Ukraine said Russia started an anticipated new offensive in the east while a Russian missile attack killed seven people in Lviv, the first civilian victims in the western city about 60 km (40 miles) from Poland.
FIGHTING* Ukraine says the "Battle of Donbas" has begun with a new Russian assault on the east.* Lviv governor Maksym Kozytskyy said preliminary reports suggested there had been four hits on Lviv -- three strikes on warehouses that are not currently being used by the military, and another on a car service station.* The United States military expects to start training Ukrainians on using howitzer artillery in coming days, a senior U.S. defense official said. * No fewer than 1,000 civilians are hiding in underground shelters beneath the vast Azovstal steel plant in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city council said, adding that Russia was dropping heavy bombs on the Ukranian-held factory.* Russia said it had launched mass strikes overnight on the Ukrainian military and associated military targets.
