this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm samantha simmonds. ukraine says the expected large—scale russian offensive in the east of the country is under way. translation: no matter how many of the russian troops i are there, we will be fighting. we will defend ourselves and we will do everything that we must to keep what is ukrainian. over 200 children have been killed and many more injured during russia's invasion. we have a special report on the impact of the war on the next generation. a us federaljudge throws out the covid—19 mandate forcing people to wear a mask in public buildings or on public transport. and, as parliament returns, the british prime minister is expected to apologise to mps after he was fined for breaching covid rules at

downing street during lockdown. hello and welcome. ukraine says that russian forces have now embarked on the large—scale offensive in the east of the country that has been anticipated for the past week. in a televised address, the ukrainian leader, volodymyr zelensky, said the battle for the donbas region had begun, nearly two months after president vladimir putin launched his invasion. earlier, ukrainian officials said russian forces had tried to break through the front line across a wide area. mark lobel reports. this is what russia's major assault on ukraine's east looks like. airstrikes and heavy artillery pounding targets for hours on end. weapons have

already struck residential buildings, schools and hospitals. russian missile strikes killed two people in kharkhiv on monday, part of a shift of focus, after setbacks for russia around the ukraine capital. day 55 of this war and the secretary of the ukraine security council says russian troops are trying to break through the entire frontline of the don yet, luhansk and kharkhiv region. but ukrainian defiance that drove russian troops vaccine and the colour purple lives on. in ukraine says its enemy is trying to learn from previous translation: mistakes. fin learn from previous translation: mistakes. on the east and south _ translation: mistakes. on the east and south of _ translation: mistakes. on the east and south of our _ translation: mistakes. on the east and south of our country - east and south of our country the occupiers are trying to attack on a more lethal manner than before putting pressure looking for a weak spot in defence of our state. apparently russian generals accustomed to neglecting any losses have already killed so

many russia servicemen even they have to be more careful as there will be no—one left to attack. howeverthey there will be no—one left to attack. however they should not hope this will help them, it is only a matter of time when the whole territory of our state will be liberated.— will be liberated. military anal sts will be liberated. military analysts predict - will be liberated. military analysts predict this - will be liberated. military analysts predict this willl will be liberated. military l analysts predict this will be will be liberated. military - analysts predict this will be a climactic battle in this war. the russians have taken a lot of casualties, there is every reason _ of casualties, there is every reason to— of casualties, there is every reason to think the ukrainians could — reason to think the ukrainians could come out on top, nevertheless the russians have amassed — nevertheless the russians have amassed a great deal of firepower, we have been seeing that, _ firepower, we have been seeing that, amassed a great deal of armour, — that, amassed a great deal of armour, they have a powerful army. — armour, they have a powerful army. it's _ armour, they have a powerful army, it's going to be a terrible _ army, it's going to be a terrible fight. army, it's going to be a terrible fiuht. ~ ., terrible fight. meanwhile, in the besieged _ terrible fight. meanwhile, in the besieged port _ terrible fight. meanwhile, in the besieged port city - terrible fight. meanwhile, in the besieged port city of - the besieged port city of mariupol, russia has been accused of using so—called bunker busting bombs at this important steel plant to complete their takeover of the city. the heirs of italian

defending released this footage of women and children to take refuge there alongside an appeal to world leaders to secure a humanitarian corridor for them stop in this ukrainian military hospital, the human cost of defending against putin's war. nearly two months on, it's all taking its toll as the invasion enters its second phase with no endpoint insight. mark lobel, bbc news. let's speak to mikey kay, a former uk military strategic planner with an ma in war studies. hejoins us from milwaukee in wisconsin. thank you for being with us. as you have been hearing the war is in its second phase, we know it certainly hasn't gone the way of russia so far, they expected it to be open days we understand. president zelensky still insisting ukraine could win this, with all the military support they are getting from around the world is that

possible, what would a wind look like for ukraine? let me 'ust look like for ukraine? let me just unpack — look like for ukraine? let me just unpack that, _ look like for ukraine? let me just unpack that, a _ look like for ukraine? let me just unpack that, a lot - look like for ukraine? let me just unpack that, a lot of - look like for ukraine? let me just unpack that, a lot of the | just unpack that, a lot of the steaks have been made by russia in the first two months, the consequence of those mistakes have been the inability to claim in form of territory, and clear and hold that territory for a military advantage, clear and hold that territory fora military advantage, i.e. to leap frog from further into ukrainian territory, thatjust ukrainian territory, that just hasn't ukrainian territory, thatjust hasn't happened, that's been a surprise and lots of reasons for that, from an inability of russia to secure air superiority versus a lot of its armour getting bogged down at target asymmetrically by ukrainian forces, that is skimming the top of the military reasons why. this has had a major effect on morale, so the key strategy right now, is for putin to territorially

seize, with the flag metaphorically or physically in the sand and hold something, whether it's mariupol, mariupol is surrounded by russian forces at the moment but there is a small amount of ukrainian marines holding the centre and the port of mariupol, there will also be external foreign forces also assisting that effort, how long that can go on i'm not sure. to the north, kharkhiv has been the centre of some of the most fiercest fighting, so far, then you have the don base region, you can't get that the don base region has been contested since 2014, there is territory inside donbas, the separatists are in control of and there is territory inside don bass that ukrainians in control of, and the two major cities inside don bahs are the net and luhansk. i

think putin's strategic game right now is to either seize major territory inside don base, mariupol or kharkhiv. you mentioned _ base, mariupol or kharkhiv. you mentioned morale there we saw in the early stages of this war, some russian troops deserting and trying to go home, accidentally shooting down one of their own planes. what you think the atmosphere, the morale will be like within the morale will be like within the russian army now have a new general in charge as of the past week or so, and how important is it next stage? well, if you look at all the major forces well, if you look at all the majorforces inside russia, you have the land component, the army, thatjust has not gone well, whether its armour trying to get into gear, whether it's paratroopers and armour, light armour trying to seed kharkhiv. if you look at the air

component, complete failure of russian forces to establish any form of fear superiority and a big part of that is the stinger the important year defence system that flooded in from the west, from the us, the baltic states, that's been a huge part of disrupting and deterring russian airpower, so that's been a major effect on morale. we look at the maritime component and the mosque far, the ship sunk by two ukrainian neptune anti— shipping missiles, you know, that warship, the russian warship was a strategic asset, it has been targeting stereo with cruise missiles, there are lots of real, serious element of failure here that are contributing to that lack of morale. now, whether russians can capitalise on the bit is through the use of artillery,

we heard in the previous report russia are using artillery positions to pound areas within the don base region at the moment, and the reason for that is, overthe moment, and the reason for that is, over the two months they have learnt something, which is one of ukraine's forces weakest areas is the ability to target that artillery. now, normal thatartillery. now, normal circumstances ukraine would have jets that have air to ground bombs or cannons on, that can target that type of artillery, the artillery stand off so ukraine needs something to get within closing distance to get within closing distance to target that artilleryman. we can't do that with the javelin missiles because they can't get close to them. to use artillery, notjust to target positions that they think the ukraine military are using but also to, you know,

catastrophically target civilian infrastructure, we have seen a train stations and so forth, they are learning but very slowly and the ability for ukrainians to attack that artillery or the west to provide them to do that for me is the key point in preventing putin's next phase.— is the key point in preventing putin's next phase. mikey kay, thank you _ putin's next phase. mikey kay, thank you very _ putin's next phase. mikey kay, thank you very much _ putin's next phase. mikey kay, thank you very much for - putin's next phase. mikey kay, thank you very much for your l thank you very much for your analysis there. ukrainian authorities say that more than 205 children have been killed so far since russia invaded ukraine. however, the actual number of dead and wounded children is likely to be far higher as it's not possible to establish an accurate number while fighting continues. yogita limaye has been talking to families who have been caught up in the fighting and reports on the impact the war has been having ukraine's children. the worst moment of a parent's life. a father's final conversation with his boy. a community scattered by war,

together in grief. to honour the life of a child, they loved. this is the boy's grandmother. he was 13. a month ago he was killed in firing by russian soldiers, as his family tried to leave their village. remembered as a humble, help boy, who didn't like to fight. and who refused to play aggressive sport. one last time, his mother tended to her son before they took away. in moments like these, the senselessness of war is so

plain to see stop. translation: i won the world to know about the crimes of russia, i want every victim to be counted. russian soldiers had allowed us to leave. they even waved us goodbye. then when we were crossing the field they started firing at us from every direction. i rescued my younger son by crawling through the field with him, he's the reason i carry on. he field with him, he's the reason i carry om— i carry on. he is among 200 children _ i carry on. he is among 200 children known _ i carry on. he is among 200 children known to _ i carry on. he is among 200 children known to have - i carry on. he is among 200| children known to have been killed in ukraine, so far. the impact of war on the lives of ukraine's children is evident in the spaces they once occupied. two—thirds have been forced to leave their homes.

the school and birch near kyiv was used as a base by russian soldiers. hundreds of schools and colleges in ukraine have been damaged, many more are empty because people have fled. when you walk through classroom like this one, there are so many questions that come to mind. what must this place it looks like on any given week day before life was suddenly interrupted? who with the children that set here, did they survive, did their families survive? we followed the story of one student from bircher. elliott now lives in one room of a rundown government building in kyiv with his whole family. they managed to escape the fighting to a humanitarian corridor that had been opened in march. translation: it was so hard to

get through. we translation: it was so hard to get through-— get through. we were afraid a shell would _ get through. we were afraid a shell would hit _ get through. we were afraid a shell would hit us _ get through. we were afraid a shell would hit us at - get through. we were afraid a shell would hit us at any - shell would hit us at any moment, he said, even here i can't escape feeling war is still around us. i can't escape feeling war is still around us.— can't escape feeling war is still around us. i dream about m bit still around us. i dream about my bit family _ still around us. i dream about my bit family being _ still around us. i dream about my bit family being killed - still around us. i dream about my bit family being killed or. my bit family being killed or taken hostage by the russians. a breakout on cold sweat. these children have seen burning buildings, destroyed tanks, and corpses on their way to safety. valentina told us about the difficult conversations they have been forced to have. translation: i had to make them understand that they lived one like before where they had everything stop i have had to explain to them now that the time has come for them to grow up. children like lycee didn't have the chance to grow up. and it's far from over for

have the chance to grow up. and it's farfrom overforfamilies it's far from over for families in it's farfrom overforfamilies in ukraine stop. every day, thousands of young lives are at risk. yogita limaye, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: the mental health emergency among irish travellers suffering some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in europe. the stars and stripes at half—mast outside columbine high. the school sealed off. the bodies of the dead still inside. i never thought they would actually go through with it. choir sings one of the most successful- singer—songwriters of all time, the american pop star prince

has died at the age of 57. - ijust didn't believe it, he was just here on saturday. for millions of americans, the death of richard nixon in a new york hospital has meant conflicting emotions. a national day of mourning next wednesday sitting somehow uneasily with the abiding memories of the shame of watergate. and lift—off of the space shuttle discovery, with the huddle space telescope, our window on the universe. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: ukraine says the expected large—scale russian offensive in the east of the country is under way. in the united states, a federaljudge in florida has —— authorities in shanghai have reported the first covid deaths since 2020. official figures according show seven people died on monday. all are said to have had underlying health conditions. lockdowns remain in place

across parts of the city almost four weeks after they were first introduced. some residents are understood to have been taken to quarantine facilities with reports of food shortages in parts of shanghai. in the united states, a federaljudge in florida has voided a national mask mandate covering planes and other public transport, ruling that the covid—19 mitigation measure exceeds the authority of federal health officials. the mask mandate was recently extended by the cdc until may 3. here's our north america correspondent peter bowes. this is a mandate that has been in force sincejust afterjoe biden took office, february of last year. the number of new infections is rising, not huge numbers, but raising concern amongst health officials that this mandate as it applies to public transport

should at least be extended for a while to protect people and to prevent the further spread of the virus. she has decided that health officials overstepped their legal authority, their legal powers by introducing this mandate in the first place. so it comes to an end. the white house says it is disappointed. the official advice from health officials is that people should in fact continue to wear face coverings when using public transport, but significantly, the administration is saying now that this mandate will not be enforced. borisjohnson will face mps later today for the first time since he was fined for breaking lockdown rules. the prime minister is expected to apologise again when he addresses the commons this afternoon, but he will also urge politicians to focus on wider issues. here's our political

correspondent nick eardley. this won't be an easy return from the easter break for boris johnson. he will face mps later after being fined for breaking his own lockdown laws. more than 50 penalties have now been issued or parties in government buildings. the chancellor got one. so did the prime minister was mcguire. many are expecting more fines to come. in a statement in parliament later, mrjohnson is affected to apologise to mps. he is said to understand the strength of feeling about rule breaking in downing street, but he also wants to move on and focus on other issues like the war in ukraine and the cost of living squeeze. his critics say should be resigning for breaking the law. in manchester yesterday, different opinions among voters. i different opinions among voters. ~ different opinions among voters. ,, , ., , voters. i think it should be 'ust left voters. i think it should be just left now. _ voters. i think it should be just left now. i— voters. i think it should be just left now. i think, -

voters. i think it should be | just left now. i think, yeah, he has apologised, he said what he has apologised, he said what he needed to say. just get on with it. if he needed to say. just get on with it. ., , ., with it. if nothing gets done about these _ with it. if nothing gets done about these finds _ with it. if nothing gets done about these finds in - with it. if nothing gets done about these finds in the - with it. if nothing gets done i about these finds in the past, it isjust — about these finds in the past, it isjust going to keep on going _ it isjust going to keep on going until the next election. anything that can sweep it under— anything that can sweep it under the carpet would be good. if under the carpet would be good. if there — under the carpet would be good. if there are laws made for the uk, _ if there are laws made for the uk, i— if there are laws made for the uk, ifeel— if there are laws made for the uk, ifeellike_ if there are laws made for the uk, ifeel like it— if there are laws made for the uk, i feel like it should - if there are laws made for the uk, i feel like it should go- uk, i feel like it should go across— uk, i feel like it should go across the _ uk, i feel like it should go across the board. - uk, i feel like it should go across the board. it - uk, i feel like it should go| across the board. it should uk, i feel like it should go- across the board. it should be for the — across the board. it should be for the politicians _ across the board. it should be for the politicians as - across the board. it should be for the politicians as well. - for the politicians as well. the — for the politicians as well. the prime _ for the politicians as well. the prime minister- for the politicians as well. the prime minister is - for the politicians as well. j the prime minister is also facing claims he misled parliament with comments like this one. h0 parliament with comments like this one. ., , ., , this one. no party, no covid rules were — this one. no party, no covid rules were broken. _ this one. no party, no covid. rules were broken. opposition arties rules were broken. opposition parties want — rules were broken. opposition parties want to _ rules were broken. opposition parties want to investigate, i parties want to investigate, but downing street sources say mrjohnson also spoke in good faith and he has the backing of cabinet ministers. the faith and he has the backing of cabinet ministers.— cabinet ministers. the pm soken cabinet ministers. the pm spoken parliament, - cabinet ministers. the pm spoken parliament, he - cabinet ministers. the pm i spoken parliament, he didn't knowingly appreciate stepping into the room there was going to be something which breached

the rules given he had been in the rules given he had been in the room with exec with the same people for official meetings earlier in the day also it was wrong, he has apologised, he has accepted the penalty and we move on. the mood around _ penalty and we move on. the mood around miss _ penalty and we move on. the mood around miss minster has changed since rows over parties threatened borisjohnson's future. this time, only a view conservative mps have called for him to stand down. but there could do more things to come. the prime letter can't be certain where the story goes next. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. let's have all the latest sports news. hello. i'm gavin ramjaun. this is your update from the bbc sport centre. barcelona lost their second game in a row following their exit in the europa league last week. they lost at home to cadiz in la liga on monday night. lucas perez got the only goal of the game for the visitors shortly after half—time. it's their first ever win against barcelona at the camp nou. barca had their chances, but were denied by cadiz keeper jeremiah ledesma who made several important saves. it's a first defeat of 2022 for barca in la liga. they sit second, with cadiz

getting the valuable points in their battle to avoid relegation. translation: we are very angry. pla ers translation: we are very angry. players are _ translation: we are very angry. players are the — translation: we are very angry. players are the first _ translation: we are very angry. players are the first to _ translation: we are very angry. players are the first to be - players are the first to be angry and disappointed. we lost angry and disappointed. we lost a golden chance to give ourselves the difference from the rest of the team is wanting a champions league place and we are practically saying goodbye to the league. i am personally angry and disappointed. we have to play with much more desire. this is not enough. we have to do more. you to do more in defence and in attack. now to a massive napoli—roma derby del sud this monday, and roma equalised late on to earn a share of the spoils at the stadio san paulo. napoli were all set for the win when lorenzo insigne put them ahead with a first—half penalty. victory would have put them level with inter milan in second. but stephan el shaarawy�*s leveller in stoppage time saved the day forjose mourinho's side who stay fifth.

you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, gavin ramjaun, and the rest of the sport team, we'll see you next time. thank you to the sports team there. irish travellers suffer some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in europe according to eu research. members of the community say that's causing a mental health emergency. for at least the last decade, around 11% of deaths in the traveller community in ireland have been suicides. chris page has been hearing about the impact of the crisis. you may find parts of his report upsetting. she was my sister—in—law. she was 32 and she died of suicide. my was 32 and she died of suicide. my brotherjohn was 34. he died tjy my brotherjohn was 34. he died by suicide. aha, my brotherjohn was 34. he died by suicide-— by suicide. a rollcall of despair— by suicide. a rollcall of despair each _ by suicide. a rollcall of despair each name - by suicide. a rollcall of- despair each name bearing testament community fighting for its soul. mr; testament community fighting for its soul.— for its soul. my second little cousin, marlene, _ for its soul. my second little cousin, marlene, she - for its soul. my second little cousin, marlene, she is - for its soul. my second little cousin, marlene, she is 13. l for its soul. my second little i cousin, marlene, she is 13. she died from suicide. she

cousin, marlene, she is 13. she died from suicide.— died from suicide. she has witnessed _ died from suicide. she has witnessed generational i witnessed generational devastation. mental health crisis among island's travellers. more than one in ten take their own lives. teh ten take their own lives. ten ears ten take their own lives. ten years ago — ten take their own lives. ten years ago on _ ten take their own lives. ten years ago on second - ten take their own lives. ten years ago on second of ten take their own lives. té�*u years ago on second ofjanuary, i got a phone call to say my sister—in—law has committed suicide. two years after that, her husband committed suicide, which was my brother. and after that, nearly every month, 28 members of my family committed suicide. . , ._ suicide. travellers say their horrific suicide _ suicide. travellers say their horrific suicide rate - suicide. travellers say their horrific suicide rate is i suicide. travellers say their horrific suicide rate is a i horrific suicide rate is a consequence of being one of the most incriminated against an poorest ethnic groups in europe. they are pleading for society to care more about statistics like these. suicide rates are — statistics like these. suicide rates are seven _ statistics like these. suicide rates are seven times i statistics like these. suicide | rates are seven times higher than other travellers. only 3%

of us live past 65 years of age with 80% are unemployed and only 1% read third level education. if that was the statistics of any other community within ireland, there would be international attention.— attention. families in traditional _ attention. families in traditional holding i attention. families in i traditional holding locations often live in substandard accommodation. sometimes without basic utilities. they explain that preserving their home life on these sites is about protecting memories. we want about protecting memories. - want proper homes. about protecting memories. we i want proper homes. campaigners believe and _ want proper homes. campaigners believe and i _ want proper homes. campaigners believe and i traveller _ believe and i traveller sentiment is the last socially acceptable form of racism. the irish government says it has a wide range of policies to encourage inclusion. travellers are longing for the cycle of prejudice and poverty to be broken. chris page, bbc news.

that is it from me at the moment. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @samanthatvnews. i will be back shortly with all the day's top business stories. hello. for those of you who have extended your easter break into this week, there is some good weather news in that there'll be a lot of dry weather around. admittedly, there will be some showers, more especially during the next 24 hours, and as the week goes on, an increasing breeze will turn eastern areas that bit cooler. out there, though, to start tuesday, a bit of a chilly start as it is. a touch of frost in places, particularly southern scotland, across ireland and towards the borders of south—east wales and south—west midlands. a lot of cloud, though, across england to begin with, already producing one or two showers. a few lingering showers in the west from overnight. but through the day, the cloud starts to increase across parts of england into wales, showers become a bit more abundant, some of those becoming heavy and thundery. showers throughout the day in the highlands of scotland. and whilst the odd ones possibly in northern ireland, southern and eastern scotland, a lot of dry and sunny

weather to come here, and much more sunshine in east anglia and the south—east later. temperatures down on recent days, but at levels we should be this stage in mid—april. so, some showers then continue into the night, but notice how they're starting to track further westwards. a developing easterly breeze, most notable for england and wales. that could bring in some mist and low cloud toward some eastern coasts of northern england and east scotland, not only through the night, but into wednesday, where, again, we could start with a touch of frost in the north and the west. but for most on wednesday, actually a lot more sunshine around, away from those eastern coasts. a few showers dotted around in the west, but more of you will have a dry day. but with that east—to—south—easterly wind, you're going to notice temperatures along those coastal strips close to the north sea a good deal cooler than you've been used to, whereas, sheltered in the west, we're going to see temperatures climb up into the mid—teens, maybe high teens for one or two. so, a big east—west contrast, whereas across europe, it's a north—south contrast. who would've picked norway out for your easter break? 20 degrees in oslo on wednesday, compared to wet and windy conditions and rather cool conditions across eastern spain.

spanish costas not looking great over the next few days, due to this area of low pressure. as that pushes its way in towards the mediterranean, high pressure expands across the north atlantic, iceland and scandinavia. we're going to drag in more of an easterly wind for us here in the uk. it does mean a lot of sunshine around on thursday, a bit of cloud building up through the day. an isolated shower can't be ruled out, but most places will be dry. still that east—west split, though, as i mentioned, with temperature conditions, but as we go through into the end of the week and the weekend, it does look like whilst many in the north will stay dry, increasing chance of some showers spreading up from the south. take care.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. crisis after crisis — the world bank lowers its economic forecast for the year, blaming the pandemic and the conflict in ukraine for the slowdown. taking a bite out of apple — workers in new york want at least $30 an hour and announce plans to create the company's first labour union. and it's fashion revolution week — which is trying to change the image of the industry by telling some home truths. the

international monetary fund and world bank have warned the global economy faces lower