Sheffield's Dan Walker forced to apologise after Ukrainian singer swears on live TV

He issued his apology in response to singer Maria Burmaka’s emotional interview in which she said: “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.”

The musician, who has been putting a speaker up to the window of her apartment and singing the Ukrainian national anthem in the heart of Kyiv amid the Russian invasion of her country, said: “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.”

Burmaka added: “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.”

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.”

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TV presenter Dam had to quickly 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.”