First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and (from yesterday and today) National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally, a link to an AP report from yesterday. — MCM

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Russia says two military commanders killed in eastern Ukraine. From AFP. Russia said today that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. In a rare announcement of its losses on the battlefield, the Russian Defense Ministry said the commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, Vyacheslav Makarov, and the deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, Yevgeny Brovko, had been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. The announcement came as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine troops, Western arms targeted in strikes: Russia. From AFP. Moscow said today that Russian forces had struck Western arms depots and Ukrainian troops in the western city of Ternopil and the eastern town of Petropavlivka. Russia’s armed forces “delivered a strike with high-precision long-range . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian president says counteroffensive does not aim to attack Russian territory, by Frank Jordans  | AP  BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today his country is preparing a counteroffensive designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory. He said Ukraine’s goal is to free the territories within its internationally recognized borders. “We don’t attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.” READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskiy in Berlin: we can make Russia’s defeat ‘irreversible,’ by Pavel Polityuk and Sarah Marsh | Reuters KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today Kyiv and its Western supporters could make Russia’s defeat in the war in Ukraine “irreversible” this year, as he thanked Germany for its military support. The Ukrainian leader told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Kyiv would always be grateful to Germany for its support during Russia’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin believes it’s obvious that Kiev is complicit in murdering Russians. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia is confident that Ukraine is complicit in attacks on Russians, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. He was responding to a statement by Kirill Budanov, the head of the main intelligence directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, that Kiev was ready to kill Russians around the world. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s currency is being bolstered with financial support from other nations. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR  Financial assistance to Ukraine will help shore up the country’s currency, which has maintained strong buying power despite the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine is expected to make a counteroffensive to take back Crimea. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  Ukraine’s counteroffensive is expected any day, and there’s a debate about whether taking back Crimea is a good idea for Ukraine to do. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelenskyy meets Pope Francis at Vatican and seeks backing for Ukraine’s peace plan. From AP. ROME — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for Ukraine’s peace plan from the pontiff, who in the past has offered to try to help end the full-scale war launched by Russia a year ago. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy received from Italian officials pledges of open-ended . . . READ MORE . . .