Russian general killed in Moscow car bomb

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary
Episode: Russian General Killed in Moscow Car Bomb
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Host: Jackie Leonard, BBC World Service

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1. Senior Russian General Killed in Moscow Car Bomb

At the outset of the episode, host Jackie Leonard reports a significant development from Moscow. A high-ranking Russian general, Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a car bomb attack in a suburban area of the city.

Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia editor for BBC Monitoring, provides context:
“General Yaroslav Moskalik is a pretty senior figure. Back in 2015, he was involved in talks with Ukraine held in Paris. This morning, he was killed by a car bomb in an eastern suburb of Moscow.” (01:26)

While Ukraine denies involvement, accusations have been directed towards them by various parties. The incident underscores the escalating tensions within Russia.

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2. US Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for Peace Talks

Simultaneously, the US envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in Moscow engaging in discussions with President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Jackie Leonard highlights the complexities of these negotiations, noting that Donald Trump has suggested that a deal might be near completion. However, such an agreement is believed to require Ukraine ceding substantial territory.

Vitaly Shevchenko elaborates on Ukrainian responses:
“They did not go down well in Ukraine. Clearly what Mr. Klitschko said is very different from the Ukrainian government's official position. In fact, a deputy Ukrainian foreign minister said that no, Ukraine is not going to accept Russian annexation of any part of Ukraine.” (02:41)

Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv mentioned the possibility of territory concessions, which has been met with resistance from Ukrainian officials who emphasize their refusal to accept any territorial losses or military restrictions.

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3. Vatican Prepares for Pope Francis’s Funeral

Shifting focus to the Vatican, the podcast covers the final preparations for Pope Francis's funeral. Sarah Rainsford, Europe correspondent, visits one of the pope’s outreach projects, illustrating his legacy of supporting marginalized communities.

In her visit, she describes the transformation of a historic building into a shelter for the homeless, inspired by Pope Francis's vision:
“Pope Francis started his pontificate saying, how I wish a church poor and for the poor. In this place, which is a beautiful palace in the center of Rome, became a shelter for homeless, where 45 people live as a family.” (04:46)

Residents like Alberto express their gratitude for the shelter:
“Yeah, it’s a very good place.” (05:27)

The episode also touches on the emotional impact of the pope’s passing, reflecting on his efforts to shift the church’s focus from the elite to the vulnerable.

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4. Unique "Bone Collector" Caterpillar in Hawaii

The podcast delves into an intriguing natural phenomenon in Hawaii: the discovery of a rare caterpillar known as the "Bone Collector."

Sarah Rainsford introduces the subject:
“Hawaii is famed for its natural beauty. And it's also home to a remarkable carnivorous caterpillar that covers itself in dead insect body parts, which has earned it the name the Bone Collector.” (08:11)

Dan Rubinoff, an insect specialist, explains the caterpillar’s behavior:
“To avoid the spiders, we're pretty sure they have to be covered in this stuff. So the spider thinks that they're part of a past meal or actually part of its own shed skin.” (09:15)

This behavior not only serves as camouflage but also raises questions about its evolutionary advantages. Conservation efforts face challenges due to invasive species threatening this exceptionally rare species, with only 62 individuals observed over two decades.

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5. California's Economy Surpasses Japan's

The podcast highlights a significant economic milestone: Governor Gavin Newsom announces that California's GDP has surpassed Japan's, positioning it as the world's fourth-largest economy.

Mariko Oi, business correspondent in Singapore, attributes this growth to California's diverse economy:
“Jackie has the largest share of manufacturing and agricultural production in the United States. It's also home to, of course, Hollywood, the world's entertainment industry, also home to leading technological innovation, and also it's home to the country's two largest seaports.” (11:09)

However, the governor also criticizes former President Trump's tariffs, which he argues have negatively impacted the state’s economy:
“He became the first governor to file a lawsuit challenging Mr. Trump's authority to impose those tariffs, saying that he's very much concerned about the impact on the state economy.” (11:56)

The discussion also touches on Japan's economic challenges, including a rapidly aging and shrinking population, which poses significant hurdles despite stable corporate performance.

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6. Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Overcrowded Camps

A pressing humanitarian issue is addressed with a focus on Sudan. Noah Taylor from the Norwegian Refugee Council describes the dire conditions in the displacement camp of Tooela, North Darfur.

“Tooela right now is a small town in North Darfur. It is now sheltering somewhere between 130 and 150,000 people who have come from Al Fasha... There is very little in the way of food, there is very little in the way of water.” (14:15)

The Syrian civil war has exacerbated the crisis, leading to mass displacements. Efforts to provide aid are hindered by ongoing conflict and logistical challenges, as Noah Taylor explains:
“Sudan is a phenomenally difficult place to reach people. To get to Toowheela itself is a multi-day drive over incredibly rough terrain.” (16:07)

Will Ross, Africa Regional editor, adds context on the broader conflict:
“The war is... getting worse for the civilians living around El Fasure. This is a large city that's been home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have been displaced for years because of conflict going on in Darfur.” (17:57)

The United Nations faces funding shortfalls, jeopardizing food aid distribution at a critical time:
“The World Food Programme is facing a huge funding crisis... it's only received about a hundred million of that.” (19:25)

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7. Life in Lviv Amidst the War in Ukraine

Returning to Ukraine, the podcast explores daily life in Lviv, a city over 500km west of Kyiv, amidst the ongoing conflict.

Anna Foster captures the resilient spirit of Lviv’s residents:
“A school trip right here in the middle of the city of Lviv... they are so joyful and happy in a country that you never forget is at war.” (20:37)

Local volunteers are actively contributing to the war effort by producing camouflage nets:
“I make nets for military tanks for the Ukrainian front. This is very important support for Ukraine.” (21:17)

Andries Adobe, Mayor of Lviv, expresses hope for peace:
“It is a very tough time for Ukraine. But I think today in Ukraine we can better understand our future. I am optimist, but I am realist.” (23:00)

The segment underscores the juxtaposition of normalcy and the ever-present threat of conflict, highlighting the community's resilience and ongoing desire for a ceasefire.

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8. Heavy Metal Concert at York Minster

In a cultural twist, the podcast reports on an unconventional event at York Minster, an ancient British cathedral. A heavy metal concert featuring bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple is scheduled to take place inside the gothic structure.

Sarah Rainsford describes the event:
“The organist will be playing Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and some original songs by the band Plague of Angels.” (24:27)

Not all attendees are pleased, with some churchgoers decrying the event as an insult to their faith. However, the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, supports the initiative:
“I think it will bring in people who don't normally find themselves crossing the threshold of a church.” (24:45)

Mark Meinert, guitarist of Plague of Angels, emphasizes the unique fusion of metal music with traditional church acoustics:
“Everybody there will realize what an incredibly valuable creative joining of two worlds between the pipe organ of metal music.” (25:04)

The concert aims to attract a diverse audience, potentially inaugurating a new tradition for the historic venue.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast provides comprehensive coverage of significant global events, from high-stakes international diplomacy and tragic conflicts to unique cultural phenomena and environmental discoveries. Through expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of each story's complexities and implications.

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For more detailed coverage and future episodes, subscribe to the Global News Podcast through BBC World Service platforms.

Transcript

[Jackie Leonard]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Jackie Leonard. And at 13 hours GMT on Friday 25th April, these are our main stories. Russian officials have confirmed that one of the Kremlin's senior generals has been killed in a car bomb attack in a Moscow suburb. The US envoy, Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow for talks with President Putin on how to end the war in Ukraine. And aid workers in Sudan say people are dying of thirst and starvation after huge numbers were forced to flee the country's largest displacement camp. Also in this podcast, how a rare and remarkable caterpillar in Hawaii camouflages itself with bones and body parts.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

The spider thinks that they're part of a past meal or actually part of its own shed skin. And if they stop doing that, I think they would be removed from the gene pool pretty quickly.

[Sarah Rainsford]

Foreign.

[Jackie Leonard]

As we record this podcast, the US envoy Steve Witkoff is holding talks in Moscow with President Putin on how to end the war in Ukraine. Donald Trump has claimed that the two sides are close to reaching a deal, but this is thought to require Ukraine giving up large areas of territory. More on that in a moment. First, though, a senior Russian general has been killed in an explosion near his home in Moscow. The Russia editor for BBC monitoring is Vitaly Shevchenko.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

General Yaroslav Moskalik is a pretty senior figure. Back in 2015, he was involved in talks with Ukraine held in Paris. This morning, he was killed by a car bomb in an eastern suburb of Moscow. Ukraine never really accepts any involvement in such attacks, but a lot of fingers are pointing at in its direction.

[Jackie Leonard]

Well, meanwhile, the special envoy, Steve Witkoff is in Russia hoping to further peace talks. Now, the US Deal is thought to require Ukraine giving up territory. Let's hear from the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, because he told BBC in an interview that his country may indeed need to do that.

[Sarah Rainsford]

It's very difficult and it can be.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Very painful decision, but history already show many examples. For good example, east and West Germany after the Second World War.

[Noah Taylor]

Now Germany united.

[Will Ross]

It's cost a lot of time.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

It's not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace maybe can't be solution temporary.

[Jackie Leonard]

So Vitaly, what did you make of those comments?

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

They did not go down well in Ukraine. Clearly what Mr. Klitschko said is very different from the the Ukrainian government's official position. In fact, a deputy Ukrainian foreign minister said that no, Ukraine is not going to accept Russian annexation of any part of Ukraine. It's not going to accept any restrictions on its military. And the mayor of Kiev, Vitaliklitschko, he has sought to clarify his remarks. He said that, well, he was basically stating the obvious fact that a lot of people are talking about the scenario where Ukraine might be forced to give up territory. And he said that Ukraine and its European partners will need to make, and I quote, extraordinary efforts to stop that scenario from being implemented. And notably, Jackie, he did not mention US Partners. And as you said, the American envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in the Kremlin talking to Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin issued a video showing the start of that meeting where you can see Steve Witkoff beaming and Vladimir Putin greeting him in English. So it looked like the start of a very friendly meeting.

[Jackie Leonard]

That was Vitaly Shevchenko of BBC monitoring. The Vatican is making final preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis, which takes place on Saturday, as large numbers of people continue to file through St. Peter's Basilica to view his open coffin. During his 12 years as pope, Francis, Frances supported those on the fringes of society. Our Europe correspondent, Sarah Rainsford has been to visit one of the outreach projects that he created.

[Sarah Rainsford]

A few steps away from St. Peter's Square, I got a tour of a building with carved wooden ceilings and grand frescoes. A place that was about to be converted into an exclusive hotel until Pope Francis stepped in.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Pope Francis started his pontificate saying, how I wish a church poor and for the poor. In this place, which is a beautiful palace in the center of Rome, became a shelter for homeless, where 45 people live as in a family.

[Sarah Rainsford]

That's Massimiliano of the Sant'Egidio Community, which runs the home for people like Alberto. The 69 year old has twinkling brown eyes. He'd been sleeping rough for several years.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

My name is Alberto from Calabria, Italy.

[Sarah Rainsford]

And how long have you been living here?

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Four, five months? Yeah, it's a very good place.

[Sarah Rainsford]

You heard the news about Pope Francis? Of course. I feel very sorry because he died.

[Jackie Leonard]

Because he was a good pope.

[Sarah Rainsford]

The Argentinian was chosen as pope 12 years ago when the Church was in real crisis. The child sex abuse scandals and Vatican corruption were just two of the problems he had to face head on. Some argue he should, and he could have done more, but most agree he did change the focus of the church away from the elite to the marginalized.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

When Pope Francis in November 2019 inaugurated, he was smiling. He was sitting with the poor. I can't say he felt at home here.

[Sarah Rainsford]

Do you feel his loss? Quite deeply.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Many people is sad, feeling a lack of his voice because he talked about the poor, but also made many gestures of mercy for the poor.

[Sarah Rainsford]

You can see St. Peter's Square through the window and the giant queues that have formed there for days as people wait to file past the Pope's open coffin. But it's not elevated. It's on a level with the people Francis served.

[Jackie Leonard]

I just come here, just arrived.

[Sarah Rainsford]

But you changed all of your plans to be here to see the Pope. People like Madeleine, who tells me she rushed to Rome from a holiday in Iceland as soon as she heard the news. What is it about Francis that you remember that you like?

[Jackie Leonard]

He's a smile, his face very nice especially. I see he's a very simple person.

[Sarah Rainsford]

So at the Pope's funeral on Saturday, there will be refugees and migrants, as well as inmates from a juvenile prison he visited a few days before he died. Back at the hostel, a volunteer starts dinner with a prayer. Do you think that after Pope Francis, with a new Pope, not just this project, but this legacy, this attitude, this style of church will continue?

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

We hope so. Pope Francis made the revolution, putting the poor in the center of the church. I'm sure that heritage will be still alive in the next pontificate.

[Sarah Rainsford]

It is that change of culture that most of those we met have welcomed. Catholics from all over the world here to say their very personal goodbyes before the politicians and the powerful arrive for the Pope's funeral.

[Jackie Leonard]

Sarah Rainsford. From sandy beaches to dramatic waterfalls to active volcanoes, Hawaii is famed for its natural beauty. And it's also home to a remarkable carnivorous caterpillar that covers itself in dead insect body parts, which has earned it the name the Bone Collector. As Chantal Hartle reports, until now, you.

[Sarah Rainsford]

May have associated the Bone Collector with the crime novel and film of the same name, but it's taken on new meaning in the insect world. The bone collector caterpillar raids spiders webs, scavenging for weakened or dead insects that have been trapped there to avoid being eaten itself. It then creates a sort of camouflage, covering itself with the various body parts, the odd ant head, fly wing, and beetle bone on top of that. Researchers say it has been known to nibble at these insect remains to make sure they fit its own body. So what's behind this seemingly very macabre behavior? Dan Rubinoff is an insect specialist at the University of Hawaii.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

To avoid the spiders, we're pretty sure they have to be covered in this stuff. So the spider thinks that they're part of a past meal or actually part of its own shed skin. And if they stopped doing That I think they would be removed from the gene pool pretty quickly.

[Sarah Rainsford]

The bone collector is exceptionally rare, found only on a single mountainside on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. In more than two decades of observing these caterpillars, scientists have found just 62 of them. What's even more remarkable is that researchers believe these creatures have existed for at least 6 million years. That would make them far older than the Hawaiian Islands themselves. And scientists think there's a lot more they can learn from this unusual species.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

In the case of these caterpillars, maybe down the line, understanding the genomic basis of how insects see the world sense the world is going to be helpful for conserving them, but even more importantly, maybe for pest control. And we'll be able to spray non toxic things onto crops that prevent pest caterpillars from recognizing them as food. Wouldn't that be nice?

[Sarah Rainsford]

But time may be short for conservation efforts. While the bone collector has shown its adaptability, it's also threatened by large numbers of invasive species. Rubinoff says many, many endemic insects in Hawaii have already disappeared. Adding the bone collector could be one new species away from being obliterated.

[Jackie Leonard]

Chantal Hartle, if California were a country, it would now be the fourth largest economy in the world. That's according to the state governor Gavin Newsom. California is the most populous state in the U.S. and Mr. Newsom says its GDP is now more than $4 trillion and has surpassed Japan. The data means that only the U.S. china and Germany have larger economies. So what's driving the economy in California? A question for our business correspondent, Mariko Oi in Singapore, California.

[Mariko Oi]

Jackie has the largest share of manufacturing and agricultural production in the United States. It's also home to, of course, Hollywood, the world's entertainment industry, also home to leading technological innovation, and also it's home to the country's two largest seaports. So the economy has been doing very, very well. Though I have to say, a currency geek in me would like to point out that it is also about the, you know, the currency exchange rate between the US dollar and the Japanese yen. And the Japanese yen has been quite weak until very recently. So I'm not defending my home country's economy. You know, it has its challenges, but that probably benefited California's economy as well.

[Jackie Leonard]

Currency geek. Understood. So Gavin Newsom, though, also repeated his criticism of President Trump's tar tariffs. Tell us a bit more about what he had to say.

[Mariko Oi]

Well, he's not been a fan of tariffs at all. He became the first governor to file a lawsuit challenging Mr. Trump's authority to impose those tariffs, saying that he's very much concerned about the impact on the state economy, but also on the country's economy. Of course, we've been talking about these tariffs for, I can't remember now, several weeks now, back and forth, all the changes. And of course, the uncertainty hasn't been helping a lot of businesses either in the United States and elsewhere as well. So he, he has criticized Mr. Trump once again. And of course, Mr. Trump isn't a huge fan of Governor Newsom either, a prominent Democrat and potentially a presidential candidate in 2028. So both men obviously not liking each other's opinions on this matter.

[Jackie Leonard]

What is Japan's economy looking like at the moment?

[Mariko Oi]

Well, it's been doing okay. I mean, I'm talking about, you know, after three decades of very stagnant, basically meaning very little to no economic growth at all. The economy is doing okay, but at the same time, it does have a huge issue of demographic. So the population is fast aging. In fact, it has the world's fastest aging population in the world, but also it's shrinking very fast because not many women are having children. And as a result, the workforce is shrinking as well. So that as to the challenges for the Japanese government, because of course, the, the Social Security costs are ballooning. So all those challenges are weighing on the Japanese economy, even though companies have actually been doing quite okay.

[Jackie Leonard]

That was Mariko Oi in Singapore. Still to come, I think it will bring in people who don't normally find.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Themselves crossing the threshold of a church.

[Jackie Leonard]

Heavy metal music comes to an ancient British cathedral. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people fleeing the paramilitary RSF in Sudan have been arriving in the town of Tawila in North Darfur state. An aid agenc, the Norwegian Refugee Council, says the area has become overwhelmed. Sudan's civil war began two years ago, causing what's been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Norwegian Refugee Council's head of operations, Noah Taylor, spoke to James Koppnell about the situation in Tooeleh.

[Noah Taylor]

Tooela right now is a small town in North Darfur. It is now sheltering somewhere between 130 and 150,000 people who have come from Al Fasha, which is about 40 km down the road. And these people are arriving in Tooeleh with nothing. They are arriving with the clothes on their back and very little belongings. And in Tooeleh, they are setting up makeshift camps and settlements, sleeping in the open under little more than bedsheets propped up on sticks. There is very little in the way of food, there is very little in the way of water. And the aid response and the local authorities here are very overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and the sheer need that these people have.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

For the people coming from Zamzam camp, which is not far from El Fasha or indeed from El fha, these are areas where famine had already been declared. And these are people who then will have made a very difficult journey, often on foot. Quite a few of them, I suspect, will simply not have survived the journey to Tawila.

[Noah Taylor]

The stories we've been hearing are truly horrific. People dying of thirst on the way, people walking the 40 kilometer stretch only, only to die on arrival. We've heard stories there are still bodies along the road between Al Fasha and Tooeleh. This is a harrowing journey, but it is also a harrowing journey leaving horrific circumstances. We're hearing of people eating leaves, eating charcoal in Zamzam and in Al Fasha just to survive and then having to make that journey through blistering heat, harassed by armed actors all along the way, only to arrive in Tooela where there is very little to go around.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Is there much that you can do to provide support for people like you are describing?

[Noah Taylor]

We're doing everything we can. The aid community have pulled together here to provide what resources and what assistance we can. NRC has been able to support a number of volunteer community groups who are supporting the communities with food and water. There is limited medical services available and we are exploring every option we can to scale up this response to meet the need. But the resources and the funding available do not go nearly far enough.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Resources and funding are clearly one issue. What about the the difficulties involved in working in a conflict area. I don't necessarily need you to get into the politics of it, but with the RSF continuing its attacks on El Fahsha, with both the RSF and its its its rival, the Sudanese armed forces accused of stopping aid getting into difficult areas. There are challenges beyond simply funding, are there not to getting help to people?

[Noah Taylor]

Sudan is a phenomenally difficult place to reach people. To get to Toowheela itself is a. Is a multi day drive over incredibly rough terrain. And that is because the main road that actually connects Tawila and would connect Al Fasha to wait a Darfur and to trade routes is completely unsafe and unstable for aid workers and even for commercial trucks to use regularly. We've been calling for for free and open access to people in need and to date that just continues not to happen. So until there is access and free passage for relief efforts and protection of civilians, we will continue to see tragedies like this.

[Jackie Leonard]

That was Noah Taylor of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Well, for more context on the situation in Sudan, we heard from our Africa regional editor, Will Ross.

[Will Ross]

At this stage, more than two years into the war, the country, Sudan, is really divided. So across in the capital, Khartoum, which was recently taken by the army, there are calls for diplomats to return to their embassies. So a kind of attempt to get things back to normal. And people may be feeling that peace is coming. But in the west of the country where we've just been hearing about the Darfur, the vast Darfur region, the war is. It looks as though it's getting worse and it's certainly getting worse for the civilians living around El Fasure. This is a large city that's been home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have been displaced for years because of conflict going on in Darfur. And it's the last city that the rsf, this paramilitary force, doesn't control. So it's still in the hands of the army and its, its allied militias. But there's, in recent days, there's been this attempt, well, ongoing attempt by the RSF to capture El fa. And they've also pushed people out of the camps, Zamzam and Abu Shuk camps close to El Fasha. So their effort really is to get the people out and to gain control of these areas. And it seems they don't care what happens to the people and that's why they're going through such hardships.

[Jackie Leonard]

And even as all of this is going on, the United nations says it's reducing food aid to Sudan at a time when it's most needed. What's the background to that?

[Will Ross]

Yeah, well, the World Food Programme is facing a huge funding crisis at the moment. It's talking about needing about $800 million to get through to September, but it's only received about a hundred million of that. But for Sudan itself, it says it's already cut back the food that it's providing in some of the famine hit areas. And it's saying, you know, at the moment the rainy season is coming, it needs to get food in the right places. It's also saying that the conflict's escalating, the displacements are getting worse and they simply can't get the food to the people that need it. But on top of all that, of course, is the ongoing security crisis, which just means all these aid agencies can't get to where they need to be.

[Jackie Leonard]

That was our Africa Regional editor Will Ross. Well, let's return to the war in Ukraine. Life in a country at war is unpredictable. At times it can feel almost normal. And then, without warning, the illusion can be shattered. One place where you really see that contrast is the city of lviv, more than 500km west of KY. Anna Foster went there to see how conflict remakes the daily rhythm of a place that's.

[Sarah Rainsford]

A school trip right here in the middle of the city of Lviv. And the sun is beating down. They're underneath some trees, taking some shelter, and you can just hear how they're so joyful and happy in a country that you never forget is at war. Because just next to the little crowd, there's sign here and it's propped up against a lamp post in bright blues and yellows. And it says in English and Ukrainian. Actually, it says volunteer center, fabric cutting, weaving camouflage nets. They want people to. To go inside and to basically help with the war effort.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

I make nets for military tanks for the Ukrainian front. My name is Natalia. This is very important support for Ukraine. The front is very important. It's our defense against the enemy. Hello, I'm Marta.

[Mariko Oi]

I am a marketing manager and I live in Lviv.

[Sarah Rainsford]

I wish the war on our territory was stopped so that people would not die anymore. I wish we finally had peace. Perhaps it's more about someone's image in the world than actually helping. There are many talks, but it would be great to see some concrete results.

[Mariko Oi]

At least a ceasefire.

[Sarah Rainsford]

But it must be honored by both sides. We do honor it, but the aggressor doesn't. Despite sanctions and everything, everybody to a man and woman has come to a standstill. And a private ambulance which has in the front a photograph of a soldier in the front window. Still, every day bodies are brought back from the front line. And people here, they make a point, whenever that happens, of honoring those who've fallen even three years into the war.

[Will Ross]

My name Andries Adobe, Mayor of Lviv.

[Sarah Rainsford]

I was last in your city three years ago, not long after the invasion. It is a beautiful sunny day here. People are out in the streets. How are you and how are people now?

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Every day we have funeral ceremony in my city and every day I put flower to coffee. It is very tough time for Ukraine. But I think today in Ukraine we can better understand our future. I am optimist, but I am realist. We feel huge pressure from United States and I think together with Great Britain, we must come up with good idea about ceasefire. It is possible. Never give up, only victory.

[Jackie Leonard]

That report by Anna Foster in Lviv. York Minster is a majestic gothic cathedral in the north of England with a rich history stretching back more than a thousand years. It's not a place usually associated with heavy metal music. Tonight though, that will change. As Justine Green reports, York Minster is.

[Sarah Rainsford]

Often filled with the sound of Evensong.

[Jackie Leonard]

But tonight it will sound more like this.

[Sarah Rainsford]

The organist will be playing Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and some original songs by the band Plague of Angels. Not everyone's in favour. Some churchgoers have complained it's an outright.

[Jackie Leonard]

Insult to their faith.

[Sarah Rainsford]

But the sellout gig is going ahead and the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, is in favor.

[Jackie Leonard]

I think it will bring in people who don't normally find themselves crossing the.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Threshold of a church.

[Jackie Leonard]

I certainly think that attracting people into.

[Vitaly Shevchenko]

Places of worsh, whether it is for services or non liturgical events, I think.

[Jackie Leonard]

That is an important part of mission. The band's guitarist, Mark Meinert says people.

[Sarah Rainsford]

At the Minster are in for a treat. Everybody there will realize what an incredibly valuable creative joining of two worlds between the pipe organ of metal music.

[Will Ross]

They will have an incredible time and an incredible experience.

[Sarah Rainsford]

Tonight's metal gig could be the first of many for the grade one listed building.

[Jackie Leonard]

Our resident headbanger, Justine Green. And that's it from us for now. There will be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you would like to comment on this edition or the topics covered in it, do please send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on XBCWorldService. Just to use the hashtag globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Paul Mason. The producer was Vanessa Heaney. Our editor is Karen Martin. I'm Jackie Leonard and until next time, goodbye.