UKRAINIAN TROOPS evacuate civilians as Russian attacks continue (Shutterstock/Drop of Light).

Russian forces are making progress in their efforts to encircle two key cities in eastern Ukraine.

According to The New York Times, the invaders are about three-quarters of the way toward completing a perimeter around the cities of Sievierodonestsk and Lysychansk.

That leaves only a relatively narrow passageway for troops and supplies to reach defenders,  and for the Ukrainians to evacuate the wounded.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the war in Ukraine could drag on for years.

World COVID-19 stats are falling

Deaths and new cases of COVID-19 are falling worldwide, according to United Press International.

UPI reported on Sunday that in the past week deaths fell by 19 percent and new cases by 7 percent, the lowest since the early days of the pandemic in March 2020.

To date, an estimated 6.3 million people have died worldwide, and 1 million Americans. Over half a billion people have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Sports: Angels are on a roll now

Mike Trout’s explosive bat has sparked the Los Angeles Angels to four wins in five games and a sweep of a series in Seattle. The Angel star hit a two-run home run Sunday in the Halos’s 4-0 win over the Mariners.

MIKE TROUT homered again in the Angels’ 4-0 win over Seattle (Flickr/Keith Allison).

It was his fifth home run in the series.

Taylor Ward, back from the injured list, went three for four to push his batting average to .309. Kenny Rosenberg pitched the first 4.2 innings for the Orange County team, giving up two hits and no runs.

With the win, the Angels are now 33-36 and have climbed back into second place in the American League West.

At home, the Los Angeles Dodgers (40-25) fell 5-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. The Blue Crew led 3-2 until the visitors scored once in the eighth to tie it and twice in the ninth for the win.

Despite the loss, the Dodgers remain in first place in the National League West as the San Diego Padres (41-27) lost 8-3 to the Colorado Rockies.

Weather: Monday will be a Hot Day

The current run of warm weather in the West Orange County area is expected to peak on Monday when the daytime high is expected to hit 90, with an overnight low of 63. Sunny skies will continue on Tuesday, but the thermometer will ease off to 82 degrees during the day (62 at night).

Wednesday is forecast to have partly cloudy conditions with a high of 85 (66).