KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraines capital and another city overnight, regional leaders said Wednesday, just hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the punishing war.

Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently, and while the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraines president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster and the Kremlins spokesman said he saw no breakthrough in the talks.

Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit homes, shops, libraries and other civilian infrastructure in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv.