This is the Guardian.

Today, Vladimir Putin believed there was no such thing as a united Ukraine.

How the Russian leader helped to create one.

The Russian leader

Every day, Russian tanks and artillery get closer to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

Kiev this morning is staring down the barrel of a Russian assault column that's reportedly up to 40 miles long.

Satellite images confirm it's big, deadly and dangerous and that it's heading toward the capital of 3 million people.

At the same time, another flank of Russian forces is sweeping across the country south.

An occupying force now in total control of a Ukrainian city.

Russian military vehicles rumble through the neighborhoods, its troops patrol the deserted streets.

Its goal is clear to cut Ukraine off from its coastline and turn it into a landlocked country.

With a key artery of the Ukrainian economy, its ports in enemy hands.

Many Ukrainians living along this southern front in cities like Odessa traditionally speak Russian, with family ties and a culture that spans the two countries borders.

The jewel in the crown of southern Ukraine, that's Odessa.

And Odessa is a city with really long links with Russia, family links, cultural links, literary links.

It's a place that Vladimir Putin has personally talked about when he was giving his angry speech.

A really important place for the Russians.

These are some of the Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin claims he was saving from what he called genocide.

The ones he believed would welcome his forces as liberators. He was badly wrong.

From the Guardian, a Michael Safi.

Today in focus, from north to south, how Vladimir Putin's invasion brought a divided country together against it and what it means for the battle ahead.

Before we start, a heads up. This episode contains some swearing.

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