{"id":1674279,"date":"2022-10-05T14:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T18:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1674279"},"modified":"2022-10-05T14:23:18","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T18:23:18","slug":"russia-moves-forward-with-annexation-plans-despite-setbacks-on-the-battlefield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-moves-forward-with-annexation-plans-despite-setbacks-on-the-battlefield\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia Moves Forward With Annexation Plans Despite Setbacks on the Battlefield"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussia-moves-forward-with-annexation-plans-despite-setbacks-on-the-battlefield%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1674279&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\" data-aqa=\"nav-breadcrumb\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/category\/pmn\/news-pmn\/politics-news-pmn\/\">PMN Politics<\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/category\/pmn\/news-pmn\/\">PMN News<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-header__detail\">\n<div class=\"article-header__detail__texts\">\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"wire-published-by\">\n<p class=\"visually-hidden\">Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reuters\" aria-labelledby=\"wire-company-name\" class=\"wire-published-by__logo\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&amp;d=mp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&amp;d=mp, https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=140&amp;d=mp 2x\" width=\"70\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"wire-published-by__author-container\">\n<p> Reuters <\/p>\n<p> Jonathan Landay and Tom Balmforth <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>KRAMATORSK \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin looked set to finalize his plan to annex four Ukrainian regions on Tuesday even as Ukraine pushed back his forces on two separate battlefield fronts, reducing the amount of seized territory Moscow controls.<\/p>\n<p>Russia has escalated its seven-month war with the annexation drive, a military mobilization and warnings of a possible recourse to nuclear weapons to protect all of its territory.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--content-slot6 article-content__widget-group--newsletter-slot\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"NPPosted9740591257806412028106419923766120\" class=\"newsletter-widget np-headlinenews background--primary-light-gradient\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"NP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"NP Posted Banner\" class=\"newsletter-widget__banner\" height=\"60\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/12.0.2\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/NP_HeadlineNews.svg\" width=\"97\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"NPPosted9740591257806412028106419923766120\">NP Posted<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 <\/small> <\/div>\n<div class=\"js-submit-success\" hidden id=\"submitSuccessNP_HeadlineNews\">\n<h3 class=\"newsletter__feedback--heading\">Thanks for signing up!<\/h3>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">A welcome email is on its way. If you don&#8217;t see it, please check your junk folder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text newsletter__feedback--last\">The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text js-submit-error\" hidden id=\"submitErrorNP_HeadlineNews\"> We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Putin was expected to sign on Tuesday evening a law formally incorporating the four regions, representing about 18% of Ukraine\u2019s territory, into Russia, a move Kyiv and its Western allies say is illegal and will not be recognized.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment9925286816239039098787174594974005\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment9925286816239039098787174594974005\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-2\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The two chambers of Russia\u2019s parliament have already ratified the legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Russia does not fully control any of the four regions it claims \u2013 Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south \u2013 and the Kremlin has said it has yet to determine the final borders of the annexed territory.<\/p>\n<p>Russian forces in the Donetsk and Kherson regions have been forced to retreat in recent days and appear to be struggling to halt an increasingly Western-equipped Ukrainian army.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukraine\u2019s leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a call on Tuesday that Washington would provide Kyiv with $625 million in new security assistance, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment5010866722108110604957940228812540\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment5010866722108110604957940228812540\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-3\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Biden also reiterated that the United States would \u201cnever recognize\u201d Russia\u2019s annexation of Ukrainian territory, the White House said.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, the European Union also rejected Moscow\u2019s \u201cillegal annexation\u201d and urged it to unconditionally withdraw all of its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, Italy\u2019s likely next prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, offered Ukraine \u201cher full support\u201d during a phone call with Zelenskiy, her Brothers of Italy party said. Two of her allies, who have ties to Putin, have been much more ambivalent.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow hopes a \u201cpartial mobilization\u201d it announced two weeks ago can help reverse a series of battlefield reversals.<\/p>\n<p>Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was cited by the RIA news agency on Tuesday as saying that Russia had so far called up more than 200,000 reservists out of a planned 300,000 men.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3005193068570115158469317108446415\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3005193068570115158469317108446415\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-4\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Many Russian men have fled the country rather than fight in Ukraine, however, and Russian lawyers say they are working flat out to offer advice to men who want to avoid being drafted. Some Russians are making journeys of thousands of miles by car, train and plane to escape.<\/p>\n<p>SOUTHERN BREAKTHROUGH<\/p>\n<p>President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Ukraine\u2019s northern neighbor and an ally of Putin, accused Kyiv on Tuesday of sending 15,000 troops to the border area to build defenses and conduct reconnaissance, actions he called \u201cprovocations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In their biggest breakthrough in the south since the war began on Feb. 24, Ukrainian forces retook several villages in an advance along the strategic Dnipro River on Monday, Ukrainian officials and a Russian-installed leader in the area said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4567552612769702484850089677102910\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4567552612769702484850089677102910\">Advertisement 5<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-5\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Ukrainian forces in the south destroyed 31 Russian tanks and one multiple rocket launcher, the military\u2019s southern operational command said in an overnight update.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian video footage from Novopetrivka, a newly recaptured village in the Kherson region, showed Ukrainian soldiers removing a Russian flag from a power pylon, wiping their feet on it and setting it alight. They then raised a Ukrainian flag.<\/p>\n<p>In the east, Ukrainian forces have been expanding an offensive after capturing the main Russian bastion in the north of Donetsk, the town of Lyman, hours after Putin proclaimed the annexation of the province last week.<\/p>\n<p>Russian defense ministry maps presented on Tuesday appeared to show<\/p>\n<p>rapid withdrawals<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4246510844486024206721697406907872\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4246510844486024206721697406907872\">Advertisement 6<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-6\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>of Russian invasion forces from areas in eastern and southern Ukraine where they have been under severe pressure from the Ukrainian counteroffensive.<\/p>\n<p>The ministry\u2019s daily video briefing made no mention of any pullbacks, but on maps used to show the location of purported Russian strikes, the shaded area designating Russian military control was much smaller than the day before.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine has released little information about Kherson, in keeping with a policy of withholding details about ongoing advances. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Ukraine\u2019s army had seized back towns in a number of areas, without giving details.<\/p>\n<p>On the eastern front, Denis Pushilin, the Russia-backed leader in Donetsk, said Russian forces were building a serious line of defense around the city of Kreminna after being pushed back.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4371853100172127971209199548190829\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4371853100172127971209199548190829\">Advertisement 7<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-7\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"7\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-7\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a Russian missile crashed into the outskirts of the Ukraine-controlled eastern city of Kramatorsk. A Reuters reporter on the scene said the missile had gouged a huge crater in the backyard of a house.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018NUCLEAR RHETORIC\u2019<\/p>\n<p>In a decree on Tuesday, Zelenskiy formally declared any talks with Putin \u201cimpossible,\u201d while leaving the door open to talks with Moscow if it got a new leader.<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin said that what it calls its \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Ukraine would not end if Kyiv ruled out talks, adding that it \u201ctakes two sides to negotiate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said Moscow did not want to take part in \u201cnuclear rhetoric\u201d spread by the West, after Britain\u2019s Times newspaper reported that NATO had warned members Putin might test an atomic weapon on Ukraine\u2019s border.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3407973532961228660515547551377560\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3407973532961228660515547551377560\">Advertisement 8<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-8\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"8\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-8\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>A Western diplomat told Reuters on Tuesday NATO had not warned its members of a Russian nuclear threat. Separately, a NATO official said the alliance had not observed any changes in Russia\u2019s nuclear posture but that NATO remained vigilant.<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin welcomed a potential peace plan floated on Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk, whereby Ukraine would cede Crimea, allow new referendums on Russian-occupied land and agree to neutrality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is very positive that somebody like Elon Musk is looking for a peaceful way out of this situation,\u201d said Peskov of the plan, which was denounced by Kyiv as an effective reward for Moscow\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n<p>(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones; Editing by Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment4660251113145320477119169691113982\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment4660251113145320477119169691113982\">Advertisement <\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-acceptable=\"\" data-ad-loc=\"1\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-acceptable\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"relatedStories978469108069529899012127710589155\" class=\"dark-mode-secondary-theme-background dark-mode-text--nuclear list-widget list-widget-related-stories\" data-aqa=\"widget-related-list\">\n<h2 class=\"section-title section-title--page-story\" id=\"relatedStories978469108069529899012127710589155\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"list-widget__content list-unstyled\">\n<li data-carousel-item=\"\">\n<article class=\"article-card article-card--two-column article-card--no-excerpt--sm-down\" data-aqa=\"article-card\" data-article-id=\"2079e76e-88ad-4b56-a85f-411535f77a0e\" data-category-colour=\"default\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<div class=\"article-card__content\">\n<div class=\"article-card__details\"> <a aria-label=\"Russia presses ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\" class=\"article-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/russia-presses-ahead-with-annexation-plan-despite-military-retreats\"> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-card__headline text-size--extra-large--sm-up\" title=\"Russia presses ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\"> <span class=\"article-card__headline-clamp\">Russia presses ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats<\/span> <\/h3>\n<p class=\"article-card__excerpt\"> KRAMATORSK \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin looked set to finalize his plan to annex four Ukrainian regions on Tuesday even as his forces were being pushed back by Ukraine on two separate battlefield fronts, shrinking the amount of seized territory he controls. <\/p>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<p> <a aria-label=\"Russia presses ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\" class=\"article-card__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/russia-presses-ahead-with-annexation-plan-despite-military-retreats\" tabindex=\"-1\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li data-carousel-item=\"\">\n<article class=\"article-card article-card--two-column article-card--no-excerpt--sm-down\" data-aqa=\"article-card\" data-article-id=\"0ebe4e6f-d1c9-4ea0-8106-c99d42b6e823\" data-category-colour=\"default\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<div class=\"article-card__content\">\n<div class=\"article-card__details\"> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine claims rapid pushback of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-claims-rapid-pushback-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts\"> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-card__headline text-size--extra-large--sm-up\" title=\"Ukraine claims rapid pushback of Russian troops on two fronts\"> <span class=\"article-card__headline-clamp\">Ukraine claims rapid pushback of Russian troops on two fronts<\/span> <\/h3>\n<p class=\"article-card__excerpt\"> KRAMATORSK \u2014 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that his country\u2019s military had made major, rapid advances against Russian forces and freed dozens of towns in the south and east over the last week. \u201cThis week alone, since the Russian pseudo-referendum, dozens of population centers have been liberated. These are in Kherson, Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions all together,\u201d he said in a Tuesday nighttime address. <\/p>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<p> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine claims rapid pushback of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-claims-rapid-pushback-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts\" tabindex=\"-1\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image by default\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/postmedia-image-fallback.jpg\" width=\"100\" \/>  <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li data-carousel-item=\"\">\n<div class=\"article-card\">\n<article class=\"ad__native\" data-list-position=\"2\" data-native=\"\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3466105597641276026516005795824627\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" 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control_fields>\n<div class=\"article-card__content\">\n<div class=\"article-card__details\"> <a aria-label=\"Russia forges ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\" class=\"article-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/russia-forges-ahead-with-annexation-plan-despite-military-retreats\"> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-card__headline text-size--extra-large--sm-up\" title=\"Russia forges ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\"> <span class=\"article-card__headline-clamp\">Russia forges ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats<\/span> <\/h3>\n<p class=\"article-card__excerpt\"> KRAMATORSK\/KYIV \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin may finalize his plan to annex four Ukrainian regions later on Tuesday, even as his forces are being pushed back by Ukraine on two separate battlefield fronts shrinking the amount of seized territory he controls. <\/p>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<p> <a aria-label=\"Russia forges ahead with annexation plan despite military retreats\" class=\"article-card__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/russia-forges-ahead-with-annexation-plan-despite-military-retreats\" tabindex=\"-1\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image by default\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/postmedia-image-fallback.jpg\" width=\"100\" \/>  <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li data-carousel-item=\"\">\n<article class=\"article-card article-card--two-column article-card--no-excerpt--sm-down\" data-aqa=\"article-card\" data-article-id=\"de194fbb-dcdb-4344-b1aa-304ef6e200bc\" data-category-colour=\"default\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<div class=\"article-card__content\">\n<div class=\"article-card__details\"> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-reports-rapid-push-back-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts\"> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-card__headline text-size--extra-large--sm-up\" title=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\"> <span class=\"article-card__headline-clamp\">Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts<\/span> <\/h3>\n<p class=\"article-card__excerpt\"> KRAMATORSK \u2014 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine\u2019s military had made major, rapid advances against Russian forces in the past week, taking back dozens of towns in regions in the south and east that Russia has declared annexed. <\/p>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<p> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-reports-rapid-push-back-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts\" tabindex=\"-1\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image by default\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/postmedia-image-fallback.jpg\" width=\"100\" \/>  <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li data-carousel-item=\"\">\n<article class=\"article-card article-card--two-column article-card--no-excerpt--sm-down\" data-aqa=\"article-card\" data-article-id=\"bbf762b9-f230-4032-973a-74d753ce35a0\" data-category-colour=\"default\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<div class=\"article-card__content\">\n<div class=\"article-card__details\"> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-reports-rapid-push-back-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts-2\"> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-card__headline text-size--extra-large--sm-up\" title=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\"> <span class=\"article-card__headline-clamp\">Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts<\/span> <\/h3>\n<p class=\"article-card__excerpt\"> KRAMATORSK \u2014 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine\u2019s military had made major, rapid advances against Russian forces in the past week, taking back dozens of towns in regions in the south and east that Russia has declared annexed. <\/p>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<p> <a aria-label=\"Ukraine reports rapid push back of Russian troops on two fronts\" class=\"article-card__image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/ukraine-reports-rapid-push-back-of-russian-troops-on-two-fronts-2\" tabindex=\"-1\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image by default\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/postmedia-image-fallback.jpg\" width=\"100\" \/>  <\/a> 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