Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Ukraine) – The Ukrainian military reports that Russian forces are advancing in Donbas, the region which has been the major theatre of conflict for the last month.

Since Russia attacked Ukraine in February, its military has resisted with fierce determination. They have made a number of wins, including forcing Russia’s commanders from an advance on Kyiv and making quick gains in northeastern Ukraine in recent weeks to defeat the enemy at Kharkiv.

The “Battle of the Donbas” has seen Russian forces focus much of their firepower towards the east since mid-April.

Ukraine’s military provided an update Sunday morning. It stated that Russian forces are continuing to advance in areas such as the Lyman and Sievierodonetsk regions, Avdiivka, Kurakhiv, and Avdiivka in the wider Donbas region.

According to Ukraine’s military, eight Russian tanks and five artillery system were destroyed by the Ukrainian army.

According to a regional governor, Ukrainian forces mounted a counterattack near Izium. This strategic city is located along the Donets River, 120km (75 miles) southwest of Kharkiv.

Governor Oleh Synegubov declared that the Izium direction is “the hot spot” in remarks made via social media. “Our armed force has switched to counteroffensive here. “The enemy is retreating at certain fronts, and it is due to the character of our Armed Forces.”

Reuters couldn’t independently verify reports from Ukraine.

British military intelligence made a shocking assessment of Russia’s Donbas campaign on Sunday. The intelligence argued that Russia had lost a significant portion of its ground combat forces in February. It said the operation in Donbas had been “significantly delayed” and it was not likely to advance rapidly in the next 30 days.

Moscow will find it more difficult to surround the battle-hardened Ukrainian soldiers on the Donbas’ eastern front by maintaining pressure on Izium, Russian supply lines and Izium.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its troops killed more than 100 Ukrainian nationalists in an attack on military bases, which included the Donbas. Reuters was unable to independently verify this claim.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, stated that Donbas is still very troubled and added that Russian forces are trying to win some sort of victory.

He said, “They’re not giving up on their endeavors.”

A few hundred Ukrainian fighters remain in Mariupol weeks after Russian forces took control of it.

Zelenskiy claimed that negotiations were under way in order to allow wounded soldiers to be evacuated out of Mariupol and return Russian prisoners of war.

Following days of waiting for Russian troops to let them leave, a huge convoy of vans and cars carrying refugee from Mariupol reached Zaporizhzhia (under Ukrainian control) on Saturday.

Russia denied Ukraine’s claim that it struck and set fire to a modern naval logistics ship in Black Sea. Instead, photos were shown of what they claimed was the Vsevolod Robrov. There are no visible signs of damage.

EUROVISION MOORE BOOSTER

Ukraine’s victory in Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest was a boost to morale and was seen by many as a sign of support from the people of Ukraine.

Our courage amazes the world and music conquers Europe!” The Eurovision song contest will be held next year in Ukraine,” Zelenskiy stated online after Kalush Orchestra had won with the entry “Stefania”

Eurovision’s winner usually hosts the event in the subsequent year.

U.S. Republican senators visited Kyiv unannounced as another gesture of international solidarity. Zelenskiy reported that they discussed strengthening Russia sanctions.

Russia was hit with economic sanctions that have resulted in large losses of personnel and equipment. On Saturday, the Group of Seven industrial power pledged to increase Russian economic and political pressure and provide more weapons for Ukraine.

NATO APPLICANTS

Moscow declared its invasion of Ukraine a “special operation”, to arm and defend it against fascists. It has shaken European security. The Western allies of Kyiv claim that the assertion about fascism is an empty pretext to launch an unprovoked war against aggression.

Russia was determined to stop Ukraine from joining NATO.

However, in a telephone conversation, Sauli Niinisto, Finnish President, told Vladimir Putin that Russia shares a border of 1,300km (880-miles) with Finland and wanted to strengthen its own security.

Putin said to Niinisto that it was a mistake for Helsinki not to recognize its neutrality. The Kremlin added that this could cause problems in bilateral relations.

Turkey is open to Sweden and Finland becoming NATO members, but Turkey wants to negotiate with them. Erdogan spoke out to refer to Kurdish activities in the Nordic nations.