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Russia no longer has full control of all four of the Ukraine regions that “voted” to join it.

Ukrainian forces have made major advances in the south of the country. The push has led Russia to withdraw its troops from Lyman, a strategically significant Ukrainian city. Nevertheless, Russian state media is reporting that 96% of Ukrainians in occupied territory voted in favor of joining Russia, in a referendum that was so obviously a sham. Russian soldiers went door to door to get votes for the Ukrainian referendum. Four Ukrainian regions currently controlled by Russia are called for a referendum to join Russia before Ukrainian troops come to liberate them.

To make up for frontline setbacks, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Ukrainian president Zelensky has visited reconquered territory, a sign of the country’s strength.

Ukraine regained still more territory from the Russians in the past week. The week before, Ukrainian forces reached the Russian border in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s lightning counteroffensive drove Russian soldiers from the Kharkiv region, and now Ukraine has tripled its reconquered territory. Ukraine began its long-awaited offensive in the country’s south last week. President Zelesnsky has also promised to retake Crimea by whatever means necessary.

Western nations are aiding Ukraine’s ambitions. The United States is set to send Ukraine another $3 billion in aid. Turkey has sent 50 mine-resistant vehicles to Ukraine, and it will send more in the future. Ukraine has received more rocket launchers from the United States and Germany. President Zelensky has said that the Ukrainian army is losing around 30 soldiers per day, compared to the 100-200 at the beginning of the war. 3The UK government announced that it will send both artillery and drones to Ukraine. Zelensky’s office has also confirmed that the United States will train F-15 and F-16 pilots.

The Ukrainian defense minister has announced the country hopes to build a “million-strong army” to beat back the Russians.

The Russian military is beginning to amass reserves on the Ukraine border. Two-hundred Russian soldiers have been killed and another 300 wounded following a Ukrainian attack on a Russian base.

A Canadian fighting for the Ukrainian army has issued a plea for more weapons and money (to buy weapons).

Two weeks ago, Australia sent ammunition to Ukraine, in response to Zelensky’s pleas. Ukraine was reporting a shortage of ammunition, threatening to halt their defense against Russia. International governments have so far been generous with weapons. Poland has announced that it will sell $650m worth of heavy weapons, including self-propelled Howitzers, to Ukraine.

Sweden and the UK have also joined a growing list of countries sending another round of advanced weapons to Ukraine. Spain is sending state of the art, German-designed tanks to Ukraine to help fight the Russian invaders. Germany has announced that it will send modern anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems to Ukraine. The United States will also be sending Ukraine medium-range rockets, according to President Biden.

The Russians, by contrast, are beginning to struggle in terms of weapons. The Ukrainian military says it has destroyed an ammunition depot as the fighting in Donbas intensifies. Such destruction has led Ukrainian military analysts to conclude that the Russian military has depleted its modern military equipment. Russia has more woes than just equipment. Over a hundred Russian national guard soldiers have been fired for refusing to fight in Ukraine.

Russia’s parliament has eliminated the age limit for military service as they scramble for more soldiers. The Russian military is also offering bonuses four times bigger than a soldier’s monthly salary.  British military intelligence has estimated that Russia lost a third of its invasion force.

Alexander Lukashenka, the dictatorial leader of Belarus, has admitted that the Ukraine war is not going according to plan.  The German industrial giant Siemens is planning to leave Russia after almost 170 years, as a result of the Ukraine war.

The Russian finance ministry has admitted that western sanctions are threatening the country with economic collapse.

Vladimir Putin’s $989 million megayacht has been seized in Italy. In terms of such seizures, Chuck Schumer said that the United States will sell seized Russian oligarch’s assets to benefit the Ukrainian war effort.

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