Happening now breaking news as Russia claims it will scale back its assault on

battered Kyiv. The US is warning no one should be fooled by the Kremlin and

we are now getting new very

disturbing reports of major artillery and rocket fire heard in the city. We'll

discuss the battle in and around the Ukrainian capital and Russia's military strategy

with the top Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

Also tonight, Vladimir Putin's forces are pressing on with their brutal bombardment of southern Ukraine.

At least a dozen people are dead in an attack that hit and decimated a government building

in Mikhailayev.

We're also seeing more of the devastation in Marietal, where more than 100,000 Ukrainian civilians

remain trapped without power, water, or heat.

Our correspondence are standing by on the front lines in Ukraine with

refugees in Poland and with top officials here in Washington. We want to

welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Will Flitzer, you're in the situation room. This is this is CNN breaking news.

This hour of CNN teams on the ground in Kyiv just heard

major artillery and rocket fire.

The barrage is likely adding to the skepticism here in the United States about Russia's new claim that it plans to scale back its assault on the Ukrainian capital.

Christina Montpur is live in Kyiv.

Caitlin Collins is standing by live at the White House. Christina Montpore is live in Kyiv.

Caitlin's is standing by live at the White House.

We'll go to them in just moments.

But first, Alex Marquardt has more breaking news on the war. Tonight news signs that Russia's war in Ukraine may be entering a different phase.

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