Russia moves on with annexation plan despite military retreats

Ukraine army pushing back on two separate battlefronts, as Moscow banks on partial mobilisation to turn the tide

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a hurry to finalize his plan to annex four Ukrainian regions, as his forces are being pushed back by Ukraine on two separate battlefield fronts, shrinking the amount of seized territory he controls.

The Upper House of Russia's Parliament earlier on Tuesday voted to approve the four regions' incorporation, which taken together represent around 18 percent of Ukraine. The Kremlin said Mr. Putin's signature - the final stage in the process was likely later in the day.

Russia does not completely control any of the four regions Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson- it says it is annexing, and the Kremlin has said it has yet to determine the final borders of the annexed territory.

Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and southern Kherson regions have been forced to retreat in recent days, and appear to be struggling to stop a well-equipped Ukrainian army.

Moscow is hoping a "partial mobilization" that it announced two weeks ago could help turn the tide.