Russian forces launched missile strikes on Ukraine s Kyiv and Chernihiv regions while Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, announced an operation to liberate occupied territory in the country s south.
Russian strikes come after pro-Kremlin separatists called on Moscow to 'liberate Russian cities founded by the Russian people'; Ukraine counteroffensive gaining momentum, UK says
Putin’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, declared to state media outlet, Ria Novosti, on Wednesday 20 July, that Russia’s war aims now go beyond the seizure of the east of Ukraine. On 23 July, in Cairo, he went further: Russia’s aim is to remove Ukraine’s government.