The Russians captured the villages of Siverne and Stepov; Ukrainian forces retreat after ‘heavy fighting’

Ukrainian forces retreated from the villages of Siverne and Stepov after the fall of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, giving Russia a third victory. The Ukrainian military said the forces had to retreat after heavy fighting. The US warned that Ukrainian troops would lose ground to Russia within a month or two. That is unless the House of Representatives approves additional funding to support Kiev’s war effort. See for more information.