Happening now breaking news. Eastern Ukraine under fire as Russia declares a new phase

of the war is underway. CNN is on the

way.

where civilians are facing a last chance to escape as the onslaught begins and

Kremlin forces close in.

Also breaking, new evidence of Russia's brutality in

deceased Marie Uphol. A factory sheltering civilians

is attacked and Ukraine says it intercepted Russian military

communications on plans to quote level everything to the ground.

Our correspondence are standing by in Ukraine and over at the White House covering this pivotal

moment of Russia's war against Ukraine.

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

I'm Wolf Blitzer, you're in the situation room. This is CNN breaking news.

We begin with Russia's major new military offensive in eastern Ukraine.

The long feared assault, now a harsh reality that will likely shape the final outcome

of this war.

See and has Clarissa Ward and Ben Weed have been,

they are on the ground for us in eastern Ukraine this hour.

Let's go to Clarissa first.

She's in the Dunbar region, the battleground that's now a primary focus of

Kremlin forces.

Clarissa, I understand you visited a town on the eastern front.

...