designation reserved only for north korea, iran, cuba, and syria until now. it would be a significant development and a sea change in relations between two superpowers if that were to happen. we will take that to a key administration official in just a moment. meanwhile, a new phase of this ruthless invasion has begun. president volodymyr zelenskyy announced to his nation tonight that russian forces have started the long-expected and expanded battle for donbas in the east of this country. he told cnn friday what happens in donbas could then set the course for the rest of the war. russia has completed regrouping troops for this new major offensive, according to ukrainian officials. and although the fiercest battles are in the east and south, lviv here in the west, got hit by at least four different missile strikes today. you can see some video of one of those missiles as they streaked across the sky. watch how fast it goes. we ll have more in just a moment. laura also has br
focused on that offensioffensiv. no matter how many russian servicemen they re bringing in that area, we will continue fighting and defending, and we will be doing this daily. plus airstrikes hitting western ukraine, causing the first wartime deaths inside the city of lviv since putin s invasion. at least several people killed, several more injured. here in the u.s., confusion at airports tonight after the cdc s mask mandate for travelers was struck down by a federal judge. we ll break down what it means for your next flight. first i want to begin with cnn s matt rivers for the latest western attack in the russian city of lviv. lviv has largely been spared the horrors of this war which made the black smoke in monday s skies so unusual here. we chased one such plume until we arrived at its source, flames shooting out of two buildings as firefighters rained water down from above. ukranian officials say at least four missile strikes across lviv on monday morning, three of
be underway with a surge in fighting across the frontline, which stretches hundreds of mys. and i am rosemary church. live at cnn headquarters in atlanta. a controversial ruling changing the way americans travel, effect live immediately, masks no longer mandated on planes, trains, and public transportation. for weeks, ukrainian, u.s., nato officials, have all warned the russians were preparing for a new military offensive in the east. according to ukraine top security official, a 300-mile long came under attack by russian forces monday. for the most part, defensive 11 added in the last few days. each consists of 800 russian troops, which means tens of thoidss deployed to the region but ukraine s president says despite being outnumbered, despite approximating outgunned, his country will not give up without a fight. translator: russian forces have started the battle for donbas for which they have been preparing for a long time, and a considerable amount of the russian for
soldiers concerned this will be a secondary strikes. russia can pick and choose where they try and force brakethrough. russia more than just launching an invaegs, more than launching a war, is undertaking a campaign of terror. this is how the russians live and that evidence suggests their existence here is neither disciplined. we will keep fighting and defending. we will be doing this daily announcer: this is cnn breaking news. the battle for the donbas region now appears to be underway. ukraine s top security official said they attacked along the eastern front lines on monday in kharkiv, donetsk and luhansk. for the most part those towns held . russian forces have been regrouping in southern and eastern ukraine. they say it looks like russia is trying to learn from earlier failures in the north and the pentagon believes russia has now deployed thousands of additional troops to the reasoning gone. nkts we do believe that they have reinforced the number of ba tall
which airlines are now saying is mask-optional. for weeks, ukrainian, u.s., nato officials have all warned the russians were preparing for a renewed military offensive in the east. now it seems the battle for the donbas region has begun. according to ukraine s top security official, a 300-mile-long front line, almost 500 kilometers, came under attack by russian forces monday, and for the most part, that defensive line held. the pentagon now believes 76 russian battalion tactical groups have been deployed in the south and the east. 11 added in the last few days alone. each btg consists of up to 800 troops. that means tens of thousands of russian soldiers. but ukraine s president says despite being outnumbered and outgunned, his country will not give up without a fight. translator: no matter how many russian servicemen they re bringing in, into that area, we will keep on fighting and defending, and we will be doing this daily. it s not just eastern ukraine being targeted.