Ukraine suffered from multiple significant defeats along the front today. After a concerted push by Russia, they have at minimum seized the overwhelming majority of the canal district of Chasiv Yar, securing all major high rises in.m the district. Ukraine will likely fall back across the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal, which has proven to be a challenging but not insurmountable obstacle for both sides. Ukraine's defense of eastern Chasiv Yar was quite strong given the geographical limitations they faced, ones which will be reversed once Russia pushes across the canal into western Chasiv Yar (which is also by far the larger half of the city).
But this isn't the biggest news of the day; this comes from Niu York. To its south, Russia launched a successful drive, gaining around four kilometers in a day. They are now at the gates of Niu York, a significant Ukrainian stronghold. It is also situated due south of Toretsk, and slightly behind the settlements in front of Toretsk which Russia is also currently at the gates of. Basically, Russia has formed a semi circle through the edge of the urban agglomeration of Toretsk, one of the most fortified points of the entire front. But with Ukraine's loss of eastern Chasiv Yar and the slow but continual degradation of Ukrainian positions around Ocheretyne, the Toretsk region is increasingly becoming isolated. Russia may hope to replicate their victories at Bakhmut and Avdiivka, where heavy pushes on the flanks effectively forced Ukraine to abandon the more urban center. In the Ocheretyne area, Russia has pushed some ways west and northwest of the town, and are now approximately seven kilometers from a vital highway interchange. This sits on the main highway connecting the major logistics hub at Pokrovsk to the adjacent cities of Kostyantynivka and Chasiv Yar. Further Russian advances in the area thus threaten Ukraine's defense at Chasiv Yar, and could eventually develop into a point where Ukraine needs to defend Pokrovsk itself.
Russia has also pushed into the edges of Makiivka, a small village fairly far north on the Zherebets river. The village itself only has one real point of military value, an important set of crossroads. Whomever controls the crossroads is given much easier access to the other side of the river. The roads in the area are also known to be in good condition (or at least, they used to be) for the area, making them even more ideal for military maneuvering. This is particularly important for the region, as the area is dominated by fields with few roads. If Russia can capture Makiivka, not only will Ukraine's defensive line have been broken, but Russia will be able to threaten the possibility of pushing through and arcing behind the rest of the line.
In a bright spot of news, a member of the Rada states that F-16s will arrive for Ukraine this month. According to the member of the Rada, Ukraine is planning on at least initially using their F-16s for mostly defensive purposes, as they are receiving relatively few in number to start with; and training for some pilots is still ongoing. Ukrainian failures to fortify their air bases are likely contributing to this, as it has complicated Ukraine's ability to wage an air campaign. A not insignificant portion of the aerial losses Ukraine has suffered wete unnecessary, and have been caused by things such as not building hangars, or by parking helicopters too close to each other. By adjusting doctrine and building the necessary infrastructure, Ukraine could significantly reduce the rate that they are losing helicopters and airplanes on the ground. It's worth noting that Russia suffers from these exact same issues as well, but Russia isn't the one needing to demonstrate to allies that they can field planes that they don't have yet.
Orbán's visit to Kyiv was fruitful, per Ukraine, which stated that Ukraine and Hungary progressed with talks regarding their issues with one another. Orbán was careful to specify that he was visiting Kyiv in his capacity as a leader of the EU, rather than as the head of Hungary. Orbán also floated the idea of a ceasefire before continuing with efforts to get Ukraine and Russia to negotiate, an idea which Ukraine flatly rejected. Ukraine continues to maintain that Russia would take advantage of any ceasefire by rebuilding their forces and then violate the ceasefire and advance with a newly regenerated military. There is ample precedent for Russia and their allies doing just this in recent history, such as in Syria, so Ukraine's fear is quite justified.
The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, and one far larger than the earlier reported $150 million figure. The actual announcement was for $2.3 billion. Details are relatively scarce, but the package has a heavy emphasis on air defenses for Ukraine, and includes things such as additional Patriot missiles.