Happening now breaking news. Hellish scenes from the battlefield as Russian forces

launch intense new strikes shifting focus to Eastern Ukraine while continuing to Ponteve and other major cities tonight.

The Pentagon says it's not entirely clear what Kremlin troops will do next as Vladimir Putin's

war enters its sixth week. We're also learning more

about Putin's isolation right now and whether he's being misled by his

inner circle. President Biden is weighing in, revealing the Russian leader may be punishing his

advisors amid all the military setbacks and possibly putting them under

House arrest. Our correspondence are standing by on the front lines in Ukraine, with refugees in

Hungary, and with top officials here in Washington for CNN's live war coverage.

We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

I'm Wolf Plitzer, you're in the situation room. This is

This is CNN breaking news. We're following all the breaking news out of Ukraine right now as Russia's war enters a new phase and

Vladimir Putin is keeping the world guessing about his

next moves. In just a moment we'll go live to Christina Montpore, she's in key, and to

Caitlin Collins she's over at the White House. But first, we have this war report from CNN's Alex Markwood.

Ukraine is taking back territory. Troops here walking openly through the town of Sloboda near the northern city of Chernyif,

where Russia said they would de-escalate the fight.

But it rages on, as well as around the capital Kyivieve where Russia is still striking the outskirts.

A senior US defense official says that Russia has increased the number of aircraft missions

against Kieve as well as other targets in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden now saying he's skeptical of Russia's claim of withdrawing from around

Kyiv.

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