It is designed to make the West think a Kremlin victory is inevitable.

ODESA, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday Russia was determined to sow chaos in and destroy the south of his country as well as nearby Moldova and Romania, and called for increased pressure on Moscow to prevent further military threats.

The United States supports Russians' aspirations for a brighter future, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the occasion of Russia Day, reaffirming a desire for constructive engagement in efforts to bring about peace in the war with Ukraine.

Russian forces have advanced into Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions, in fresh bid for Ukrainian land beyond what Moscow's already annexed.

Ukraine's president says a new prisoner exchange with Russia is ongoing and will take days, as both sides continue launching hundreds of attack drones.

A new prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia has begun, officials in both countries said Monday, with Ukrainian soldiers who have spent nearly the entire duration of the war in captivity among those returning home.

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s Russia-friendly leader made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Wednesday for a summit on strengthening European support for Kyiv’s fight against Russian aggression, but he refused to sign a joint declaration calling for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

"Even if you're on the ground, it's very difficult for you to count casualties," said Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher at King's College London.