Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear.

Trump troops back by Ukraine are continuing to wage a guerrilla-style campaign just across

the Ukrainian border in southern Russia.

As NPR's Greg Maury reports, the rebel fighters appeared to have caught Russia by surprise.

The rebel fighters are conducting operations in several small towns and villages in the

southern Russian region of Belgorod.

Over the past several days, they've taken a number of prisoners and exposed Russian

vulnerabilities along its border with Ukraine.

Ukraine supports the fighters who are Russians opposed to the rule of Russian leader Vladimir

Putin.

Many analysts see these skirmishes as part of a larger effort to attack Russian troops

on multiple fronts.

Separately, Russia claimed it beat back a Ukrainian offensive in the Eastern Donbass region,

but Ukraine dismissed the Russian reports as untrue.

Greg Maury, NPR News, Kiev.

Oklahoma City's Catholic Archdiocese has overcome a major hurdle in its efforts to create

the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school, but critics say the move

is likely unconstitutional.

Oklahoma reporter Beth Wallace has the story.

The St. Isador of Seville, virtual Catholic charter school would be free for students in

kindergarten through 12th grade and funded like other charter schools in Oklahoma.

The state virtual charter school boards decision to approve it is expected to face legal challenges.

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