• US military official: Kyiv's gains have moved more Russian targets in range of standard artillery

From CNN's Ellie Kaufman

Ukrainian forces continue to make progress in the southern region of Kherson, regaining control over more land previously occupied by Russia, a senior US military official said Friday.

“We have seen gains in the north now, really the line of advance for the Ukrainians, just north of the city of Mylove, and then extending essentially to the north and west with a number of small towns and villages that the Ukrainians have been able to clear of the Russians,” the official said.

The US has also seen some “incremental gains” in the central part of the battleground region, “so not a lot of advancement, but some," the official said. "We’re talking kilometers."

Because Ukrainian forces have gotten closer to Russian forces along this central axis, they are relying less on guided multiple launch rocket systems, or GMLRs, to counter Russians, the official said.

“It’s also placed a good portion of that battle space under standard artillery, not GMLRs," the official continued. "They can range the Russian targets they want to hit with standard artillery."

Gains in Kherson prompt evacuations: Meanwhile, Russia said Thursday its forces would help evacuate residents of occupied Kherson to other areas.

The announcement by Russia's deputy prime minister came shortly after Moscow-backed officials in the region appealed for help moving residents out of harm’s way. It's the latest indication that Russian forces are struggling in the face of Ukraine's counteroffensive.