By dreamsforce.com

Russian troops are besieging the city of Bakhmut. Fighting is now underway with Ukrainian forces to take control of the main road connecting the neighboring city of Chasiv Yar. A Russian official in eastern Ukraine claimed this on Wednesday. "Bakhmut is now virtually surrounded," said Ian Gagin, close to Denis Pushilin, the administrator of the Russian-controlled part of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Our forces are encircling the city. Now there is fighting on the Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut highway.

Earlier, Russia claimed to occupy some areas around Bakhmut. Along with Russian troops, mercenary Wagner Group soldiers continue to fight in the region.

Since May last year, Russia has not launched a significant operation in Ukraine for nearly six months. Ukraine has made great use of this opportunity. They took much of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions from Russia. Russia was expected to resume the offensive if the winter worsened. Meanwhile, the US and Germany announced the delivery of advanced tanks to Ukraine. Since then, Russian forces have stepped up their offensive in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces have captured the city of Soledar. Ukraine's strongest position in the Donetsk region is in the Soledar-Bakhmut area. After Soledar, Bakhmut was the target of Russian troops. There is still a road open for Ukrainian troops to escape and the fight to capture it is now underway. If Russia captures that road, Bakhmut will be virtually blocked.

Meanwhile, two US officials said $200 million worth of military aid equipment was being prepared for Ukraine. These include long-range rockets, air defense systems, missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other weapons. An announcement of support could come this week.

Most of this money will come from a special fund created for Ukraine called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This would see the Biden administration buy weapons from the sector rather than from their arsenals. These include weapons such as special bombs made by the Boeing Company.

Yesterday, the Kremlin said the US-backed long-range rockets would only escalate the conflict. This will not change the aim of the Russian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to talk to US President Joe Biden.

"It will increase tensions," Peskov added, referring to US aid to Ukraine. We are looking into the matter. Now we have to make extra efforts. But that will not change our goal.

Russian forces started attacking Ukraine on February 24 last year. Moscow described it as a special military operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation was necessary to protect Russia's security and counter Western efforts to undermine Moscow. But Ukraine and its Western allies claim that Russia attacked to expand its geographical borders.