Ukraine ‘CONCEDES DEFEAT’; Zelensky Withdraws Troops From Key Town; Russia Captures 3 More Villages

Ukraine has confirmed the withdrawal of its troops from the eastern town of Siversk, marking another pressure point along the grinding frontline in the Donetsk region. Kyiv says the decision was taken to preserve soldiers’ lives and maintain combat capability, citing Russia’s advantage in manpower, equipment, and harsh battlefield conditions. Russia claims fresh territorial gains across multiple regions, including parts of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, as Moscow intensifies long-range strikes using missiles and drones. The developments come as President Vladimir Putin signals readiness to push further, while the Donetsk region remains a key obstacle in U.S.-led settlement talks. With eastern Ukraine under relentless pressure and ceasefire diplomacy hanging in the balance, the battlefield reality is rapidly reshaping the political and military stakes.