Your Tuesday briefing

Ukraine is preparing for a counter-offensive.

Hello. We cover a counteroffensive planned by Ukraine and an apology from Pope Francis to Canada.

Image Ukrainian forces are currently approximately 48 kilometers (about 30 miles) from Kherson at their closest point.Credit...Daniel Berehulak for The New York TimesUkraine will mount a counter-offensive

Ukra forces Indians are preparing for a high-stakes counteroffensive to retake Kherson, a crucial Russian stronghold in southern Ukraine. Moscow is using the vital port city as a base to launch attacks across much of Ukrainian territory.

Attacking Ukraine is said to be one of the most most ambitious and important of the war. Ukraine destroys Russian ammunition depots, strikes command posts and targets supply lines. And Ukrainian troops have liberated 44 towns and villages along the border areas, or about 15% of the territory, according to local officials.

The counteroffensive could alter the balance of power in the south. The region is key to Ukraine's plan to resume grain exports across the Black Sea despite a recent Russian missile attack on the port of Odessa.

Background: Kherson was the