our political correspondent jack fenwick reports. he'd previously said he disliked the russian president but admired him as a political operator, and that the invasion of ukraine was a consequence of western expansion. the reform uk leader said he had predicted the war ten years ago. i stood up in the european parliament in 2014 and i said, and i quote, "there will be a war in ukraine." why did i say that? it was obvious to me that the ever—eastward expansion of nato and the european union was giving this man a reason, to his russian people, to say "they're coming for us again," and to go to war. home secretary james cleverly accused him of echoing putin's vile justification for the invasion, and there was criticism too from labour. the only aggressor in ukraine is vladimir putin, and it is shocking that nigel farage chooses to align himself with putin. he's become a putin apologist. mr farage said last night that putin was wrong to invade, the eu was wrong to expand eastwards, and "the sooner we realise this, the closer we will be to ending the war and delivering peace. " he was also challenged on his views around climate change. he said he wasn't arguing the science, but called the government's net—zero plans "mad," and he was asked about comments he once made about king charles. the king — i mean, he wasn't the king then — and i can't speak ill of the monarch, obviously! but he did used to say... you said he was stupid. he did used to say that carbon dioxide was a pollutant, which i thought was a very stupid comment. and it's the issue of the environment which is likely to dominate campaigning this morning. sir ed davey has put the state of britain's waterways front and centre of the lib dem campaign. today the party says it would protect chalk streams from environmental disaster, with tougher regulations on sewage dumping. labour are also talking about water cleanliness, with a pledge to introduce new powers that they say could make law—breaking water bosses face criminal charges. the conservatives said they'd already taken clear action to tackle the issue, with further investment and a quadrupling of inspections. jack fenwick, bbc news, westminster. all the main parties have come up until this point, supported the government's support for ukraine and their weapons and the funds that have been sent to volodymyr zelensky and as you say, a near universal condemnation for nigel farage�*s comments. james cleverly saying it was nigel farage echoing vladamir putin's vile justification for the intrusion into ukraine. when we asked the conservatives for a response, they pointed us to the former defence secretary who writes in the sun newspaper today saying nigel farage showing an unhealthy literature with the kremlin and branding him more chamberlain than a churchill. labour as well defending it. they said they were disgraceful comments and revealed the true face of nigel farage. we should say that late last march, nigel farage clarified his comments, he said he blames both russia for the invasion but also blamed the eu for expanding eastwards. it is been interesting because we have seen reform uk being a significant player in this general election campaign. one poll last night placed them even ahead of the conservatives and we should have all the usual caveats with that, it is just one poll, and most polls have them some distance behind the conservatives. but there is concern among tories about reform uk taking voters off them and it will be interesting to see over the next few days and weeks when polling comes out after these remarks, whether they have shown any tent in support for nigel farage and reform uk, which has been enjoying a bit of a honeymoon period so far in this election campaign. ukraine will be watching this narrative from the uk, which is a key ally. let's speak to our security correspondent, gordon corera who's in kyiv. what reaction has there been to nigel farage�*s comments? what reaction has there been to nigel farage's comments? there has not been any — nigel farage's comments? there has not been any official— nigel farage's comments? there has not been any official reaction - nigel farage's comments? there has not been any official reaction or - not been any official reaction or statement from authorities here to nigel farage's comments, although one source in the presidential office did tell the bbc that in their words, the virus of vladamir putin unfortunately affects people and can be even worse in its consequences than a comeback and that that virus needs to be nipped in the bud. you can hearfrom the tone of those comments, the weariness here, the sense that they have heard this before and they associate that kind of comment with the language of vladamir putin and of russia. the idea that somehow, it was ukraine and its allies which provoked russia, rather than ukraine having been subject to an unprovoked attack, first in 2014 and then a full skill invasion in 2022. so i think there is a weariness at having heard these comments and annoyance but not necessarily an on the record reaction from ukrainian officials. tell us more about the latest russian missiles that have been directed at ukraine.— russian missiles that have been directed at ukraine. yes, overnight, another barrage _ directed at ukraine. yes, overnight, another barrage of— directed at ukraine. yes, overnight, another barrage of russian - directed at ukraine. yes, overnight, another barrage of russian missiles| another barrage of russian missiles and drones, targeting ukraine four stopped 29 in all, 13 of the drones were shutdown but four of the missiles did get through and hit in the west and the south—east. in those cases, the target was clearly energy facilities and this is part of an ongoing russian campaign to target those critical energy facilities and power transmission. it is having some effects, there are already scheduled blackouts and parts of the country because of this long—running campaign in parts of the country because of this l0ng—running campaign in these parts of the country because of this long—running campaign in these new attacks have certainly done some damage and it looks like there will be some changes to those schedules. clear emphasis here in ukraine on both the need to protect those facilities and that requires more air defence, orair defence missiles, which have been promised but have been very much needed and work to repair those facilities but clearly i sense here that western support remains vital in order to protect ukraine from that ongoing russian campaign targeting energy vicinities. the harry potter author, jk rowling, has claimed the labour leader has abandoned women who are concerned about transgender rights. writing in the times, she said she would struggle to vote for sir keir starmer, calling his attitude on the issue "dismissive and often offensive". the party has not responded to her article. the conservative party says it will slash red tape for pubs, restaurants and music venues in the first 100 days if it was to win the election. plans include looking at licensing laws and planning restrictions in a bid to boost the night time economy. the snp leaderjohn swinney will visit the royal highland show and edinburgh where will he put the party on april visa pilot scheme to mitigate against severe labour shortages which it to brexit. and a veterinary agreement with the european union. much more on the uk election campaign throughout the day. the international committee of the red cross says its offices in gaza have been damaged by shelling, which killed 22 people who'd sought shelter around its compound. it said all parties had an obligation to take precautions to avoid harm to civilians and humanitarian facilities. the icrc did not say who had carried out the attacks, adding that it was the most recent incident to have endangered civilian lives. an israel defense forces spokesman told the bbc that initial inquiries suggested there was "no indication" that it had carried out a strike in the area but added that the incident was "under review". the raid comes as a simmering conflict between israel and the lebanese armed group his brother risks turning into a wider regional war. the two sides have exchanged fire across the lebanon—israel border in recent weeks. hezbollah says it is fighting israel to support hamas in gaza. israel's military said that operational plans for an offensive in lebanon had been "approved and validated". our middle east correspondent, lucy williamson, has been to the israeli side of the border this week, and has this report. more empties neighbourhoods. here on israel's northern border, many say or is also the way to get residents back. david has refused to leave. even when rockets landed right in front of his house a few weeks ago. shrapnel slicing through the walls, missing him by inches. it has made him even more determined to stay. every day, every night, bomber, problem, and i was born here. if you live here one night, he will go crazy. very, very strong problem. bombs, rockets. why? rockets hit this area every week. this slip past israel defences last friday, hitting a street outside the mayor's office. the us is pushing hard for a dipper magic solution here but the mayor says full—scale war is the only way out. translation: ,, ~' out. translation: ,, ~ ., ,, translation: sitting here like lambs to slau:hter, translation: sitting here like lambs to slaughter. just _ translation: sitting here like lambs to slaughter, just waiting _ translation: sitting here like lambs to slaughter, just waiting for - translation: sitting here like lambs to slaughter, just waiting for the - to slaughter, just waiting for the day they attack us like we saw in the south, it is unacceptable. everyone understands the choices between the work now or later. i don't think there is any country in the world that would accept daily firing against its citizens israel has been striking back across the border and talking up preparations for a full—scale offensive against his brother. his for a full-scale offensive against his brother-— for a full-scale offensive against his brother. , , ., ., , ., his brother. his brother has vowed that nowhere _ his brother. his brother has vowed that nowhere in _ his brother. his brother has vowed that nowhere in israel— his brother. his brother has vowed that nowhere in israel would - his brother. his brother has vowed that nowhere in israel would be i that nowhere in israel would be spared. tough talk is a part of both sides's deterrence but it can also spotlight the path to work. it looks like they shot it. tom was out when a rocket hit his house right on the border. ~ ., ., a rocket hit his house right on the border. ~ . ., ~ ., ., ., border. what a rocket can do to one house! everything _ border. what a rocket can do to one house! everything is _ border. what a rocket can do to one house! everything isjust _ border. what a rocket can do to one house! everything isjust ruined, - border. what a rocket can do to one house! everything isjust ruined, it. house! everything isjust ruined, it is crazy. he house! everything isjust ruined, it house! everything is 'ust ruined, it is cra . , house! everything is 'ust ruined, it iscra . �*, is crazy. he says israel's leadership _ is crazy. he says israel's leadership has _ is crazy. he says israel's leadership has failed. i is crazy. he says israel's. leadership has failed. the is crazy. he says israel's - leadership has failed. the biggest failure of our _ leadership has failed. the biggest failure of our army _ leadership has failed. the biggest failure of our army and _ leadership has failed. the biggest failure of our army and our- leadership has failed. the biggest | failure of our army and our country was not on the 7th of october, the day of the leaders.— was not on the 7th of october, the day of the leaders. there is growing ressure day of the leaders. there is growing pressure in — day of the leaders. there is growing pressure in israel— day of the leaders. there is growing pressure in israel for _ day of the leaders. there is growing pressure in israel for a _ day of the leaders. there is growing pressure in israel for a ceasefire - pressure in israel for a ceasefire in gaza. that would likely come tensions in the north as well. but israel's prime minister is keeping both conflicts going, mortgaged by his promise to far right government allies to destroy hamas before ending the gaza war. playing for time it is his specialty. but the longer this conflict goes on, the more it turns into playing with fire. renewed attacks on the conservative party's record when it comes to our waterways cosmic you are breaking up a little bit because we are on the move... we are breaking up and tom is breaking up. it is not going well, is it? this is what happens when you're on the move. we will try to get back to tom in a bit. plenty of correspondence are out on the campaign trail this weekend with the parties, looking at what they are focusing on. the liberal democrats working at how they would clean up the waterways of britain. labour also focusing on water quality this weekend. rescue teams searching for a british teenager missing in tenerife have been focusing on a ravine. 19—year—old jay slater hasn't been heard from since monday morning. no trace of him has been found, despite the use of drones, dogs and a helicopter. in his home town in lancashire, people have been tying blue ribbons, hoping for his safe return. this is the challenge they are facing, police are searching mountainous terrain, dipping down into the ravine, not far from where jay slater was last seen. watching on, concerned friends, anxiously waiting for news. and the weight continues back home and when you feel helpless, thousands of miles away, this is what you do, tight ribbons of hope.— away, this is what you do, tight ribbons of hope. there is not much obsolete we _ ribbons of hope. there is not much obsolete we can _ ribbons of hope. there is not much obsolete we can do _ ribbons of hope. there is not much obsolete we can do over _ ribbons of hope. there is not much obsolete we can do over here - ribbons of hope. there is not much j obsolete we can do over here while they are over there searching so obviouslyjust they are over there searching so obviously just the they are over there searching so obviouslyjust the blue ribbons to show the family that as a community, we are all thinking and praying for them. it we are all thinking and praying for them. , , , them. it is quite upsetting ifi never seen — them. it is quite upsetting ifi never seen him _ them. it is quite upsetting ifi never seen him again. - them. it is quite upsetting ifi never seen him again. it - them. it is quite upsetting ifi never seen him again. it hasl them. it is quite upsetting if i - never seen him again. it has been for five days _ never seen him again. it has been for five days now, _ never seen him again. it has been for five days now, which _ never seen him again. it has been for five days now, which is - never seen him again. it has been for five days now, which is a - never seen him again. it has been for five days now, which is a long| for five days now, which is a long time _ for five days now, which is a long time to— for five days now, which is a long time to he — for five days now, which is a long time to be lost. _ for five days now, which is a long time to be lost. but— for five days now, which is a long time to be lost.— time to be lost. but 'ust days before, time to be lost. but 'ust days before. jake h time to be lost. but 'ust days before, jake was _ time to be lost. but 'ust days before, jake was in h time to be lost. butjust days before, jake was in joining i time to be lost. butjust days| before, jake was in joining his before, jake was injoining his first holiday with friends they had been to this three—day meeting festival in the south of the island. in the early hours, he left in a car with two men he had met. he came here to a holiday home 40 minutes away in a national park. we spoke to away in a national park. we spoke to a neighbour who we understand was the last person to see him. she said he asked her about bus times and when she told him he would have to wait two hours, he walked away further into the mountains. the area around the holiday rental has been the focus of their search forjay slater, which is entering its sixj. and we can speak to our correspondent fiona trott in tenerife. talk to us more about what will be happening today. this search forj now entering its sixth day now. the search is now entering its sixth day now. tie: search is resuming this now entering its sixth day now. tt2 search is resuming this money in that mountainous area behind me. it is where the village is, the area where jay slater was last seen. that itself has raised so many questions about his disappearance. what was he doing there? who where those two men that he met at an after party in the early hours of monday, that he got into a car with an then drove 40 minutes to that village? this is adding to the anguish for friends and family who are trying to piece together these events. also, there have been questions about the police investigation, too. earlier this week we spoke to his friend, lucy, who said she wanted the police in britain to assist the spanish police with their investigation. we know that that offer of assistance came yesterday from lancashire police but the police here turned around and said, we believe we have the resources we need for this investigation. let us recap on what those resources are. the police have told us they have been working with a team of 16 firefighters, local police, mountain rescuers, using sniffer dogs, drones, helicopter, which you saw in that report, dipping down into the ravine and that area where he was last seen. let us go over his last known movements to try to understand what happened. at around, movements to try to understand what happened. ataround, in movements to try to understand what happened. at around, in the early hours of that monday morning, he met those two men, went to that village in the car. at about 7:30, he posted a photograph on his snapchat account, showing him at a property. we have spoken to neighbour who said she saw him at a bus stop and he was asking her about when the next bus would be. she said he would have to wait for two hours and at that point, he walked away and she said she saw him walking further into the mountains. we understand he then called his friend, lucy, and he said that he was going to have to start walking back to his accommodation, but that was a ten hour walk. lucy was telling us, she was fully worried about him, he had just shorts and t—shirt, no water or sunscreen. it is hot here at the moment, hot during the day, cold at night. when they had that conversation, suddenly his film cut out. a lot of concerns about the circumstances there, what he was doing there in the first place. he was meant to be home in lancashire this weekend. due to be flying back yesterday. instead his mother and father are here on the island, anxiously waiting for news. being supported by people back, as you saw. over £25,000 has been raised for the family which will give them some comfort and support. but of course, they are facing this harsh reality of everyday, waking up here, wondering where19—year—old reality of everyday, waking up here, wondering where 19—year—old jay slater is. let's get some of the day's other news now. a volunteer firefighter has died battling wildfires fanned by gale—force winds in southern greece. wildfires are common in greece but the authorities have warned of growing risks due to dry conditions, strong winds and temperatures reaching highs of 40 degrees celsius. several vil