Ukraine and Russia What you need to know right now

Ukrainian forces continue to advance northward in the Kharkiv region and are pushing south and eastward, the Ukrainian army commander said on Sunday, a day after their rapid counteroffensive caused Russia to abandon its main stronghold in the region.

BATTLE

* Ukrainian forces have advanced north from Kharkiv to within 50 km (30 miles) of the Russian border and are pressing south and east in the same area, Ukrainian Chief of General Staff General Valery Zaluzhnyi said. * Zaluzhnyi said Ukraine had retaken more than 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq mi) this month. * The UK Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces continued to make gains in the Kharkiv region in the last 24 hours, while Russia has likely withdrawn its troops but fighting continues around the cities of Kupiansk and Izium. * The Russian Defense Ministry has ordered its troops to leave the area around the city of Izium in Kharkiv province, TASS reported on Saturday. The report also quoted the Russian-appointed chief administrator of the Russian-controlled areas of the province as telling residents to evacuate to Russia. * Russian forces hit Ukrainian army positions in the Kharkiv region with precision strikes, the country's defense ministry said. * Zelenskiy's office said 10 civilians were killed in the Donetsk region after Russian missile strikes and shelling overnight.

NUCLEAR FACILITY

* Operations at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have been completely halted as a safety precaution, the state operator said. The move follows repairs to a backup power line connecting the plant to Ukraine's electricity grid. * The IAEA nuclear watchdog confirmed the restoration of the line, which allows the plant to draw the power needed to cool its reactors from the grid.

DIPLOMACY, TRADE

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a conference attended by Germany's Foreign Minister that Russia is doing "everything" to break the resolve of Ukraine and Europe this winter. "Ninety days, more than any other year, will determine the existence of the EU," Zelenskiy said in remarks posted on his website late on Saturday. * Britain rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that only a small portion of grain exported from Ukraine under an international agreement goes to poor countries, saying 30% goes to low- and middle-income countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Follow Global Economic Developments on Social Media! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Facebook account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Instagram account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Twitter account!