” said the Western official. "The deputy commander of the 41st combined arms army was killed by sniper fire. There's been a divisional commander killed and a regimental commander killed.

"My assessment would be that those commanders have been killed because they've had to go further and closer to the front.

"The reason why that's happening is that commanders feel they have to move further forward to get greater impetus and control over operations. That's an indication perhaps of some degree of frustration."

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08:12 PM

Facebook and White House round on Russia's ban

Russia's decision to block Facebook is part of a broader effort to choke off information to its 146 million citizens, the White House said on Friday, saying it was "deeply concerned."

"This is part of their effort ... to cut off a range of information from their public," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters. "We are deeply concerned about this and concerned about the threat on freedom of speech in the country."

Sir Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Facebook's parent company Meta, said: "Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out.

"We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organise for action."

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07:59 PM

Russian officials call Arctic Council boycott 'regrettable'

Russian officials have labelled the decision of their Arctic Council peers to boycott future talks held in Russia as "regrettable".

On Thursday, the Arctic Council's seven other member countries - Canada, Finland, Denmark, the United States, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - condemned Moscow's "flagrant violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In response, they announced they would skip planned meetings in Russia, which currently holds the council's rotating chairmanship, and put all work on pause indefinitely.

However, Nikolay Korchunov, Russia's senior Arctic officials chair and an ambassador-at-large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned that a temporary freeze on council activity would "inevitably lead to the accumulation of the risks and challenges to soft security in the region."

The Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum dedicated to peaceful cooperation on matters that affect the region's residents, does not deal with hard security.

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07:55 PM

White House says it is not advocating for regime change in Russia

The White House is not advocating for regime change in Russia, President Joe Biden's spokesperson said on Friday after a U.S. senator advocated for Russians to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

"We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman also rejected the measure.

It came after the US senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, called for someone in Russia to "take this guy out," referring to Putin.

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07:53 PM

Jail time for commentary on armed forces or sanctions in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally signed into law a bill introducing jail terms of up to 15 years for spreading "fake" information about the Russian armed forces, as Moscow pushes forward with its invasion of Ukraine.

It came after the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, earlier rubber stamped the measure.

Putin also signed a bill that would allow fines or jail time for calling for sanctions against Russia with Moscow facing unprecedented economic penalties from Western capitals over the invasion.

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07:47 PM

Silence between US and Russian military chiefs as war rages

No senior U.S. military leaders have spoken to their Russian counterparts since Russia's invasion of Ukraine started nine days ago, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley had not spoken with their counterparts.

Prior to Russia's invasion, both Austin and Milley had spoken with their counterparts.

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07:36 PM

Ukranian refugees fleeing 'most atrocious' conditions, says Patel

Priti Patel has said Ukrainians fleeing into Poland were escaping "the most atrocious set of circumstances" after being "persecuted by President Putin".

Speaking on a visit to the Polish border, the Home Secretary told reporters she was in the country "very much in terms of standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but also with our friends here in Poland".

She said she was exploring how Britain can help Poland more with supporting Ukrainians with links to Britain, as a family extension route was launched.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine but also with our dear friends here in Poland, who are working really night and day, we can all see this, under incredible circumstances," Ms Patel said.

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07:17 PM

Warning that Russian ships could slip through Britain's sanction net

A union is warning that ships with a connection to Russia could reach the UK despite a Government ban because of "confusion" over sanctions.

Unison said two tankers, the Boris Vilkitsky and Fedor Litke, carrying gas, have been diverted from the Isle of Grain in Kent. The former was chartered by a Singapore-based company but is mostly Russian-owned, it said.

The union's head of energy Matt Lay said: "These tankers appear to have gone away for now, but the cargo could be back on other ships within days.

He said Russian-linked ships "could slip through the net to reach a UK port", saying that Department for Transport rules only cover the ownership and operators of vessels, not the cargo.

A Government spokesman said: "We will continue to isolate Putin through every means as he carries out these illegal and inhumane action."

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07:12 PM

Latest pictures: Russia's intensifying assault on Ukraine

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07:01 PM

Facebook blocked by Russia

Russia has blocked access to Facebook for its 146 million citizens, according to the country's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.

In a statement, the regulator said: "On March 4, 2022, a decision was made to block access to the Facebook network (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc) in the Russian Federation.

"Since October 2020, 26 cases of discrimination against Russian media and information resources by Facebook have been recorded.

"In recent days, the social network has restricted access to accounts: the Zvezda TV channel, the RIA Novosti news agency, Sputnik, Russia Today, the Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru information resources."

It comes a week after Russia limited access to Facebook after the social media provider refused to stop fact-checking and labelling content from state-owned organisations.

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06:58 PM

Russia-Ukraine war: Listen to our daily podcast

War in Ukraine, a humanitarian crisis, and reaction in Kyiv, Westminster and beyond. The Telegraph's leading journalists take you beyond the headlines every weekday in our new podcast.

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06:51 PM

‘It is all a lie’: Russian propagandists pose as locals welcoming troops to occupied Kherson

Buses rolled into Kherson, but they did not carry the humanitarian aid that Moscow had promised.

They were full of supporters of Russia, some reportedly from annexed Crimea, ready to fight the Kremlin's propaganda battle.

They cheered and cried as they pretended to be locals welcoming Russian troops pouring into the city, filmed for footage destined to be broadcast back home.

Kherson is now under Moscow's rule – this week it became the first major Ukrainian city to succumb to its forces.

• Verity Bowman has more on the Kremlin's propaganda

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06:46 PM

Oligarchs 'will have nowhere to hide'

Boris Johnson said the changes to the Economic Crime Bill would give the UK "new powers in our arsenal to go further and faster" in sanctioning Vladimir Putin's regime.

He said: "The UK has led the way with the toughest package of sanctions against Putin's regime and we're bolstering this with new powers in our arsenal to go further and faster.

"We will ramp up the pressure on those criminal elites trying to launder money on UK soil and close the net on corruption. They will have nowhere to hide."

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06:44 PM

Economic crime bill amendments to crack down on oligarchs

The Government has put forward a series of amendments to the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill to "crack down on corrupt elites" and put pressure on Russia, the Foreign Office said.

The FCDO said changes, to be expediated through the Commons on Monday, will allow the UK to align more rapidly with the individual designations imposed by allies.

They will remove the test of "appropriateness" for designations, enabling the government to act more quickly and make changes to further facilitate the designations of groups of individuals.

Ministers have also brought forward amendments to shorten the deadline for overseas companies to register their beneficial owners from 18 months to six months, aiming to crack down on money laundering through UK property.

A further amendment will also increase criminal penalties for non-compliance from fines of up to £500 per day to up to £2,500 per day.

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06:40 PM

Nuclear disaster 'narrowly averted'

The world "narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe" with Russia's attack on Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the US ambassador to the United Nations has said.

"By the grace of God, the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night. We all waited to exhale as we watched the horrific situation unfold in real time," Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

She added: "Russia’s attack last night put Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at grave risk.

"It was incredibly reckless and dangerous. And it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe."

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06:24 PM

Watch: 3D satellite imagery shows huge Russian military convoy at standstill

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06:18 PM

Horrors of war will get worse, says Nato chief

Bloodshed and suffering in Ukraine is set to get worse, following devastating scenes already, Nato’s secretary general has warned.

Jens Stoltenberg said following a meeting of the coalition's foreign ministers that civilian deaths were rising and there was evidence of weaponry being used, such as cluster bombs, "which would be in violation of international law".

“The days to come, are likely to be worse,” he told reporters in Brussels.

“With more death, more suffering, and more destruction as the Russian armed forces bring in heavier weaponry and continue their attacks across the country.”

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06:12 PM

G7 nations vow to ramp up sanctions

G7 foreign ministers have warned that Russia would face "further severe sanctions" for its invasion of Ukraine, and called on Moscow to stop its attacks near nuclear power plants.

The foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States condemned the overnight attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant.

"We urge Russia to stop its attacks especially in the direct vicinity of Ukraine's nuclear power plants," they said.

"Any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of international law."

The coalition said they were "deeply concerned" with the humanitarian toll from "Russia's continuing strikes" against Ukraine's civilian population and added they will hold to account those responsible for war crimes.

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06:04 PM

Ukraine-Russia evening briefing: Five key developments today

Here are five things that have happened in the conflict so far today.

1. Foreign secretary Liz Truss has labelled the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant a "threat to European security"

2. Boris Johnson does not want Russians to assassinate Vladimir Putin, his spokesman has said, despite a US senator inviting a 'Brutus' to deal with the Russian president.

3. The mayor of Mariupol said his city is without food, water and electricity, adding that food is running out.

4. Eastern European countries have urged Nato to pivot to a "full-scale defence mission" to head off the threat of a Russian attack.

5. More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, UN figures showed.

Here's more on these developments.

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05:54 PM

Russia news channel staff walk out live on air amid crackdown

The staff of Russian independent news channel TV Rain have filmed their final broadcast after facing accusations from the state press regulator of "inciting extremism", Genevieve Holl-Allen reports.

A group of more than 20 staff members, including the CEO Natalya Sindeevna, walked out of the television studio in silence at the end of their broadcast. Ms Sindeevna's last words on the channel were “no to war”.

The state press watchdog Roskomnadzor had accused the channel of "inciting extremism, abusing Russian citizens, causing mass disruption of public calm and safety, and encouraging protests".

Meanwhile, major Russian news organisation Novaya Gazeta has announced that they are removing all content related to the war in Ukraine off of their website and social media, citing the increasingly-restrictive press laws.

In a statement on Telegram, they said: “Military censorship in Russia is quickly entering a new phase: it has gone from the threats of blocking and closing of publications (almost all of which have been realised) to the threat of criminal prosecution of both journalists and citizens who distribute information about military action different to that of the Ministry of Defence press releases.”

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05:35 PM

In pictures: Russia's bloodshed seen up close

FAB-500. Russian 500-kilogram high-explosive bomb, which can fold a multi-storey building. Designed to penetrate hard cover. Russia drops these bombs on the heads of the people in Kharkiv.
Ph: State Emergency Service of Ukraine on rescue operation in destroyed buildings. pic.twitter.com/V51PZBajoa

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 4, 2022

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05:30 PM

Russia's nuclear plant attack is unprecedented, official says

The UK permanent representative to the United Nations said Russia's attack on Europe's largest nuclear power plant was a first in history.

Russia "must keep fighting away from and protect the safety and security of nuclear sites", Dame Barbara Woodward said.

She said it was a relief that reports so far suggested there had been "no release of radioactive material" following Russia's shelling of a nuclear power station in Ukraine, but such an attack "must not happen again".

Addressing the UN Security Council on Friday afternoon, she said: "Colleagues, this is the first time that a state has attacked a fuelled and functioning nuclear power plant.

"International law requires special protection for nuclear facilities. And it is difficult to see how Russia's actions were compatible with its commitments under Article 56 of the additional protocol of the (Geneva) Conventions. It must not happen again.

"Even in the midst of an illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia must keep fighting away from and protect the safety and security of nuclear sites."

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05:21 PM

Stakes are high if we're to stop future wars, US warns

The "stakes are very real" in the Russia-Ukraine war for global peace and security, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Friday.

"Unfortunately, tragically, horrifically this may not be over soon," he said in Brussels. "We have to sustain this until it stops, until the war is over," he said.

"Hundreds, thousands of individual human tragedies inflicted by Vladamir Putin and his war of choice on Ukraine and its people and we can’t lose sight of that fact," he added.

"It’s also about an assault on some very basic principles that we established together after two world wars to make sure that we wouldn’t see another one, principles that are at the heart of an international system that has a responsibility to preserve peace and security among nations.

“If we allow those principles to be violated with impunity, then we’re opening a Pandora's box in every corner of the world for this to happen again and again and again, and peace and security with all of the deficiencies that we’ve known over the last 80 years but nonetheless peace and security that we’ve been able to establish, that will be gone.

“So the stakes here are very real - they’re about real lives real people, real human beings and they are about large principles that we have to defend and we are, in no small measure.”

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05:17 PM

'Reckless' Russian attack on nuclear plant endangers Europe

Russia's "reckless" overnight attack on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine endangered all of Europe, the US ambassador to the United Nations said Friday.

"Russia's attack last night put Europe's largest nuclear power plant at grave risk," Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.

"It was incredibly reckless and dangerous. And it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe," she said.

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05:04 PM

UN political chief says attacks on nuclear plants contrary to international law

Military operations around nuclear sites and other critical civilian infrastructure are "unacceptable" and "highly irresponsible", UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council of the United Nations on Friday.

"Attacks on nuclear power facilities are contrary to international humanitarian law....Every effort should be taken to avoid a catastrophic nuclear incident," Di Carlo told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The urgent UN meeting was called after Russian forces in Ukraine attacked and seized Europe's biggest nuclear power plant.

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05:01 PM

How Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plant took Europe to the brink of disaster

Volodymyr Zelensky called it an act of “nuclear terrorism”: a missile attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe providing up to half of Ukraine’s elecriticty.

Video footage from a camera feed at the plant showed a ball of light, an illumination round fired by Russian artillery, as the power plant came under attack.

Robert Mendick and Victoria Ward assess how the attack unfolded.

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04:47 PM

Two children killed in Russian air strike outside Kyiv

A Russian air strike on a rural residential area in Kyiv region killed at least seven people on Friday, including two children, Ukraine state police said in a statement.

Police said the strike hit the village of Markhalivka, around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the southwestern outskirts of the capital.

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04:44 PM

Scotland Yard to probe alleged war crimes in Ukraine

The Metropolitan Police's War Crimes Team is gathering evidence in relation to alleged war crimes in Ukraine to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation, the force said on Friday afternoon.

The team is part of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and has national responsibility for carrying out any UK enquiries into war crimes and core international crimes.

Detectives are appealing for anyone in the UK who may have direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, including witnesses or victims, from November 21, 2013, to present.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the evidence "could be in the form of direct messages, images or videos that friends or relatives here in the UK have been sent by those in Ukraine".

"Or it could be somebody who was previously in Ukraine and who may have witnessed or even been a victim of a war crime and has since travelled to the UK," he added.

“To be clear though, we specifically want to hear from people who are now here in the UK, and who have a direct link to any relevant information or evidence – this is not about the general public highlighting or telling us about things they might have simply come across or seen in the media, online or on social media.”

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04:33 PM

Spanish journalist held in Poland on suspicion of being Russian spy

Poland has accused a Spanish freelance journalist arrested near the border with Ukraine of spying for Russia, writes James Badcock in Madrid.

Pablo González, born in Moscow, was arrested on Monday morning in Przemyśl, a Polish city near the Ukraine border from where he was covering the refugee crisis.

He called his wife in Spain to say he had been arrested but no more information was forthcoming until Friday’s announcement by Poland’s ABW counter-intelligence agency that Mr González was being considered “an agent for the GRU”, Russia’s military intelligence service.

In the statement, Mr González is accused of "conducting his business for Russia while taking advantage of his journalist’s status".

His lawyer Gonzalo Boye, known in Spain for representing Catalonia's exiled former leader Carles Puigdemont, has confirmed the charge of espionage, which carries a possible prison sentence of 10 years.

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04:22 PM

Boris Johnson and Turkish president agree Putin condemnation

The importance of the "total international condemnation of Russia's barbaric actions" has been agreed between Boris Johnson and the Turkish president Recep Erdogan in a phone call on Friday afternoon.

Following the call, a Downing Street spokesman said: "They agreed on the powerful message sent by the UN General Assembly earlier this week in opposition to the Russian invasion."

"The leaders discussed the need to continue supporting the people of Ukraine in their resistance against Russian aggression," the spokesman added.

"The Prime Minister outlined the steps the UK has taken to isolate Russia both militarily and economically. Both the Prime Minister and President Erdogan highlighted the immediate need for Russia to provide urgent humanitarian access to Ukraine.

"They agreed to stay in close contact in the coming days as part of the coordinated Nato and international response."

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04:14 PM

Breaking: BBC suspends Russia operations amid 'risk of criminal prosecution'

The BBC has just announced it will "temporarily suspend" the work of all its BBC News journalists and support staff in Russia after authorities passed legislation cracking down on independent reporting.

The corporation's director-general Tim Davie said the new law appeared to "criminalise the process of independent journalism".

BBC News Russian service will continue to operate from outside Russia following "this unwelcome development".

Mr Davie's statement added: "The safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs. I'd like to pay tribute to all of them, for their bravery, determination and professionalism."

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04:08 PM

Pictured: The view from a gunned-down bus in Kyiv

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04:04 PM

Russian ships struggle to dock as sanctions bite

Two oil tankers owned and managed by Sovcomflot, the Russian maritime and freight shipping company blacklisted by the United States last week, are rerouting from their Canadian destinations.

And a third vessel is returning to Russia after discharging, according to tracking data.

The two tankers are the first Russian-owned oil vessels to change course after Canada this week ratcheted up pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and barring them from Canadian waters.

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker SCF Neva changed course from Canada on Thursday and is now headed to the Bahamas, in the Caribbean, vessel data show.

It comes as dockers in Kent have refused to unload two tankers of Russian gas, the Boris Vilkitsky and Fedor Litke, meaning they are having to go elsewhere.

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03:48 PM

Invasion an 'attack on our freedom': Ben Wallace

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "an attack on our freedoms, our values and the security of Europe".

In a statement issued after a meeting with defence ministers from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations, Mr Wallace said Russian President Vladimir Putin has "sought to break our defensive alliances, which is why now, more than at any point in the history of the JEF, our partnership is so vital".

He added: "We are united in our resolve across the JEF nations to support Ukraine. Our values are Ukraine's values and we will continue to provide lethal and non-lethal aid, alongside sending additional forces to Estonia serving with our Danish allies."

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03:42 PM

Mariupol without 'food, water or electricity'

The mayor of Mariupol has said his city is without food, water, electricity and food is running out as Russian forces continue their relentless attack on the Black Sea port.

Mayor Vadym Boychenko made a televised appeal for military help and said a humanitarian corridor should be created to evacuate civilians from the southeastern port city.

"We are simply being destroyed," he said.

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03:33 PM

Chinese broadcasters boycott Premier League over Ukraine solidarity

The broadcaster with exclusive rights to show the Premier League in China has announced it will not show any matches this weekend after the division said it will show solidarity with those in Ukraine before this round of fixtures.

The Premier League has said it "wholeheartedly rejects Russia's actions" and is set to show solidarity with Ukraine.

That will include captains wearing special armbands in Ukrainian colours, while stadium screens will display 'Football Stands Together' in front of the country's blue and yellow flag.

China is a close political ally of Russia and has previously denounced Western sanctions.

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03:25 PM

Russian missile hits residential building in Irpen, report claims

Russian missile is hitting the residential building in Irpen, Kyiv region. Both Putin and Lukashenka are war criminals. Putin attacked Ukraine, but Lukashenka made the attack possible by providing land and infrastructure. They share the responsibility for the assault. pic.twitter.com/TTHp8yM4tn

— Franak Viačorka (@franakviacorka) March 4, 2022

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03:12 PM

US committed to do all necessary to make Ukraine war stop: Antony Blinken

Washington is committed to doing every needed to stop the war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said as he went into a meeting with his EU counterparts praising the bloc for the "historic" steps it has taken against Russia.

"We are faced together with what is President Putin's war of choice: unprovoked, unjustified, and a war that is having horrific, horrific consequences for real people. For mothers, fathers. For children. We see the images on TV, and it has to stop," he told reporters in Brussels.

"We're committed to doing everything we can to to make it stop. So the coordination between us is vital," he added, standing alongside the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

He said that beyond the risk for Ukrainians, Russia's invasion has also put at risk fundamental principles established after two world wars that are important to keeping peace and security, "principles that President Putin is egregiously violating every single day".

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03:05 PM

Are you participating in the Russian anti-war protests? Share your experience

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03:00 PM

Tell us how you have been impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine

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02:56 PM

Vladimir Putin warns Ukraine 'not to escalate the situation'

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02:47 PM

Olaf Scholz urges Vladimir Putin to end hostilities

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call to stop all hostilities in Ukraine and allow access for humanitarian aid, his office said.

In a one-hour phone call, Mr Scholz "called on the Russian leadership to immediately cease all hostilities and to allow humanitarian access to the embattled areas", a statement read.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also warned that Russian forces are increasingly targeting the civilian population.

"It is clear to see that this war of aggression by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is targeting the civilian population with the most brutal rigor," she told reporters in Brussels.

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02:40 PM

Have a question about the war? Submit it here...

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02:37 PM

Why so many African nations are quietly standing by Putin

President Putin's authoritarian allies in Africa have given their quiet support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, says Will Brown in Nairobi.

You can read Will's thoughts on the reasoning of the continent's leaders in full here.

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02:30 PM

Further Russia-Ukraine talks planned for the weekend

Ukraine is planning a third round of talks with their Russian counterparts this weekend, Kyiv has announced.

"The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said, on the eighth day of the war.

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02:22 PM

Zaporizhzhia staff working at gunpoint

Management at Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Ukraine is working at gunpoint after the facility was attacked and seized by Russian forces, the head of the state-owned nuclear power generator said.

“The invaders entered the territory of the nuclear power plant, took control of personnel and management,” Petro Kotin, president of Energoatom, said on Telegram about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

“Currently, there is no connection and the station management works at gunpoint,” he added.

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02:11 PM

Lviv residents flee fearing Russian onslaught

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02:02 PM

UN Security Council to host emergency session at Britain's request

The United Nations Security Council will host an emergency session this afternoon after Boris Johnson made the request earlier today.

The meeting, which will begin at 4.30pm London time, was called after Russian forces attacked and took control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant overnight.

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01:55 PM

Ukrainian and Russian deaths to date

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01:43 PM

Several explosions heard in quick succession in Kyiv

Several explosions have been heard in quick succession in Kyiv and an air raid siren blasted out, a Reuters reporter said.

The exact origin of the explosions could not be immediately established. Russia has launched a multi-pronged invasion of Ukraine. Moscow describes its actions as a "special operation".

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01:33 PM

Homes burn outside Kyiv

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01:21 PM

Boris Johnson doesn't want Vladimir Putin assassinated

Boris Johnson does not want Russians to assassinate Vladimir Putin, his official spokesman has said.

Republican senator Lindsey Graham last night publicly called for that move, tweeting: "Is there a Brutus in Russia?" Mr Graham told Fox News: "How does this end? Somebody in Russia has to step up to the plate... and take this guy out."

During a Downing Street briefing the Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked if Mr Johnson agreed that Russians should kill Mr Putin, the Russian President.

The spokesman replied: “No. We stand with the Ukrainian people in demanding the immediate end to the Russian invasion.

“We’ve said before that Putin must be held to account at the International [Criminal] Court for the horrific acts that have been seen."

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01:14 PM

Nato rejects no-fly zone...again

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again rejected Ukraine's request to enforce a no-fly zone.

"We understand the desperation (for a no fly zone), but we also believe that if we did that then... (it would cause) much more human suffering," he told reporters.

Nato members discussed the idea at an emergency meeting in Brussels, but it was agreed “that we should not have Nato planes operating over Ukrainian airspace” or troops on ground.

He added that there is evidence cluster bombs have been used.

"We have seen the use of cluster bombs and we have seen reports of use of other types of weapons which would be in violation of international law," he said.

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01:06 PM

US says Nato is 'ready for conflict'

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12:50 PM

More than 1.2 million refugees have fled: UN

More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, United Nations figures showed.

The UN children's agency UNICEF estimates that around half a million of them are youngsters.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has projected that more than four million Ukrainian refugees may eventually need protection and assistance.

"The rate of this exodus is quite phenomenal," said UNCHR communications chief Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams.

"We know that there are many more on the move. Also there are possibly equal numbers inside the country that are internally displaced."

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12:38 PM

Conflict escalates in week two

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12:26 PM

Kremlin calls on Russians to 'unite'

The Kremlin has called on Russians to rally around President Vladimir Putin, more than one week after Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine.

"Now is not the time to be divided," the Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to a question on pleas from public figures to end the war. "Now is the time to unite, to unite around our president."

Addressing concerns about Western sanctions, Mr Peskov said: “Unfortunately, such a decision has been taken, but if sanctions have their own goal of encouraging (those targeted) to change their position, to refuse to support our president, then these sanctions have no chance of being heard. And all the rest doesn’t matter.”

Mr Peskov added reporters on a conference call that no documents had been agreed yet with Ukraine at the talks, but that Moscow had told the Ukrainian side how it saw the solution to the war.

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12:19 PM

Dmytro Kuleba accuses Russian soldiers of rape

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Russian soldiers had committed rape in Ukrainian cities.

Mr Kuleba did not give any evidence for his claim. Reuters was unable to independently verify the claim.

"When bombs fall on your cities, when soldiers rape women in the occupied cities - and we have numerous cases of, unfortunately, when Russian soldiers rape women in Ukrainian cities - it's difficult, of course, to speak about the efficiency of international law," Mr Kuleba told an event at Chatham House in London.

"But this is the only tool of civilization that is available to us to make sure that eventually all those who made this war possible will be brought to justice," said Mr Kuleba, who was speaking in English.

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12:13 PM

Nato must pivot to 'full-scale defence mission': Eastern Europe

Eastern European countries have urged Nato to pivot to a "full-scale defence mission" to head off the threat of a Russian attack, reports Nick Gutteridge.

Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Romania made the plea ahead of a crucial meeting of the 30 country alliance in Brussels today.

It would mean extra troops from Britain being deployed to Nato's eastern flank. Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkēvičs said Vladimir Putin must be stopped from "blackmailing" the West.

He added: "It's time to go from a deterrence mission on the eastern flank to a full scale defence mission. We need to discuss more assets, more troops."

His Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis backed calls for a "reinforcement of the Baltic region".

Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavský said the invasion of Ukraine shows "we have to strengthen the eastern flank of Nato".

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12:02 PM

Russia's power plant grab risked nuclear disaster: Ukraine foreign ministry

Ukraine's foreign ministry has called on the international community to take decisive action after Russian forces in Ukraine seized Europe's largest nuclear power plant, a move the ministry said risked nuclear disaster.

Officials have said Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine is operating normally after it was captured by Russian forces in fighting overnight. But the ministry said any damage to a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel could release nuclear radiation.

"As a result, a nuclear disaster of this scale may exceed all previous accidents at nuclear power plants," it said in a statement.

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11:51 AM

Vladimir Putin warns Russia's neighbours not to escalate tensions

President Vladimir Putin urged Russia's neighbours not to escalate tensions, eight days after Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine.

"There are no bad intentions towards our neighbours. And I would also advise them not to escalate the situation, not to introduce any restrictions. We fulfil all our obligations and will continue to fulfil them," Mr Putin said in televised remarks.

"We do not see any need here to aggravate or worsen our relations. And all our actions, if they arise, they always arise exclusively in response to some unfriendly actions, actions against the Russian Federation."

Putin was shown on TV taking part online, from his residence outside Moscow, in a flag-raising ceremony for a ferry in northern Russia.

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11:37 AM

Euro dips below $1.10 for first time since 2020

The euro sank close to a two-year low under $1.10 as the Ukraine conflict continues to cloud the eurozone's economic recovery from the pandemic.

The European single currency slid in late morning deals to $1.0992, the lowest level since May 2020, as the greenback benefited also from its status as a haven investment.

For more on the economic fallout of the war, follow along with our dedicated business live blog here.

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11:28 AM

'EU better start evacuating people to other continents': Ukrainian MP

Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian MP, has launched a stinging attack on European leaders over their failure to respond to the Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

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11:16 AM

Olaf Scholz briefed on nuclear plant fire by Volodymyr Zelensky

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was briefed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the night, and that immediate fears of severe consequences had not materialised.

"I was in touch with President Zelensky overnight who called me," Mr Scholz told reporters at a visit to the German forces' joint operations command in Schwielowsee near Berlin.

"For the moment, we know that all these dangers (that there had been concern about) haven't materialised but that the fire was contained to an administration building."

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11:08 AM

UN rights council backs probe of violations

The UN Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted to create a high-level investigation into violations committed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Thirty-two members of the 47-seat council voted to establish the highest-level probe possible into alleged rights violations, with an eye to holding perpetrators responsible.

Only two countries - Russia and Eritrea - voted against.

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11:04 AM

Russian forces seen at Zaporizhzhia

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10:49 AM

Britain 'doing all we can' to support Ukrainians: Liz Truss

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK Government is doing "all we can to support the Ukrainians".

Speaking in Brussels, Ms Truss said she was holding various meetings to show "the strength of our unity in challenging Vladimir Putin, in stopping Vladimir Putin, in Ukraine".

"We're doing all we can to support the Ukrainians through defensive weapons, where the UK led - we were the first European country to donate defensive weapons, and we're also going to be talking about sanctions."

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10:41 AM

3D satellite imagery shows a massive Russian military convoy at a standstill

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10:33 AM

Zhytomyr suffers extensive damage

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10:25 AM

Russian troops enter Mykolayiv

Russian troops have entered the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Mykolayiv for the first time, regional authorities said.

In a video statement shared online, Governor Vitaliy Kim said fighting was under way in parts of the city.

"Let's not get nervous," he said.

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10:17 AM

Liz Truss looking at speeding up Russia sanctions process

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said that she is looking at speeding up the process of imposing sanctions on Russian companies and individuals following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The British government has faced criticism for being too slow in implementing sanctions. So far, sanctions have been announced on at least 14 Russians including an asset freeze on President Vladimir Putin.

Asked during a visit to Brussels why Britain was being slower than other countries on sanctions, Ms Truss told reporters: "We've sanctioned more companies than our counterparts across the world, we've just sanctioned two more major oligarchs last night. What I am doing is looking at how we could speed up that process to make even more progress on that front."

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10:12 AM

IAEA head offers to travel to Chernobyl

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has offered to travel to Chernobyl in order to negotiate with Ukraine and Russia to try to ensure the security of Ukraine's nuclear sites.

"I have indicated to both the Russian Federation and Ukraine my availability... to travel to Chernobyl as soon as possible," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency told reporters.

"Both sides are considering" the possibility, he added.

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10:08 AM

Belarusian forces will not take part in war: Alexander Lukashenko

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has repeated claims that the Belarusian armed forces were not taking part and would not take part in Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

A close Russian ally, Mr Lukashenko said he spoke to President Vladimir Putin at length by telephone today. Russia has used Belarusian territory to carry out a multi-pronged invasion of Ukraine.

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10:01 AM

Vladimir Putin is playing with fire: Ben Wallace

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said Russia's Vladimir Putin was playing with fire by attacking a nuclear power plant in Ukraine's southeast and called on him to stop targeting such sites.

"We call upon the Russian president in the strongest possible terms to absolutely cease attacking sites such as that, it is incredibly dangerous," Mr Wallace told a news conference during a visit to Copenhagen.

"It's not just dangerous for Ukraine and Russia, it's dangerous for Europe, and it is playing with fire that really is beyond anything that has to do with logic or necessity."

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09:53 AM

Chechnyan leader offers $500,000 for head of every 'commander of Ukrainian nationalists'

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has promised a reward of $500,000 for the head of every "commander of the Ukrainian nationalists".

"I say this not as an official, but as a volunteer on behalf of the patriots of Russia," he said in a message posted on Telegram.

Volodymyr Zelensky needs to understand that "no bunkers will save him," Mr Kadyrov continued.

“There is only one way out of the situation – the full fulfillment of the conditions of the Russian side,” he said in a statement.

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09:45 AM

Two injured in Zaporizhzhia attack: IAEA

Two members of the "security personnel" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were injured during a Russian attack, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said.

Describing the situation as "very tense and challenging", Mr Grossi said that only one reactor out of six at the plant was operating, at around 60 per cent capacity.

However, he stressed no nuclear material had escaped and that all safety and radiation monitoring equipment is running at full capacity.

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09:39 AM

Dockers refuse to unload tanker of Russian gas

Dockers in the UK have refused to unload a tanker of Russian gas, forcing it to dock elsewhere, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the TUC union said.

The Boris Vilkitskiy was last seen in the English Channel and is now reporting its status as "For Orders" as of 7.33am.

The Guardian reported that the vessel had been on its way to the Isle of Grain in south east England with a consignment of liquefied natural gas for Centrica, the owner of British Gas.

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09:31 AM

Ukrainian conflict escalates

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09:27 AM

Russia blames nuclear plant attack on Ukrainian saboteurs

Russia's defence ministry has blamed an attack at the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine on Ukrainian saboteurs, calling it a monstrous provocation.

Ukraine has said Russian forces attacked the plant in the early hours of Friday, setting an adjacent five-storey training facility on fire, in an incident that provoked international condemnation of Moscow, a week into its invasion of Ukraine.

A Russian defence ministry spokesman said the nuclear plant was operating normally and the area had been under Russian control since Feb. 28.

"However, last night on the territory adjacent to the power plant, an attempt was made by the Kyiv nationalist regime to carry out a monstrous provocation," spokesman Igor Konashenkov was quoted as saying.

He said that a Russian national guard patrol was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group on territory adjacent to the plant.

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09:19 AM

Nato chief slams Russian 'recklessness'

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has decried Russia's "recklessness" over the shelling of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine and demanded Moscow stop the war against its neighbour.

"Overnight we have also seen reports about the attack against the nuclear power plant. This just demonstrates the recklessness of this war and the importance of ending it and the importance of Russia withdrawing all its troops and engaging good faith in diplomatic efforts," Mr Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting with Western foreign ministers.

He went on to reiterate the views of Antony Blinken, repeating the alliance is prepared "to protect and defend every inch of Nato territory".

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09:15 AM

'Mouldy' German missiles no good for Ukraine

About 700 anti-aircraft missiles set to be donated by Germany to Ukraine are inoperable because they have been stored in "mouldy" boxes, according to a report.

The German newspaper Der Spiegel said on Friday morning that Berlin had intended to deliver 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine but on closer inspection it was found that a third of the missiles were no longer operational.

The newspaper claimed that some of the rockets were also at least 35 years old and had stopped being used by the German army in 2012 due to a corroded or oxidised propellant charge.

Der Spiegel also said the wooden boxes in which the rockets were stored were so mouldy that in November soldiers were only allowed to enter the storage facilities where the missiles were kept if they wore protective equipment.

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09:09 AM

Everything remains on the table in terms of sanctions: Josep Borrell

The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell has said that all options remained on the table about new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

"We will consider everything," Mr Borrell told reporters when asked about new sanctions, and specifically about the possible suspension of the EU's gas imports from Russia.

"Everything remains on the table," he added on his arrival to a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels.

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09:03 AM

Nato 'ready for conflict': Antony Blinken

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Nato is "ready for a conflict" if needed.

Speaking in Brussels alongside the Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Blinken said: “Nato is a defensive alliance. We don't want conflict. But if the conflict comes to us, we are ready for it.

"We will protect every inch of Nato territory".

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08:59 AM

France activates crisis cell at nuclear watchdog

France has activated the crisis cell at its ASN nuclear watchdog body after an earlier fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, French Energy Minister Barbara Pompili has said.

Mr Pompili added in a tweet that no changes regarding radiation levels had been signalled.

Fears of a potential nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia plant spread alarm across world capitals before authorities said the fire in a building identified as a training centre had been extinguished.

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08:54 AM

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant map

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08:50 AM

Death toll from Russian air strikes on Chernihiv city rises to 47

Forty-seven people were killed in Russian air strikes on a residential district of the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on Thursday, regional authorities have announced, updating an earlier death toll of 33 killed.

Rescue work had to be suspended on Thursday due to heavy shelling, according to the local emergency services.

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08:46 AM

BBC 'blocked' in Russia as Moscow accuses broadcaster of undermining political situation

Access to some of the BBC has been “blocked” in Russia after Moscow accused the broadcaster of undermining the political situation, reports Verity Bowman.

A Russian communications watchdog restricted the BBC’s online presence in Russia, along with Radio Liberty and the Meduza media outlet, according to Russia's RIA news agency.

Russia has repeatedly complained that Western media organisations offer a partial - and often anti-Russian - view of the world while failing to hold their own leaders to account for devastating foreign wars such as Iraq and corruption.

Radio Liberty's Russian service had spread "obviously fake socially significant information about the alleged Russian attack on Ukrainian territory", the Russian communications watchdog said.

You can read Verity's report in full here.

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08:33 AM

Russia conducts searches at shuttered human rights group

Russian law enforcement officers have carried out searches at the Moscow office of human rights group Memorial International as well as Civic Assistance, an organisation that helps migrants and refugees, the OVD-Info protest monitor said.

It was not immediately clear what the searches were about and there was no comment from the police. Memorial International was ordered to shut down in December amid a sweeping crackdown.

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08:27 AM

'Reckless' attack on nuclear plant 'hugely concerning': Liz Truss

The foreign secretary has branded a Russian takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant "reckless" and "hugely concerning".

Liz Truss said she would seek an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address the issue.

Ms Truss tweeted her statement as she arrived for an emergency meeting of G7, EU and Nato foreign ministers in Brussels.

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08:20 AM

Several Ukrainian towns reduced to rubble after Russian shelling

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08:16 AM

'Doubly reprehensible' Russians continued shelling after plant fire: Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab said it was "doubly reprehensible" that Russian forces had continued to shell a nuclear site after Ukrainian emergency services had looked to put a fire out at Europe's largest power station.

The Deputy Prime Minister told Sky News the Russians had inflicted a bombardment on a "very sensitive, precarious and dangerous facility" in Zaporizhzhia.

He said: "The fact that the Russians kept on bombarding after there was the fire and the Ukrainian emergency rescue team were trying to get to that makes it doubly reprehensible."

Mr Raab said the UN security council meeting being called for by Boris Johnson was needed to "ramp up the pressure on these appalling tactics we are seeing from the Kremlin".

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08:09 AM

China urges all sides to ensure safety of nuclear facilities

China's foreign ministry on Friday urged all sides to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, after a fire broke out in a building adjacent to a nuclear plant that was later seized by Russian forces, according to Ukraine.

"We will monitor the situation and call on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing.

China has refused to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine or call it an invasion. Mr Wang said on Friday that China is "very concerned" about the situation.

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08:04 AM

'No leak' detected at Ukraine nuclear plant

The Ukrainian nuclear regulator has said that no leaks of radiation have been detected at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which caught fire overnight during a battle with Russian troops.

"Changes in the radiation situation have not been registered," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said.

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08:00 AM

Latest update from MoD

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 04 March 2022

Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/vHxz2SoCNW

🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/zzFeOi729Y

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 4, 2022

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07:57 AM

Russia jail those spreading 'fake' information about army

The lower house of the Russian parliament has passed a law which makes it a jailable offence to spread "fake" information about the armed forces.

The law, passed by the State Duma in the third and final reading, introduces fines and jail terms for those who intentionally spread false information about the armed forces that has a serious impact, according to a statement by the lower house.

"If the fakes lead to serious consequences then imprisonment of up to 15 years threatens," the lower house of parliament, known as the Duma in Russian, said in a statement.

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07:51 AM

Nato 'should consider all options' when it comes to Russia conflict: Latvian foreign minister

Latvia's foreign minister has said Nato should "consider all options" when asked about entering direct conflict with Russia.

Edgars Rinkevics told the BBC's Today programme that governments "should not exclude" any recourse to stop the invasion.

Earlier, the programme heard from former Ukrainian prime minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who said other European countries should offer direct military support and "at least to close our skies to protect us from the threat".

Asked about the comments, Mr Rinkevics said: "I think we should consider all options but we should also understand, let's say, some Nato policies can be implemented only if those countries that have necessary assets agree on that."

He added that any decision would have to be voted for unanimously.

Asked whether Nato may instead be forced to broker an "uncomfortable" settlement with Russia, the minister replied: "Well, I think we must do everything that we can. That's why I'm saying that we should not exclude any options."

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07:47 AM

Refugees continue to flee in their hundreds of thousands

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07:38 AM

Moscow stock exchange to remain closed

The Russian government has announced the Moscow stock exchange will remain closed through at least March 8.

The exchange was closed on February 28 as Russia's economy went into free fall after Western sanctions. The exchange was originally closed until March 5.

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07:27 AM

Raab: We must come down hard on Putin

The US energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, says her department has activated its nuclear incident response team and is monitoring events at the plant. The Chinese foreign ministry also announced it was monitoring developments.

Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, told Times Radio this morning: "It is clearly reckless, irresponsible and not only the fact they were shooting, bombarding that particular site, but when the Ukrainian emergency authorities were trying to put out the fire, the shelling continued.

"It must stop. We support the Ukrainians in dealing with the security situation there but also I think come down hard on Vladimir Putin.

"That's why the Prime Minister has called for an emergency United Nations security council meeting in New York so the entire international community can address this, because of course it is a much wider threat, given the nuclear implications.

"It is an affront to the world at large."

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06:52 AM

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant captured by Russian forces

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Energodar has reportedly been seized by Russian forces after it came under attack earlier in the night.

The plant was targeted by Russian rockets and gunfire on Thursday, causing a fire onsite and worries over radiation levels.

Citing Ukrainian officials, Reuters is reporting it is now under Russian control.

The plant is Europe’s largest for nuclear power and accounts for 25 percent of Ukraine's electricity.

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06:32 AM

Nuclear power plant essential equipment unaffected and no change in radiation levels, says IAEA

Essential equipment at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was unaffected after a fire there, with no change in radiation levels, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday, citing the country's regulatory authorities.

Ukraine had said the plant in the city was shelled overnight, the IAEA added.

"The Ukraine regulatory authority said a fire at the site had not affected 'essential' equipment and plant personnel were taking mitigatory actions," it said. "There was no reported change in radiation levels at the plant, it said."

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06:16 AM

Coinbase will follow the law if US imposes crypto sanctions on Russia

The CEO of Coinbase Brian Armstrong says his company will follow the law if the US imposes a ban on crypto currencies in Russia.

"Every US company has to follow the law - it doesn't matter if your company handles dollars, crypto, gold, real estate or even non financial assets. Sanctions laws apply to all US people and businesses."

Mr Armstrong added, however, that the risk of Russian oligarchs using crypto currency to avoid sanctions is relatively low due to it being more traceable than cash or gold, while also proving useful for ordinary Russian people.

“In addition, we are not preemptively banning all Russians from using Coinbase. We believe everyone deserves access to basic financial services unless the law says otherwise.”

“Some ordinary Russians are using crypto as a lifeline now that their currency has collapsed. Many of them likely oppose what their country is doing, and a ban would hurt them, too. That said, if the US government decides to impose a ban, we will of course follow those laws.”

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05:52 AM

Where Ukraine's nuclear reactors are located

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05:44 AM

Russian tech giant Yandex says might default

Russian tech giant Yandex warned on Thursday it may default on its debt after it was suspended from trading on New York's digital stock exchange.

Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange this week halted all listings of Russian companies until they explain how they will be impacted by sanctions imposed by the US and its allies in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Yandex, which is legally headquartered in the Netherlands but has its main offices in Russia, said that it was not targeted by the sanctions.

"There are currently no regulatory restrictions on the ability of US, UK or EU persons to acquire and trade in Yandex's securities," it added.

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05:36 AM

Pictured: Shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar

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05:29 AM

Shelling at nuclear power plant stops

The mayor of Energodar Dmytro Orlov says shelling at the Zaporizhzhya power plant has now stopped, according to local media.

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04:59 AM

Fire at nuclear power plant extinguished

Ukraine emergency services say they have extinguished the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

"At 06:20 the fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar was extinguished. There are no victims.”

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04:51 AM

Aeroflot to continue carry passengers despite ban

Russia’s Aeroflot said it will continue to carry passengers despite being excluded from the sabre ticket booking system, RIA News reported.

The airline, which is the largest government-majority owned carrier in Russia, was kicked off the marketplace used by travel agencies and travel websites on Thursday due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Announcing the ban on Thursday, Sabre CEO Sean Menke said: “Sabre has been monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine with increasing concern. From the beginning, our primary focus has been the safety of our team members in the impacted region, as well as doing our part to support the much-needed relief efforts."

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04:36 AM

Airbnb suspends Russia operations

Home rental company Airbnb Inc is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus, Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky said in a tweet on Thursday.

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04:05 AM

Czechs ready to send 400 troops to boost Nato's eastern flank

The Czech Republic could contribute 400 troops to a battlegroup in neighbouring Slovakia as part of Nato's plans to bolster its eastern flank, Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said on Thursday.

Nato has sought to strengthen its presence in eastern countries of the military alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which borders Slovakia and other central European nations like Hungary, Romania and Poland.

The new battlegroup would include troops from those countries along with Bulgaria, Ms Cernochova said.

The Czechs would send personnel for posts in command and connection, logistics, policing and a mechanised unit, she said.

Slovakia's defence minister said last Saturday that the country could host a battlegroup being formed that would include 1,200 foreign troops and a Patriot missile defence system manned by German and Dutch personnel.

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03:44 AM

US Energy Department monitoring nuclear plant fire

US Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the US Department of Energy has activated its Nuclear Incident Response Team and is monitoring the situation in which a nuclear plant caught fire after it was attacked by Russian forces.

She said so far there has been no elevated radiation readings near the facility.

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03:26 AM

'All of Europe' threatened by power plant shelling, says Johnson

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Russia's shelling of a nuclear power station in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia could "directly threaten the safety of all of Europe".

One of the power station's - the largest in Europe - six reactors caught fire after it was attacked by Russia. While the reactor is under renovation, according to the power plant's spokesman, it still contains nuclear fuel.

In an early morning phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Mr Johnson vowed to seek an emergency UN Security Council meeting in a bid for a ceasefire.

Downing Street called the situation in Zaporizhzhia "gravely concerning".

"Both leaders agreed that Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant," a spokeswoman for the PM's office said.

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03:14 AM

Russian tanks knew what they fired at when hitting plant, says Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Russian tanks had intentionally fired on the country’s major nuclear power facility in an attack that risked causing an accident of catastrophic proportions.

“Europe has to wake up [in the middle of the night]. The biggest European nuclear power plant is on fire. Right now, the Russian tanks are firing at the nuclear blocks. Those tanks have IR guidance systems, so they know what they fire at,” according to a translation tweeted by local journalist Victor Kovalenko.

“I am talking to Ukrainians, Europeans, anybody who knows the word Chernobyl, who knows how many deaths was caused by that explosion. It was a global catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of people had to diminish the aftermath of that incident.”

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02:53 AM

Biden joins Zelensky in denouncing attack on nuclear plant

US President Joe Biden joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area where a nuclear plant had been shot and was on fire, and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.

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02:29 AM

Safety of nuclear power plant now secured

Ukrainian authorities say the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured, AFP reports.

A fire broke out at the plant when it came under fire from Russian forces.

The director of the plant, Oleksandr Starukh, said "the nuclear safety is now guaranteed."

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02:22 AM

Only fourth power unit working at stricken plant

The third third power unit at the stricken nuclear power plant has been shut down with only the fourth working, reports local media.

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02:16 AM

In pictures: Anti-tank hedgehogs laid out in Kyiv

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02:07 AM

Power plant explosion could be ‘10 times larger than Chernobyl’

An explosion at the nuclear plant where a fire has broken out could be 10 times larger than Chernobyl, said Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs.

Firefighters have been prevented by Russian fire from putting out the blaze which erupted on Friday.

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01:30 AM

'No threat of radiation from power plant fire'

There is no threat of radiation spreading from the fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya, the plant's spokesperson has reportedly said.

The plant, which provides up to 25 per cent of the country's power generation, was struck by Russian bullets and rockets on Thursday, with elevated levels of radiation detected shortly after, according to officials.

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01:15 AM

Footage of fire at power plant

A video shared on social media appears to show CCTV footage of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia plant:

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01:14 AM

Today's top stories

• Vladimir Putin vowed to "seize the whole of Ukraine" and made clear that "the worst is yet to come" as he drew up plans to crush dissent in Russia by imposing martial law
• Putin insisted on Thursday that the invasion was "going strictly to schedule", despite claims from Ukrainian officials that 9,000 Russian soldiers have been killed
• There is increasing criticism of the war by influential Russians and businesses, including the country's second-biggest oil and gas company
• Putin told Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that he would achieve his military aims "whatever happens" and would continue fighting until "the end"
• Videos emerged of tearful Russian prisoners of war calling on their countrymen to rise up against Putin
• Putin could announce martial law in Russia at an extraordinary session of the Russian parliament on Friday
• The White House confirmed for the first time that it was sharing real-time intelligence with Ukraine
• In the UK, the Government announced sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov – a former shareholder in Arsenal FC – and Igor Shuvalov, a former deputy prime minister of Russia