What you need to know right now By Reuters

(Reuters) – Ukrainian and Russian forces were entrenched in japanese Ukrainian battlegrounds on Wednesday, a day of commemoration in the two nations to mark the anniversary of Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

Combating

* Russian forces have captured many settlements in close proximity to the embattled cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk in the jap Luhansk location, the regional governor and Ukraine’s common staff members said.

* Ukrainian President Zelenskiy stated the military scenario in Luhansk was incredibly difficult as Russia stepped up efforts to evict Ukrainian troops from important regions.

* At the very least 15 civilians were being killed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv area by Russian shelling, the regional governor stated in an on-line putting up, after weeks of relative serene.

* The Russian defence ministry explained its missiles had struck an airfield close to the significant Ukrainian port of Odesa, Russian news agencies reported.

* The Kremlin mentioned it did not know the locale of two Americans captured while battling in jap Ukraine, but that they were mercenaries and could be sentenced to demise in Russian-backed breakaway territories.

DIPLOMACY AND Financial state

* Ukraine is set to grow to be an official candidate for European Union membership on Thursday in a symbolic but morale-boosting final decision next Russia’s invasion, ministers and diplomats claimed.

* Russian President Putin is weaponizing meals by blocking Ukraine grain exports and U.S. President Biden is inspecting possibilities on how to get the grain out, the White Household mentioned.

* EU leaders intention to manage stress on Russia at their summit this week by committing to further more get the job done on sanctions, a draft doc showed, with gold among belongings that may be focused.

* Germany faces sure economic downturn if currently faltering Russian gasoline supplies totally quit, an market entire body warned.

* Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador to protest about a violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter. Moscow did not promptly remark.

WESTERN WEAPONS

* German self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine in the 1st delivery of significant weapons promised by Berlin.

WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS

* U.S. Lawyer Typical Merrick Garland, in a go to to Ukraine, affirmed Washington’s determination to determine, arrest and prosecute all those included in war crimes and atrocities dedicated for the duration of Russia’s invasion.

Quote

* “It is really a heavyweight boxing match. In 2 months of preventing, there has not however been a knockout blow. It will arrive, as RU forces turn into additional depleted.” – Mark Hertling, a previous commander of U.S. ground forces in Europe.