Widespread demonstrations have broken out since President Vladimir Putin announced plans to draft 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine. Meanwhile we hear from a soldier who has deserted from the Russian army.

Also on the programme; we examine the protests currently taking place in Iran. And voters in Italy are casting their ballots in national elections which could produce the country's first ever female Prime Minister.

(Picture: A protester is arrested by Russian authorities. Credit: Getty Images)

Increased numbers of Russians are continuing to leave the country since President Putin announced the partial mobilisation. The queue on the border between Georgia and Russia has grown ten kilometres long as men attempt to avoid the draft.

Also in the programme: another tragedy in the Mediterranean as more than 80 migrants drown off the coast of Syria; and the remarkable story of two women who survived a similar perilous journey.

(Picture: Finnish border guard next to cars queuing to enter Finland from Russia. Credit: Reuters)

Denounced as illegitimate and a sham by Ukraine and the West, these so-called votes are taking place over five days. An annexation could lead to a claim by Russia that its territory is coming under attack from Western weapons supplied to Ukraine.

Also in the programme: as protests spread across Iran, over the death of a young woman in police custody, an academic in Teheran tells us that the unrest is being whipped up by the country's enemies; and we talk to Bill Hamilton, agent and friend of British writer Hilary Mantel, who has died at the age of 70.

(Photo: A doctor attends a referendum at a polling station in Luhansk, Ukraine, 23 September 2022. Credit: EPA).

Ukrainians have been celebrating the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the war started. More than 200 Ukrainian captives have been released, in exchange for 55 Russians and a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician, Viktor Medvedchuk. We'll hear from the sister of one of the freed men.

Also in the programme: For a sixth day, Iranians are out in the streets protesting against the death of a young woman in police custody; and scientists say they have found a promising new treatment for some people with motor-neurone disease.

(Photo: More than 200 Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for 55 Russian troops, and politician Viktor Medvedchuk, last night. Credit: Reuters)

President Putin says military reservists are to be sent to Ukraine as part of a partial mobilisation of Russian forces. In a televised address to the nation, he said this was a necessary step to ensure Russian territorial integrity. We hear reaction from Ukraine and Germany. Also on the programme: how the normally sedate world of top-level chess has been turned upside down this week by an extraordinary spat between the world champion Magnus Carlsen and a young US player, Hans Niemann. (Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin makes an address, still image taken from video released September 21, 2022. Russian Presidential Press Service/Kremlin via REUTERS)

Russian- backed authorities in the occupied Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and city of Kherson say they'll hold what they're calling referendums on joining Russia, after Ukrainian counter- offensives recaptured large swathes of territory in the east.

Also in the programme: Pakistani health officials say a sharp increase in cases of water-borne diseases threatens a second disaster in flood-affected regions; and the man at the centre of the hit podcast Serial is released after 23 years behind bars, but could he face a retrial?

(Image: Russian leaders Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy head of Russia"s Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party (L), General Prosecutor Igor Krasnov (2-L) and presidential administration first deputy head Sergei Kirienko (C) meet the heads of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People"s Republic Leonid Pasechnik (3-R) and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People"s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin (R) ahead of a meeting in Luhansk, Ukraine, 11 August 2022 / Credit: EPA)