Russian Ops in Ukraine: Ukraine is Blocking Own Ports, Losing Ground in Donbas

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for May 24, 2022:

1. Russian forces continue gaining ground in Donbas;
2. Ukrainian forces are at critical risk of complete encirclement;
3. Russian assault of Lyman begins;
4. Ukrainian ports are blocked by Ukrainian sea mines, Pentagon admits;
5. Western heavy weapons have little impact;
6. West discussions on sending additional heavy weapons are unrealistic;

References:

US Department of Defense - Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley Hold a Press Briefing, May 23, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3040709/secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-and-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-sta/
Reuters - "Friends of Syria" condemn Assad but see more killing:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-meeting-tunis-idUSTRE81N16820120224
UK Dot Gov - Chairman's Conclusions of Friends of Syria meeting:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chairmans-conclusions-of-friends-of-syria-meeting--2
The New Atlas - NED Zoom Meeting Goes BAD! US Subversion Exposed:
https://youtu.be/VrpyD-A1Knc
Washington Post - Opinion Why are the Russians pranking Washington think tanks?:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/28/why-are-russians-pranking-washington-think-tanks/
Wikipedia - Byelorussian collaboration with Nazi Germany:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byelorussian_collaboration_with_Nazi_Germany
Wikipedia - Belarusian Democratic Republic:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_Democratic_Republic
Guardian - How the two flags of Belarus became symbols of confrontation:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/22/how-the-two-flags-of-belarus-became-symbols-of-confrontation
RFE/RL - Telegram Trap: Minsk Snares Belarusians Seeking To Fight For Ukraine:
https://www.rferl.org/a/telegram-trap-belarus-volunteers-ukraine/31761157.html
ABC (Australia) - Volunteers who fled authorities in Belarus fight for Ukraine in hopes it will help change things in their homeland:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-23/volunteers-belarus-fight-for-ukraine-putin-lukashenko-zelenskyy/101090876
La Presse - Retour du tireur d'élite Wali « La guerre, c’est une déception terrible »:
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2022-05-06/retour-du-tireur-d-elite-wali/la-guerre-c-est-une-deception-terrible.php
CBC - Shadow's war: A Canadian veteran describes weeks under fire in Ukraine:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-canadian-forces-1.6443048