Russian Ops in Ukraine: Ukraine is Blocking Own Ports, Losing Ground in Donbas

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine

1. Russian forces continue gaining ground in Donbas;
2. Ukrainian forces are at critical risk of complete encirclement;
3. Russian assault of Lyman begins;
4. Ukrainian ports are blocked by Ukrainian sea mines, Pentagon admits;
5. Western heavy weapons have little impact;
6. West discussions on sending additional heavy weapons are unrealistic;

References:

US Department of Defense – Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley Hold a Press Briefing, May 23, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

Reuters – “Friends of Syria” condemn Assad but see more killing:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sy…

UK Dot Gov – Chairman’s Conclusions of Friends of Syria meeting:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ch…

The New Atlas – NED Zoom Meeting Goes BAD! US Subversion Exposed:
https://youtu.be/VrpyD-A1Knc

Washington Post – Opinion Why are the Russians pranking Washington think tanks?:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio…

Wikipedia – Byelorussian collaboration with Nazi Germany:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byeloru…

Wikipedia – Belarusian Democratic Republic:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus…

Guardian – How the two flags of Belarus became symbols of confrontation:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

RFE/RL – Telegram Trap: Minsk Snares Belarusians Seeking To Fight For Ukraine:
https://www.rferl.org/a/telegram-trap…

ABC (Australia) – Volunteers who fled authorities in Belarus fight for Ukraine in hopes it will help change things in their homeland:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-2…

La Presse – Retour du tireur d’élite Wali « La guerre, c’est une déception terrible »:
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/20…

CBC – Shadow’s war: A Canadian veteran describes weeks under fire in Ukraine:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine…