The eastern region of Ukraine known as The Donbas appears to be under control of Russian forces.

Some 12,000 people remain in the city of Sievierodonetsk from a pre-war population of 100,000.

And more than 500 civilians are said to be sheltering in the Azot chemical plant, which is being pounded by Russian artillery.

Meantime, a plane carrying 177 Ukrainian refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin’s Russian attacks on their homeland has arrived in Newfoundland.

Angelina Schevchenko is one of five graduate students aboard the flight who have full scholarships to do a master’s degree at Memorial University in St. John’s.

“I’m so thrilled to study this master’s degree in Canada and Newfoundland,” she explained to a reporter, “I miss Ukraine but I’m happy to be here.”

The flight was chartered by the Newfoundland and Labrador government, as part of efforts to encourage Ukrainians to resettle in Canada’s easternmost province.