Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

Ukrainian and Russian forces were entrenched in eastern Ukrainian battlegrounds on Wednesday, a day of commemoration in both countries to mark the anniversary of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. FIGHTING * Russian forces have captured several settlements near the embattled cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk in the eastern Luhansk region, the regional governor and Ukraine's general staff said.

Ukrainian and Russian forces were entrenched in eastern Ukrainian battlegrounds on Wednesday, a day of commemoration in both countries to mark the anniversary of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. FIGHTING * Russian forces have captured several settlements near the embattled cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk in the eastern Luhansk region, the regional governor and Ukraine's general staff said. * Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said the military situation in Luhansk was very difficult as Russia stepped up efforts to evict Ukrainian troops from critical areas. * At least 15 civilians were killed in Ukraine's Kharkiv region by Russian shelling, the regional governor said in an online posting, after weeks of relative calm. * The Russian defence ministry said its missiles had struck an airfield near the major Ukrainian port of Odesa, Russian news agencies reported. * The Kremlin said it did not know the location of two Americans captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine, but that they were mercenaries and could be sentenced to death in Russian-backed breakaway territories.

DIPLOMACY AND ECONOMY * Ukraine is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership on Thursday in a symbolic but morale-boosting decision following Russia's invasion, ministers and diplomats said. * Russian President Putin is weaponizing food by blocking Ukraine grain exports and U.S. President Biden is examining options on how to get the grain out, the White House said. * EU leaders aim to maintain pressure on Russia at their summit this week by committing to further work on sanctions, a draft document showed, with gold among assets that may be targeted. * Germany faces certain recession if already faltering Russian gas supplies completely stop, an industry body warned. * Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador to protest about a violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter. Moscow did not immediately comment. WESTERN WEAPONS * German self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine in the first delivery of heavy weapons promised by Berlin.

WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS * U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a visit to Ukraine, affirmed Washington's commitment to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in war crimes and atrocities committed during Russia's invasion. QUOTE * "It's a heavyweight boxing match. In 2 months of fighting, there has not yet been a knockout blow. It will come, as RU forces become more depleted." - Mark Hertling, a former commander of U.S. ground forces in Europe. (Compiled by Nick Macfie and Mark Heinrich; editing by Grant McCool, Robert Birsel)

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