Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported that Ukrainian forces "are within striking distance of the next series of prepared Russian defensive positions" in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
united states, canada, and all around the world. i m kim brunhuber. i want to get to our breaking news this hour out of russia. vladimir putin is issuing a blunt warning to wagner mercenaries following their pushback in southwestern russia. he said the mercenaries backstabbed the country with what he called an armed rebellion and made it clear their move will be punished sand said russia is facing what he described as an existential battle. translator: i address the citizens of russia and those fighting in their combat positions to repel enemy attacks. they re doing so heroically knowing that i spoke to the commanders in all directions tonight. i also appeal to those who have been led by the threats into this criminal adventure and pushed into the path of the severe crime of armed insurrection.
possible invasion of ukraine. russia said today it s pulling back some troops from the ukraine border and at a press conference, president vladimir putin said that he does not want war. nato s secretary general says there are no signs of russian de-escalation on the ground, despite the kremlin s claims. new satellite images show dozens of russian helicopters positioned in the past few days at a previously unused air base in crimea. and cnn has learned that some russian units have moved into combat positions. president biden will address the growing crisis next hour. let s bring in cnn s erin burnett, live for us in lviv, ukraine, west of the capital. let s start with this apparent cyberattack that hit the defense ministry and one of the largest commercial banks. do we have any idea who s behind it? reporter: we know it appears to be there was an attack and it came back online, went back offline now as victor said,
believe it when we see it. conflicting signals as the pentagon warns that russia has, in fact, increased its military capability near the ukrainian border over just the last 24 to 48 hours, could invade in the pentagon s view with little or no warning. i m told some russian units moved into combat positions and the u.s. is on alert today for a possible russian false flag event. we do begin this morning with cnn senior international correspondent matthew chance. he s here with me in kyiv. we also have cnn senior national security correspondent alex marquardt in zaporizia in the southern part of the country. you followed and covered russia in years, lived in russia and vladimir putin often sending conflicting signals. often don t tell the truth but claiming to be reducing forces and open to diplomacy. what signs do we have that s
russian announcement with some skepticism. in effect saying, we want to see it to believe it. i will tell you this as well, that the most recent u.s. intelligence assessment as of last night was that russian forces were moving forward, not back into combat positions and they now have 105 known as baal yan tactical groups, a russian combat unit with all the capabilities necessary to wage war from armor to infinity to intelligence units. so, it is still a highly-capable force along that border and the most recent u.s. intelligence assessment this gives putin the option to invade any time he gives that order. he has not yet given that order. we ll continue to watch for evidence of what russia is claiming in the south and the east. so are you saying, jim, that we should be cautious about this assessment on where troop movements are because it seems a