Commander has warned of heavy battles on the new front in the North East Region of kharkiv. The russian president Vladimir Putin says there are no plans to capture the countrys second city but said moscow was instead carving out a buffer zone. Moscow was instead carving out a bufferzone. Russian moscow was instead carving out a buffer zone. Russian forces have been advancing in the north east and fierce fighting has been taking place. The yellow on this map represent new gains claimed by russia. Our Defence Correspondent has been to the front line. From there he sent this special report. We are told to immediately head to a bunker. Taking shelter, recently arrived ukrainian reinforcements. A week ago, they were fighting elsewhere on the front. Andre tells me the story is dynamic and tense. From a drone feed, they are nervously watching and waiting for another attack. Nervously watching and waiting for anotherattack. He nervously watching and waiting for another attack. He says it is time to leave. Theyve just spotted enemy forces advancing. This is where they are directing Artillery Fire and are telling us to get out. They have said this area is under threat and we are going to go. At a Field Hospital further from the front, medics treating victor, he has lost his fingers mortar explosion. He explosion. He says he and his men were fending off wave after wave of russian attacks. They were outnumbered and also outgunned. They have everything, whatever they want and we have nothing to fight with. But we do what we can. Ukraine has been starved of ammunition but president zelensky says the shortage is now being addressed. At an Artillery Line outside of the town of vovchanks, they have received a batch of shells but they are soviet era. Ukraine isjust about holding the frontier and the Kharkiv Region by the russians have launched this fresh assault. But only by putting units like this from elsewhere on the front, in places where the russians had been advancing. These Guys Havejust where the russians had been advancing. These guys have just been given a new target. But they are frustrated, too. That the russians were so easily able to cross the border. ~. ,. , were so easily able to cross the border. ~ ,. , ,. , border. We could have built some sort of fortifications border. We could have built some sort of fortifications and border. We could have built some sort of fortifications and loss border. We could have built some sort of fortifications and loss less| sort of fortifications and loss less human lives, fewer villages. Now we will have to fight for it again. We will have to fight for it again. We will need to use more resources. We could have used lots of concrete and i will have you shells and people to take this land back. Kharkiv was fortified. But these defences were built well away from the border. Beyond the range of Russian Artillery. Too far to make a difference. Further east, with the russians are also gaining ground, ukraine is building more defences. A Recognition It may have to pull back here, too. But digging so close to russian lines dangerous and difficult. figs russian lines dangerous and difficult. � , russian lines dangerous and difficult. R. Russian lines dangerous and difficult. A. ,. , russian lines dangerous and difficult. � ,. ,. ,. , difficult. As we are about to find out. We difficult. As we are about to find out we are difficult. As we are about to find out. We are told difficult. As we are about to find out. We are told to difficult. As we are about to find out. We are told to take difficult. As we are about to find out. We are told to take cover. L asa as a Russian Armed drone hovers right above us, scanning for potential targets. There was palpable relief and it passes. This is a war in which it is getting harder to hide. Where the enemy is watching your every move. Jonathan beale, bbc news, kharkiv. Lets talk to a retired Chief Of Staff of the Us Marine Corps in europe where he worked with nato and ukraine. Good to have you with us. Before we chat, i want to play a clip we have had from the russian president putin who has been speaking on a trip to china today. Talking about russias intentions in that region, in and around kharkiv. Around kharkiv. Lets ust pray that. As for t around kharkiv. Lets ust pray that. As for what around kharkiv. Lets ust pray that. As for what is h around kharkiv. Letsjust pray that. As for what is happening j around kharkiv. Letsjust pray i that. As for what is happening in kharkiv, it is also ukraines fault because they shelled and unfortunate they continue selling residential areas of border territories. And i said publicly, if ukraines attacks continue, we will have to create a safety zone, a buffer zone. As for kharkiv, we currently do not have such plans to capture the city. So putin says he does not want to capture the city. What is your assessment about what is going on here and, crucially, the importance of that region. Here and, crucially, the importance of that region of that region. Well, the region is important of that region. Well, the region is important. And of that region. Well, the region is important. And really of that region. Well, the region is important. And really what of that region. Well, the region is important. And really what is important. And really what is happening is that the russians are trying happening is that the russians are trying to, happening is that the russians are trying to, for the first time in a long trying to, for the first time in a long while, trying to, for the first time in a long while, gain the initiative, get some long while, gain the initiative, get some momentum going. Where they are in control some momentum going. Where they are in control of some momentum going. Where they are in control of the situation, they are in in control of the situation, they are in ukraine because quite frankly, are in ukraine because quite frankly, the Ukrainian Military committee of the last 18 months or so, has committee of the last 18 months or so, has been in control. And in terms so, has been in control. And in terms of so, has been in control. And in terms of what he is talking about, not wanting to seize kharkiv itself, that is not wanting to seize kharkiv itself, that is a not wanting to seize kharkiv itself, that is a smart move on the russian mititarys that is a smart move on the russian militarys part because the last thing militarys part because the last thing they want to do is get caught up thing they want to do is get caught up in thing they want to do is get caught up in a thing they want to do is get caught up in a combat in urban terrain with a major, up in a combat in urban terrain with a major, major metropolitan area. We ust a major, major metropolitan area. We just suck a major, major metropolitan area. We just suck in a major, major metropolitan area. We just suck in those Russian Troops in two months just suck in those Russian Troops in two months of intense Street Combat and they two months of intense Street Combat and they dont want that. And there is a particular relevance about the timing is a particular relevance about the timing of is a particular relevance about the timing of this, of course, too, given timing of this, of course, too, given that timing of this, of course, too, given that we know that aid package in the given that we know that aid package in the Military Aid Package Deal that was in the Military Aid Package Deal that was finally signed off in the united that was finally signed off in the united states. Some of that money, some united states. Some of that money, some of united states. Some of that money, some of those munitions were now be arriving some of those munitions were now be arriving in some of those munitions were now be arriving in ukraine so talk to me about arriving in ukraine so talk to me about what arriving in ukraine so talk to me about what this tells us about the timing about what this tells us about the timing and what moscow is thinking about timing and what moscow is thinking about the timing and what moscow is thinking about the difference those weapons could make to the outcome of this war~ could make to the outcome of this war~ you could make to the outcome of this war. You know, moscow is worried about the war. You know, moscow is worried about the arrival of those munitions. Again, it is notjust what munitions. Again, it is notjust what the munitions. Again, it is notjust what the us congress appropriated, the us what the us congress appropriated, the Us Government is sending. Theres the Us Government is sending. Theres also the increased munitions that are theres also the increased munitions that are coming, literally, from almost that are coming, literally, from almost every country in Western Europe almost every country in Western Europe. Including a lot of the native europe. Including a lot of the native members. The russians are going native members. The russians are going to native members. The russians are going to suffer once the ukrainian start having a chance to rebuild their start having a chance to rebuild their logistics, get those ammunition dumps back, operating and starting ammunition dumps back, operating and starting to ammunition dumps back, operating and starting to return the volume of fire, starting to return the volume of fire, particularly Artillery Fire, at the fire, particularly Artillery Fire, at the russians now instead ofjust being at the russians now instead ofjust being on at the russians now instead ofjust being on the Receiving End of massive being on the Receiving End of massive Russian Artillery bombardment so the russians under a bit of a bombardment so the russians under a bit of a time bombardment so the russians under a bit of a time crunch here because that in bit of a time crunch here because that in these systems, these munitions, the musings in particular flowed munitions, the musings in particular flowed verv munitions, the musings in particular flowed very quickly, very easily over flowed very quickly, very easily over the flowed very quickly, very easily over the coming weeks. Some of the more over the coming weeks. Some of the more sophisticated weapon systems, we are more sophisticated weapon systems, we are looking months down the road before we are looking months down the road before they we are looking months down the road before they will make a difference on the before they will make a difference on the battlefield. On the battlefield. While you are with us, i want on the battlefield. While you are with us, i want to on the battlefield. While you are with us, i want to talk on the battlefield. While you are with us, i want to talk about on the battlefield. While you arel with us, i want to talk about what is happening on the ukrainian side that president zelensky of today designed to boost army recruitment. Prisoners will be allowed to join the military and also the fine for men who ignore the order to fight will also rise. What do you think that tells us about the difficulty of ukraine getting the right forces to the right place at the right time . They are clearly having challenges. They take on significant chat challenges, they have certainly use swell of paediatric further with the russian invasion, they have absorbed and lost, sadly, many of the volunteers that occurred way backin the volunteers that occurred way back in february or march two years ago. But taking prisoners out of prisons never harkens well for the military. You know, they are in prison for a reason. Mostly self discipline issues, violence, that type of thing. They dont make good soldiers at all. They become a challenge that units have to work with them so i am not sure that aspect of their new laws is the best decision but, again, im not the one making it. In terms ofjust getting buy in from the ukrainian population drafts can do that in both the us and the uk in the past have had to go to conscription and it results in people becoming more aware, becoming involved because the young men and women are serving in the armed forces and that is a prudent move on his part. The ukrainian governments part. So we willjust have to wait and see. We will. Always grateful your time and insight into this. Thank you very much. Really grateful for what you can tell us. Thank you. Thank you. Just a Line A Baking is coming into us. This is being reported in Russian Media. We dont have any other verification and confirmation of this at this stage but Russian Media reporting a blast at a Higher Education institute in st petersburg. That is the only line we have right now. We will speak to our correspondence on the ground and get the very latest butjust one line coming to us from Russian Media saying a blast has been reported. We dont know the scale or intensity but a blast reported at a Higher Education institute in st petersburg. More on that for you as we get it. But away from events in russia and ukraine that take you to the middle east because it is real� s army says the bodies of three hostages have been recovered from gaza. Israels Chief Spokesperson said the three people were killed in israel while escaping the hamas attack on the supernova Music Festival on the 7th of october. A hamas vented their bodies, he said, into gaza. In a separate development tonight the us military said aid for gaza delivered via a temporary peer now arrived online. The us began building the floating base weeks ago to help with the delivery of aid to 2 million palestinians. Egypt says deliveries would slow down after Israeli Forces took control of the gaza side of the Rafah Crossing Last week. Well, the key crossing which at this month by israel, decide four of its soldiers had been killed in a high hamas Rocket Attack the border. The best weekenders will be opened the western crossing in the north. Our Diplomatic Correspondent is paul adams. He is injerusalem. He explained some of the context to the recovery of those hostages, those three Hostage Bodies from gaza. The death three Hostage Bodies from gaza. Tue death was three Hostage Bodies from gaza. Tta death was confirmed at three Hostage Bodies from gaza. Tta death was confirmed at the three Hostage Bodies from gaza. Tta death was confirmed at the end of october. When a piece of her skull was found. And it was determined that she could not possibly have survived so that is not a shark although, clearly, for herfamily, it is important that the israeli army has been able to recover her body. The other two hostages, it was hoped were among the living. Of course, the difficulty that the Israeli Government has is that they just do not know precisely how many people are alive and how many are dead. A number of people believed to be alive is now around 90, with the fear that it could be fewer than that because, over the months, we have had bodies recovered, hostages rescued, and the numbers have, you know, waxed and waned. Theyve even been, people thought to be hostages were found at the scene of the attacks on october seven and so forth so it is a very difficult and imprecise business knowing exactly how many people remain alive on the gaza strip and for the families it is absolutely agonising because they led with the kind of awful nature of hope and fear about the fate of their loved ones and, at the moment, with Hostage Negotiations apparently going nowhere, this is exactly the kind of news that they fear most. Paul adams there injerusalem put up lets talk now to the Secretary General of doctors without borders. Gratefulfor Secretary General of doctors without borders. Grateful for you Secretary General of doctors without borders. Gratefulfor you being with us. Lets talk about the significant of that. A new aid route but it is by no means a real breakthrough, is it . It is still pretty slow. Its a pretty unwieldy and the amount of aid that can get into gaza through that route really is limited. Youre absolutely right. That route really is limited. Youre absolutely right. I that route really is limited. Youre absolutely right. I think that route really is limited. Youre absolutely right. I think what that route really is limited. Yourel absolutely right. I think what were risking here is that the pier and the focus on the pier becomes actually a glaring distraction from the reality on the ground, the reality of the ongoing indiscriminate violence of visual� s campaign in gaza. The punishing siege and the lack of assistance coming into gaza more generally sends the offensive and martha started a couple of weeks ago. Weve actually seen a significant reduction in supplies coming into gaza, you were mentioning, and the crossings are to all intents and purposes nonoperational at the moment. That is when we start to get into the challenges of moving aid into the challenges of moving aid into the challenges of moving aid into the gaza strip and treating patients over what were really seeing here is not a moment of celebration but an indicator or admission of failure to be able to provide a humanitarian assistance neededin provide a humanitarian assistance needed in gaza. find provide a humanitarian assistance needed in gaza. Provide a humanitarian assistance needed in gaza. And youve been in gaza recently needed in gaza. And youve been in gaza recently yourself, needed in gaza. And youve been in gaza recently yourself, havent needed in gaza. And youve been in| gaza recently yourself, havent you . I know you also spoke to the Un Security Council about that situation on the ground. We see images. We get a sense from people who are there about what life is like but what did you see whilst you were there . And what is most needed right now . Well, i was there in mid march so a couple of months ago. While i was there i spent most of the time, most of my time in rafah, in the south. And it is incredibly densely populated because the vast, huge proportion of the gals and population had fled that while i was there there are still people fleeing to the south from the fighting in the north. And there is, though, hundreds of thousands, one and a half Million People in the rafah area, there were, who were squeezed into this tight area and they were living on a daily basis of absolute fear of what is now happening with the offensive that is now happening and then in the hospitals you see in the middle area and in the indonesian rafah Field Hospital, and unfortunately we have had to cease activities there over the past few days but those hospitals, the winds that you see are multiple. Ive seen hundreds of wounded people, all desperate for their win is to be changed from going into surgery. Some of the winds, the dressings are so comprehensive that people need to be under General Anaesthetic to change their dressings and that is what you do see. What you dont see is the mental trauma that the population are facing from young kids to grandparents and the silent killings that are happening throughout gaza. It is in a systematic destruction of the health care system. We have seen people from diseases, increases in respiratory infections and so there is a lot that is very visible and very graphic and very horrendous and there is also an invisible set of deaths and an invisible set of trauma that is played in the population as well. Trauma that is played in the population as well. Thank you for talkin to population as well. Thank you for talking to ours. Population as well. Thank you for talking to ours. It population as well. Thank you for talking to ours. It is population as well. Thank you for talking to ours. It is really population as well. Thank you for talking to ours. It is really good l talking to ours. It is really good to get your insight having been there so recently. Doctors without borders. Thank you. Just to Line A Baking is to bring you as well this time coming to us from the united states. This relates to the man who attacked the husband of the former us House Of Representatives speaker nancy pelosi. Now, he was found guilty by a jury in san francisco. He has today been sentenced and he will be jailed. As you can see there, for 30 years. The attack on paul pelosi happened in october of last year and left mr pelosi in hospital for six days with a fractured skull amongst other serious injuries after being attacked by this man. In his home, with a hammer. He was attacked with a hammer on the 28th Of October Last year. Convicted of assault and attempted kidnapping of a federal official. So, as you can see, jailed for 30 years after that attack on Nancy Pelosis husband in october of last year. Still to come on The World Today, the team on the ground in afghanistan are speaking to people whose lives have been devastated by recent flooding. As one of the greatest mysteries finally been solved . How were the pyramids in egypt built . You are watching The World Today on bbc news. You are with the word today from bbc news. The number of confirmed cases of the bug in south devon have now more than doubled to a6. The Waterborne Parasite causes vomiting and diarrhoea and around 16,000 homes and businesses have been told to boil their water before using it. The boss of South West Water has apologised for the outbreak caused by contamination. Investigations continue around this reservoir in the affected area. Yesterday came the affected area. Yesterday came the news that the potential source of the outbreak had been found. A faulty air valve on a pipe possibly contaminated with animal waste in a nearby field. It is contaminated with animal waste in a nearby field nearby field. It is hard watching our nearby field. It is hard watching your children nearby field. It is hard watching your children in nearby field. It is hard watching your children in pain nearby field. It is hard watching your children in pain and nearby field. It is hard watching your children in pain and being | your children in pain and being poorly and there is nothing you can do about it. Poorly and there is nothing you can do about it do about it. People living close by sa the do about it. People living close by say they have do about it. People living close by say they have been do about it. People living close by say they have been very do about it. People living close by say they have been very ill. Do about it. People living close by say they have been very ill. This l say they have been very ill. This mums son ended up in a e recently. Yet sickness and diarrhoea, his sick had blood in it so then that is why iii had blood in it so then that is why 111 advised to go to a e. And he was overin 111 advised to go to a e. And he was over in a e they said he was really dehydrated, he had to stay in because he needed to go on iv because he needed to go on iv because every time he would take a sip of the water, it would come straight back up. Sip of the water, it would come straight back up. Residents here say the Water Company straight back up. Residents here say the Water Company took straight back up. Residents here say the Water Company took test straight back up. Residents here say. The Water Company took test samples from their supply on tuesday. T from their supply on tuesday. I think it is disgusting that they took samples from my neighbours and even said to them, 2a hours until we get the results and, yeah, two hours later they were mentioning on social media to spying to drink the water. And then clearly it wasnt. And then clearly it wasnt. South west water and then clearly it wasnt. South west water say and then clearly it wasnt. South west water say their and then clearly it wasnt. South west water say their monitoring | and then clearly it wasnt. South west water say their monitoring and found no issues initially but by the testing in the early hours of wednesday did find traces of the parasite and that is when they issued the boil water notice. So what is cryptosporidiosis . It is a Waterborne Parasite found in human and animal waste that causes illness in people and some animals. Infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, Stomach Pains and fever. Anyone can get infected and fever. Anyone can get infected and there is no effective drug treatment although most people recover within a month. South west water are ramping up their supplies of bottled water. They have set up this third Distribution Site this morning. That is after long queues at the other two in recent days. Customers can get £115 in compensation. This business as it has been hard hit with all that Weekend Bookings cancelled. Our business has been wiped out this weekend. We have no business. Weve got a vacancy sign up and no one in. Running expenses remain the same but got an empty bed and breakfast. That covid which were severely challenging. We recovered from that. Then we have had at the beginning of the season then we have had at the beginning of the season which has been diabolical because the season which has been diabolical because of the season which has been diabolical because of the weather, and now we have this because of the weather, and now we have this hitting us. Have this hitting us. South west water say they have this hitting us. South west water say they are have this hitting us. South west water say they are working have this hitting us. South west. Water say they are working round have this hitting us. South west water say they are working round the clock. The customers here face at least a week of disruption. Nearly a week after the deadly flash floods in north east afghanistan, people are still searching for the bodies of victims. The Northern Province is the worst affected. Around 300 people have been killed there and 2000 homes have been destroyed. The number of casualties is expected to rise further blood of the bbc spent a day in one of the worst affected villages, hearing incredible stories of survival. Including that of a child rescued from the flood waters. The ten Year Old Girl was floating on her back when she was spotted and saved by a teenager. Our there and sent us this report. Friday afternoon. The main street of the village is a raging torrent. On the roof, a family barely visible. Minutes later, the building collapses. Minutes later, the building collapses minutes later, the building collases. ~. , collapses. When the wall fell, i remember collapses. When the wall fell, i remember thinking, collapses. When the wall fell, i remember thinking, i collapses. When the wall fell, i remember thinking, i have collapses. When the wall fell, i remember thinking, i have lost| remember thinking, i have lost everything. We are all finished. I was hoping, oh god, please take my life so my problems will be over. He survived clinging to a tree. This ten year old daughter had disappeared downstream. A few kilometres away abdul showed me where he spotted her, called on the branches of an uprooted tree. His son pulled herfree. My branches of an uprooted tree. His son pulled her free. Branches of an uprooted tree. His son pulled her free. My father and mother said son pulled her free. My father and mother said dont son pulled her free. My father and mother said dont go son pulled her free. My father and mother said dont go there, son pulled her free. My father and mother said dont go there, you i son pulled her free. My father and i mother said dont go there, you will be taken mother said dont go there, you will be taken by mother said dont go there, you will be taken by the flood. But my heart felt for be taken by the flood. But my heart felt for her~ be taken by the flood. But my heart felt for her. There was a feeling i had in felt for her. There was a feeling i had in myself that i can do it. I took had in myself that i can do it. I took my had in myself that i can do it. I took my back and take otto to our house took my back and take otto to our house. Most parts of her body were injured house. Most parts of her body were inured. ,. ~ , house. Most parts of her body were inured. ,. , ,. , injured. Shaken, muddy but alive. She is now injured. Shaken, muddy but alive. She is now recovering injured. Shaken, muddy but alive. She is now recovering at injured. Shaken, muddy but alive. She is now recovering at a she is now recovering at a relatives house with no home yet to return to. This is the first time her father has seen the family that saved her. Would you like to meet him . How do you feel now meeting the people who saved your daughters life . T people who saved your daughters life . ,. , �. , life . I thought i dont have anything life . I thought i dont have anything if life . I thought i dont have anything if i life . I thought i dont have anything. Ifi give life . I thought i dont have anything. If i give them. Life . I thought i dont have| anything. If i give them the life . I thought i dont have anything. If i give them the whole world to come it wont equal what they did for us. They did for us. One corner of one villaae. They did for us. One corner of one village those they did for us. One corner of one village. Those who they did for us. One corner of one village. Those who did they did for us. One corner of one village. Those who did what they did for us. One corner of one village. Those who did what they l village. Those who did what they could to save others from the waters. Caroline davies, bbc news. More on those stories on the website. Stay with us, the headlines are coming up next. Hello. Friday started off fairly misty and murky, but through the day things brightened up. Weve had a bit of high cloud, meaning the sunshine has been hazy in places, but plenty of blue sky, this was the picture in staffordshire a little bit earlier on and actually through the weekend the weather isnt going to be changing very much. So weve still got spells of warm sunshine, a few showers, but we wont all see them and some mist and some fog patches, too, through this evening and tonight well see some of that mist and low cloud and fog around some of these north sea coasts, eastern england, Eastern Scotland, also quite cloudy for the western isles, perhaps parts of northern ireland, too. And further south across england, some patchy rain moving in through the night as well. But we start saturday on that mild theme, but we have got quite a bit of mist, and murk around. So weve got low pressure thats sitting across the near continent. A couple of areas of low pressure here, in fact, but its High Pressure across the atlantic thats going to be really dominating the weather, i think, for the next few days. So this is how saturday starts. Then weve got that sea fog around some of these coastal areas that should burn back through the day, one or two showers. And actually across wales, perhaps south west of england, north west england, south west scotland, they could be heavy and thundery at times, but then we hit miss so we wont all see them. And top temperatures similar to recent days, 20 23 degrees for many of us, perhaps a touch cooler if you do keep hold of that low cloud a little bit longer for North East England and Eastern Scotland as well. Now heading through saturday night. Now, when we see the mist and fog reforming again, sea fog once again piling in for the likes of the murray firth North East England as well. And temperatures remaining on the mild side, frost free, certainly heading on into sunday morning. So sunday, a very similar sort of day really again, predominantly dry and morning mist and fog which will slowly break up and burn back towards the coast. Well perhaps hold on to a little bit more in the way of cloud across northern parts of scotland with one or two showers and the chance of the odd Shower Cropping Up further south across england and wales, perhaps one or two into northern ireland. But the vast majority actually looking dry, 21 22 degrees in the warmest spots, a little bit cooler around some of those east coasts, again. And moving through into monday, weve got low pressure trying to move in from the atlantic, but also from the near continent as well. And theres more of a chance that thats going to bring some rain from tuesday into wednesday. So i think a little bit more unsettled through the middle of next week. And then a hint that things turn a little drier and warmer again towards the end of the week. Bye bye. This is bbc news, the headlines. Were on the front line in ukraine where its military says heavy battles are looming. Russia pushes ahead with its assault near kharkiv. President zelenskyy has passed to new laws including asking prisoners to fight. The Israeli Military says its recovered the bodies of three hostages it says were they were killed while escaping a Music Festival on october the 7th. To sudan where the governor of darfur is urging civilians to take up arms to defend themselves amid the ongoing war. And the first guidance for the vatican in a0 years on the reporting of apparitions and supernatural phenomena