By dreamsforce.com

Russian forces have advanced further into Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. On Wednesday, Russia claimed that Ukraine's troops had retreated due to an attack by its troops in the east. While tight-lipped about the retreat, Ukraine claims it has repelled some attacks by Russian forces. But Kyiv said the situation on the battlefield was "complicated".

Yesterday, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian troops had retreated due to an attack by Russian forces in the Luhansk region. Where the two sides were fighting face-to-face, Ukrainian forces retreated at least three kilometers in the face of Russian attacks. However, Russia did not provide detailed information on this matter.

The Kremlin has stepped up attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine in recent weeks. It is also feared that a new large-scale operation by Russian forces in these two regions is imminent. Russia's main effort in the war now is to capture the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The city borders Luhansk.

The capture of the city of Bakhmut is now strategically important for the Russian forces. Because, if Bakhmut could be captured, it would pave the way for the Russian forces to capture the two major cities of Donetsk, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. Because of this, Russian troops have been trying to take control of Bakhmut for several months.

Meanwhile, the armed forces of Ukraine, however, did not say anything about the retreat of their troops in the face of the Russian attack. However, Kyiv said Ukrainian forces repelled at least 20 attacks by Russian forces. Bakhmut and Buhledar, another town 150 kilometers southwest of the city, repelled these attacks. Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and Kyiv's allies were trying to advance as much as possible by attacking Russia before stockpiling energy. That is why they are attacking in haste. The situation on the battlefield, especially in Luhansk and Donetsk, is complex.

Almost the entire Luhansk region and more than half of Donetsk are now under the control of Russian forces. In addition, Russian troops occupied a large area in the two southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia. Many countries condemned the annexation of these four regions as their territories through referendums last year.

The US is sending weapons:

Meanwhile, AFP reported that the United States has moved on to deliver more weapons promised to Ukraine in the face of Russian military strikes. On Tuesday, the U.S. military announced that two separate arms manufacturers had been awarded purchase orders worth $522 million to produce ammunition for supply to Ukraine.

According to the US Army statement, the delivery of new ammunition will start next March. A US official said in November last year that Russian forces were firing an average of 20,000 rounds a day. Ukrainian forces are firing between four and seven thousand shells. Delivery of weapons to Kyiv should be expedited.

Visible progress in membership of the EU:

Ukraine has taken another step towards becoming a member of the European Union (EU), an alliance of 27 European countries. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday. He said Ukraine has made visible progress toward EU membership despite the ongoing war and the confrontation of Russian forces.

Ukraine has been pushing for EU membership since the invasion by Russian forces in February last year. Kyiv wants to join the EU as soon as possible. At the same time, Kyiv wants to formally start negotiations on becoming a member of the alliance as soon as possible this year.

The call of the United Nations:

The United Nations has called for more funding for humanitarian aid for civilians in war-torn Ukraine. The agency said it needs $5.6 billion this year to help Ukrainian citizens at home and abroad because of the war. Of this, 1.7 billion is needed for Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

"Every day, people die in war, the destruction continues and many are left homeless," said UN human rights chief Martin Griffiths. To help these people, we all have to try our best in every position.