Ukraine's government on Friday is saying that explosions rocked Lutsk, near the Polish border, as well as a military airfield at Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, which was struck by multiple missiles. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson described it a "possible message to NATO" as calls from Western officials to impose a no-fly zone, including among hawks in Congress, grow louder.

The Russian Defense Ministry in a Friday statement confirmed the reports, saying, "high-precision long-range weapons attacked Ukraine's military infrastructure."

"The military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk were put out of action," the Russian Defense Ministry statement continued.

According to CNN, based on local Ukrainian government authorities:

There was substantial damage to the airport at Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine, which is only about 70 miles from the Polish border. The governor of the Volyn region said four missiles had been fired from a Russian bomber and two people were killed. Plumes of smoke also rose from the military airfield at Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, which was struck by missiles.

There is also widespread reporting that the previous huge, miles-long Russian tank and armored column that had been stalled while en route to Kiev has now advanced, reaching to within a few miles of the capital.

This has resulted in intensified fighting in the suburbs, particularly to the northeast and east of Kiev.