Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

The last of England's COVID restrictions have been lifted this week, and much of the

rich world may be heading in that direction. We look at the calculations governments are

making and ask whether or not they're moving too soon.

And lots of people like to dismiss romantic comedies, but box office and streaming numbers

show there's ravenous appetite for them. A new book picks the genre apart, showing them

to be more than just heartwarming fluff, they're a cultural force.

They're just up though.

The war in Ukraine has entered its second day, and there are casualties on both sides of

the conflict. In one exchange, a Russian warship approached the tiny snake island in the

Black Sea and demanded repeatedly that the Ukrainian soldiers guarding it surrender.

In response, one of those soldiers told the Russian vessel to quote, go fuck yourself.

Shortly after, the promised Russian bombardment came, and all 13 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.

The defiance was matched yesterday by Oksana Markorova, the Ukrainian ambassador to America.

The combat spirit of Ukrainian military is high. We are fighting, we will be fighting,

we are protecting our home, and we will not stop.

President Vladimir Zelensky has commended what he called the heroic Ukrainian defense. But

while this is no walkover, Russian forces have made rapid gains. The Ukrainian government

has confirmed that Russian troops have breached the northern outskirts of Kiev, with armored

vehicles advancing towards the heart of the capital. In a video address, Mr. Zelensky made

a direct appeal to the Russian people to call off the invasion.

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