Russia has resumed its attack on the Azovstal Mariupol steelworks in Mariupol, after 300 women, children and the elderly were evacuated from the site last week. According to Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereschuk, the encircled area is still defended by around a thousand Ukrainians, many of whom are seriously injured. While the Russian offensive also continues in the Donbass, the Russian army has reportedly withdrawn from the Kharkiv region, says the British Ministry of Defense. Meanwhile, Finland’s leaders gave the green light to NATO membership. Sweden, too, is moving forward with applying to join NATO in tandem with Finland, possibly as early as next week. Although this decision was widely expected, it shows how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought non-aligned countries closer to NATO.