KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Russian army overran three settlements in the southern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Kyiv’s top military commander said Wednesday, as Moscow’s forces expand their efforts to capture more Ukrainian territory.

Frontline maps show that the city of Pokrovsk appears to be on the brink of falling, with some western military experts predicting that Russia will eventually likely seize Pokrovsk, and the nearby city of Myrnohrad.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Ukrainian troops should surrender to save themselves in Pokrovsk, a transport and supply hub seen as a gateway to bigger nearby cities.

It's not clear how far the U.S. administration will go in bearing down on Venezuela, as its largest aircraft carrier nears.

Last week Ukrainian units faced intense pressure at multiple flashpoints. Kyiv reported that between Monday night and Tuesday night, its forces engaged in some 170 tactical engagements— 40 percent of which, according to some estimates, were in or around Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk, a city formerly home to around 60,000, is ground zero for Russia’s latest offensive in Moscow’s nearly three-year-old invasion of its neighbor.

Britain and Belgium aren't blaming anyone for the mystery drones, but they're the latest in a series of airspace violations one NATO ally calls Russian "hybrid warfare."

Ukraine's online market allows troops to buy weapons with points earned for Russian kills. That'll expand to evacuations with robots.

Details: Bring Kids Back UA and Save Ukraine also spoke about rescued seven-year-old Nastia and two-year-old Yaroslav, who lost their mother due to the inaction of Russian doctors. The so-called child welfare service almost sent the children to an orphanage, despite having relatives who were ready to take custody of them.