Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corvus Coleman.

Ukraine says it has started its long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces.

There have been a few details about the military action.

But NPR's Greg Mayree says it started by Ukrainian troops recapturing four small Ukrainian

villages.

This is the very first salvo of what's expected to be the biggest battle of the war,

one likely to play out for much of this summer, if not beyond.

And it's shaping up the way many predicted.

Looks like Ukraine wants to drive to the southeast coast.

This would cut the Russian forces in half, one group to the east, one to the south, and

leave the Russians much more vulnerable.

And PR's Greg Mayree reporting, Italy's former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has

died, according to his own television network.

He was 86 years old and had suffered from leukemia.

Berlusconi was wealthy and often boastful.

He was Italy's longest-serving premiere, despite scandals over his sex parties known

as Bunga Bunga Parties.

All but one criminal case against him languished through slow court proceedings in Italy, or he

won on appeal.

Police in Scotland have released the country's former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon,

from Arrest.

They did not charge her.

...