Ukraine: Russian troops take control of key city of Kherson - mayor
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSImage caption,
Russian tanks and military vehicles were seen on the streets of Kherson
Russian forces have seized control of a key port city in southern Ukraine, the mayor says.
Kherson is the first major city to be taken by Russia, after heavy fighting, since it invaded a week ago.
Its mayor, Igor Kolykhaev, said Russian troops had forced their way into the city council building and imposed a curfew on residents.
Several cities have come under intense shelling, with Wednesday one of the most destructive days of the fighting.
An investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine has been launched by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Russia has for the first time admitted taking heavy military casualties during its attack on Ukraine, with 498 troops killed and a further 1,597 injured. Ukraine says Russia's losses run into the thousands.
Ukraine reports that more than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began last Thursday. The conflict has also caused more than a million people to flee Ukraine, according to the UN.
In a Facebook post, Mr Kolykhaev said Russian forces were in control of Kherson, a port on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000 people.
He urged Russian soldiers not to shoot at civilians, saying there were no Ukrainian forces in the city.
Mr Kolykhaev called on residents to follow conditions set by Russian forces in order to "keep the Ukrainian flag flying". These include:
"The (Russian) occupiers are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous," Gennady Lakhuta, head of the regional administration, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The capture of Kherson - located on the banks of the Dnieper River where it flows into the Black Sea - is significant because it could allow Russia to create a base for the military there as it seeks to push further inland.
Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, came under a fierce aerial assault. Its mayor told the BBC shelling and cruise missile strikes were hitting residential areas and inflicting heavy civilian casualties.
Russian tanks and military vehicles were seen on the streets of Kherson
Russian forces have seized control of a key port city in southern Ukraine, the mayor says.
Kherson is the first major city to be taken by Russia, after heavy fighting, since it invaded a week ago.
Its mayor, Igor Kolykhaev, said Russian troops had forced their way into the city council building and imposed a curfew on residents.
Several cities have come under intense shelling, with Wednesday one of the most destructive days of the fighting.
An investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine has been launched by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Russia has for the first time admitted taking heavy military casualties during its attack on Ukraine, with 498 troops killed and a further 1,597 injured. Ukraine says Russia's losses run into the thousands.
Ukraine reports that more than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began last Thursday. The conflict has also caused more than a million people to flee Ukraine, according to the UN.
In a Facebook post, Mr Kolykhaev said Russian forces were in control of Kherson, a port on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000 people.
He urged Russian soldiers not to shoot at civilians, saying there were no Ukrainian forces in the city.
Mr Kolykhaev called on residents to follow conditions set by Russian forces in order to "keep the Ukrainian flag flying". These include:
- Observing a strict curfew from 20:00 to 06:00
- Only going out in groups of two at most
- Allowing only cars carrying food, medicine and other supplies to enter the city, driving at minimum speed
"The (Russian) occupiers are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous," Gennady Lakhuta, head of the regional administration, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The capture of Kherson - located on the banks of the Dnieper River where it flows into the Black Sea - is significant because it could allow Russia to create a base for the military there as it seeks to push further inland.
Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, came under a fierce aerial assault. Its mayor told the BBC shelling and cruise missile strikes were hitting residential areas and inflicting heavy civilian casualties.
Next comes guerrilla war from the Ukrainians, who have shown courage and heroism to defend their nation from tyranny.
ReplyDeleteA Ukrainian guerrilla war armed and supported by NATO, $ 38 Trillion total GDP, is going to get very very ugly and very, very painful for the Russian Army.
Afghanistan 1980 - 1990 will feel like a picnic.
So too was the SAME prediction of many a f*cked demoNcratic dickheads after the fall of Tbilisi during the Russo-Georgian war of 2008!
DeleteEat yr heart out while dreaming with yr wettest dream!
My worry now is NATO is effectively actively involved in the war.
ReplyDeleteMost NATO countries have announced sending lethal weapons to Ukraine... basically to kill Russian invaders.
First, those lethal weapons must reach the hands of the nationalist Ukrainians in time of fighting. No another diarrheas of Russian blockages!
DeleteSecond, those ill-prepared Ukrainian nationalists must be able to operate/use all these alien weapons, as they have been trained & familiarized with SU weaponry.
Third, there must consistent leadership in leading the fights. So far, there r NONE of the military commands been proven. All one sees r the comedian treats from a president using his old trade to gain scores!
Kill Russian! More likely as in providing live target for Russo bears for attacking trainings.