"Putin Escalates Offensive: Deadly Missile Barrage Strikes Kyiv and Kharkiv"

Russian missiles struck Ukraine's major cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread damage after President Putin promised to intensify attacks. Ukrainian forces retaliated with an attack on Belgorod, Russia. Despite the ongoing conflict and heavy assaults, Ukrainian President Zelensky refuted Putin's claims of Russian victory, citing the inability of Russian forces to capture any large Ukrainian city in 2023 and expressing frustration with the waning urgency from Western allies.