Russian forces capture first major Ukrainian city, Kherson
Russia has captured the first major Ukrainian city, the strategic port of Kherson. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the city had fallen and Russian forces had stormed into the council building. "There is no Ukrainian army here," said the city's mayor Igor Kolykhaev, "The city is surrounded." Kherson—home to roughly three lakh people—is located in southern Ukraine where the Dnieper River meets the Black Sea.
Kherson fell after 7 days of fighting
The battle in Kherson had begun last Thursday—the first day of the Russian invasion. By the next day, Russian forces had taken control of a bridge connecting the city to its western bank. Russia continues to advance its operation as Ukrainian officials say residential areas in the second-largest city Kharkiv are being targeted. Four civilians had died in Russian shelling in Kharkiv on Wednesday.
Explosions rock capital Kyiv
In the capital city Kyiv, four major explosions were heard on Thursday morning. Kyiv was reportedly among 15 Ukrainian cities where air sirens went off on Thursday. Notably, a 64km-long Russian military convoy continues to advance toward Kyiv.
Ukraine says 6,000 Russian soldiers killed; Moscow confirms 498 deaths
Ukraine has said that over 2,000 civilians have died in the first week of the war. The number of Ukrainian troops killed has not been confirmed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly 6,000 Russian soldiers had also been killed. However, Russia said 498 of its troops had died. This is the highest death toll Moscow has acknowledged since the 1999-2000 war in Chechnya.
1 million flee Ukraine
Since last Thursday, one million refugees have fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations. Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed, all evacuation efforts are happening through neighboring countries. Of the 20,000 Indians earlier present in Ukraine, over 12,000 had been evacuated by Thursday. On Wednesday, India asked its nationals to leave the conflict zone of Kharkiv immediately.
UN deplores Russian invasion; India abstains
The United Nations General Assembly voted 141 to five on a resolution deploring the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Eritrea opposed the motion. Meanwhile, India, China, and Pakistan were among the 35 countries that abstained. Belarus defended Russia at the UN. Notably, the country has joined Russia in the war and now faces Western economic sanctions.
What's happening in Ukraine?
Russia launched what it called a "special military operation" in Ukraine last Thursday morning to "demilitarize" and "denazify" the country. Ukraine has described Russia's actions as "state terrorism" as Russian forces have attacked residential complexes, administrative buildings, a hospital, and a broadcast tower, among other things. An International Criminal Court prosecutor said he has opened an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine.
