Russian forces are advancing in all tactical directions in Ukraine and have taken control of 28 settlements this month, Russia's defence minister said on Friday, saying Moscow would press ahead with what it calls its special military operation. Speaking at a meeting of regional defence ministers in Kazakhstan, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Russian forces had captured a total area of 880 square kilometres (339 square miles) so far this year and had forced Ukrainian troops to fall back by eight to nine kilometres in key areas in the northeast Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday hailed a US decision to partially lift restrictions on using US-donated weapons to strike inside Russia as a "step forward".
Russia Says Its Forces Are Advancing in All Tactical Directions in Ukraine usnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from usnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.