Twenty missiles fired at Ukraine; Russia wants to strengthen control of Donbass

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this morning that the Russian forces carried out missile strikes on targets in many regions of Ukraine, with the goal of destroying the transport infrastructure.
It is stated that the Russian forces carried out multiple missile strikes on targets in Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Odessa and Donetsk regions, Interfax Ukraine reports.

Belarus: Military exercises are not a threat to neighboring countries EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

The Belarusian Armed Forces began unannounced major military exercises on Wednesday to test their combat readiness, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated.
"The check (of combat readiness) is planned to include the movement of a significant number of military vehicles, which could slow down traffic on public roads," the ministry said in a statement. Given Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the ministry said the exercise did not pose a threat to neighboring countries or the European community in general.
Belarus is a close ally of Russia. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation."

Britain: Russia wants to strengthen control over Donbass

Russia has deployed 22 tactical battalions near Izyum in an attempt to advance along the northern part of Donbass, according to the British intelligence service.
Russia most likely intends to continue beyond Izyum to capture the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk, they added. This would "strengthen Russian military control over the northeastern Donbass," says the British Ministry of Defense.

Ukrainians pushed Russian forces 40 kilometers from Kharkov

The counteroffensive could set conditions for a broader operation to drive...