Dan Walker had to apologise to BBC Breakfast viewers after a Ukrainian singer's sweary "F**k you" message to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The presenter said sorry after Maria Burmaka swore live on air while delivering a message of defiance to Putin following his invasion of Ukraine.
Maria appeared on the show to talk about how she has been trying to keep people's spirits up by singing the Ukrainian national anthem out the window of her apartment in the heart of Kyiv.
She said on this morning's show: "The Ukrainian anthem is very important for all Ukrainians and I’m a musician and I decided to take my amplifier and open the window and sing to the districts.
"My building is on one of the hills and all districts hear this anthem."
She told how she could see Russian forces bombing the Holocaust memorial in the city from her window and how she has been taking shelter in the parking garage underneath her building, something she described as "cold and scary".
Maria went on: "I cry and don’t want anybody to see that I cry because I have to be strong, but this is fascism.
"I ask all overlords to help us and support us, you have to know what horror is here."
When asked if she was tempted to flee Ukraine, she said: "I am staying here now, I want to stay here, many people go out of Ukraine but…I will not run from my native city, this is my home and I want to be here in the heart of Kyiv and sing for my people and maybe I will sing my national anthem again from this window."
She continued: "I want to say to Putin, you’re a murderer, you’re an aggressor, Ukraine was never against Russia.
"Like our soldiers say, 'F*** you'."
Dan swiftly interrupted her to say: "I really understand the depth of feeling but I have to apologise to our viewers for the language there."
He added: "Apologies for the language there but I’m sure watching this morning you understand how strong Maria’s feelings are and so many people in Ukraine trying to defend themselves and protect their families and look after their country."
He later tweeted: "What a treat to talk to Maria Burmaka on #BBCBreakfast live from Kyiv this morning.
"I had to apologise for the language at the end but that doesn’t mean you can’t empathise and understand the depth of feeling and I think 99% of people get that. Thank you for all the messages."
