(AP) — Russian forces have launched massive missile strikes on the Kyiv and the Chernihiv regions, areas that haven’t been targeted in weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials announced an operation to liberate an occupied region in the country’s south. Russian troops withdrew from the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions months ago, failing to capture either. The renewed strikes on the areas come a day after the leader of pro-Kremlin separatists in the east publicly called on the Russian forces to “liberate” a number of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Chernihiv. Also on Thursday, Ukrainian media quoted Ukraine’s presidential adviser as saying that Ukraine’s operation to liberate the occupied southern region of Kherson “has already begun.”

Source: ABC News July 28, 2022 17:46 UTC