Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities
Dozens of injuries were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Russia has continued a nearly 19-month-long invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Recently, though, the Ukrainians have gone on a counteroffensive, fighting to reclaim occupied territory.
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Pentagon announces new $400M aid to Ukraine
The U.S. Department of Defense announced an additional $400 million aid package to Ukrainian forces that includes more weapons and ammunition.
This marks the Biden administration's 43rd military aid package to Ukraine since August 2021.
Some of the equipment and weapons in this package include, additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger anti-aircraft systems and Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets.
-ABC News' Matthew Seyler
Ukraine begins using controversial cluster munitions provided by US
Ukraine has begun using the controversial cluster munitions that the U.S. recently began providing to Ukraine, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News.
Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. are not signatories to the convention that bans the use of cluster munitions. Russia has used them in the war in Ukraine and so has Ukraine as they a supply of the weapons left over from the Soviet era.
"I believe they have started using them," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. "In terms of the effect on the battlefield, I'd really let Ukraine speak to how they intend to employ them. But you know, this is a powerful artillery that we have given them. They have ... committed to use it responsibly, to keep track and record where they are using it, so when this war is over, they can begin those de-mining efforts."
The weapons are considered dangerous to civilians because the small bomblets that are dispersed by the munitions can remain unexploded until someone accidentally stumbles upon them weeks, months or even years later.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez
Russian strikes hit Mykolaiv and Odesa, multiple people injured
Russian forces hit a three-story building and a garage in the city center of Mykolaiv Thursday morning, local time, injuring nine people, including five children, the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration said on Telegram.
There were fatalities stemming from the strikes, but it's unclear how many at this time, the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration added.
In another incident, Russian strikes hit Odesa early Thursday morning, the Odesa District Administration said on Telegram.
Two people were injured and hospitalized from the attack, according to the Odesa District Administration.
There is destruction "in the center" of Odesa and a fire broke out stemming from the strikes, the administration said.
-ABC News' Natalia Kushniir and Yuriy Zaliznyak
US cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine, official says
U.S. cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine, according to Joint Staff Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims.
Sims said that in contrast to Russia, Ukraine is aware of the possible danger to civilians, and does not intend to use them near population centers.
"I don't think that Ukrainians have any interest in using the cluster munitions anywhere near the civilian population, unlike the Russians," Sims told reporters.
-ABC News' Matt Seyler
Kremlin denies role in plane crash believed to have killed Prigozhin
Russia on Friday vehemently denied having any involvement in the mysterious plane crash that is believed to have killed Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
"There has been a lot of speculation around this crash [and] the tragic deaths of the plane's passengers, among them Yevgeny Prigozhin. Of course, the West presents all this speculation from a particular angle. All of that is sheer lies," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters while answering questions during a press briefing. "One should rely on facts. For now, there are not many facts, they have yet to be established in the ongoing investigative procedures."
Prigozhin, 62, was a former close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. His private paramilitary organization played a key role in Putin's invasion of neighboring Ukraine before briefly launching an insurrection against the Russian military in June. Forces loyal to Prigozhin marched toward Moscow before turning back after several days.
A private jet was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Wednesday when it went down near the village of Kuzhenkino in Russia's Tver region, north of Moscow. All 10 people on board were killed. Prigozhin and Wagner Group co-founder Dmitry Utkin were among the passengers identified on a flight list, according to Russian officials.
The U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday that Prigozhin was "likely" killed in the plane crash.