On Thursday, the mayor of Kherson, a strategic port city in southern Ukraine, reported that Russian troops had taken control, making it the first major city to fall under Moscow’s control as Moscow waged its attack on Kiev for a seventh day.
According to the BBC, Mayor Igor Kolykhaev announced on Facebook that Russian military had taken control of Kherson, forcing their way into the municipal council office and imposing a curfew on inhabitants.
Kolykhaev encouraged Russian soldiers not to fire at civilians, claiming that no Ukrainian military were present in the city, which is located on the Dnieper River’s banks and has a population of approximately 280,000 people.
He also urged locals to adhere to Russian-imposed conditions in order to “keep the Ukrainian flag flying.”
The requirements include adhering to a severe curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; only venturing out in groups of two or fewer; only permitting cars carrying food, medication, and other supplies to enter Kerson; and driving at a low speed.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 23, numerous significant towns, including Kiev and Kharkiv, have been heavily shelled and bombed, killing thousands of civilians.
According to the BBC, Wednesday was one of the most devastating days of the conflict, with continuing heavy shelling.
More than 2,000 civilians have killed since the attack began a week ago, according to Ukraine, while the UNHCR estimates that 1,000,000 people have fled the country as a result of the war.
Meanwhile, Russia has revealed for the first time that 498 of its troops were killed and 1,597 were injured in the conflict.
